Saturday December 14

We had a nice morning.

Kids got chores done.

Dad went to the gym and I went for a good run.

Then Dad took Port to get a gift for a birthday party... And he took Max and him to the party.

Then I took Elsie to get a gift for a birthday party.

I took her to the party and then went and did some shopping at Target.

When we all got back home, mom and dad went for an early date.

We went to eat at Cafe Rio and then went to Cabela's 😊

When we came home, we took the kiddos to sister Capalls music program.

Bonnie has asked Cassi to sing and she did a great job.

She wasn't feeling that great... But she did a great job.

When we got home, we grabbed the mail.

Elsie got a cute pink Buffalo sticker from her cousin Dani in Montana!

She was so excited!

Then Dad and Port did a crossword puzzle together before heading to bed 😊

Friday December 13

We went and saw the live nativity this evening.

Always a fun tradition we have.

Missing half or kids this year though ☹️

And crazy that there is no snow!!!

There was a light rain, not bad though.

Then we came home and watched Dora the explorer that was pretty cheesy, but also so much fun.

Reminded dad and I of little Madi, when we would have to make her a map to get her to go to bed.

Time flies!!!!

Thursday December 12

I let Elsie sleep in today.

Her body was really struggling.

And then I let her stay home from school.

It was a little rainy today, but I wanted to get out and run.

I want to take advantage of when the weather isn't freezing....

So I ran 8.6 miles.

It felt good.

And I'm happy I can still run for that long without stopping.

I'm worried about losing all my progress over the winter months!

All I can do is keep trying 😊

I went to Costco this evening to pick up out Christmas cards.

Now I need to get those out in the mail soon!

I love Christmas cards!!!!

I think Elsie is rested enough to go back to school tomorrow.

I'm ready for Christmas break so we don't have to wake up early....but maybe not ready to have the kids home the whole time 🤪

I'm excited to have dad back home tomorrow.

We gotta start on the wrapping and finishing up the Christmas stuff.

Plus, I just like being with him ❤️

Wednesday December 11

I helped in the office this morning.

Then I went to lunch with a friend.

That was fun.

The weather was a little cold... But I have no treadmill (it broke down), so I went outside for a good run.

Then the kids came home from school.

I made them dinner.

Then the girls and I went to the bsu/byu woman's basketball game with the YW.

It was a totally fun time.

And buster the bronco came and hung it with us, and the girls got in the jumbo Tron.

So fun!

But it is another late night....poor Elsie is gonna be struggling tomorrow!

I think I'm ready for school to be out so we can sleep in!!!!

Tuesday December 10

I got a good outside run today.....

I am glad it is nice outside because my treadmill is broken!!!!

Dad spent the day trying to fix it before he had to go to the dentist.

I was at a YW meeting.

That is pretty much the fun of our day :)

Monday December 9

Whoops...forgot to blog!
We left Elsie's original Emmy blanket at Emmy's house and she is gonna try and see if she can salvage it somehow!
That is one loved Emmy blanket!

Hung with Emmy, then left for home.
We ate lunch at Ramen 360/cupbop, which the kids loved.
Madi loves Cupbop, so she wasn't happy about us eating there without her :)

We stopped at Smith and Edwards for a little shopping spree.

The drive home was great.

Sunday December 9

It's been a fun filled day.

We left our VRBO a little after 10 after a search for Cassi's airpods...... That we still haven't found 🤪

Then we met up with them Halls and saw their new house.

It was so fun to see them again and I miss them so so so much!!!!

We went to church with them too, so that was fun.

Then we stopped by the first house Brent and I had when I was pregnant with Madi.

We moved from there when she was 1 month old 😊

We met up with family at Ariel's house and had fun looking at pictures and hanging out and eating and playing.

Lots of fun together.

Cass has so much fun with the little kiddos.

She's so fun with them.

Madi and Logan left about 4:30 to head back to Rexburg.

It was fun for (almost) everyone to meet Logan this weekend.

We came back to Em's and Port got to open his birthday presents from Em.

And we have just been hanging out this evening.

Heading home tomorrow, hopefully we have good weather!

Saturday December 7

We headed to Utah this morning.

The drive was a pretty good one.

We meet up with Madi and Logan and then caravanned to Chuck a Rama where we met up with the Matthews clan.

We got to see so many family members... And we missed those who couldn't come.

We have such great people in our lives!

Then we went to go see the lights at temple square.

But Logan told Madi he needed to get a tie to his roommate who was in salt lake for the weekend and forgot his tie.

Madi was a little ticked off and pretty irritated 😂😂😂

Well, he actually took her there to propose.

It's very exciting.... Very crazy, but exciting.

You know. 

We tried to talk them into waiting a little longer.

But you can only push so much before they shut you out and that is for sure not what we want.

We really like Logan.

He fits into our family really good.

And it's exciting to think of the future with them together.

They have picked April 25..... So that's not too far away!!!!!

Anyway....

Meanwhile, we dropped Cassi and Elsie off at our meeting point and went to go find parking.

Well it was like 45 min to an hour and we still hadn't found a spot!!!

Dad and I were a little frustrated and irritated with each other.

Port was with us and he said, why don't we say a prayer.

So he did.

Port said the best prayer I think he has ever said.

He thanked Heavenly father for the fun night and then he said that we were having trouble finding a spot to park.

And then he asked for help finding a spot.

He used the sweetest words and he was so sincere.

I was like.... Oh man, please answer this sweet boys prayer!!!!

Well, we didn't find a spot right away.

Finally went into the mall parking and found a spot.

We walked through the food court and Porter spots my sister Rachel and her whole family!

In a food court jam packed with people, and we run into them!

We talked with Porter how, in order for that to happen, we had to have waited for the parking spot.

Kind of fun way to answer a prayer with a little reward added in ❤️

We also ran into them while looking at lights.

We were taking a picture and dad starts yelling at this guy.

Madi and Logan and Cassi were like, wire, dad is being rude!

But then it ended up being Alberto.

So funny!

We all got a good laugh 😂

We are staying in a vrbo tonight and will leave in the morning to see the Halls and so see the rest if the Peterson family that are here in Utah.

It's a fun family filled weekend!!!!

Friday December 6

Just spent the day getting ready to leave tomorrow.

Elsie hung out at her friend Carley's house.

She had so much fun.

Port and the bus all hung out.

Cassi was in and out all day with friends, etc.

There was no school today.

Hopefully we get good weather for it drive tomorrow.

We are excited to see family!!!!!!

Thursday December 5

The kids don;t have school tomorrow, so they are pretty happy for the long weekend.

Me...I have stuff to get done!!!!!

But I did get a lot of stuff done today while they were at school.

I came home and worked out.

Then the girls and I met with the YW and did baptisms.

Elsie still doesn't do the baptism part.....she is scared to.

But she does confirmations and today she helped take the laundry bin to the chute and she restocked the towels, so that was cool :)

Port stayed home on his own, and did a good job.

They have to grow up sometime :)

When we got back home, the little ones and I got in the hot tub for a bit.

Got them to bed around 9 and I am hoping they sleep in!

Cassi hung out with friends and now she is watching Klaus here with some other friends.

(If you haven't seen Klaus, YOU HAVE TO!)