Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Here are some of the highlights from the holidays.

It was Eliza’s year to top the Christmas tree this year.  She did a great job.

She really enjoyed learning some Christmas songs this year.

Eliza’s Christmas piano recital.  Landon got to play a piece he’s been working on as well. And Ashley played her violin for a song. It’s fun to see these kids musical talents develop.

Baking Christmas cookies from a neighbor gift.

We did Christmas lights this year. We’ve really enjoyed them!

We (Kathryn) had a lot of fun with our Elf on the Shelf.

Lots of foosball tournaments.

The girls had friends over for gingerbread house decorating.

Sunday portrait.

Christmas party with the Hawkers.

Christmas jello.

I busted out the trumpet for my annual Christmas music performance.

Tim and Suzanne joined us for Christmas Eve dinner.

Candles and oil lamps lit our dinner.

All decked out in our Christmas PJs.

I had some fun printing out some cool coupons on the 3D printer.

Merry Christmas morning!  What a fun day!

Cashing in on the escape room coupon.

Laser tag kit from a Mark Rober Hack Pack box. When you get hit, your goggles go dark.

We zoomed up to Idaho for a New Year’s Eve party.

Looking good!

The traditional glasses picture!

We had a pretty epic dance party!

Landon wanted on my shoulders.

Then Eliza.

Then Ashley.

Then we did a stack!

Then Zoey wanted in too!

Welcome 2025! We went skiing at Pomerelle with Josie and Jimmy’s family. At the excellent recommendation of Josie, we got a harness and leash for Landon with this being his first time skiing. This is definitely the best way to teach a little kid how to ski.

It took two runs down the bunny hill and one and a half runs down Milk before I felt Landon was ready to go on his own. I unclipped his leash while we were skiing and let him go. After a couple dozen yards, he looked back and realized he was all on his own. Like a boss!

Lunch at the lodge. Ah, memories.

Landon and Caroline were ski buddies.

Ashley and me. Kathryn was behind the camera. Eliza was off bombing down the “black diamond” run Instructor with Avery and Laura. She bragged that she went down the whole thing without any turns. Some things never change!

Meanwhile, Kacho and Zoey stayed with Mom and Dad at home. After skiing, we rendezvoused with them at the freeway and loaded up for home.

We stopped at Tim and Suzanne’s house and had some dinner and then left the kids for a sleepover. What a trip! What a great break! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It’s birthday season and I’m up!  Happy Birthday to me Kathryn put on a wonderful concert the day before and we brought all the kids.  Lots of fun!

Yum yum!

Kids make birthdays a lot of fun!

Eliza created this clever game using a magnet behind the paper to maneuver the little man and the goal was to get the chicken into the box.  She’s always dreaming up fun creations.

Birthday dinner at the Hawker’s.  Incredible food.  And then we had an ice cream sundae bar afterwards.  Happy chaos.  Afterwards, we had a nice quiet chat with Tim and Suzanne.  Thanks for the fun evening!

Landon’s last birthday gift to me.  He wanted me to pull out his front tooth on my birthday!  Mission accomplished.

The kids write the sweetest notes.  They are the most prized birthday gifts.  From Ashley:

From Eliza:

From Landon, who insisted he do this entirely on his own without any assistance:

Thanks everyone for helping me have a special birthday!  I love you all!

Happy Thanksgiving 2024!  First, a little side project needed finishing up before Kevin and Bethany came to stay with us on their way up to Idaho.  Over the course of several weeks, we printed out all the pieces to make an abstract world map wall display.  It was finally time to get it all glued together.

Hanging it on the wall was the worst part!  So many measurements and being so careful.  Good thing I busted out the laser eyes to get it all dialed in.

What a relief to have it all up.  Also, so excited to go to bed.

Here is the finished product! I think it turned out great!

Breakfast with Kevin and Bethany.  It was fun to have them over for the night.

Our turn to make the drive up.  Hanging with the kiddos for a bit through Idaho.

Grandpa Gerald hugs are the best!

Craft time.  Happy girls.

This was a terrific turkey shoot.  The kids all got a chance to shoot the 22s.

And then we got out the shotguns for an epic game of Annie Oakley.  Steve Harmon and Nephi came over to hang out and it was fun to see them and battle it out just like in the good ol’ days.

Josie and Jimmy cooked and carved the turkey.  It turned out super good.

Digging in.

I am thankful for you!

Zoey and I played a game of “down the hatch”.

Looking good.

Driving the RC car with Kevin and Mom.

Evening hang out at Grandma Nancy’s house.

This year, we got to celebrate Mom’s birthday in person with her, enjoying the traditional German Pancakes.

And, of course, the stair picture!

We cooked up my rice and beans recipe for dinner that night.

One last dog pile on the birthday girl.

Heading home.  What a good Thanksgiving!  We truly are grateful for all the wonderful people in our life.

I feel like I say this every year, but our little girl is growing up fast! Here she is up front leading out in the Music Revue this year!

Friend party spa night all ready to go with eye masks, tinsel, and nails.

Running the kitchen and plating up dinner for the gang.

Candles in cookies

Official birthday morning. German pancakes, and the stair picture.

The ceremonial door opening.

The haul.

Love you Ashley! Good times are ahead when you are around!

Tim and Suzanne came down for the afternoon to visit and celebrate Ashely with us.

Then we went to the Young Women preview meeting. Yes, this girl is graduating primary in a few short weeks!

You might have noticed all the snow in the previous pictures. We got dumped on that weekend. Here are some pictures from the action in the snow.

Hiking Zoey down the hill!

Ashley, we love you and hope you had a very happy 11th birthday!!