Those Sprouts Sushi Rides

 We sent Grandma and Grandpa off to Arizona early this week, but not before we got some bike rides and sushi runs in. Bennett and Camden both leveled up in Karate. I started editing for the Church this week and I'm really excited about that. Michael did some pre-work tooth-pulling on little Camden. Once they start losing teeth they just look so much older to me! Michael and I played games Friday night with the Baileys and Walkers, then Saturday we went bowling with the Schmidts and Hutchins.

Tennis lessons are going well -- I just love watching my kids learn new skills. It'll be a while until any of us can keep up with Michael!

Sprouts run with grandma and grandpa!
Sushi and fruit, best bike ride finds.

New belt for Benny boy!

AND new belt for Camden!

One less tooth for Camden cutie.

Science Fair, Grandparents, Tennis Lessons

 Sunday I spent in the kitchen, but because I wanted to -- I just didn't want to turn off Project Hail Mary so I kept thinking of other things to bake and cook. The boys played outside in some glorious sunshine.

Tuesday was the science fair, and the boys worked hard! Camden got second place in kindergarten, and Westin got third place in 5th grade. 

Grandma and Grandpa came into town this weekend so that on Sunday Grandpa can set Michael apart as a high priest. We love when we can have a few days with them.

I woke up at 2 a.m. this week to get tickets to the Anne Frank House for our trip next month. Success! And one night Jamie and Alison came over for our online book club Zoom with Kamala Harris. I loved hearing from her. So much. What a mess our country chose.

We fed the missionaries this week and Westin loved going tubing with the young men for their activity.

The boys plus mom started tennis lessons on Saturday. Camden and Asher are together, then Bennett, then Westin and I do separate lessons at the same time. It's fun to do these group lessons through the city. My goal is to keep both ankles functioning this year :)

Sunday baking when I just want to keep listening to Project Hail Mary.

Kitty...
This is why you put your coat away :)

Second place for Camden man!

Third place for these guys,
and all fifth graders are required to do the fair so this was quite the accomplishment.

1,000 pieces, done!
We're slowly making daddy a puzzle person.

Asher and our neighbor were playing outside together when all the big kids were at school.
This was their first time doing that solo and I thought it was so cute.

Lego boys.

Lately Asher has opted to walk to pick up instead of ride his bike,
and it makes for some sweet conversation while I'm holding his little hand.

Football with Grandpa between tennis lessons.

A rainy walk to school.

Merry Christmas!

 What a sweet Christmas!

Things I want to remember:

Brothers giving each other gifts on Christmas Eve. The boys making the clay figures from Jim and Nancy and just laughing, laughing, laughing together. Doing our sneaky 12 Days of Christmas drop offs. Drive through Christmas lights out the sun roof. Christmas Eve pancake bar (snowmen and Santa, no one chose the reindeer option!). Reading Emma M. Lion by my tree when all of Santa's work was done on Christmas Eve. Watching the Nativity movie with the boys before bed on Christmas Eve. Everyone sleeping in on Christmas. The wildly warm weather and all the kids in the neighborhood playing outside Christmas Day. The real candles at the Lutheran Christmas Eve service. Games with Grandma and Grandpa. Football at Shepardson. Watching the BYU Pop-Tarts Bowl. WINNING the Pop-Tarts Bowl! Picnic and river playing up at Gateway. Getting my dad the Twilight Zone. Reading Emma M. Lion at the same time as my mom. The older boys watching Star Wars at night with Grandpa. Making 42 sticks of butter worth of toffee. Christmas dinner being so easy on the Blackstone. Goat cheese. Birthstone earrings. A counter full of treats that makes us think of all the friends we love here. More wildly warm weather. Staying healthy. Working out with Michael. Asher loving his tie. The boys doing their treasure hunt to learn we are going on a cruise. The boys actually processing later that we really are going on a cruise. Puzzles.

Oh man, my favorite Christmas yet.

Jim and Nancy brought the boys these little modeling kits,
and they were laughing so hard at their funny little characters coming together.
Asher made a blowfish, Camden made Santa, Westin made a chicken and a nest, and Bennett made a hermit crab.

They were so cute.
It's a little hectic helping four people at once but I love that they all four want to do these things.

Belly laughing at Asher's blowfish kissy face haha.

Out the sunroof for Winter Wonderland lights drive!

Christmas Eve pancake bar -- we had them choose Santa, snowman, or reindeer.
Santa came with a loooot of whipped cream for the beard haha.

That weird lunch between big breakfasts and big dinners.

Cute boys!
I had them get in church clothes to go to a Lutheran service on Christmas Eve,
and they were good sports.

The real candles might have been Asher's favorite part. And mine.

Brother gifts for Christmas Eve.
Maybe my favorite part of it all.

Wrapping up their big surprise while Michael made a treasure hunt leading to it :)

Santa is done.
He works really hard.

No matter what time Santa is done working on Christmas Eve,
I've got to lay by the tree with a clean kitchen and everything prepped for tomorrow,
and just read my book.
This year that was Emma M. Lion and it was a very glorious, sweet time.
From 12:15 to 1:00 in the morning, haha.

Snacky Santa!

My neighbors the Hepworths growing up always brought us those individual fun cereal boxes,
and I just think they should come around each Christmas break.

Those yearbooks are a labor of love,
but this year felt easier than years before to get everything done.
My boys are just getting bigger :)

The cranberry Christmas star

Preschool party 

We went up to Gateway the day after Christmas to get some outside time in.
The weather this Christmas has been wildly warm!

Luna was SO happy here.

Cocoa and snacks for lunch!

And had to get some Pop-Tarts for the BYU Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Which also meant we had to get Toaster Strudels because they're much better than Pop-Tarts.