Caleb Turned 7!

While we were in Boise for All-State, Caleb had his birthday.  We haven't done an away from home birthday for a really long time.  It was fun!  Caleb chose to eat at Pizza Pie Cafe, and after All-State, he got to open his presents.

The kids were able to visit Great Grandma Helen, who was 11 days from turning 103.  It was a special visit, and they really enjoyed all the stories she told them.

Caleb, you are such a perfect final addition to our family!  We love your patient, kind, loving personality.  We also love that you get along with everyone in the family and keep our home neat.  Even at age 7, I still think you have all of your siblings wrapped around your finger.  We loved celebrating with you and can't wait to see what this year brings!  Happy Birthday, Buddy!  We love you.

At 7 Caleb loves:

Walks while catching Wiffle balls hit by Conrad or Dad
Baseball
Riding his bike
Spending time with our family
His new water bottle
Fishing
Camping
Pretty much anything outside
He can't wait until he's old enough to hunt and get to go with the boys.  

Idaho All-State Chior

Back at the beginning of the school year, when Hailey told me she wanted to try out for All-State, I hadn't ever heard of it.  I found out it's like going to state for a choir.  They basically have twenty-five kids from Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass groups and form a choir.  To try out, they sing from a required song and scale to their choir teachers.  The teachers record it and send it to the judges.  Then they pick.

I figured that since she's a freshman, it would be hard to make it, but I thought it would be great practice to try out.  Well, she made it and looked forward to it for months!  It was in Nampa at NNU.  She was in heaven as she sang all day and got to listen to others perform.  She really loved it!

It sounded terrific, and hopefully, I'll get a recording to post.

Here are some highlights.

Snowmobiling

We've gone snowmobiling a couple of times this winter.  The first time we went was up at Mesa Falls.  Hailey didn't make it, but everyone else did.  It was a perfect day.  The weather was great, and the kids LOVED it.  Conrad and Jack had fun learning how to drive too.

We also went out to Kelly's, had a fire, and went sledding.  It was all fun and games until Hailey got about 15 feet of air and crashed!  She laid on the ground for about 20 minutes, and we pulled her back in a sled.  Hays was on crutches for about two weeks until we found out she had a torn MCL.  She is now in a brace and physical therapy until April.  

This is a colossal sledding hill the kids went on.

Hailey made this rose in the snow.  

He's an Eagle Scout

Conrad has worked really hard and fast to get this award.  Right after he got into young men's, we heard that the Scouting Program was going to be dropped because the Church was going to implement a new program.  That meant he had less than two years to finish.

Bo has been Scoutmaster and planned to get anyone done in the time that they wanted to.  They were able to get quite a few done.  They held their Court of Honor last week, and seven of the boys combined theirs.  It was enjoyable and cool to see all those boys get their awards.  They all worked really hard.

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Conrad's Eagle project was to finish painting an exhibit for the East Idaho Aquarium.  Here are some Pics.

Way to go, Conrad!  Your hard work and dedication paid off!

Christmas 2019!

As Christmastime comes every year, I love the excitement in the air.  I love the way people band together to help each other out, there is a special love that is almost palpable.  I think it's actually people being reminded of what is most essential, and the Savior's name is all over.  This reminds them to act as the Savior did.

Christmas celebrates the first gift.  The greatest gift ever given.  This gift is from a Father who sent His perfect son to save any and all who will look to Him and strive through him to be our best selves.  He knew the Savior was the only one to help us return home.  He sent Jesus.  His gift and our Savior sacrificed himself, so we had a chance.  Look to Him.  His love is unlike any other.  He is truly the Prince of Peace, and for about a month every year, a special feeling comes around that helps us see a little more how to become more like him...May we try to follow Him the other eleven months of the year.


Christmas came so quickly this year.  I felt like we didn't get everything done I wanted to.  It didn't help that three of us were sick a few days leading up to Christmas and so I stayed home so we wouldn't spread the yuck.  But even though we didn't get it all done, we had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas!

Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve was spent at home with my parents over.  The kids had fun eating, playing games, and seeing who won the pie game.  Jackson won this year.  He seems to win quite a bit. HAHA.

Here are some Gingerbread houses the boys made Sunday night.  Hailey wasn't feeling well, so she didn't make one this year.

Caleb had a small scratch of his face but thought he needed a bandaid.

Jackson opening the gift he won for finding the popcorn kernel in the pie.

New PJ's

Christmas morning was excellent.  The kids got up around 7 and spent some time looking through stockings until I finished breakfast.  Crepes with chocolate pudding, strawberry sauce, and whipped cream.  It's worth pushing back opening presents for, I think.  It's their favorite breakfast, and I only cook it once a year.

I've decided that when you have a big family, a few presents each looks like a lot!

Waiting to run out and see what was left.

Our breakfast feast!

Then everyone headed downstairs, and the opening began.  Fun was had by all, and the rest of the day was spent playing with toys and sleeping.  I'm always exhausted by Christmas afternoon.

My family came into town the day after and we had a great time together. The adults went and got sushi one night.  Many of the girl cousins went to Idaho Falls with Dustin's Abbey and her fiance.  Hailey had so much fun.  It was fun to watch everyone spend time together.

Carley came over for new years, and I realized I didn't take any pictures. :(  We had a great time with them.  The kids played in the snow and rode around behind the snowmobile.