It’s always a fun day to come home and see the Christmas tree up! (It’s always so refreshing to take it down too 🙂 )  I saw the kids in the window, so I came in the front door.  They were hiding under the tree like little Christmas presents and once I came inside, they all jumped up yelling Merry Christmas and came and gave me hugs.  It’s fun being a dad.

Kathryn and the kids always save topping the tree with our star until I get home from work, and it’s become a fun tradition putting it on.

The honor went to Landon this year. The other kids are getting so big to lift up like that ! He did a great job.

I pulled out some tree topping pictures from past years.  Fun to see the kids grow.  Makes me emotional looking through these pictures.  So many fun memories.

2019

2018

2017

2015

2014

2013

I am thankful that Kathryn handles the Christmas decorations and I can just come home and enjoy all her hard work. I love you Kathryn.

Happy Birthday to me! My birthday picture on the stairs 🙂

Ashley will understand someday there’s a big difference between 34 and 54, but for now, both of those ages seem inconceivably old.

Birthday dinner, Puerto Rican rice and beans style with my people and my super cool new sweatshirt I got.

Mixing things up and having an apple pie to celebrate.  We had already eaten the Magleby’s chocolate cake from the Sunday pre party lol!

Life is good, and I’m grateful for all the great people I get to enjoy life with.

Today, Ashley blew us away. Entirely on her own, and without prompting, encouragement, or help of any kind, she prepared and taught a wonderful Primary lesson about the life of Jesus Christ. Today, I am grateful for such a wonderful daughter who is an incredible example to me and all she meets of Christlike love and charity.

Our little girl is growing up so fast!  Seven years old!  We love you Ashley!

Our new dairy free German Pancakes ready to eat!

You are special today!

Those look like some happy post breakfast smiles to me!

These two buckaroos have been having joint birthday parties all along, and this year they joined together in a joint virtual birthday party.

This girl has a lot of friends and was quite generous with the invitations. Each person got a birthday bag delivered with treats and activities for the online games. Bravo Kathryn and Laura for pulling off an amazing party. I ran tech support and made sure that the kids stayed muted so there could be some semblance of order during the bingo and charades games.

And then for some reason, there was shaving cream in the bags and the parting activity was to slather it all over your face and take a picture. Turns out this was Jackson’s birthday party wish. What a geniously mischievous way to make a party sanctioned huge mess in the home of every kid at the party lol!  You’re welcome parents!

Ashley, we love you.  Can’t wait to see what this next year holds.