Christmas 2024

Christmas Eve 2024 we had a delicious dinner at Rod & Sarah's house. All of her kids were home except for Carter on his mission. We had a Christmas program with scriptures and a few songs. Then we played a few minute to win it games.

Then we headed back home before Santa came.

Christmas morning was good even with just the three of us. We got to FaceTime Will for a few minutes, and we also got to talk to Lucy. 

Austin and Carly did a polar plunge in Waterton for a Christmas adventure. I volunteered to be the photographer and driver.

The next day we drove to pick up Hanna and Paisley. James brought them part way, and then we got to have Hanna and Paisley visit us for a few days.

For our New Year's Eve excitement, we went rode horses, went to dinner at Guero Taco with Grandpa and Grandma and then we watched movies until we rang in 2025.

 

Hanna and Paisley Visit Cardston

Hanna and Paisley came to visit for a few days after Christmas. James brought her to Eddie's Corner, and we drove down to meet them and bring Hanna and Paisley back to Cardston.

We loved having them here and holding Paisley.

Hanna and her two friends from high school, Maddie and Maddie, all got married within a couple months and then they all had babies within a couple months - so they took a cute picture with their babies.

 

Charlotte Dawn Perkins

Jill's due date was January 7, but she put it into the universe that she was going to have her baby on December 29. She had started having contractions on and off for a week. On Christmas Day she went to the hospital, but they said she hadn't progressed and was only 38 weeks, so they sent her home. On Sunday morning, Jill felt like something wasn't right and she hadn't felt the baby move for a few hours so she went to the hospital. They monitored the baby's heartrate and it was spiking and dropping. After a couple hours, they decided they better take the baby by c-section. 

A text from Larsen at 3:35 pm: Hey just keeping you guys posted. The baby's heart rate is doing some weird stuff. We are going to have a C section. They are prepping Jill right now. We gave her a blessing and are going to have a baby! Say a prayer or two.

Jill's doctor and Larsen gave her a blessing.

The longest two hours later (and a few tears on my part), we got this picture:

Charlotte Dawn Perkins was born screaming so that was a good sign.

December 29, 2024

8 lb 12 ounces

Charlotte was born on her Great Great Grandma Ladelphia Nunn's 100th birthday.

Larsen took the week off, and Larsen's mom was also on Christmas break so she could help, so I drove down a week later to spend a week with the Perkins and meet Charlotte.

It was a great week hanging out with Will, holding the baby, doing projects in Jill's house, repeat. I wish I had a dollar for every time Will said "Gwama"

I slept in the extra bedroom, and Will called it Wilson and Grandma's clubhouse. He is such a funny kid that narrates his entire day. The boy can talk a lot. He loves life.  He also loves "you baby" (meaning Jills' baby) and wants to hold her, but just for a few seconds.

Sadly, my car didn't love the trip. On the way down it started making a ticking sound. Then the check engine light came on. I made it Panguitch, and we took it in to the mechanic. They weren't sure what was wrong. They changed two sensors which took off the check engine light. It would have taken a few weeks to figure out and fix the ticking sound and they thought I could make it home since they knew I was leaving on Saturday.

Well, I made it 15 miles before Great Falls and the engine blew. I stopped, called Austin, called a tow truck that took me into Great Falls to a truck stop, then Austin came to pick up me and my dead car. It was an adventure I won't ever forget.