December 2023

School and church mixed a bit in December with the Christmas gift drive for our less privileged students. I helped at school during the week and then on Saturday we went to help as a family for our Stake assignment. Here my boss (school principal) is chatting with my family while we were there for church. I do enjoy being part of our wonderful community in both capacities.

During school, the Student Government continued with the Gold Rush Fundraiser events. The candy cane grams were a success!

The Senior Soda Bar was also a hit!

We finished up the Gold Rush Fundraiser raising thousands of dollars for our Teen Center and Scholarship Fund. We ended with a final assembly where teachers and admin got dunked, games were had and hair was shaved.

Timmy decided to make Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup for a school project so he and Mark experimented to create some pretty authentic deliciousness!

I love when we can take a little time together as a family. We made it downtown for Christmas.

Geography continued onward. Not sure why I took this picture. I think I was experimenting with seat arrangements in my classroom. This was first period. It was always super sparse and super quiet.

The ward Christmas party had some pretty awesome decor!

The primary kids love the pipe chimes during December.

We hosted Student Government at our house for a holiday party. It was a nice way to regroup and enjoy a fun time.

This was the last Christmas we visited and played for Grandma Joyce. She passed away about a month later. I am glad my boys got to know her and she could be part of their lives.

The Christmas Eve Nativity at the Ranch is always the best!

We gave the boys a trip to Hawaii this year, but they still got a few things to open on Christmas morning.

Prepping the Prime Rib for Christmas dinner!

We did some fun things with family during the break. The kids went to the trampoline park.

To the Kamas rec center.

Bowling and arcade games where Timmy found a prize with his same name.

And mark continued to give more attention to his nephew than any other kid I have seen.

We finished out 2023 with a youth quad stake dance and a party at the ranch.

Goodbye 2023! It was certainly a crazy year of learning and growth for me. I am grateful for all the opportunities I was given and so grateful for Heavenly Father's guidance. Sometimes in the thick of hard things I wonder why I am doing those things. Then as I look back I see many of the reasons and blessings. He knows me. He knows what I need. He knows what my family needs. We are blessed beyond measure.

November 2023

 Apparently I started November by decorating for Christmas. Last year I was so busy I didn't even get my tree up until the middle of December and I had some time so I just got it done. I think I'll do that every year. It was nice to enjoy it for two months instead of a few weeks.

The Student Government kicked off the Gold Rush Fundraiser which went through November and December.

Beautiful sunsets in November.

One was while we were collecting flags.

One Gold Rush Fundraiser activity was called soak a senior. It was a hit and a mess!

I am not sure why Brian is playing a game with a Mandalorian helmet on, but it looks fun.

My sister Emily and her family were able to visit for Thanksgiving this year so we all met at the ranch.

First winter snow.

We decided to have our Samiclause party in November while Emily was here. The only night it worked was the night she was going to stay at our house, so we had the party here.

Samiclaus gave Timmy a vintage personalized stocking. It was Grandpa Tim's when he was a little Timmy.

At school we did a lunchtime cookie decorating contest for Gold Rush.

October 2023

 October started with a beautiful double rainbow. What a beautiful reminder of God's love for us. He gives so much. I just need to pause to recognize it all.

Family over for dinner is always a special day!

Timmy enjoys learning how to cook from Mark.

We hosted Brian's Cross Country team over for a team dinner.

Out to Mr. Shabu with Luke and Sunny. Yum!

And a nice sunset following on our walk through the Gateway.

I took a nice early morning trip to the temple. I love when I can get myself up early on a Saturday to go before the boys wake up. It's the getting out of bed that is so hard.

This was the sun coming up after my session in the temple.  I must have gotten up very early that morning.

If I can, I like to stop and say hello to Daniel on my way home. I miss him. We all miss him. But, I am so glad to know we are linked forever because of the ordinances in the temple.

Brian ran the Fox Trot 5K again at Wheeler Farm. This has become a yearly tradition for him. It helps raise money for Parkinson's research. 

This year Brian got second place in his age division.

Our wonderful friends the Davis family invited us to their really nice box for a U of U game with buffet fancy food and everything. It happened to be on my birthday. It was a fun way to celebrate turning 41!

And the Amis family invited Mark and the boys to a BYU game the next week. Not a fancy box, but really great seats. We are so lucky!

After Homecoming at school I got a little breather and then we put on a great Monster Mash dance!

Brian's friend Aven asked him. Their group dressed from different decades. Can you guess their's?