sledding

Dad (grandpa Barrett) Rachel and Joseph joined us Schauers for some sledding fun up at Timberlakes. After a week of the flu it was fun to get outside and enjoy some physical activity. No one got hurt and a fun time was had by all.

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve Weston and Heather were really sick with a flu, but we opened the traditional christmas eve jammies and sent the girls and Jared to the Schauers progressive dinner. I was sad to miss, but really out of it, getting ready for Christmas morning was tough, I'm really glad it wasn't late at night this year. Jared said the dinner was fun and yummy as usual.

opening their pajamas!

Crafts at the progressive dinner

 Christmas Morning was wonderful, we had to get some tylenol in Weston who still had a bad fever but all the gifts were still very appreciated. We took our time having a nice breakfast and opening the service box, where everyone but Jared added lots of nice notes about the services they have performed this month. That is our gift to the Savior as we celebrate His gift to us of eternal life.

It was a white Christmas, it looked magical outside with everything covered in white. The kids were super appreciative of everything they received. We feel blessed to be able to give nice gifts to our children. They got shoes, boots, shirts, socks, underwear, toys, pistachios, bow staffs (Wes) nail polish (Sav), cat stuff (Fiora), legos, hair stuff, etc. Weston's big gift was the gymnastics mushroom, he loved it! Fiora's big gift was a Kindle Fire, she really loved it. Savanna's big gift was cash and a ceramic straightener and her own blow dryer and a huge make up kit.

Jared gave me some running shoes and I splurged on myself and got some miniatures for my gingerbread house creations. Jared's gift to himself this year was some hand guns and a shot gun, and some nice winter shoes. After we enjoyed our spoils we went to the Barretts and had more gift exchanges there. I think the company of my family is my favorite gift. I'm very grateful for everyone's generosity, but mostly for their love for me and my children. Jared and I were both blessed with very wonderful family members and even if I had no heaters, cars, phones, indoor plumbing, electricity, or abundance of food, I would still be happy if at least my family was all around me.

More activities in December

Weston had a piano recital this month, he played "Minuet" and "Jazz Cat" and had both memorized and made almost zero mistakes, he has really progressed in piano this year since I've had Michelle Hansen be his teacher. Jared and I were impressed.

Savanna did a nice job at her orchestra Christmas concert, she played Dance of the Tumblers and The first noel.

Sav is front stage on second row

The last week of school Weston played again for the School Christmas Sing, and Fiora participated in a dance during the "Faculty vs Student" basketball game. Both were loud and fun.

Our nephew Sylvan Nielson had a baptism this month, Holly took our picture really quick after the baptism and it turned out so cute I used it for our digital Christmas cards.

Weston had gym pictures taken of his team and of himself individually.  Last year we missed the announcements about pictures so he wasn't in them and I was so disappointed, this year he made it. With all the time money and work put into gym we need to at least have a picture to show for it. Better shots forthcoming.

The kids enjoyed Grandma Sandy's Christmas party at the snow's home as is tradition every year. They made some nice crafts and had a gift exchange and games.

Fiora with her flashing nose and earrings

I got to lead our ward Choir in a christmas cantata for the ward's sacrament meeting program. It went very well and lots of people participated which was nice.

Our extended family on my mom's side got together the Sunday before Christmas and had a nativity and sing along, they asked Jared to be a wise man so we borrowed my cousin Christine's scarf to make him look like a magi and she snapped a picture.

At the EFHE nativity at the Terry's

I hosted a Nativity and Talent Share for the Barretts at my house, it was nice to have some authentic head gear from Jerusalem for the kids to wear this year!  Mom and Dad narrated, I played the piano, Holly took pictures, and everyone else role played the story of Jesus' birth, and in between we performed Christmas songs. Kelsy was Mary since she is really pregnant, Jesse was the donkey, Joseph was Joseph, Knightly was baby Jesus, Gabe was the angel Gabriel, Rachel Krystal Savanna Fiora Lucy Sophie were angels, Heidi, Sylvan, Travis, and Collin were shepherds, Weston, Trevan, and Kayden were wise men, Bill was Simeon, and Jared was Herod. It went really well and I didn't want it to end! 

the cast

baby in the manger

host of angels

shepherds and the angel

three wise men