December 31, 2022

Fantastic Cali trip with all of us is in the books! Things to remember:

"Camping" in Beaver Dam.  Seeing the Kynastons and having a huge Mario Kart tournament.  Rainy first evening at the beach. Movie and games every evening.  Taco trail for some.  Sunny beach day.  Panffles. Sea lion spot (they were so close).  The walk to the beach from our house was 1/2 block.  Channel Islands.  Island fox.  Poor sea sick Darren.  Cavern Point hike with awesome views plus hilarious kids. 3 species of dolphins (Risso's, common, bottleneck).  Sound of the rocks as the waves receded.  Unfortunately we were whaleless (Rylie's whale socks did not bring us luck).  Red Robin per California tradition. Kenzie sleeping in the living room. Ocean birds.  Beach sunset.  Mama and baby dolphin.  Acai bowl. Taking a bad family photo and not thinking to take a good one at the beach.

 

December 25, 2022

Hail the heav’n’born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Ris’n with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King!

Merry Christmas! A wonderful Sabbath Christmas it was. K and T joined us for breakfast, church, presents, dinner, and Christmas hanging out.

I like Christmas with my fam. Sadie was funny, Cam was delightful, Rylie was generous, and Darren can now live in the woods for a week. It was great having 7 of us together. We chatted with M and R for a minute on FaceTime. 

 

December 24, 2022

Christmas celebration for Christmas Eve included Draper Chinese dinner with bingo, presents, and chimes.

The girls have been hilarious together tonight. “Do what I do going down the stairs.”

 

December 23, 2022

Draper kid Christmas celebrating was great. Sibling gifts, snack game, scavenger sock hunt, and games - all with lots of laughs and being together. “Tricked you - your present isn’t really a llama.” :)

 

December 22, 2022

Some Christmas time spent with my parents and Denise. It was interesting but the kids were good sports and I love my parents.

The funniest part of today - and there were plenty of funny things in Richfield - was tonight when Darren farted and Sadie said, “Nice one Big D.”  And then we all cracked up. 

December 21, 2022

Helaman - he did bring glad tidings to my soul.

The kids have done some Christmas activities the last few days with Christmas cookies and decorating gingerbread houses. 

December 20, 2022

Went snowshoeing with Darren today around Granite Flat. It was nice to get out even with my clumsy attempt today. It’s been a humbling week with poor pickleball play, getting whipped at SkyJo every game, and today’s snowshoe. But I got a new beanie so there’s that. 

 

December 16, 2022

I do enjoy playing pickleball. 

December 11, 2022

Lots of good little things that made for a week of smiles and contentment. Baylie’s tail wag on the couch in the morning when I come out, not making dinner, O Holy Night by Celine Dion, a new Christmas song - “Merry Christmas” by Ed Sheeran and Elton John, Seinfeld, sweatshirts, quiet morning with scriptures and the Christmas tree lights, certain socks that Kenz gave me for Christmas years ago, mirror drawings, Sadie’s charcoal, Baylie and her penguin, 1Second a Day video from 2020, deer crossing the neighborhood road on my run, Helaman 7:9 - these are my days, singing “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” in church, and Christmas quotes.  

Joseph B Wirthlin - And so He was born: Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Beloved Son of God. The Creator of suns and moons and swirling seas lay wrapped in swaddling clothes, His surroundings among the most humble earth had to offer.

 

“There’s room for everyone on the nice list.” - Buddy the elf