Senior Sweethearts

 Another "last" for Gator😢.  She went with a group of friends tonight to the Sweethearts dance.  We did another scavenger hunt activity for their day date today.  I'm not sure if there are any pictures from that or not, I was lucky to get any of the evening I think.  The pictures are the last thing any of them think of.  I am grateful Gator has had a year full of fun experiences and memories.  3 1/2 months and she will be graduated and ready to leave high school behind and begin a new life in college.  I refuse to think about that yet. 

Happy Birthday Davis

I went out to dinner with Davis tonight for his birthday.  He chose The Pie.  Gator couldn't go because she is home prepping for a colonoscopy tomorrow, still trying to figure out her gut.  Davis turned 23 today!  Never has the saying "the days are long, but the years are short" rang more true as I watch my kids grow and turn another year older each year.  

Weekend Away

 I've never liked January.  It is a gross, long, boring month.  So I planned a long weekend down south to a balloon festival.  We stayed with my dad, and traveled back and forth from Washington to Toquerville.  This festival was my least liked one of the 3 I've been to.  The location wasn't great, and the balloon glow didn't happen on Saturday night, and that is usually so fun to go to.  We got stuck in the parking lot (rude people) and had to readjust our plans a couple of times.  Saturday morning was fun.  The balloons were late launching, and we stood in line for 2 1/2 hours waiting for the rides  to start, but that was really cool.  I had bought us tickets for a tethered ride, and it was really short, basically up and down, but it was still fun to give it a try.  After the morning stuff, we were going to go back to my dads and wait for Josh & Rachelle to drop off Eli & Millie.  But with the car being blocked in, we had to come up with a different plan.  We walked to DQ, got a treat and dad & Dianne came to us and we went to lunch.  Gator took a nap in the car while we walked around to the few booths, but it wasn't very organized or fun so they went back home and we planned to stick around and wait for Josh & Rachelle to drop off the kids to us.  They were going into St George for the night for their anniversary, so we took Eli & Millie around to the festivities, and planned on going to the balloon glow that didn't ever happen.  We finally just left and sat in the mess of the parking lot and went to get dinner.  So we still had fun.  Then on Sunday Gator & I took the kids to St George and we stayed there for the day hanging out, swimming, and going to dinner.  Today we drove home, (stopping at the Beaver Creamery) and now have to prepare for the week of work ahead.  January is over half over so that is good, we are just in an ugly, awful weather pattern of inversion and disgusting air pollution.  We haven't had any snow this year, it is going to be a scary summer water wise.  

In a hot air balloon.  This was fun! 

Flashbacks to when were here in the fall.  That corn maze wasn't too impressive either, it's okay, we've tried twice with this location, I don't think we'll do any other festivities there though.  

No balloons, they were just puffing their fire.  I was so sad.  I love the night balloon glow.  

Senior Swim Season

 I haven't posted very many pictures (if any) of Gator's swim season.  She has been still fighting some sickness and problems, so she hasn't been to every practice, but she is just about done with her senior season and she has gotten better with her times.  I'm glad she tried swim last year, it fits her and she's always been fun to watch swim.  It is her long arms and legs, I think she looks the part.  And she has found some of her best friends through swim, I know she keeps up with it more for the social part than the competition part, and that is okay.  

No way we are here.  Her last home swim meet of her senior season.  My 3rd and final to graduate high school, it is just so unreal.  

The seniors (and a couple juniors) all went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner after the meet.  

When she first started last year, she couldn't get the hang of the dive off the block.  She has come so far in that alone.  

At the senior swim meet, they ended with some fun relays.  This one they swam with a huge tshirt on then the team had to switch the tshirt to another member and so forth until the whole relay team had swam.  It was hilarious.  And Weber joined in all the fun, which I thought was cool.  That would never happen in football or basketball.  

They had to start this relay with a cannonball, some just did a belly flop, but it was fun.  

And after both teams jumped into the pool and had a little party! 

The boys are pretty quiet

 Once in awhile I get a picture from on of the boys.  They are both working a ton, and Owen's new semester is insane, but once in awhile they get out and do something fun.  Well, fun for them I guess.  

New Smile

Gator had an exciting day.  She got her braces off today!  She has been waiting for them to come off forever and she has a beautiful straight smile to show for the last 18 months of dealing with food constantly stuck in her braces and monthly painful appointments.  

 

Frozen

Our first outing of 2026.  Davis, Kin, Rachelle, and Millie went to see Frozen at Hale Theater with us.  We went to a yummy dinner before and then enjoyed the play for the 3rd or 4th time.  I've seen a few plays multiple times, Beauty and the Beast & Frozen being the ones I've seen the most.  They are both so good, but I do need to branch out.  

End of 2025

 Gator is at a New Years Eve party with her friends.  That is it for 2025, next up 2026.  The new year is always daunting for me, I don't know why.  But here we go, it is going to be a big one with Gator graduating and moving to Idaho.  I am definitely not ready for any of it. 

Christmas celebrations

Here we are December 26th, another Christmas has come and gone.  And now Christmas 2026 will be here in a few short blinks.  Christmas has sure changed over the years, and we are looking at another year of changes this year with Gator graduating and moving.  Time just keeps moving along, faster and faster.  But we had a really fun Christmas Eve party with the Stewarts.  I am grateful for such an amazing family, who still includes me in all the holidays.  We ate, played games, and visited with each other.  We are a loud, crazy family, but that is just how we do things with the Stewarts.  After the party, Gator and I went to spend the night at Krissy & PJ's like we have the last few years.  This one was tough for me.  Next Christmas is going to be so different, growing up is fun and all, but at times I just don't want my kids to grow up anymore.  Owen & Kylee went back to my place to spend the night before going to her mom's for the morning, and Davis & Kin usually spend the night at her dad's in preparation for Christmas morning.  It was another wonderful Christmas and I love being with family and making so many fun memories.  

One cheater, one not, but Owen & Kylee made $20 at the party one way or another.  

The dang Cactus Cooler, I'd never even tried the stuff before the party, and now I am the Cactus Cooler provider for the Super Bowl party.  

The only picture of Christmas Day.