#33

Happy Birthday!  I drove the kids 601 miles to snowy Utah arrived in time for a shared birthday.  Sunday services included hearing John and Rebekah speak, Tyler sing, and Andy sing in Sunday School (fluke).  Rice Crispy treats for a cake done me in!

 Birthday part II was celebrated at the roller rink.  40 guests and 2 hours later proved to be a memorable experience.

 Dearest, and only friend, came to my party.

 The three birthday girls.

Dreams for my year at 33:

Birth a delicious baby

Find charity within my depths

Be slower to anger

Sing more often in my home

1

Last day of my 32nd year. Loving Utah. Shopping at Tai Pan, beautiful mountains, and a selfie. This year I weaned my baby, moved to a new state, Austin started a new job, and have 26 weeks of baby inside. What a year. What a blessed life.

2

I drove the gianormous Suburban to Utah for nine hours today.  The children were gems. We love Utah!

3

I ran up this hill today. It crushed me. This picture gives no credit to the runner. At least the sky is pretty.

Christmas Day

The children awakened at 5.  I heard them by 5:40.  Austin made them wait until 6:30.  They were ready!

 Santa came!

The loot.

 Paper.

 New jammies from Babcock Grandparents.

 Breakfast casserole.

 Mid-morning fun.

Austin instituted a new tradition -- the Polar Bear Plunge -- 60 degrees outside, 44 degree water temp.

 I made pizza for dinner -- every one ate heartily, and I was in the kitchen for an hour!

 An ode to Jim -- the Czecho-Slovak Symphony

Merry Christmas!  While eating breakfast I could hardly contain myself because I felt sheer joy.  Joy for my lovely children and husband, joy for the season, and joy for my testimony in Jesus Christ.

Christmas Eve

Morning time came and we each made our own loaves of cinnamon bread and dipped pretzels to leave for Santa.  

We then went hiking all afternoon.

Of course we performed the nativity.

 This year the children didn't open jammies, they opened new stockings -- I embroidered their names.

 We put treats out for Santa, but Eddie ate them all evening long.

Our loaded tree that evening.

7

Austin and I wrapped presents yesterday morning; this morning began the organizing.

8

A Christmas Miracle -- SNOW!

 The entire day we spent finishing our Saturday chores -- hoping the laundry, house work and yard work will now keep until after Christmas -- but we did pause to drink in the sunset.

Evening spent sitting in lawn chairs and watching a light show choreographed to lovely holiday music.  It was a balmy 40 degrees in our chairs, so only minimal bundling was required.

9

This morning I had an appointment with Dr. Reed.  My blood pressure was 90/45, super low.  I couldn't have ever guessed that -- nothing but huge stress these past weeks.  We mostly cleaned the house today.  The elders came for a vegan dinner.

This evening Eddie colored while I finished one of my six sewing projects.

 Austin and the kids watched a show.  

10

Maisie stayed home sick with the stomach flu.  Eddie helped me wrap and unwrap five gifts -- not even a dent.  (3 gifts each for 7 people = 21packages to go.)

 

 I made cinnamon bread for the teachers.  These turned out so well.

11

Wednesday morning Maisie had her school program.  Then the littles and I played games and read books.  In the afternoon we ground wheat (nothing better than brown-bread toast).  In the evening we helped get all the big people to their church activities.

12

Tuesday.  Krispy Kremes and Andy's project.

13

My lunch made me happy.

 Meg prepared FHE tonight.  She taught us about Gail Halverson, the WWII candy bomber.  We made parachutes and tried to eat pudding with a long-handled spoon.  We were happy together.