2019 In Review

• Went to Twin Falls for 9 days for spring break
• Lance gave the garage doors a face lift 
• Lance flew to SLC where John was in the hospital for 40 days with heart problems
• Cora had surgery #6 for a third try of bilateral tear duct probe, heart echo, blood draw, and dental work
• Took a mini family vacation 2 miles down the road - went bowling and stayed in a hotel with a pool. We swam all night and all morning.
• Lance flew to UT for Kempton's doctorate graduation ceremony from BYU
• Cora found some spray adhesive and sprayed glue ALL OVER the tv and entertainment center
• Lance had a barbershop concert, competition, and harmony college all within a few weeks of each other
• Grandma Julie came to visit to help us with Cora's #7 surgery
• The kids had a lemonade and treat stand and made $52
• Concerts/Shows - Postmodern Jukebox (two times for Lance), Carrie Underwood, Les Miserables, Messiah
• Benton came to live with us for the summer (May-Sept) to work for Lance and experience a little bit of life on his own before his mission
• Lance remodeled the deck 
• Went home to Twin Falls to visit family for 3 weeks - Cox reunion, Lynn Pettingill reunion
• Lance and I went to Washington, DC for a week to visit Kempton and Bonnie before their first post
• Had our annual friends camping trip to Lake Benewah in Northern Idaho
• Went to Silverwood with Cora, Kimball, and Benton
• Allison, Haylee, Jerusha, and Donna came to visit for a few days
• Cora started kindergarten!
• Lance flew to Las Vegas to baptize Jeff and Penny
• Kimball got baptized and both sets of Grandparents came to support him
• Hosted Thanksgiving with Roe's, Frazier's, and Gene's
• Lance flew to Las Vegas for Jeff and Penny's first time going to the temple to do baptisms for the dead
• Went home to Twin Falls for a fast and furious 3 days of Christmas with family

Please Don't Grow Up

This baby is just too darn adorable, I can't stand it! He's become Cora's little shadow and those two are best friends. They play so well together (mostly because he plays and does whatever she says) and it just warms my heart. I remember when Kimball and Cora used to be like that a few years ago, before all the fighting began, haha. I love this stage Ezra is in and what a little copy cat he is. He finishes off our family perfectly.

Merry Christmas!

Because John's had a such a rough year with his health, we decided if the roads are good enough we should go home for Christmas. Lucky for us, everything worked out and the roads were clear even throughout the Blues pass and we made it home! We stopped first to surprise Donna and John, they had no idea we were coming. They were surprised alright, Donna was in the middle of her Christmas baking and we spent every afternoon/evening at the Cox's. I think they're getting tired of spending Christmas Eve and Christmas morning by themselves so it was nice to be there. On the 23rd we had the Pettingill Christmas dinner of delicious ham and ribs, the pot guessing, Dad's spiritual message, blessing on the family, singing happy birthday to Jesus, and gift exchange. Being that there were almost 40 of us, it was very loud and "organized chaos" but it was so nice being home for Christmas for the first time in 7 years.

Dad and Joseph did the most special, sweetest thing ever for Charity's 16th birthday. We all know the hold back about getting ears pierced and she's the only granddaughter that doesn't have them pierced. Dad wrapped an empty iphone box and gifted her with a pair of daisy studs made of ivory. They were so cute and she was beyond excited!!! Later on I asked her if she was disappointed that she didn't get a cell phone and she promptly said with a beaming smile, "Oh no! I'm so excited to get my ears pierced!"

 

The next day (on the 24th, Charity's actual birthday) she invited all the girls to go with her to the mall to get her ears pierced. I HAD SOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!! I don't even remember the last time I hung out with the girls like that in our family! It was seriously almost better than Christmas, and just being with the girls in my family was all I needed.

Linley and Cora played on the cars for a while.

Charity chose these really pretty teal colored studs and with her entourage in tow, she got it done. Then we looked around for a bit and I bought her a pair of CZ pineapple studs that she picked out, and gave her a $25 gift card to the mall for her birthday. It was so special and such a sweet moment, I'm SO incredibly thankful to have been there for it.

I think the sweetest of all sweetest things is that Joseph took time off work to be there with his oldest daughter. He knew how much it meant to her and I was just so touched by that loving gesture.

 The whole gang

After getting her ears pierced, we went to a few dinner stores to help find Charity some high heals. Because of the winter season there really wasn't much out so she didn't buy anything but we had a grand old time! It has been a pleasure to watch Charity grow up and my is she gorgeous. What a lady.

My Christmas Eve babies, love them so much! After we had dinner with Donna and John, the kids opened up their Christmas Eve gift - new pajamas and Home Alone 2. We watched that and ate Donna's yummy treats she made before heading home to tuck the kids in bed.

We went back home the day after Christmas, so it was a fast and furious 3 night trip. I'm so thankful Lance took time off work to go with us as a family! We definitely decided that if we do it again we would always do Christmas at home first, and then travel to see family for the holidays. It was go, go, go from sun up until 10:30pm every night with no naps and nothing but junk food to eat. So everyone (the kids especially) were extremely worn out and on meltdown status. But, it was good to be home and we enjoyed every bit.

A Few Kids' Christmas Activities

These cubs just keep getting bigger and bigger!

  Cora's Rudolph watercolor that she did in kindergarten - I LOVE it!

Kimball's gingerbread house that was decorated at school, and then eaten at home for the next several days.

Making our annual Christmas ornament! Unfortunately, we never finished this ornament because I couldn't find the paint pen that I specifically bought for this project and time just kept getting away from me. Maybe next year we'll have to make two ornaments.

Thanksgiving and Christmas Festivities

We hosted Thanksgiving this year with Roe's, Gene's and Frazier's joining us. It was a fun 12 hour day of games, excellent food, and excellent company! I love my little Spokane tribe that has my back, even though I haven't seen some of these friends in 4 months or so. They make it easier to be away from home during the holidays. This was the only photo that was taken on Thanksgiving, I'm getting worse and worse about taking pictures!

Lance's Christmas barbershop show was well done. Instead of a full dinner this year, they opted for a dessert bar which was so much less stress! The chorus sounded good and his quartet did a great job.

 

Jerry Turner, Lance, Shawn Graham, and Dustin Crossley

Lance and I made sure to go to the Messiah concert this year and it was absolutely fantastic! It was at the First Presbyterian church and it was so well done. We used to go to this every year after we were first married, then we had kids and lost the tradition so I'm glad we went this year. It's such a spiritual meeting.