Temple trip and family dinner

 Today Gator had made an appointment for baptisms so Blake, Millie, Lucy, and Bethany went with her.  They stopped at Fiiz on the way back to get a drink.  Rachelle and I drove them, because it was a little stormy today.  We were walking out of Fiiz and my mom sent a rainbow.  Which was perfect timing because we had just been talking about her on the way back from the temple.  

We had a family Christmas party tonight with my family.  My dad and Dianne were supposed to come, but with the weather they decided to stay home.  But we still got together, ate dinner, played basketball, tied a couple more blankets for our service project, and Grace always brings a fun game for everyone to do.  Carrie gave all the kids a bracelet that came with an animal that they can track throughout the world.  The kids all loved this gift and spent a lot of the night making sure they got each others info so they could track all the animals.  I love getting together with family, I actually would love to have a weekly dinner or even more often.  

Aquarium lights

 With Owen & Kylee being in town, I wanted to plan a fun activity so we bought tickets to the aquarium.  They had a lantern festival all month that I had been wanting to go to, but December is just always so busy.  They weren't exactly "Christmas lights", but they were all awesome.  The lights were amazing, and with our tickets we also got into the aquarium.  The only problem was that for it to be dark enough to see the lights outside, it is too late inside for the animals and they were mostly all in bed for the evening.  We did get to see some fish, but I love the penguins and they were all asleep in the dark.  The lights were definetely woth the drive down to Draper.  

Not many pictures

 I didn't take hardly any pictures today.  I know, that is so unlike me.  I was just relaxing and enjoying Christmas.  We talked to Eden and Dallin for a while, and watched the kids open their presents.  Krissy made breakfast and the rest of the morning we just took it easy.  Owen & Kylee went up to her moms for Christmas, and Davis & Kin were at her dads.  Gator & I drove up to Kin's dads for a little bit this afternoon to visit with them, then we came home and watched the Grinch.  Davis & Kin came home later and we went upstairs to see their gifts.  It was a good Christmas.  We even had a little tiny bit of snow to make it a white Christmas.  It didn't stick around too long, because it has been raining, but it was there this morning.  

Christmas Eve

 Everyone had to work this year so we had to change up our plans a little.  Owen & Kylee came down and we revisited our ice cream before the Christmas Eve party tradition.  We used to go out for ice cream every year, but I got ice cream and all the toppings so we could have ice cream sundaes here and have a couple hours to celebrate Christmas together before Davis and Kin left for their party and the rest of us went to Kaysville for the Stewarts party.  I will take whatever time I get with my kids. Christmas is different with older kids and having to share now with in laws, but I am so grateful we still get to be together.  

We did a couple new things this year at the Christmas Eve party.  Sheila brought stuff for the kids to make snowglobes, Krissy and I got fleece for everyone to help make blankets to donate, and Stewarts had the audacity to change the dessert.  I wasn't a fan of the new dessert, but of course Owen still got a nut.  It was a little different with 3 missionaries not being there, but Eden, Dallin, and Jake are all doing great on their missions.  

I didn't get a picture soon enough and people were stating to leave by the time I got up from the blankets, but I still got some of the family gathered for a picture.  

Too many dogs

I would've never guessed I would be such a dog grandma, but my kids all insist on keeping them around, so I guess I will just go with it and take them for more walks.  Usually I take just Willow, but when someone else helps me, Jake and Joey get to go along.  

Still swimming

 Swim season is still going for Gator.  She is still improving with each race, but thinks the swim meets are too long.  I've always thought she was a beautiful swimmer and have enjoyed watching her.  

Elf Night

 Josh and Rachelle kept with their tradition of renting the Kaysville theater and showing Elf.  I hope they never stop doing this, because it is a fun thing to do together every Christmas season.  

Roy lights

We were running errands all day trying to get everything done before Christmas.  I have a million things to do for my new job, but I was so stressed today I just ignored my 7 page to do list and ran errands instead.  We got home late, Davis & Kin pulled in at the same time, but they asked if we wanted to take the dogs up to the Roy lights so we grabbed Willow and got back in the car to go see Christmas lights. 

Big Change

 Today I closed an 11 year chapter of my life and opened a huge new scarey chapter.  I've been working as a Para at Rocky (moving to Mountain View this year), but after getting my degree I decided it was time to put that degree to use and I started a new job as THE teacher at Roy Jr High.  I am beyond scared and overwhelmed.  I went up to my new classroom today and met my 7 students (all boys), and my 4 Paras.  I will be returning to school in the fall to get my teaching license, but with my degree I was still hired as a teacher.  I have a huge list of things to do and paperwork to finish.  I am so stressed out, my vision is blurry, but I am really excited!  I just have to convince myself that I don't have to get it all done and change everything all at once.  

I interviewed last week and it took awhile to get all the boxes checked, I had almost given up at getting the job, but I got a phone call Wednesday and Gator came home with a treat to celebrate.  

Christmas Village

 I want to see all the Christmas lights, I love Christmas lights.  Gator was supposed to have a swim meet tonight, but it was cancelled.  I had the night off work, I should've gone to work since the swim meet was cancelled, but we picked up Zoie & Brady instead and went to the Christmas Village and to get peppermint ice cream. 

This was one of my favorites.