December 30, 2016

This was one of the best weeks of the year - perhaps the best week.  Between being together at the yurt, Christmas, and Moab - it was just fantastic!

December 29, 2016

The kids seemed to enjoy the Corona Arch hike.  Odd.  They usually don't enjoy hikes but that all said this arch was cool.  D and I took K and T to another cool arch - Delicate - for their first time.  Quite the iconic landmark.  And  Mexican food came through for Mason to enjoy this trip.

December 28, 2016

The Moab trip begins with a great surprise to stumble across a hike.  It was Longbow Arch and it was cool.  And the condo provides a place for games and movie watching.  Brilliant things to do on vacation.

December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas!  I love the spirit of Christmas and sharing things as a family.  The kids are easy to please and are happy and thankful.  And to remember the humble circumstance of the birth of the Savior and Redeemer of the world is just awesome.

December 24, 2016

Well, we had a yurt experience.  Not sure what to think about it.  Happy for the time together but not so happy about the really long night.  Highlights - snowshoeing in, playing cards, Miss Mary Mack with Sadie.  Squishing 3 of us on a little bed, having the top bunk not fall down, being all together with no distractions, seeing Darren really like it, having the freezing outhouse adventure with the girls.  :)

I think I would sum it up by saying it was good mixed with some miserable.  But in the end I'm glad we did it.

December 22, 2016

Lunch days with Ry and Cam have been great.  I need more one on one time with the kids but I'll take what I can get.

December 21, 2016

This Christmas, mend a quarrel.  Seek out a forgotten friend.  Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.  Write a letter.  Give a soft answer.  Encourage youth.  Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.  Keep a promise.  Forgo a grudge.  Forgive an enemy.  Apologize.  Try to understand.  Examine your demands on others.  Think first of someone else.  Be kind.  Be gently.  Laugh a little more.  Express your gratitude.  Welcome a stranger.  Gladden the heart of a child.  Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.  Speak your love and then speak it again. // Howard W Hunter

December 20, 2016

Rylie and I have been having puzzle races where we each have a puzzle and race to see who can complete it fastest.  Fun, I know.

December 19, 2016

L Whitney Clayton's talk from 2015 Christmas Devotional is so good.  I so needed the reminder to "fear not".  Also liked this part, "Because of the Savior born two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, there is hope - and so much more.  There is redemption, release, victory, and triumph."

December 18, 2016

Heavy day today.  The world just seems so strong.  And so hard to navigate.  I'm very thankful for a Savior and His atonement.

December 14, 2016

Such an awesome snowshoe today.  We shoed up Willow Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It was fantastic.  And the steep parts going up made the best sledding parts going down as the snow was soft and you could slow down if you wanted.  Plus there's my favorite aspen forest along this trail.  And a meadow.  And it was snowing.  It was fantastic!

December 13, 2016

Cam has been extra wonderful lately.  Love that girl.

December 9, 2016

"Even at the tender age of 14, Joseph relied upon what he knew - he knew."  Sister Oscarson

December 8, 2016

Ry has been up for playing Dr. Mario with me.  Wahoo!  I even got Mason to play for a second.

December 5, 2016

Great FHE with the First Presidency Christmas Devotional and some hot chocolate.  Mason taught us some stuff from Seminary as well.

December 2, 2016

An amazing second cold morning with no scraping windows needed for Mason.  Happy morning when there's no scraping.