Happy New Year!

I feel like so much has happened this last few weeks!

Dad and I celebrated our 31st anniversary! We spent the day out going to lunch at a cute little Saigon noodle house! It was really good! We also went to a movie “ murder on the orient express” we ran into Katelyn Daniels parents at the theatre at jordan commons and it was funny since their anniversary is the same day!

Jacob was pretty happy with the gifts that we found for him!

James was very excited about the scooter!

A pic of the screen when we were talking to you!

Need I say any more! We loved having shanna and Christian and charlotte hang out with us on Christmas Day!

There are sister missionaries in our ward right now! They live in the neighborhood and I got to give them rides last Tuesday around to their pday shopping and district Christmas party and zone meeting! I loved it! Dad fixed their bikes and got baskets for them! One of the sisters comes from a very difficult home life. She only has her mom and her mom didn’t want to talk to her for her Skype call. I feel so sad for her! I hope to get to know the girls more! We should see them again tomorrow.

Wednesday we had the Jacob’s Family Christmas party and we got this good 4 generation picture that night.

Friday night our buddies and wives and I watched dad play hockey and then hung out for a while.  It was fun! We were all really impressed with dads hockey skills! He is doing great!

Last night we had our friends New Years party at the Lebaron’s. It was fun! We didn’t stay very late because shanna and Christian and Charlotte got to our house about 9 for a sleepover and so we wanted to come home.  They went to church with us and we have just been hanging out all day and eating, watching movies and we are going to play a game next. We got a few new fun games for Christmas.

Last but not least, a few treats that we made for the holidays! Chocolate mousse torte. It is really good! Cinnamon rolls I had one for breakfast lunch and dinner one day! Tell me if you need any recipes or help and tips for cooking.

The arrival of Charlotte Marie Roth

This has been the most amazing week.  We were blessed with our first grandbaby.  She is the most perfect little baby girl named Charlotte Marie Roth.  We picked up Jacob from his soccer practice and drove down to Provo to take Shanna and Christian out to dinner.  We went to zupas. Shanna picked the place.  Jacob did not want to go and made the drive very miserable for all of us.  He refused to get out of the car and it was freezing cold that night. I was trying an experiment to see how it would work to pick up Jacob from soccer and go straight to dinner.  The experiment failed.   The next morning, Shanna and Christian went to the hospital and checked in so Shanna could be induced to start labor.  They were keeping us updated throughout the day with pictures and info.  I tried to get everything done and home and I finally talked Richard into going down to the Timpanogas hospital in Orem at 12:30.  We were waiting in the waiting room for about 3 hours before we got to go in and see them and the baby.  She was born at about 1 pm.  We were finally able to go in and see them all once they got them into a room.  She weighed 9 lb. 3 oz.  She is absolutely perfect.  We all love her so much.  This last 5 days, I have tried to be there and spend as much time as they would allow me to spend with them while they were in the hospital and since they have been home.  I have also tried to stay away some of the days because Shanna needs to recover and they just need their peace and quiet and time to themselves.  They are the cutest parents.  We went to their house tonight for Christian's birthday and I took brownies, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and crushed peppermint.  The boys are really cute with Charlotte.  Jacob and James both went with us to their house tonight.

New Washer & Dryer = early Christmas gifts

This week has been full of many good things. Monday we went to Jacob's futsal game.  It was our Monday activity.  We also went to Panda on the way home from the game for "Panda Night"! Tuesday Dad and I went and bought Grandma and grandpas 1 year old washer and dryer because it was too big for them and ours has been limping along for a long time.  Our new washer is top loading with a HUGE tub!  I washed my comforter the first day we got it.  Grandma and grandpa bought a front loading washer.  Grandma is very happy with her new set.  She was struggling reaching the clothes way down at the bottom of the tub.  We had our cub scout Christmas party that night.  I made sugar cookies and we let them have a plop of frosting and sprinkles on their plates to decorate their own cookies.  We also played a few fun games.  The boys had so much fun.  Wednesday, we had our final parenting class.  Thursday, I helped in james class, cleaned and got some groceries and Christmas shopping done.  That night we had our Cubscout planning meeting for the coming year.  After the meeting Kristin, Adrian and I took Brenda and Dawn out for their birthdays for Peppermint Shakes at Chik fil A! I made one for me before we went! It was really good! Dawn was elected Mayor of South Jordan starting in January!  We have hardly even seen her lately.  Friday, I did some more Christmas Shopping and cleaning and then James had soccer. I visited Le Ann for her Birthday.  It was good to catch up with her.  We haven't talked for a long time.  Jacob had his 2nd range drive for drivers ed.  He said he followed the rules and kept his phone in the tower but most everybody else kept theirs.  All week long I have made chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies and ginger bread cookies.  I have tested a lot of them. That night, I went to francines for girls night.  It was fun, I haven't been for a few months.  Saturday, I woke up early and took Jacob and Brysen to Brighton for snowboarding.  It was Jacobs first time of the year.  We have a 5th grade passport for james but we need to get all of his equipment ready.  It is so weird here right now because there is hardly any snow up in the mountains and none down in the valley. Next I went and played the piano for Andy Scarbrough's baptism.  He is so cute.  When I got home from that, Tim Mckissick came and helped me unhook the trailer from the suburban and charge the battery because it wouldn't start and I needed it to pick up more boys from snowboarding and for james to go with me in the car.  I tried to start it when I went to take them in the morning, with no luck.  I kept trying all day in between things so I could have it ready to go.  We finally got it started and James and I were able to get a little bit of his shopping done for Christmas and some more things picked out for himself.  Then we drove up to get the boys.  On the way home they wanted to stop for taco bell so we did and they took forever so I finally got home about 6:30 and Dad got home at 7:30 and then James and Dad and I went to Dinner downtown and to see the lights.  Jacob didn't want to go.  By the time we got down there we ate dinner at 9 pm! We walked around through the mall really quick and then to the lights.  We were on temple square for a whole 3 minutes and james was tired and said "haven't we looked at all of the lights already?" He really wanted to go into a toy store but it was too late by the time we got back there.  He was not happy about that and so we decided it was time to call it a night.  This morning we woke up early and went to Lindsays homecoming.  Lindsay, Kaye and Macey sang a beautiful song.  It was amazing.  Lindsay gave an incredible report.  She is so sweet.  I sure love their family..  Taylor and Sequoia set a date to get married on February 24.  Today I made some homemade bread.   

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

We got back home from Las Vegas late Sunday night.  Monday I just did a lot of recovery, laundry, cleaning and unpacking etc from the trip.  Monday night we met lots of Dad's siblings at Chuck a rama in Orem for Grandma Stanleys 94th birthday party.  It was really fun to talk to everyone there.  A bunch of big Polynesian BYU football players were sitting by us and Aunt Evelyn went and spoke to them and told them that it was Grandma Stanley's birthday and that she is a really big BYU football fab and then one by one they each came over and introduced themselves to Grandma Stanley and wished her a happy birthday.  We got pictures of a few of them with Grandma.  Tuesday, I went with James on a field trip to see a movie called Wonder at the megaplex theatre at the district.  Athlos doesn't have busses so they asked for volunteers to help drive loads of kids there.  We had to do an online defensive drivers training and get background check etc.  I already had that so it wasn't too bad.  I also worked on decorating for Christmas over a few days this week.  Wednesday, I got to go to the airport and see Lindsay come in.  It was pretty exciting to see her.  Her flight got in really early so Grandma and Grandpa J were the only ones there when she came down.  It was fun to see her.  James is still really excited about Christmas, which makes it fun here! Thursday, I was able to go visit Shanna.  I took lunch (lasagna and salad) and had lunch with her.  I also took nail polish and painted her toenails since she cant reach her toes.  Friday night, James and Dad and I were able to go to Dad's work Christmas party at the Jazz game.  Dad got an extra ticket so James could go. We were also able to go down onto the court to cheer the players back onto the court for the 2nd half.  They lined us up and the players acted so bored or uninterested and put out to have to high 5 us before going onto the court.  oh well.  James was absolutely in Heaven! He loved the whole night.  It was fun.  Saturday, we cleaned and I canned applesauce all day.  When Dad got home we had a late dinner.  James was so excited he just wanted to do something.  He made a bunch of pieces of paper with ideas on it to choose from for what we could do for the evening for a Christmas activity.  We put a bunch of ideas in there and then I told him that I bought a gingerbread house kit.  After I told him that then that is all he wanted to do.  James and I made the gingerbread house.  Then we made popcorn, hot cocoa and watched Home Alone! It was a great day.  Jacob came to sacrament meeting today.  He hasn't been in months.  We are still working on getting him to meet with a counselor and James and Dad and I are also meeting with the counselor so we can get some help and make some improvements in our family/home life.  Jacob is going to seminary and not complaining about it.  We have had a few good sweet moments which we are thankful for.  It is hard with the boys but we celebrate even the tiniest little accomplishment.  Shanna and Christian came for dinner tonight.  I made lots of Mexican, taco meat, pico de gallo, sweet potato and black beans, lime rice and the rest! and chocolate chip cookies!
It has been super nice weather through Thanksgiving and the last few weeks but today a storm started to blow in. It started snowing tonight.

Thanksgiving without you!

I have missed you both so much this week! We just got home from Las Vegas thanksgiving classic soccer tournament!    Jacob’s team played in it for the 3rd year in a row. They did really well. Jacob got to play quite a bit! He is really exhausted and sore! 

Last Sunday after church, the home teachers came brother Conover and Jaron, my visiting teachers came (Francine wright and Karen LeBaron), then Shanna and Christian came to visit for a little bit before they went to dinner at the Roth’s!   Then we went to grandma Stanley’s and visited with Rod, Barbara, Jacob fisher and Jessica and her baby trey! Monday dad and I spent most of the day mucking out James room! We removed everything that wasn’t absolutely needed! Tuesday, i had to go down to provo to pay my ticket i received while driving grandma J. to her colonoscopy. I got the ticket because my registration was expired. While i was down there i visited shanna, grandma and grandpa J to help them with unpacking to move back into their house, Starlee to return her vases! Wednesday I cleaned and packed and baked mini pecan pies, pumpkin pies, rolls and coconut whip cream to take to thanksgiving.  Thursday we got up really early to drive to Scott and Amy’s house. We got there in time to help with all the cooking.  We made turkey, rolls, pies, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beens etc! It was all so yummy! After dinner, we cleaned up, played games, ate pie, relaxed etc. then we went to the hotel to get checked in! We were tired.  Dad went to Black Friday shopping on Thursday evening.  The boys hung out with the other boys.  Friday and Saturday jacob had 2 games each day. They tied some and lost some.  They weren’t early games either so we could sleep in each day and relax in the mornings. Dad and I went for a long walk one morning. James and I did a weight workout together on Thursday night.  Last night we slept at the hotel again and then we got up this morning and dressed, packed, ate breakfast and then we drove to St George.  Mandie’s (James birth mom) son got baptized yesterday. We went to their sacrament meeting where he was confirmed.  His little sister will be baptized in January.  It was nice to see them.  

I love and miss you both so much! Keep up the great work! You are always in our hearts and prayers! Remember to love and serve your companions! That will make all the difference in your mission! 

Home sweet home

This week has been pretty crazy.  Mostly i spent about 3 hours a day at HHS for ribbon week. We did a different color and focus each day of the week.  Red = drug free, white = internet safety, green = pedestrian safety, yellow = suicide prevention, purple = end domestic violence! We had the kids sign the pledge wall, handed out ribbons for each day, did tickets and a drawing for prizes.  Jacob and his friends even made an appearance a few times and came over and Jacob spoke a couple words to me.  

We also had soccer and parenting class and the usual things going on.  Saturday, the Roth’s did a baby shower at their house, it was so cute and fun! 

I went to see the Cyprus high school musical “hairspray” on Saturday night.  Macy, Shannon, Yurim and of course aunt Kaye (costume designer) participated in it.  Trista and Sabrina went with me.