Monday, March 25, 2019

January Joys and Sorrows

After Christmas the Wesel women went to Wood Creations. Liberty was in her element; crafting and socializing.  Definitely a Joy.



Finished Product

 Rainbow Looming... More Joy


Alli's gift to Levi for Christmas was a mini pumpkin pie.  She helped him bake it and then helped him share his excitement over the gift here in this photo.
I think she's excited enough for the both of them.
Too much Joy?


The Sorrow

Liberty was running away from an older kid who was teasing her when she tripped and fell.  The Sorrow. She hurt her arm enough that we took her into Urgent Care who X-rayed it and said she was fine but told her to wear a brace.  Two weeks later when she was still in pain we took her in again and sure enough-it was broken.  She was beyond excited to be getting a cast, though, so I guess Joy cometh 
in the morning after the cast.

Getting the Cast

She took a pen with her everywhere she went so everyone and their dog could sign it.  It was totally full in two days.  She even tried to get the Bishop to sign it.  (roll eyes)


 Liberty happened to find this book on the shelf and decided to read the whole thing and make this cool bookmark to go with it.

Liberty performed her winter dance recital in her cast.  But it matched her costume so, more Joy!






 Statue of Liberty

Also in January, Liberty went to the Orthodontist for the first time.  She was very excited to get started fixing her teeth. Joy!  And she matched the chair in the waiting room. Double Joy!


Once they actually put the expander in her mouth, she did not feel as much Joy.  And when the braces finally go on, she won't feel any joy either, but I'm not telling her that.  We'll let reality kill the dream.

And these were my birthday flowers.  Joy!






Christmas for Spring Break

Well, here it is Spring Break and I'm finally blogging about Christmas.  So much for Tis the Season....

Nativity Dress Rehearsal



 We literally had the "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at church this year.  The entire primary acted out the nativity and it was so awesome!  Pure pandemonium in the primary room getting everyone into costume, but unforgettable!


 Christmas Sunday
Remember when their heads didn't reach the stockings?  Yeah, me too.


 Christmas Eve Peppermint Milkshakes for Breakfast


The official Hymas Family Nativity this year.  


We did something different this year to accommodate our aging audience.  We had each of the kids pick a person/persons from the nativity story and research about them and then share what they learned.  Then we had the animals act out the nativity.  We read the story and sang the songs, but did not make anyone wear sheets or towels on their heads.  It went Very well!


 Cookies for Santa cause we often forget...

Christmas Eve gifts this year were new fleece sheets for everyone.  For once in their lives their Christmas Eve presents were the biggest under the tree.  


Twas the Night Before Christmas


Christmas Morning



Playing Mario Cart on the Switch for the first time


Libby's favorite gift: The Rainbow Loom

Her second favorite gift; an Aunt Karla worthy outfit plus matching watch from Santa.

 A new refrigerator for Dad's office


 Dungeons and Dragons Handbook




 Figuring out the puzzles from Mason and Jess


 The Damage


Winner of the best gift award goes to Santa.  He gave Rock his very own Spritz cookie maker.  We can probably thank Mrs. Claus for the actual cookies that came with it.


Sunday, February 3, 2019

December Growing Pains

So here it is, Super Bowl Sunday and I am finally sitting down to blog about December and Christmas.  I could care less about the game and have never actually seen a super bowl in my life, but my kids have decided it's cool to watch it.  So we made popcorn and cookies and they are all in the basement pretending they know what's going on and...bonding.  While I blog.

This school year has been a year of firsts for Cade (and for me).  He has found a great group of friends, boys and girls, and they are always doing stuff together.  They read the Book of Mormon together in 24 hours, they go the temple together and hang out together whenever they can.  Oh, and text each other constantly.  I am now beginning to see why parents want their kids to have a license.  I'm always driving him somewhere!  Cade really wanted to have a kick off to Christmas party so on December 1st we had all his friends over.  He planned it all; food, white elephant gift exchange and Elf the movie.  It was pretty weird, I gotta say, having 15 loud teenagers in my house.  That was a first for us.  But it was fun to see him with his friends and to know he is fitting in and happy.  And according to Cade's friends, his mom is "so great" and has "awesome hair".  So that's good.  Always nice to have the approval of one's child's friends.

Along with being super social this year, Cade has joined wrestling.  He has really enjoyed wrestling, however I have not. I just can't watch my child being twisted, headlocked and bent in all kinds of wrong directions and then thrown to the mat from off someone's shoulders.  It's too painful for me to watch.  Soccer, baseball, flag football I can do.  I will leave the contact sports to their dad to watch.  Cade is really growing me up as a mom.  All these firsts.  Another first this year: attending a sporting event to watch your son, sitting by girls who have also come to watch said son.  I used to be that girl, going to sporting events of the boys I liked.  I can't possibly be this old.


Also back in early December we got some amazing snow.  It's the only good snow storm we've had this winter.  We usually get dry powdery snow that is wonderful for skiing but terrible for snowmen.  Not this time.  The kids made the biggest snowmen EVER!


The big snowman was taller than Rock.

Levi has been learning about US history in school and though I am not happy with the quality of the learning (I will spare you my "I could do it way better" spiel) he has done a few cool things.  He made this replica of a colonial house, choosing the hardest thing on the list of options for the assignment.  

Levi had a birthday in December and got to celebrate it with his cousin who's birthday is two days before his.
They both asked for the SAME kind of cake!  

Levi earned his Faith in God award just before they made him a Deacon at church.  He turned 11 and then got bumped up one whole year early! The weeks leading up to his ordination he was so concerned about passing the sacrament correctly that he took notes as he watched the older deacons pass it. He is thrilled to be a scout and go on camp outs. 


One last funny story about Levi.  We were at my parents one night and he was fascinated by my dad's record player.  He kept investigating it trying to figure out how it worked.  I was feeling old enough at that point, and then my dad handed me one of MY old records.  Yes, I owned actual records.  That's how old I am.


Yeah, I was a big Madonna fan. I will never forget my dad sitting me down and talking with me about what "Like a Virgin" meant.  LOLOLOL!

Stay tuned for Christmas 2019!






Sunday, December 16, 2018

Four Little Turkeys and their Leader

We had my nephews over for the day on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Levi planned a whole day of festivities for the boys.  It was a hoot to see him running a full on Turkey Day Camp.  The day's activities included a Turkey Hunt outside, a Turkey craft inside and other turkey themed games he made up.  My nephews and Liberty, who was also part of the fun, had a blast.



Two days later was Thanksgiving

 Rock made a cherry pie because my family never makes enough pies to suit him.


Turned out pretty good, though I wouldn't know how it tasted.  I don't like pie.


We spent the day at my brother's house and the kids were in heaven.  They played with their cousins from 10 AM-10 PM.  Best Thanksgiving EVER!

Except for the part where they had to wait for dinner.....

Derek's idea of an apron.....

Yes, that's a paper towel.  Well, several paper towels, actually.


This year I am thankful no one was sick on Thanksgiving.  I'm thankful for my instant pot which makes mashed potatoes (and eggs and roast and everything else) EASY PEEZY.  I'm thankful for a husband who is patient.  I'm thankful for my home and my country.  I'm thankful teenage-hood does not last forever. I'm thankful for my picture slideshow screen saver that reminds me they used to be adorable with fat cheeks.  I'm thankful for sisters to shop with on Black Friday.  I'm thankful for seat belts that don't beep.  I'm thankful for my testimony and my Savior.  And I'm thankful for the selfless people who let me into traffic-it almost brings me to tears when someone is that thoughtful.  Silly, I know, but it humbles me every time and I am grateful.

Just to name a few!  






Saturday, December 1, 2018

Liberty's Baptism


Liberty turned 8 back in July and has been patiently waiting until Reagan turned 16 so he could baptize her.  It was very fitting as she was blessed the same weekend he was baptized.  


It was a very special day and we're glad so many loved ones could share it with us.




Her Uncle Derek was not going to be there, but he showed up just in time!



I love these two people!

So proud of my girl for making this big decision!