Schauers Hours: December 2019

Lots of fun in December. One not so fun thing was how Weston sacrificed quite a lot of his time to PGHS Wrestling this month. Practice every day after school, duals sometimes twice a week, and weekend tournaments Friday and Saturday with long bus rides. He won a couple of his matches, lost others, learns every time, and is super strong because of it; the lesson he is most learning is perseverance as he doesn't really love it and has to sit through all of JV and Varsity matches, sacrificing Christmas and family and friend parties and gatherings. January will be much the same, but at least there won't be all these festivities to miss, it starts to cool off in February I think. I'm getting into detail about it because I'm very impressed with Weston's dedication to something difficult, he has been an inspiration to me this month. He was highlighted as PGHS student of the month which I felt was appropriate.

For the rest of December I'll have to gloss. Here are the highlights:

I was accepted as a full time employee at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Family Services. I started to increase my hours the second week of December and have been 8 to 5 for the past two weeks (thank goodness for holiday breaks in the middle as I adjust). I love the job and feel its a calling for me in life, and God is with me. My Jared is very supportive and so far things have worked out pretty well.
I'll add some pictures of the Family Services Christmas party, I brought the karaoke. :)
Savanna's been working as a holiday temp at Minky and Fiora still works at Spring Gardens. Fiora was accepted into Mandalyn academy aesthetician school for her senior year which she is excited about.
I made some panels for the kids to make little gingerbread houses. A client of mine gave me a gingerbread dog house which was so cute and meant a lot to me.
HBRE company Christmas party was a breakfast up in Midway with Santa.

Our ward Christmas party was fun, we snapped a picture of Weston and some of his friends that are girls while there (he was actually available to attend this one and only party). Weston got to participate in the games.
The Grandma Sandy Christmas party was amazing, Polar express theme. Candy trains and hot chocolate and gift exchange.
Savanna and Weston made themselves dinner one night and I was so grateful and impressed.
We had Holly and my parents over for dinner for her birthday which was nice to have her family over.
We had a Barrett Family Nativity and dinner, with a Sibling gift exchange which Holly hosted. It went pretty well! The kids were so good and cute. My parents are just the greatest, love them. Justin and Kali got me a gingerbread house puzzle, a minky couture blanket, and a hand carved HB for Jared in the shape of his company logo. I loved that!!!
Jared turned 42 on Sunday the 22nd and we celebrated with Justin who also turned 42 that day up at the cabin. The kids did a little nativity re-enactment for us.
Savanna and Fiora brought their boyfriends to the Christmas Even Schauers Progressive Dinner, so we had the whole family together (yay the wrestling coach let Weston join us christmas eve, sheesh) and we took family pictures at three of the five stops. It was nice to be all together, and be with the Schauers.
Then Christmas day was amazing! May be the last year we have a traditional Christmas morning where all our three kids get up open stockings and presents. Everyone seemed to love their gifts, and the service box was especially awesome this year. We read aloud everyone's daily service for the past month and dedicated that to Jesus as our gift to him. The kids and Jared got me some meaningful gifts and we all felt so loved and grateful.
Fun doesn't stop there. We took Weston and all his friends up to the cabin for sledding and fun the Saturday after Christmas which was a lot of work but he deserved it. We are still at the cabin ready to bring in the new year.