Family Photos 2025

Cora Turns 12

Happy birthday to my sassy, responsible, caring, bright girl!!! How did she get so big so fast?!

Christmas Concerts

Lance performed again in the Messiah and always does a great job. I love our tradition of starting the Christmas season with that concert.

This year we decided to take all the kids to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. We had an extra ticket and since it was on Cora's birthday, she chose to invite Joslyn to go with her. I didn't get a picture of the boys because they were sitting a few rows behind us but it was fun for Kimball to tell Ezra all about it. Cora did OK at the concert - if you were to ask her now how it was, she'd say it was awesome. But in the moment, it was very loud for her and way too long. She had her head down and rocked quite a bit, and kept asking when it was going to be over. I don't blame her, it is a long concert and the electric guitars can be pretty loud. This year they added drones to their show which was super cool!

 

Fall Cleanup

Cora cracks me up. She's always driving some machine - lawn mower, the argo, or the mini bikes. She quite a good driver also, very cautious and not overly adventurous like Kimball is.

Fall cleanup was quite fun. Lance and the kids all worked on raking and filling the tarp up with debris while they hauled it down the lane to be burned. We did approximately 6 loads of pine needles, pine cones, branches, and limbs. We didn't start the fire until 2:30 ish and we were famished. Good thing I had hot dogs in the freezer that we could roast, it was yummy. The fire burned all night and even though it rained, it was still smoldering in the morning. We all enjoyed working together as a family and I think the kids are excited for spring cleanup to go at it again.

 

November Craft Day

This year I was lucky enough to go to craft day at Christine's and even though I didn't get to stay for a full week, I'm grateful for the 4 days I did have! We did the usual shopping, games, prizes, visiting, eating, eating, eating. Christine's craft was a cute beehive made of rope with wired wooden bees. They turned out adorable! I walked Christine's kids to school one morning but I should have done it each morning, I really enjoyed visiting with them on the walk and the fresh air. The crossing guard asked if I was Mom and said what well behaved and sweet children I have. I was excited to relay that message to Christine. 

Mom was coming in from a work trip to Kentucky so she was only there for a day but I'm so grateful to have seen her. For some reason I really just missed and needed my mom on that trip. Sunday was Wyatt's farewell and also Christine's ward primary program, it was so cute and the kids did a great job. I wish I would have taken more pictures.

 

How I Love These Two!!

 

Happy Birthday to Kimball!

Kimball turned 14 this year, holy smoke! I honestly don't know where the time has gone, just last week I was oooing and awwwing at his mummy costume that the nurses dressed him up in at the NICU. Kimball is such a great kid and it's been a pleasure to watch him grow up into the young man he is. He's been really into the guitar and got one for his birthday! He still enjoys doodling, writing silly poems, telling jokes, and aspiring to be a mountain man.

 

Halloween & Dia de Los Muertos

This year for Halloween we have Harry Potter, a boy being abducted by an alien, and a cowboy. Kimball went to a Halloween party with a friend in our new ward so I took Cora and Ezra to our old neighborhood to trick or treat. It was such a fun night and not too chilly. I purposely took Cora by two of her best friends' houses since she hasn't seen them since we moved. The girls were so surprised, Presley almost cried because she was so happy to finally see Cora. 

Bell Tower hosted its first annual Dia de Los Muertos on November 1. It was our first time hosting and planning this and A LOT of work went into it. Each employee was instrumental in pulling it off and I would say it was a success. We had about 150 people! Several people from our new ward came out, lots of folks dressed up, the ofrenda was very full. What a lovely tradition to remember our ancestors and share stories! We had a full mariachi band, taco truck, complimentary drinks, face painting, cookie decorating, and flower making. The weather was very rainy and windy but we rented a large tent with heaters inside so it was fairly comfortable. I'm so grateful the community came together to remember their kindred dead.