Part 2

Today the holidays are officially over.  Hans and Lindsey packed up and left this morning for Colorado Springs. We were sad to have them leave but we're excited for the new experiences they will have and the new friends they will meet in their new location.

Lots of trivia with this Christmas.

Shoes and boots -- holy cow. Our family alone keeps show companies in business!

Snow..... and more snow...... and more snow.... It looked like a Hallmark Christmas but we got pretty tired of slippery road. It just wouldn't quit snowing.

 Jared and Scott buried Eva in the snow - she was a human snowwoman. She didn't mind one little bit.

 Eva and Alyssa enjoying a moment together in the snow.

 Gabe and Scott shoveling our driveway - again and again and again. Almost every day everybody was here looked just like this.

 Eva and I tried to make a snow man one day but the snow was too light and wouldn't stick together. Eva was insistent that we make one no matter what. She said, "Grandma, if you want to do something badly enough nothing can stop you." So we worked and worked until we made a little foot tall snowman.

 Jared is always phenomenal with the little kids. They adored him.

 Brenden holding his own in a snowball attack from Jared.

 I enjoyed watching a football game with Dan one night when everybody else was gone. I hope he didn't mind his old grandma watching with him.

 Scott loved playing with the little kids, too.

More trivia -- I believe the pizza tradition will end. We made 9-10 large pizzas on Christmas day. That's a lot of pizza. I've got to figure out a new tradition that's a little easier.

Colds - and flu - and pink eye - and throwing up.  We were generous and shared the germs with everyone.

Ammon was the last to get it - he came down with it yesterday. He had a temperature of 101, lost his voice and had a sore throat.  He started to sob and sob last night because he thought the loss of his voice would be permanent. He said, through his tears,"This is a bad way to spend New Years Eve. I need Jason to be here to comfort me." I reassured him that I was there and then he said, "Mom, I don't mean to be offensive, but I need some friends to come, not you." He basically kicked me out of the room.  Jim and Hans gave Ammon a blessing and he's doing a lot better today. He will probably be able to go to school tomorrow. We didn't get to see Adam and his family very much because they got it all and were sick most of the two weeks. We hope they get better quickly.

We had a lot of laughs and some good visits. We definitely missed those who were not here. One of my favorite activities was when we gathered around the piano to sing. The women sang a few times and then we all worked on the song we sang in church. It brought back wonderful memories to me of all the hours we used to spend doing that when you were all younger. I think that is one of the things that I miss the most about having kids living here. I miss your music and the opportunity I had to work with you or just accompany you. I really miss that.

Now the new year starts on a wonderful note with Kaitlin and Chad becoming engaged. We truly like Chad. We liked his family a lot. He makes Katy happy. We appreciated his visit with us alone yesterday to ask permission to marry Kaitlin and to tell us why he loves her. Welcome to our family, Chad! Congratulations to both of you.  I can't think of a better way to start a new year.

Love you all.

Mom