May Madness: December 2023

We had a wonderful Christmas! Nathaniel and Audrey were in Utah, but we were able to spend time with them in Disney World after Christmas.

On Friday, December 15, I took the boys to lunch at IHOP to celebrate the end of the semester.

They were very glad to have a break!

Papa and Emily arrived on Saturday, December 16, just in time for the company party at Jake's Unlimited.

Sunday, December 17

This picture was taken after church. Michael stayed after for a little while and the rest of us went home to make pancakes and eggs and real bacon. I wanted to teach the kids how to make actual bacon and not just the kind we heat up in the microwave so that was fun. Then we had a zoom call with Nathaniel and Audrey. Then I made the last two batches of poppyseed bread. While it was baking, everybody helped me assemble the Christmas cards. They stuffed them and licked them and put on the address labels and stamps. Then I finished up the poppyseed bread and got it all assembled and organized for them to deliver. They split up into three groups of two each, one driver and one runner, and everybody took care of delivering things while I stayed home to clean up and get dinner finished. We had beef stroganoff.

Monday, December 18

On Monday I spent most of the day doing laundry and chores. Dad played backgammon with the kids. Jonny got sick on Sunday night in the middle of the night. He seemed OK in the morning but he mostly rested for the day. Of course, we couldn't take him to Feed My Starving Children. We were going to go to lunch at Joe's BBQ but since Jonny wasn't feeling well and he wanted Panda Express that's what we got and we ate that at home with him. We left at 3 PM. First, we went to the post office so I could mail all the Christmas cards. Then we went to the Giving Machines. I tried the trick where you type 777 to select one of each but that was almost $3000 so we didn't do that.

Then we went to Feed My Starving Children for our 4:30 PM session. Michael had to work and couldn't join us this time. Andrew did warehouse, Dad was the sealer, Emily and I did the bags but we were on opposite sides of the table, and Daniel did the rice and soy. We got some pictures and I made a donation and then we left.

Emily wasn't feeling well so we went to Canes which was right there on the corner by the mall. Or what used to be the mall. We were going to go to the Mesa Temple lights but the boys didn't want to and Emily wasn't feeling well and Dad didn't seem to care so instead we drove through Christmas on Comstock and then went home. I've always wanted to go there. It was pretty cute and I'm glad I got to see it. Emily and Dad watched Home Alone 2 while I got some work done on the computer.

Tuesday, December 19

We didn't have any scheduled appointments today. I went to Home Depot to rent a fan to dry out the wood from the leak. In the morning, I made the cookie dough and put it in the fridge for a few hours. Dad and Emily baked the cookies while I did chores. Andrew worked from 9 AM to 4 PM. After Michael got home and Andrew was home, we read scriptures. Then Andrew had his interview with Bishop Naylor about his mission. The mission portal is open already. I made the icing and once Andrew got home, we all sat around and decorated Christmas cookies. Then we watched Name That Tune and went to bed.

Wednesday, December 20

Today we went to Game Show Battle Rooms. Michael had some important meetings today and couldn't come with us. We got there right at 11 AM. Emily, Dad, and Jonny called themselves Santa’s Elves and Daniel, Andrew, and I were the Holly Jollies. That was Daniel’s idea. I called myself Elastigirl, Andrew was Maverick, Daniel was Frosty, Dad was Me, Emily was Taylor Swift, and Jonny was Johnny Depp. It was a lot of fun. Our host, Liz, helped us a lot on the Family Feud portion and gave us a lot of hints. There was one puzzle that was “Do you wanna build a snowman?” and there were only a few letters up there but Emily got it. I got quite a few, as well, especially in the lightning round. I got Christina Aguilera Genie in a Bottle when there were only about four letters up there so I was pretty proud of myself for that one. Daniel figured out Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer when there were no letters up there at all. He went up to spin and he could choose two letters so he did the R and knew it was right and solved it. We did the price matching game and rolled the dice and put the number in the right column for the price and after all that we were winning. Then we did the Plinko game and we pretty much crushed them. It was so fun!

We went to Cracker Barrel for lunch and then the boys headed home. Papa and Emily and I went shopping at JC Penney. We came home and I did a few chores and Emily and Dad took a nap and I tried to but I couldn't fall asleep. Daniel went to his friend Cole's house to hang out with his swim friends and came back around 8 PM. Everybody ate leftovers for dinner. We were having a hard time choosing a movie and finally I realized we should watch Top Gun Maverick because Dad hadn't seen it and everybody loved that idea so that's what we did.

Thursday, December 21

Dad helped me wrap presents like always, and I am so grateful!

Papa had to leave on Friday, December 22, but we will see him soon when we go to Disney World.

On Saturday, December 23, we met the Akers for lunch at Golden Corral. Normally, we have them over to our house but with all I have going on and preparing for our trip, this was easier and it worked out great!

Christmas Eve with Erin and Rich

We had our traditional steak dinner with them and opened gifts. Michael grilled and it was awesome. I made sides and the kids helped with setting the table and helped me with the food. Erin and Rich came over at about 2 PM. We ate and we played a game and we had dessert. We opened gifts and took a picture. It was kind of funny because Erin gave Michael the same book that I gave Rich and she gave me a pretty Nativity that lights up.