December 2012

The pictures in this post aren't all in chronological order.  Just sayin'.

 

We went out to Carroll Summit again to find our perfect Christmas tree.  Joshua wasn't feeling too well.  The weather was great, though, and we hiked around a bit to find this gem.

 

My trooper.  Always does the cutting and hauling. 

Stopping to check out the well.  This thing is huge, but really neat.

 

Stopped at Harmon Junction for the best soft serve cones ever!

Benjamin's 4th grade class produced their version of The Christmas Carol.  They did a great job.  This is Ben in one of his two roles:  bell ringer, and man #2 (or something like that.)  He was more than happy having these small parts.  Loved being a part of the production, but didn't require the large roles, not so much his mother's son.

How about that top hat?  We couldn't find one in time, so we made one.  Out of cardboard.  I think it was awesome!

 

 

Opening the Christmas pajamas that Grandma Polish made them.

Kannon was feeling a bit under the weather.  He spent most of the day resting.

Popping the bubble fillers.  Better than any present for a 3-year-old boy!

Ben (and I) made Sarah some Rapunzel hair.

Sarah made Ben some wands.  Harry Potter style.

This is the magnet board that Kannon made for Joshua - something he can drive cars on while riding in the car.

 

 

Passing out presents on Christmas morning.

Sarah's last ballet. She decided that she just doesn't love it.  So we decided to try tumbling instead.

Little boy, couldn't wait to eat a candy each day, had to do it all at once.

The only real snowfall we had all winter.  She's having to work really hard to get that pile of snow.

Loved this!  Joshua was making a trail with his bike and then .........

Ben was following the trail.

Ward Christmas party.  Joshua was really getting into the singing!

Adorable!

I only sit on one man's lap, my own personal Santa Claus!

November 2012

As I'm typing all of these posts (catching up over a year later, I'm realizing why I ended up with such a great depression.)

We started off the month by having a bonfire in the backyard.  You can't do that in town!

 

It was this month that we learned of my sister-in-law's diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  At the time she was only 17.  She's Kannon's baby sister.  This was a really hard deal for the whole family.  She was back and forth to Salt Lake City.  In and out of the hospital, having chemo and other treatments.  The family and friends put together a fundraiser that we attended.  It was outside and FREEZING!  (And in case I forget to update:  Marisha has made a miraculous recovery.  Pretty much back to her old self.  Each return visit brings a new wave of nerves, though.)

 

Awe, brotherly love.

 

Sarah and I attended the local performance of Beauty and the Beast.  I was going to try out for this, even went to the first workshop.  But then I realized that I couldn't really count on Kannon to be home to watch kids with his crazy work schedule.  Decided it wasn't my time.  We both really enjoyed it.  She adored Belle, who incidently, was a little girl with me when I was Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man. 

Getting a picture with Belle.

 

I don't know why I had one of these.  I think my husband bought it for me, but little J found it and helped himself.  

 

The week of Thanksgiving was  big one for us.  Kannon had surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus.  It was a quick surgery and Kannon healed nicely.  Too much time spent on his knees in his career.  That hasn't changed, but now he's not in as much pain.  This was taken care of by workers comp and thankfully he didn't have to miss too much work.

With our bigger living arrangements we were excited to host Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year!  Playing games, doing puzzles, visiting, and of course eating.  It was a fabulous event!

Our family picture for the year.  This is the one we put on our Christmas card.  

And the biggest event of the month.  The kitchen remodel.  We needed to be done so that Val and Phil could move in by the December.  It was hard to complete, especially with Kannon's knee and subsequent surgery.  This place was a pain.  The floor was not level and we had to do some fancy work to get the counters all set.  As a result the counters are a tad high, as is the stove.  At that point we just wanted to be done.  I was glad that we were able to get our cabinets, the ones we wanted, at a discounted price since they were discontinuing them.  We spent a lot of time here.  I would come during the day and sand and paint walls.  We had some great helpers with the hanging of the cabinets.  We ate a few meals on the floors or standing next to boxes.  The kids and I felt like we were here ALL month.  Glad it's done, it looks great, and I never even got to cook in it once.  Sometimes I wish we could move back in so that I could use the new kitchen.  Nah!

 The laundry room window didn't fit, measured wrong, so we didn't have that for a few days.

Just so you know it wasn't All work this month.  Sarah playing store (in our new-to-us 1970's kitchen!)