On Monday for our FHE activity, we set up our Christmas decorations!! I love Christmas in the air.
We've been taking morning walks almost daily.
Tiny's first Christmas! She's excited. :)
Eleanor grabbed my phone and it was on selfie mode. I snapped a few pics and she was so happy smiling at herself!
Austin had a turn too! haha.
And she's soooo proud of herself for learning to climb the stairs. Here she is bundled up, ready for our morning walk.
Sometimes the boys bike or run or complain.
She also loooooves pulling anything and everything out of the shelves throughout the house.
Cutest little Bateman.
We picked Eli up from school on Thursday evening and headed to Utah. We made a quick stop in Fruita to get gas and frosties and give Grandma Donna and Papa Joe hugs! Surprisingly, the kids did great on the trip. I fully anticipated meltdowns but they were excited. We arrived in Utah at 2 a.m.
Friday morning, Angela and I went to the temple together! It was lovely. I love attending the temple with family by my side.
The cousins loved playing together. I love that they're all friends.
Friday afternoon we met up with Duane and LeeAnn at Scheel's. It was like an amusement park inside. We've been once before, but found activities we never knew existed. It was so great and cheap!
Play place with Grandpa.
$1 ferris wheel rides. The boys got to go twice so they could have turns riding with Grandpa Volk and Dad.
$1 gun shooting.
$1 bowling. It was memorable with the grandparents!!
Next we ran to Salt Lake where Aaron was fitted for a suit from his friend's suit shop. Aaron served his mission with this friend who now has a fancy suit shot where suits are made in Thailand and he gave Aaron a great deal. While Aaron was getting fitting, I drove the sleeping children around Temple Square. The boys woke up and I was able to show them where I worked as a young intern at Church headquarters once upon a time. I love Temple Square!
Back again for family time!!
We spent the night with Angela and Mike and we loved being able to see them too when we were only in Utah for 2 quick days. I forgot to get a picture of Angela and me celebrating our birthday with peppermint shakes from Chickfila.
On Saturday, we gathered for family pictures before going to Josie's baptism! Oh it was a special day! The boys have been talking about Josie's baptism for weeks. It's so special for our kids to be able to see cousins they look up to so much get baptized. The great grandparents were even there and it was a treat to hug them too!
During the baptism, I felt so much gratitude for the great decisions of those around us, like Josie getting baptized! We loved being there and sharing in this special day.
Due to snow in the Utah forecast, we decided to head to Fruita after the baptism and reception. Like I keep saying, it was a quick trip, but so worth it. We attended a 9 a.m. ward at the Fruita building and my mom came along too. Steele was in a bishopric meeting and popped out for quick second to say hi. During the sacrament meeting, my mom said that particular ward struggles. She's in a stake calling and is getting to know the ward in the area better. It was during that sacrament meeting, I was reminded that our little family will do our best to thrive wherever we end up moving in the next year. I'd love to be in a smaller ward/branch and give our children the opportunity to serve their best.
This explains how we all felt after church. We were exhausted and once again wanted to avoid the snow in the forecast. We got on the road and a few hours later, there was several inches of snow in Fruita!! On the drive home, Eli threw up twice. Poor kid. He was so sweet and said, "Thanks, mom" as I was cleaning off his throw up. He started feeling better and seems to be doing a lot better now. We decided to stop and have dinner with Alex and company and had the best time!
In other news, my MTC teacher passed away last week. The funeral was on Saturday and I really wanted to be there, but I just couldn't figure out the best way to make it work. I love Utah, but everything is distantly so far a part Anyway, my mission companion, Ginger, was able to attend the funeral and she told me all about it. How grateful I am for Jarem's amazing example of being faithful until the end. He battled cancer for 3 years and didn't die bitter, only faith filled. I tear up every time I think about his wife and five young children without their husband and father. Oh how I pray Heavenly Father will comfort them and they'll continue to see so many miracles in their life.
We're grateful we were safe traveling in winter time. We love our family time and cherish the memories we get to look back on through pictures.
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