celebrations

*Blogger's functionality is getting old! So sometimes it loads the pictures correctly and sometimes backwards. It is hard to switch them around, so I am choosing to just leave them backwards!

 

Ryan was decimated this creature! So fun hitting things with a stick I guess!

Whack a shark!

Sophia was skiing, but these 3 worms got together for ice skating. Megan's first time!

Lucy is leery of our electronic pet, Sullivan. Personally, I am very fond of our vacuum!

When Ry finished the instructor said 'You passed with 94%. Do you want to prank your dad? Follow my lead.' So the guy proceeded to tell us that Ryan was nearly in an accident, that he was pretty good, but that he failed at the last intersection. We were trying to be supportive but also super disappointed for Ryan. Then the guy says, 'Nah, just kidding. He did a great job! He passed.'

I was the designated teacher, so I had to go with Ry through everything (Covid restrictions made Dan wait outside!)

Ryan was determined to get his license on his birthday, so in July he started reminding me to get him an appt. Luckily we had all the paperwork and the appointment, so we managed to get him tested.

Not bad for a middle of the night raid! I also blew up gold glowing balloons and threw them into his room before the singing began.

When your birthday falls so close to Christmas, sometimes you get overlooked. So I got up super early 12/27 and went to Wal-Mart to help make Ry's 16th bday awesome!

Alex helped me construct this sewing table. I love it!

Nap time!

Christmas waffles for breakfast.

Look at my lovelies!

Science before Christmas!

With very little sleep, we got up very early Christmas morning to watch the James Webb telescope launch. To date, it is fully functioning and going as planned.

Dan took Ryan to finish his driving hours. I took this lot to Deerfield to walk around and enjoy the lights.

Killin' time on Christmas Eve.

My anniversary gift was tickets to Pentatonix. It was awesome! 

Uncle Mike came for Christmas. He was a good sport and helped me with my holiday puzzle!

For our 20th anniversary I wanted to take the family out to celebrate. The kids love Kobe steakhouse!

More December

 

This kid decided he would just maybe run a half-marathon for funsie. He got new shoes for Christmas and startin' running!

The weather was very unpleasant, but he finished!

Sophia came over to play her trumpet. Macey and her friends love playing their instruments together.

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. MJ's backpack was in her usual spot so she faceplanted into the side of the couch instead.

Johanna is helping me out with a kid Christmas request that couldn't be purchased.

He thought he would be filling it with soda while he delivers pizza, but he quickly figured out water doesn't have to be cleaned as often as sticky soda. (Also, for the love, drink more water than soda!!)

Ryan's band concert.

We don't always make Ryan go to sister's concert, but it was on a Monday night, and Alex was already home from college so we all made it. MJ and I arrived at 11am. I watched the 5pm performance. The boys watched the 8pm performance. A lot of sacrifices are made for choir. But it is so uplifting for so many folks that I don't mind too much!

Backstage pep talk in between the performances. This one was 'don't look dead. smile when you sing. look like you want to be here!'

Yay, me and Steph backstage!

MJ and me together for hours and hours!

I was the ensemble manager for Macey choir. It had been a long time since I had to be in the room with a bunch of kids at concert (probably since SLC tour). The teenage boys gave me a run for the money, but overall it went pretty well.

Me breaking rules taking pics of the rehearsal.

Macers looking all grown up and beautiful!

December 2021

Thank you, Lucy, for coordinating with my Christmas colors! 

Ryan is taking advantage of my driving him the final days of fall semester. Boy will hopefully be driving himself come January! 

I made Ryan take me to Deerfield in Plano during our 1 hour driving lesson.

One of my favorite things is teaching teenagers to drive. Not the scary heart stopping part, but the trapped in a car for an hour at a time without their phones part!
 

We 4 went to McKinney Christmas parade. I love parades! But I guess I'm mostly alone in that. :)

But M and Carli got to ride a carousel so that's fun!

Another band, another concert. MJ with Wester this time.

DMCO combined rehearsal for Christmas concert.

We hosted the dessert portion of the YW progressive dinner.

Grandma Betty's inside out chocolate cake was a huge success.

The girls all got marked BoM's from the YW leaders.

My hexagon scrap blanket is coming right along. My ministering sister is an interior decorator; she came over to help me make this layout. Sewing a blanket entirely by hand is kind of crazy, but I like it!

I added the words to this red pillow for a bday gift. Next time I'll just buy the one from Pottery Barn. This was not an easy task!

I got to help with another ward Christmas party. This came at a time when Covid rates were really low, so it was a safe and fun activity.

The morning of the Christmas party was also the Frosty 5K. Alex has decided to become a runner.

And he roped Dan into going too!

I made this super cute ice cream sundae holder for RS gift exchange.

I went to Sam's Club for one thing. I thought it was hilarious that a tree wasn't the one thing!

I volunteered one morning with the Salvation Army collecting donated Christmas gifts.

Alex coming home from college for Christmas break.

He could drive himself home, but his computer needed a ride!

Macey Jane went to a French Horn holiday party. She won a gift card for her decorated horn!