January 2020

I don't know what it is about January, but this month always feels so long to me? Maybe its coming down from the high of the holidays or maybe working on new year goals...I don't know.
With that being said, I'm trying to figure out what we did this month, cause it feels like I missed a few months of writing, but I did not.
January, we got back into the swing of things, kind of. Right now we have been home for a week due to the nasty flu/cold/or whatever it is that has been circling around. But, it's getting better.
We visited a lot of parks and enjoyed finding new fun places to spend time as a family. Making fun memories is the most important thing to both Mark and me. So, if we are going to splurge on anything, it will be entertainment. Fun times are the best times.

We went with my mom at the beginning of the month to Old Tucson (first time visit for me) and we had a great time with her. Our favorite part was the stunt show, and Jacobs favorite part were the Can-Can dancers. lol.

Then later in the month, we purchased membership passes to a place in Gilbert called 'Jakes Unlimited'. So, now all our family nights will probably be spent here riding bumper cars, playing laser tag and video games to justify the monthly cost...but like I said, entertainment and memories priority #1.

Jacob and I ventured out with some friends to try the new trampoline park. It is so much fun! Even for me.

Mark and I have been working on some of our goals for the year. One of which was paying off all credit card debits, which is done! yay! And we've been working on physical goals, which can be an up and down slope. But overall we seem to be on a good path. I attended two clincs this week to improve my Snatch lift and learn Double-Unders. They were helpful, now I just need to apply what I've learned. Mark's back is feeling better, and of course, killing it as always.

Do these two look sick to you? They've had fever, cough, diarrhea and lily threw up in class when I tried to return her back to school. But no matter how bad they may be feeling, they are still always trying to play and have fun. I love these two crazies so much it hurts!

December 2019

We had a great December. Got ready for Christmas, spent lots of time with family and enjoyed the holiday season. I was busy helping the holiday's to feel magical, Mark was working on closing some things with work so he could have his two weeks off. Our van blew it's engine, so that kinda stunk, but other then that, all was good. 

We visited Tucson to visit the Gaslight theater with family. The kids are getting older and appreciate the play more. Which makes it even more fun each year.

I finally got to go with Lily on a school field trip. It was so fun to be with the kids in her class and see her with her friends. 

Our babies in their Christmas Jammies

Spider Santa

A sweet little friend of Jacobs left a present from him at our door one night. We still don't know who left it, but we know they love our little bubba. We had lots of treats dropped off by sweet friends in our ward. It feels good to be loved. 

Christmas eve we had our families come together at our house for dinner. I had stomach flu the day before, but luckily felt good enough to host dinner as planned. And no one else got sick, thank heavens. I wasn't feeling up to having everyone stay the night this year, so they all went back to Tucson and we joined them there the next day for Christmas day. Once everyone left Christmas eve, it felt a little sad to not have them there like usual. So I think we will go back to the usual craziness next year. We got the cookies out for santa, read stories and then the santa magic began. Jacob got the hero mashers he wanted, Lily got all the art supplies she asked for, but they were more excited to head to the Salvation Army to serve Christmas morning. We got up around 5 am, saw the santa stuff, opened presents then went to serve. We love to serve Christmas morning. It makes my day so much more then just presents. I really feel the savior would be serving, as he did everyday, and I feel closer to him as we serve our fellow man. I was thinking about some of the folks we serve hot beverages to, and how this is probably the one day a year that they are not ignored. We look them in the eye, listen to their stories, laugh and wish them a merry Christmas. The children are my favorite to watch. Smiles on their faces, so happy to have a treat and toy and as a parent, I can only imagine the relief some of these parents feel to know their children feel the magic of Christmas. I never feel bad for anyone, just happy that they are taken care of. That no matter your situation, you feel the magic of Christmas. The spirit of giving, the love of Christ. I love this tradition and am so grateful for good friends who invited us to help. 

 Before service, after service. lol, not much of a difference, right?!

Showing off their gifts...lily is a walking teddy bear!

 We did not see Spies in Disguise, however, we did see Rise of Skywalker

 Cool Justice girl

 We played in the new arcade at Park Place mall while in Tucson

 Aunt Lynns present to Mark, and I totally agree

you usually can't see my white hairs, but you can definitely see this one. The holiday's making me go white!