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!

Bye 2019, Hello 2020

2019 

Reflections:

Not much really happened this year. Mark and I were trying to think of the big stand outs of the year and had difficulty thinking of them. Maybe that means it was a good year if it was quiet? We definitely had 'happenings'. I had my second miscarriage, which was awful. Mark got a new job, which was great. We lost Uncle Roger, which hurts the heart. Lily started at a new school and is doing wonderful. Jacob, well, is amazing. I got pull ups, and achieved a lot of physical goals. and we had some fun trips to L.A. and Utah...but nothing really epic. Which, i'm gonna say, 2019 was a great year. Grateful for health, happiness and peace in our family. Sad about the loses, but happy for the gains. 

2020

Hoping you will be a wonderful year. We have a lot of goals for our little family and praying that nothing gets in our way. As always, I hope we have health in our bodies, love in our hearts and safety in our days. Mark wants to pass two out of the four CPA exams, finally pay off all our debts and be consistent with health goals. I would like to continue my pursuit of achieve double unders in the gym, continue losing weight the healthy way, get closer to my savior thru study of the gospel and do well in my calling...oh, and be a good wife and mother to my family. Lily says she wants to do gymnastics this year and dance and improve her multiplication skills. Jacob, wants to use the force to take over the empire...oh, and be ready for Kindergarten. Lots of goals, and plans for vacations...hopefully we can achieve it all...lord willing!

Our beautiful girl in her lipstick

Daddy, the meat man, made us a delicious Prime Rib. Ringing in the new year with a yummy meal!

I'm complete when they are near.

Love love love him!

We watched all the star wars movies in December in preparation to see the new movie. I surprised how much I actually enjoyed them. Anyways, Jacob is now obsessed with all things star wars, however, he wants to be on the Dark Side, which I'm not surprised. He is trying to choke us with the force often, it's actually worrying me...yikes.