In the past, I would take Ulli snow shoeing, because there was so much snow and the roads were sloppy, not this year. He goes on a boring walk everyday, but jumps in a small snow pile at the bottom of our driveway when we are finished.
Poor Norah was very upset and was afraid to look while we put a bandage on and tried to console her. Kyle took one for the team and sped Norah to the ER reaching speeds 40 miles above the limit.
Once there things went pretty quickly and the two of them were back over the mouywithin the hour. Norah received multiple shots of anesthesia and antibiotics in her wound and then the dr. stitched her back up! We have to keep the bandage clean for the next 7 days and then go get the stitches removed.
While they were gone I kept dinner going and the other kids watched Home Alone 2. Things could have been worse, thank goodness kyle was in town to save the day!!
Jack got really creative and made gifts of a creeper head, volleyball, a piano a guitar and a basket out of 3D pen material. Everything was so accurate and detailed!
Norah crocheted a scarf, cozy and creeper head as well as creating a flower drawing book!
Ben made a snowman named Sherlock and gifted everyone’s favorite candy from the store. So many thoughtful and creative gifts!!!
Once everyone was up and found all of Santa’s gifts we made an amazing breakfast of Rhode’s cinnamon rolls, fried potatoes from last night’s dinner, sausage and eggs! Kyle and I even enjoyed a mug full of glühwein each!
We cleaned up the kitchen and got dressed before snapping this picture and opening the presents under the tree! The kids loved everything they got and spent the day playing video games as well as building, creating and eating tons of candy!!
Christmas goodies barely happened again this year. Kyle is out of town, of course, and I have being feeling completely overwhelmed by our situation. Christmas cards only went out with Ava and Kyle’s help stuffing all 110 cards, but baking, packing and delivering 30 boxes of treats just didn’t seem feasible.
Enter our Ava! She saved the day and baked over 4 hours alongside me today. She skipped school again and helped me make all 7 different treats!! This year we made Fudge, salted caramel chocolate chip bars, almond cranberry white chocolate ship cookies, Oreo truffles, frosted sugar cookies, rolo/mnm pretzels and peppermint bark!
The treats were all delicious as well as beautiful and were packed up and delivered to all our neighbors tonight by the kids on foot while I made dinner! Ben and I delivered a few boxes on the way to a basketball game and the remaining 15 boxes were delivered on Tuesday. So glad we brought some Christmas cheer to so many people!!
It was an amazing snow storm yesterday! Kyle struggled making it to the airport on time for his flight to MI, while it took us an hour to get home from Ogden! Ava, Ulli and I took advantage of the beautiful white blanket this morning and snow-shoed at Northfork Park this morning instead of doing an hour and a half of school; Ava is so far ahead, doing 3rd quarter classes as well as an ACT class through BYU instead of working on the last 3+ weeks of 2nd quarter like her peers!
Ulli was in heaven off leash with so much ungrounded snow to play in he survived the whole trail and was still bouncing around while Ava and I packed up the car to go home. He loves this place and was very obedient and aware of how far he was from us at all times. What a good boy, so glad Ava and I were able to enjoy this breathtaking place!!
Ava was motivated to crochet a few more since the shop was to be held for two days. She was able to squeak out 3 more by dismantling other creations and using their yarn. It was an afternoon well spent and the remaining 7 yodas sold as well!! She’s quite the little entrepreneur!
I might have been more nervous than Norah when this morning rolled around. After we dropped Ben off at school, the two of us headed to the orthodontist for Norah’s long awaited appointment!!
Because Norah has such a small palette, she was fitted for an expander and was not able to have a wire put on the top brackets, but her bottom teeth got the full treatment and this girl was forever changed after about two hours!
Norah has been brave and positive all day in spite of the obvious pain she is enduring from the bottom brackets and wire. I think she looks older now, but just as cute, if not cuter than before!! Love this girl!!
Dessert was as amazing it sounds. The salted caramel topping really made the cheesecake zing! We were all stuffed after dinner, but thankfully we forgot to make rolls and were able to squeeze in a slice before bed!
Ava decided to team up with a local shop for their Christmas shop event on December 3rd and 4th. She chose 3 crocheted creatures to sell. Yoda has been a favorite around here-hope everyone in attendance at the shop agrees!
Hope the powder sticks around in spite of all the sun in the forecast. Kyle will be home the next two weeks, thankfully, and we probably won’t even need his help clearing the driveway!
After pumpkins, we went on a bike ride/hike and then enjoyed our traditional mummy dogs for dinner. Kyle whipped up a batch of butter beer to warm us before heading off for the night.
Jack opted out of dressing up and trick or treating with the family to watch War of the Worlds at a friend’s house and eat pizza. We sent Jack off with a bucket of candy to share, but I think Ava had more fun hanging with her fun family and collecting ALL the treats!!
The kids picked out some pumpkins at the girls’ piano teacher’s farm and wanted to carve them ever since. Unfortunately we waited too long and they got soggy!! Fortunately for the kids, last night after the Haunted Hollow, Kyle stopped and bought some new pumpkins and a kit for carving them.
Kyle has a side business he is starting with a friend from Texas that is a pumpkin carving tool business. With the help of the tool and the little knives Kyle picked up last night, the kids all carved their own pumpkins! They all turned out super unique and exactly like the kids envisioned! So fun!!
We carved pumpkins today and were so in love with our creations and the amazing weather, we headed outside and took some amazing pictures! I kind of love how grown up these kids are looking
So glad Kyle was able to spend some quality time with these guys, while I stayed home with Norah and Ben and watched PG scary movies!! We all enjoyed our night and Ava was even able to fit in some night driving-win win for everyone!
The kids got extremely creative with their Boo signs this year, picking out Halloween coloring pages online and adding text before printing and coloring them! Each child’s choice was very unique! We had to be selective with the families we Boo’ed, so as not to scare any little guys!
Creating these masterpieces was only half the fun, running around in the 20 degree, pitch black night on main roads, long driveways and side streets was such a memorable way to show friends they are loved!! Wish Kyle could have been with us, he is the doorbell ditch master; apparently he has taught his posterity well!
This was Ava’s second year in a row being the captain of her volleyball team. She was the right person for the job last year and this year was no different . She’s been at every practice, tournament and game and has worked her butt off in spite of the treatment she received from the coaches or other players. She’s been an example of courage and perseverance in the face of challenges no teenager should have to endure. We are so proud of our Ava and can’t wait to see what advances she will make in the off-season!! Go Ava Go!!
After our septic adventure yesterday we were all ready for a day of rest! Today included church via Zoom, donuts for breakfast, pumpkin pancakes for brunch, volleyball at the park, a walk on the beach and German food for dinner! Thank goodness for Sunday’s!
The last time Kyle and I took a picture on the shores of Lake Michigan, it was for our wedding announcements. I had Kyle sit in the sand, then got out our camera, drew a line in the sand and then asked a random to snap a picture.
The photo was picture perfect and the rest us history! Today, Ava took our picture and then Norah insisted on a kissing picture-love both!!
