Games

So we do love a family game. Recently Ellie and Dad went to the game store and returned with this (upon recommendation of the art teacher  - for some reason). It is like a pre-Dungeons and Dragons game. We all played. Some with more enthusiasm than others (mom).

Ellie

Ellie continues to love to read (this is her Christmas present from Aunt Angie) and this weekend she went to a school DANCE!!! And, yes, she danced with TWO BOYS!! Here is the only picture I could get, with Hayden as the boy. It was dark and they were moving. She said it was ok.

MIchael

Our Michael-Moo continues to be a great BOY. And man is he a BOY. Here he is holding a snake at the pet store and with some friends from school on a playdate with Jax, his school best-friend and Jax's brother  Gavin. We love you Moo!

Snow

So there has been like NO snow this winter. And it is like 53 degrees today. But one day, it DID now - like 9 inches! So we sent the minions out to shovel.

Funerals

Our little ward has had two big funerals recently and quite a few deaths of family members. As Compassion Service Leader, I am in charge of planning the food, making the calls, getting the food, getting the funeral-eating set up, setting up the food, serving everything, getting everything cleaned up and extra food delivered. I have tons of WONDERFUL helpers - our ward is so awesome. 

Here are some pics of the "Kitchen helpers" and of some of the cake left over. 

Random pics

Here is my nice clean pantry, makes you feel so organized. Ashley eating cake and Moo giving Uncle John a hug-in-absentancia
We love you Uncle John! And a cool pen I got from school.

Other news

Josh and I went to give blood. I only gave the minimum amount in the maximum time. Maybe my blood is still broken. Look how cute Moo is leaned up against Josh.
Josh pruned the fruit trees, we were scared they would start blooming - it has been so freaking warm.
When he got out the wood chopper - it was like manna  from heaven and neighborhood boys started showing up by the bucket load. Very popular. Safe too - the chopper is actually two feet down from the mouth.

Hamster

And of COURSE, I am sure you are wondering how Rex, the hamster is doing. The answer is fine. After the first week the family really didn't notice his night-noises any more. But occasionally when he is running on his disk, we do make the girls close their bedroom door! Here is Rex in his first official photo shoot (courtesy of Michael).

Chickens

You are probably wondering to yourself  "How are those chickens doing?" Well they are great. Our current question is if Joy, the little chick, now a teenager chicken, is a boy or a girl. Apparently you can tell by the feet. So if you know, leave a comment! Also check out the other chickens pecking away there in the background.

Table

This weekend Josh decided enough was enough and worked on the table. As you will remember, or have experienced, our dining table has grooves in it. (NEVER get a table with grooves in it).
So he got wood, filled in the  grooves, then sanded the entire thing and re-stained it. Man! It looks great and the chairs are nice and sturdy - so come  for dinner!

Happy New Year!

After our late-night, we still managed to get up and go help Grandma move this morning! We motored on down and there were even doughnuts. Everything got loaded up and unpacked in about three hours! The kids were FABULOUS helpers. Seriously, I was impressed.
The afternoon meal was very popular at Noodles and Co. and then we ended the afternoon at the Lewis' catching up. No one fell asleep on the way home (surprisingly) but now we are cleaning out the garage so Dad can park inside once again. Then dinner, FHE - movie watching on the couch and early bed for all!
Here we come 2018!!