Christmas 2021

Since Hanna is coming home 2 weeks after Christmas, Jill couldn't come all the way to Canada twice, so we decided to meet in the middle in Idaho Falls at my parent's house for Christmas.

Austin sat on Santa's lap (Carly) to tell what he wished for Christmas.

We joined the Johns to do a painting tutorial with Elder Brandon John on Facetime. We were going to do a snowman painting on Christmas, but we decided to join the Johns instead and Julie had picked a Mary and Joseph painting. We weren't too successful at animals and people, but it was fun and we had lots of good laughs.

Also on Christmas Eve we finished up a little shopping after we got our covid tests at Walgreens. Grandpa and Grandma gave Lucy and Carly gift cards for Christmas, so they took them shopping and to lunch at Pizza Pie Cafe. They said it was pretty good. It is a buffet, but Lucy and Carly said they only ate pizza because you had to talk to someone to get pasta. They found a couple of cute shirts to buy with their gift cards.

For Christmas Eve dinner, we had appetizer night. Each person made an appetizer to share. We had a good spread!

Then we had a Christmas Eve program where we sang a couple songs and each shared a thought or story and watched the nativity "The Christ Child." We didn't act out the nativity this year since we have no little kids. But we did give the kids matching pajamas, including some for Jill's baby.

On Christmas morning, we got to do a video call with Hanna while we opened presents. I loved all of the thoughtful gifts. Each gift has a story. We got a mini high chair from my parents since we are going to need some grandparent house things. Austin wrote on his Christmas list that he wanted "Peace Love Happiness" so Carly created and ordered a pillow that says Peace Love Happiness.

*Sidenote on Carly vs Lucy Christmas shopping. Carly had been thinking and making lists for weeks. I had to take her to Lethbridge to the orthodontist in November, and we shopped until she was finished, except the pillow she ordered a few days later. She also asks me every couple days during December if I have everything I need wrapped. She wrapped all of our gifts except what is for her.

Lucy, on the other hand, says she doesn't like to plan. She just likes to walk through the store and see what jumps out at her. And the closer to Christmas the better. 

But both methods end in success!

On Christmas Day, we had waffles, berries and bacon for breakfast. Then we had naps and just hung out and played games. Then we had ham and potatoes for lunch. Then Diana got to Idaho, and we all went to Johns for dinner and games - lots of laughs.

We went back to grandma's to open tree gifts with Hanna again.

On Sunday, the first plan was to go to church with the grandparents and then head home, but the roads were snowy so we decided to just head home. But then part of I-15 was closed because of blowing snow. So we started on a backroad through Island Park, but we only got about 2 miles from my parent's house before we saw that those roads were closed too.

So we went  back and listened to 3 Sacrament Meetings: Marin William's homecoming, Maddie Barfuss's homecoming, and Leavitt Ward's Christmas Sacrament Meeting. Then we had lunch and all had a Sunday nap. When I woke up, the Idaho side of I-15 was open, and then the Montana side opened shortly after that. So we left Idaho Falls at 3 pm and Austin drove us safely through every type of road condition, and we got home just after midnight.

It was fun to be with Jill and Larsen, and to be with my parents and see two of my sisters.

My parents aren't young chicks anymore, but they are still doing pretty good. We do laugh at my dad's OBSESSION with saving electricity. Their house is so cold because they only keep their furnace at 67 in the day and 66 at night. Brrr. And he is also obsessed with turning off lights. Every meal he would get up during the meal or go around right before he sat down and turn off the lights in the other rooms, even the kitchen which is right next to the kitchen table, and where we would be back again in 10 minutes after we ate. He pulled out to head to church and pulled back in because the outdoor light was still on. Funny guy.

Merry Christmas!