We started our new year off with going to the movies on New Years Day.  It has been at least a year since I have seen a movie in the theater.  The Munsons were talking about how good the movie "Wonka" is and we thought it was a good one to see together as a family. I picked up some candy and we headed to the movies after lunch.  It was a good movie and so fun to see together in the theater.  I miss seeing movies in the theater, we really should go more often.   

Garrett has been struggling with his hair for a while.  He wants a new style and has been trying hard to style it different ways.  He asked me to help him a few times.  We got the curling iron out and I showed him how to curl the front up.  It has been a lot of trying new things.  We decided he really needed a haircut.  The change from the side part left things looking really uneven.  It was best to head in and show them what he is wanting and start new.  It is a little shorter than he wants but it will now grow out more even in the style he is hoping for.  Right now, he doesn't love it, I do!  I think it looks really nice.  He said he can just wear a hat until it grows out.       

The whole Elmore family came to cheer on Lucy at her game.  She was playing at Ft. Zumwalt East.  They got there just in time to see her hit three three pointers right in a row.  It was fun to watch her play.  It was so nice of them to come watch her play.  It was nice to visit with Amy during the varsity game and see their girls while they are here in town.  

JJ was worn out from a long run that morning but was a good sport to come shopping with us.  He found a chair at TJMAXX where he was able to sit and rest for a while.  He said he was almost asleep.  

We cheered on Nolan during his tournament games Saturday evening.  He played two games and they sadly lost both.  He played well but we need him to work on his temper.  He gets so worked up and will often find himself in foul trouble because he plays so intense.  He just loves the game and wants to win so bad.   

The boys got out the train tracks and had a whole thing set up.  There were superhero's, magnet blocks, trains and Legos all assembled together.  I loved it and loved seeing the toys being played with.  It is nice to have a break from screens and see Nolan using his imagination.  The neighbor boy came over one day after school to play with him.  We left it all set up for a few days and he kept going down and playing with it.     

It has been so cold lately.  Poor Jack is feeling so bored and cooped up. Nolan and Garrett bundled up and took him for a walk one evening.  He was so happy.  Nolan put on his reflective vest and also had a headlamp he wore so he could see and be seen. We are all looking forward to warmer days!

Lucy is so busy right now with so many things.  I went days without seeing her this week.  She had late games and early seminary. It was strange to not see her.  I just kept tracking her on her phone, so I knew she was ok.  We would also text here and there.  She was finally home Friday evening, and we were able to spend the afternoon together before the varsity game.  Jack got some good snuggles and were able to visit and have dinner together.  It is strange to have kids grow up and not see them very often.  

JJ was up at the school for the career pathway program.  That day they had people in healthcare there to talk with students.  He had fun seeing Lucy and Garrett for a little while.  Garrett had no idea JJ was going to be there.  He was confused to see him there and JJ thought it was funny.  JJ enjoyed being there at the school. It was during their lunch time, and he said it was interesting to observe the other kids and just be there.   

 

New years

It has been a while since we have hosted anything at our house.  We decided to invite people over for New Years.  It was a last-minute thing mostly decided while JJ was out running with Ian and Becca that morning.  Saturday evening, we headed to the store for some snacks, at that point only the Munsons had said they were coming. Then on Sunday the Hoyts and Smiths said they were coming.  Which was great!  Then JJ invited the Hunters to come over, but we never heard if they were coming, they did.  It was a full house which was so fun.  I had texted Becca earlier in the day and asked her to bring drinks, something I had totally overlooked.  I also didn't expect to have so many people come.  I also totally overlooked things like plastic utensils.  It all worked out and I'm glad Becca brought some things over, as well as everyone brought so much food.  We had so many yummy snacks.  We played a game and the kids played downstairs.  As we were playing our game Nolan came upstairs crying with a bloody nose.  Hudson had kicked him in the face, thankfully Nolan was ok, just bleeding all over.  We got him cleaned up and went downstairs to start cleaning up the blood down there.  It was on the couch and on the walls as he walked upstairs.  I felt bad because the Smiths took Hudson home and I'm sure they were embarrassed by what happened.  The Hunters and the Hoyts didn't make it to midnight but close.  The rest of us watched the ball drop at midnight.  It has been a while since I have stayed up that late.  I was impressed the kids were going strong and had so much energy.  Everyone left around one in the morning.  JJ and I got the kids to bed and then headed to the basement to see if we could get the blood out of the couch.  It was about 1:30 when we headed to bed.  Waking up the next morning JJ and I commented that we are too old to be up that late.  It was such a fun evening and I do really enjoy hosting our friends.  We don't do it much because I don't always feel like our house is the best one to host.  I am so glad our friends came and wanted to come ring in the new year with us.  We sure are thankful for great friends in our life.  I think looking back maybe we should have done a few things different.  Maybe we should have played a game with the kids or done more to involve them so Nolan wouldn't have gotten hurt.  I think it was fine and everyone had a nice time. Crazy to think another year has ended and we are now onto 2024.   

Winter break

The Munsons invited Nolan to the movies to see "Migration".  He was so excited.  I was thankful for him having something to do.  I have noticed breaks from school are also just as welcomed for me since I am off work.  I was thankful for the day to be productive while he was away.  I got my Christmas decorations put away and the house cleaned while he was gone. 

The evening of my dad's birthday Lucy and Garrett went to the temple with the Hunt's.  It was a busy day and in addition to rushing back from the walk we needed to get them ready to go to the temple.  Garrett brought his clothes with us to the appointment.  We decided to grab dinner in the valley and have him change his clothes there.  We then dropped him off at the temple where he meet up with the rest of them.  They had a nice time going and I am proud of them for making their attendance a priority during their break.  I know Lucy has a goal to go once a month.  They went to IHOP after the temple to get something to eat and hang out.   

Lucy got her haircut!  It was overdue and she was looking forward to taking several inches off.  She took off about five inches and her hair looks so much healthier.  I am glad she was able to have that done.  It curls a lot better now too with some weight off.  

We had a little bit of snow one afternoon.  It was so pretty watching the snow fall out the window.  I am hoping we can have a good snow so we can enjoy playing and sledding. I am glad we had a warm Christmas, but the snow was really pretty just a few days later. 

We watched a movie together in the basement and Nolan held and played with his Lego set the whole time.  JJ and I commented that you know it's a good toy when he doesn't put it down.  He loves it!

The kids wanted to go to Ikea and walk around.  Ever since eating at the Foundry and seeing Ikea they have been looking forward to our visit over break.  They love going there and looking at things.  Lucy was on the lookout for a small desk that she could use for a vanity and desk to do some schoolwork at.  We got rid of her desk when we redid her room.  She does her schoolwork on her bed or floor so a small desk would be helpful.  We found a great little desk and stool.  She also got a rolling cart to put her make up in and roll in and out of her closet.  It will all work really nicely in her room.  She wants to look for a mirror with a light to use to put her make up on.  The kids were looking forward to a snack at the end.  Its funny that they were so excited to go there.   

 

Dad's Birthday

The day after Christmas is dad's birthday.  He turned 70 this year, a big birthday!  He always enjoys a walk, especially at the Al Foster trail.  We had a little window when everyone was available in between basketball practice and a doctor's appointment for Garrett.  I thought we would have plenty of time.  Dad suggested walking all the way to the river to throw rocks in.  We were like ok, it's his birthday.  We didn't realize how much farther that was to walk.  The farther we walked the more we were looking at our watches.  We knew we needed to head back so we could make it to Garrett's doctor's appointment on time.  We felt bad.  We eventually said we were going to need to turn back because we were cutting it close.  Our family had to walk quickly back and leave.  We ended up walking almost 4.5 miles.  Much more then we were all anticipating.  We weren't really dressed for walking that far.  We barely made it home to drop off Lucy and Nolan and get to Garrett's doctor's appointment.  I felt bad the way we had to leave.  I didn't understand what he was hoping for in his walk.  I hoped we didn't come across rude, but we had to make the doctor's appointment, I had made it months ago.  I am sure dad had a nice time walking.  Sometimes it is hard to read dad and the way he is feeling.  I know the holidays are hard for him.  Especially the Christmas holiday.  There are a lot of milestones within a few weeks of each other.  The day mom passed, Christmas, his birthday and then their wedding anniversary.  All close together.  I am glad we were able to do something with him, even if it was for a short time.         

Christmas Day

We had a very nice Christmas.  It was low key and relaxing, and we enjoyed each other's company.  We started with stocking and gift from Santa and then enjoyed breakfast together.  We tried a new breakfast.  Cinnamon roll bread French toast with buttermilk syrup.  I made the bread a few days earlier using my Kamut flour.  It was so delicious!  We topped it with strawberries and had bacon and orange juice.  Christmas morning breakfast is my favorite part of the day.  We don't always do the same thing which makes it fun.  I always ask for suggestions and it's fun to try new things like we did this year.  It was so delicious I know it will be asked for again.  We had a small Christmas, and I was happy to not overspend and stick to our budget.  We enjoyed opening gifts we purchased from our family shopping trip at Target.  I loved seeing what people picked out for each other.  We took turns opening gifts and I loved seeing faces of excitement.  I spend a lot of time looking for good deals and thinking of things I think they would like.  The older kids knew most of their gifts, they picked out and helped order things during black Friday deals.  There were still a few surprises and things they didn't know they were getting.  Nolan didn't know about getting a Star Wars Lego set and he was so excited when he opened it.  He worked hard putting it together with JJ and played with it almost all day.  Lucy gifted me a ceramic piece she made in her ceramic class.  When she completed it and brought it home, I loved it so much.  She told me she would make me something and I was shocked to open the jewelry tray I loved so much earlier in the year.  She said she knew I liked it so she made herself a similar one so they could match.  She gave me the original one which was so thoughtful.  I love having it sit on my dresser.  Gifts like that mean so much to me.  The kids together picked me out a new necklace.  It will be fun to have another necklace to wear.  JJ was worried our Christmas would be to simple and people would be disappointed.  They weren't, they were all excited and happy with everything they got and showed appreciation.  Just before lunch time my dad came over to spend the day with us.  I am glad he did!  He was wearing some of the new clothes we got for him, and they looked so nice on him.  I waited to make some fresh French toast for him, and he loved it.  We facetimed with Natalies family and JJ did a zoom call with his family.  The kids had fun showing grandpa all the things they got.  We relaxed for a little while and watched some of "White Christmas".  It stopped raining so we decided to go for a walk down on the neighborhood trail.  When we came back, we played some rommikub together.  He had plans with the missionaries for dinner, so he left about 4:30.  We made homemade pizza for dinner, which the kids love.  We facetimed JJs parents, it was easier to talk with them when it was just our family.  We then relaxed together and watched a Christmas movie as a family.  It was a very nice day, our holidays with all the kids at home at limited as the kids get older.  It is nice to enjoy them together and really soak them up.