Family Photos 2023

 

It almost didn't happen... the IT being "taking family photos in the year 2023."  We cut it pretty close this year - going out mid-December to snap a few with our trusty tripod and clicker.  I'm glad we made time for it, and surprisingly, the kids were cooperative and we were able to be quick because it was cold outside!  Next year, I think we'll get them taken in July!   

These are my favorites:  (Referring to the photos and the people.)  I sure love these people of mine.  They are my everything.  We are there for each other in the hard and happy times.  We accept each other's shortcomings, knowing that in a family unit is where we can be ourselves and work toward turning those weaknesses into strengths.  We help each other along, show love to each other, and try to talk kindly to each other.  (Matt has that last one mastered.)  We know each other's hearts and forgive easily.  

We are FAMILY.

Gavin - 11 years, 8 months

Alayna - 8 Years, 11 months

Piano/Britters

We had Brittney over for dinner and to hear the kids play some Christmas songs they've been learning this last month.  I'm proud of Gavin and Alayna for advancing in their piano playing. It takes a lot of dedication and self discipline to develop a skill like this. 

Gavin played Joy to the World and a jazzy Jingle Bells. 

Laynie played Jolly Old St Nicholas and Angels we have Heard on High. 

Brittney then graced us with a Peanuts Christmas song!

To end our evening, we decorated sugar cookies and watched Studio C Christmas sketches. 
 

Christmas Newsletter 2023

 

Holiday Fun

Grandma/pa Anderson brought ornament supplies to us and we made our own stencil ornaments.

Laynie danced for members of a care center in Springville with her cute Gems clogging team.

We booked it to Saratoga Springs after clogging so Laynie could receive her award for a watercolor painting she entered into a children's holiday art contest.  She won the 3rd-6th grade award and we all couldn't believe it!  The theme was Stepping into Christmas.  She decided she wanted to paint some ornaments and she said, "When I step into Christmas, the first thing I do is.... decorate!"  She received some colored pencils and a $30 gift certificate to Hobby Lobby.

We've had a little elf in our house this past week...

My preschool performed their circus and Laynie helped out by being the clown.  I'm so glad she still loves doing things like this, though I think this is probably the last year I can count on her to fill in for this part...

We also got to go to the Orem Temple Open House.  It was beautiful, and we are so blessed to have another temple so close.

Alayna has been begging to put together a gingerbread house, so we found the time to do it today.  Gavin joined in and together, they did a really nice job.

I've been doing some watercoloring of my own - only I didn't win any awards for this one like Laynie did.  lol  It's Mynx the cat, a beloved pet of Stacie May - my mission mum's daughter.  Mynx passed away almost a year ago and I told Sharon (Stacie's mom) that I'd paint a picture of Mynx and send it to Stacie.  I could never find a block of time I needed to get it down until recently.  I hope Stacie likes it.

The Utah Metropolitan Ballet hosted a FREE showing of The Nutcracker for families affected by autism.  I had been wanting to take my family to the Nutcracker for awhile now, but could never justify the cost. So I jumped at the chance to sign up for this event! We traveled to Provo for it and it was such a special night!  Laynie and I picked out a Nutcracker to buy and I hope it will always remind us of the time we went to the ballet together. 

Gavin also saw one of his scout buddies there!

 

Decorating for the Season

The day after Thanksgiving, we decorated!  If it weren't for Laynie, I probably would have waited, but she loves to do things like this, and I can't say no - mostly because I remember being the same way when I was young.

But I have kept it super simple.  We put up 2 trees and just a few other decorations.  I figure simple is good.  It doesn't make my house feel cluttery.  :)

 

Thanksgiving 2023

My dad and cousin Carly's family came to our house for Thanksgiving.  We had a nice meal and had fun playing games (Pie Face, Family Feud, a card game).  Then Rosie backed into one of the preschool tables with her head and was bleeding quite badly so Carly's family left.  Matt and I cleaned up the kitchen and then we all watched a Christmas movie.  I had just recovered from a nasty cold, so I was exhausted, but happy to have had another nice Thanksgiving Day.

Sitting down to eat

Grandpa taking his chances.

The game won!

We had some pretty good laughs with this game.

 

It's Autumn Time, It's Autumn Time...

I love fall, but sometimes I feel sad during it because I really miss the carefree summer days. My garden comes to an end and my beautiful flowers die off. It gets darker and colder, and daylight savings is a struggle to adjust to!  But I guess there's a season for everything, right!?!

We harvested our garden and came across these twisted together carrots!

We had new windows installed in our home! We can now open up the kids' bedroom windows and hopefully our heating bill will be lower. 

I went on a beautiful fall hike with Kami and Nanette. 

We came to a pond with 2 moose doing a bit of hanky panky. 

We hiked back and went to a cookie shop and talked until closing. I sure love Nan and Kam. I know I can tell them anything and they won't judge me because they are friends that truly know my heart. 

Preschool field trip to Hee Haw Farms!

Met up for dinner with Kami and Nicole Cremashci (a foreign exchange student we were friends with our Junior year of high school). 

I attended a primary chorister training. This calling has been a lot of fun and lots of work - planning out different ways to learn songs each week. 

Laynie had her Culture Museum. She presented on Argentina. The night before, we threw that shirt together. I had a Hispanic skirt and flower already to put in her hair, but she is a no frills kind of girl and didn't want to stand out, I guess...