New Years

We all had a nice New Years Eve.  Lucy went over to her friend's house to hang out.  Garrett had work but when he got off, we let him have a few friends over.  We knew the boys that were coming over and they were going to hang out, play ping pong and x-box.  We headed over to the Elmore's with Nolan for a little bit and then to the Smiths.  We all made it to midnight!  New Years Day was really cold.  We decided to stay home and relax.  We did head over to Brommelsiek to go for a short walk.  Nolan brought his scooter.  He loves it so much and loves riding it around.  That evening we watched a movie together.  Since cleaning and moving a few things in the basement around we have spent more time down there.  We got the ping pong table back out and have enjoyed playing each other.  It really is a nice space to hang out together.  

Zoo

Saturday, we headed to the zoo.  Lucy was feeling much better.  Thankfully she was able to get lots of rest and recover quickly.  We made a stop at the outlet mall to make a return.  We went to McDonalds down by the zoo for lunch.  It has been a while since we have been to the zoo.  It was another decently nice day.  It could have been a little warmer for my liking but that's ok.  We decided to renew our zoo membership.  We haven't had one for a while.  The zoo was busy, and we couldn't find parking.  We parked in a lot, and we also wanted to ride the train.  Those two things were going to cost us more than half of a zoo membership.  This way we can come back several more times and use pass on our membership for things like the train.  Garrett was funny walking around the zoo.  He really enjoyed going and wanted to see lots of different animals.  I think he would have enjoyed seeing a lot more then we were able to see.  Lucy was excited to ride the train.  It took a long time to get on the train.  We rode it around almost twice so we could get off and see the elephants.  Nolan really wanted to see the elephants but sadly they weren't out.  Hopefully we can go back again soon and be able to see more animals.  We decided to try our luck one more time at Donut Drive-in.  They were open!  Sadly, they barely had any donuts.  They were out of almost everything.  Lucy said she must be bad luck, it's like the universe doesn't want her to experience it.  We got a few donuts, but I still don't think the kids are sold on how good they really are.

Christmas

Christmas is still looking different for our family.  Christmas Eve was once a busy day with family, a day we look forward and plan for.  We are still struggling to find new traditions and things that feel normal for us.  Lucy started not feeling well and our day was spent at home relaxing and letting her sleep.  JJ stopped at the store and got lots of cold medicine for her. We made sugar cookies for Santa and enjoyed watching movies.  We decided to attend a local church for their candlelight Christmas service.  We chose a church nearby, Morning Star Church.  We have several friends that attend church there.  It was actually really nice to see so many familiar faces. We enjoyed the nice music and message given during the service.  I had read in our church magazine for the month the first presidency message had a lot of similar points that the pastor talked about.  We ended service singing Silent Night each holding a candle. We talked about the service on our way home and all enjoyed different parts.  Hopefully this will be another new thing our family can adapt into our Christmas together.  We came home and watched the Nativity movie together.  Then we watched "Home Alone" and headed to bed.    

Christmas morning, we made Nolan wait until at least 7 to get up and head downstairs.  Poor Lucy wasn't feeling well at all.  She could have easily slept for several more hours. We all went down together, and the kids looked in their stockings.  We then enjoyed breakfast.  We did cinnamon roll French toast again with buttermilk syrup.  It was so delicious! I was glad we were able to actually surprise the kids with most of their gifts this year.  Lucy knew a lot of hers. We shopped together while she was in town for Thanksgiving.  She also created a wish list on Amazon for me.  She got some new clothes and lots of little things like some new shoes and makeup.  Garrett was surprised with most of his as well.  Lucy and Garrett both got some new air pods which they wanted.  We surprised Garrett with some new Adidas Sambas that he had been wanting.  He was with me when we got a new coat at the outlet mall.  Nolan was the most surprised.  We surprised him with a new Nike elite basketball bag.  He was so shocked.  He never thought he would actually get one. He got a new suit for church and some new socks.  He thought that was all he was getting and decided he wanted to check the garage just to see if there was another gift out there for him.  He had been telling us for weeks that he wanted an electric scooter or electric bike.  While he was checking the garage Garrett carried Nolans last gift up from the basement.  When he came back, he was like "oh is that for me?!" He was shocked to unwrap an electric scooter!  He was so happy he got tears in his eyes.  I love great surprises like that.  Such happiness!  We also got Lucy a scooter and helmet.  We had it shipped to her apartment in Utah.  It came before she came home and she had already been riding it around.  She is just as excited about it as Nolan.  She said it gives her a little bit of freedom and helps her feel like she can get around on her own.  Nolan couldn't wait to get it charged so he could ride it around.  We were thankful for such a warm Christmas so he could enjoy it.  He picked out a new full-face helmet to wear when he rides around. I got JJ a new BYU tie that Lucy helped me get from the bookstore.  I also got him some new pants for work from Under Armor.  It was fun watching everyone open gifts and get things that all wanted and needed.  After gifts Lucy went back to bed.  She slept for several hours and then enjoyed watching some basketball with JJ.  I got out a Christmas puzzle I got from my mom.  I worked on that while watching a Christmas movie on my phone.  Later JJ and I went on a nice walk with Nolan riding on his scooter.  We went down on the trail and have a nice walk.  We had a nice ham dinner together and spent the evening relaxing.  I worried that the day might have been boring or lacked traditions that we have done in the past.  I certainly felt bad that Lucy wasn't feeling well.  I hope that in a way the day was exactly what we all wanted and needed.  We spent time talking with family on facetime.  We relaxed, enjoyed our gifts and enjoyed a nice day together.

 

Candy Cane Lane

Sunday was the Christmas program at church.  JJ and I were asked to participate in a musical number.  He was asked to sing with another sister in the ward, and I was going to play my violin with the piano.  We got together the week before to practice together.  It didn't go well.  I struggled with timing and coming in at the right time.  The pianist seemed frustrated with me and how our parts were not fitting together.  The vocal parts sounded great.  I left practice feeling like I should just bow out of playing all together.  JJ and I worked together practicing along with a recording throughout the week.  We thought things sounded well.  I practiced again with the pianist on Friday, and things came together with us better.  We were never able to practice again with all four of us.  I just crossed my fingers it would all come together.  Even if I got off, we would have to just keep going.  I was so focused and worried about my part I didn't pay much attention to the other parts as we performed.  We finished and sat down, and I looked over and saw JJ was upset.  I wasn't sure what happened, so I sent him a text.  He said he did awful, and he felt so bad.  After church several people talked to us about our musical number.  There were lots of comments to JJ about being brave and thanking him for being willing to sing.  I was thankful for nice compliments on my playing.  I don't play often and having people tell me they were so excited to hear me play made me feel good.  When we got in the car, we were able to talk about what happened.  JJ said when he came in for his solo part his voice cracked and then he really struggled to find the right notes.  It was like he opened his mouth, and the notes just didn't come out.  There was one sister who came up and was talking to JJ after church.  She thanked him for singing and said it was so refreshing to hear someone be imperfect.  She said she loves to sing but just could never get up there and try to sing in front of anyone.  We also talked at home about how many may have felt something with an imperfect performance.  Sometimes Sunday meetings when all that is displayed is talent can make some feel that they don't have any talents.  JJ just felt so bad for ruining our musical number.  I think the spirit was still felt and several people commented how lovely it was.  For whatever reason, it wasn't perfect.  I know we both would have felt a lot more at peace before the performance if we would have been able to run through it at least once more.  

Looking at our week and Garrett's work schedule, we didn't have many choices for going down to Candy Cane Lane.  We decided to head down that evening.  We walked up and down the street and then went over a few blocks to walk down Snowflake Lane.  After that street we cut back over to Candy Cane Lane and walked down it another time.  We had hoped to go down on a day Donut Drive in was open but they close early on Sundays. We decided to get Ted Drews while we were down there.  It was Sunday but we decided to go anyways.  Maybe not the best example but it made for a fun first trip for the kids.  We all enjoyed eating our treat in the Christmas tree lot there.  This was our second time coming down to enjoy the lights on Candy Cane Lane.  Hopefully this becomes a new fun tradition for us. I have heard several friends combine it with eating at a fun restaurant down there. Maybe over the years our trip will change a little each time. Maybe one of the years we will actually time it to get donuts. 

 

Main Street and Santa

We tried to pack a lot in on Saturday.  Garrett had off work and JJ doesn't get very many days off during the kids break from school.  I saw online that Chick-fil-A was having a Santa cow with free breakfast.  We planned on going over there and JJ also went over to Chase bank to help Garrett get a new bank account.  When we got to Chick-fil-A they weren't giving away breakfast anymore but gave us free lunch coupons.  We waited a few minutes and then enjoyed some lunch.  We had a few quick errands and then Nolan had a basketball game.  We all enjoyed cheering him on.  We were thankful to have such nice weather for this time of year. It made it nice to enjoy main street.  We parked father down the street this time putting us close to where the gingerbread competition is.  We started there.  The theme was St. Louis and as always, the houses were impressive and fun to look at. We made our way down the street stopping in a few stores.  I specifically wanted to look for Christmas ornaments for the kids.  I found some fun gnome ones in Joys market.  Lucy helped me pick them out. We went in a few other stores and stopped to take a few pictures.  The boys would have enjoyed cookies but the lines was super long.  We made our way all the way down the street and then had dinner at Hendrix BBQ.  It was delicious.  We all shared the feast with all sorts of meat and sides.  After dinner we walked back down main street to our car.  It was pretty to walk back when all the lights were on. I had been watching appointments at Bass Pro Shop to see Santa but didn't have any luck for Saturday.  I had one during the following week in case we needed it.  We stopped by after dinner and stood in the standby line hoping to get in.  Thankfully after waiting for just a little bit, we were able to get in to see Santa.  I told the kids they have to visit Santa until they graduate from high school.  Technically Lucy didn't need to sit in for the picture, but she figured she might as well because she was there.  I love having a picture of all of them.   Lucy asked for a cat, Garrett asked for some new shoes and Nolan asked for an electric scooter.  We walked around and Garrett tried to convince us that he needed a Carhart coat.  Lucy found a new flannel jacket.  It was a fun day together.  I was glad we were able to do so many fun things together.  We certainly made some fun memories.     

 

The 13th marked 4 years since my mom passed.  I came downstairs in the morning and saw some flowers on the island.  They were all droopy and looked like they were dying.  I asked the JJ, and he said he didn't get them.  When Garrett woke up, I asked him about them, and he said they were from Lucy.  I asked him why they were dying.  He said they aren't.  I found out that Lucy asked him to get them and he got them before going to work.  The flowers sat in his car, in a cup of water, while he worked. It was so cold the flowers must have frozen.  Lucy felt really bad because they were beautiful.  I told her not to worry about it.  It was such a sweet gesture.  It was so nice of her to think of me on a day that is always hard.

 A friend from church organized a reindeer run in the neighborhood.  JJ was excited to participate.  He went to the dollar store after work and got some light up things to wear.  They started at the high school and ran through the neighborhood, running about 7 miles.  They ran by our house, and we went out to cheer them on as they passed.  JJ said it was a lot of fun!

Lucy is home!  We are so excited to have her home for almost three weeks.  We are proud of her for finishing her first semester.  I know it has not been easy and she has worked really hard.  She is excited to be able to relax and rest over the holidays. 

I am excited to start winter break almost as much as the kids are.  Knowing I have a few weeks off sounds so wonderful.  We had Mr. and Mrs. Claus stop by and visit us this week.  I am thankful for my co-workers.  We did our gift exchange and brought food in the last day.  They sure make my workdays fun, and I enjoy their company. 

Football Banquet

We attended Garrett's football banquet Sunday afternoon.  Garrett received his varsity letter for football.  All the senior players were able to say something and then we had a potluck dinner with everyone.  It was a nice celebration and end of the football year for the players.  I can't believe that next year Garrett will be a senior. He had a great year playing.  He played a lot on JV but also a little on varsity.  Next year he will be only on varsity and hopefully get some more play time. 

 

Ward Party

Nolan was asked to participate in the ward program at the Christmas party.  They put on a shadow play.  Nolan was one of the wiseman. It was a really neat program, and the ward really enjoyed it. It was something different.  It was nice and short and had a powerful message.  Everyone that participated got an ornament that said "hallelujah".  The song that went with the program was Hallelujah.  A special reminder for Nolan.    

 

Band Concert

Nolan has enjoyed playing the cornet in band this semester. He had his first band concert and was excited to play for us.  I told him the concert was this week and he was shocked.  He said they were still learning songs that they were playing at the concert.  We knew it was going to be entertaining to listen to a beginning band.  It was nice that they had some high school band students sitting here and there with the beginning band kids. Nolan did a great job playing and had a few songs he told us were his favorite.  Garrett came to listen to him play and then left when Nolans group was done.  Nolan said the band teacher said after a concert it would be fun to go out for ice cream.  We decided that was a fun reward and went to Wendys for a frosty after the concert was over.  It was a fun evening listening to Nolan play.  

 

Snow Day

The Monday that Lucy flew back home we got a snowstorm that came earlier than predicted.  It snowed really heavy all morning long and they called an early release from school.  It was a mess trying to get everyone home safely.  Garrett has never driven in the snow before and said he slid several times while trying to drive home.  I was able to get home fine.  I drove nice and slowly.  Nolan had to wait a while because of a car accident in front of the school.  He asked me to come get him but with the roads so bad I told him to just ride the bus.  JJs office closed early but he waited for the plows to come through before coming home.  We were thankful to all be home safely that evening.  They called a snow day for the next day.  It was nice to not have to worry about going anywhere.  The boys enjoyed playing in the snow with friends.  Nolan shoveled some driveways to earn some money.  Garrett had some friends over for sledding and some hot chocolate.  Nolan also went sledding with some friends.  I enjoyed catching up on some things at home.  I finished getting the Christmas decorations up and was thankful for a day at home.