My Joy

12/19/25

We are headed to NY to visit Mom’s side of the family. Of course Mom had our window clings:

It’s quite a process:

Lizzy made a marine life themed display:

Rachel went up to copilot while Mom relaxed in the backseat (a little less stressful for Mom in the backseat):

Lizzy was knocked out pretty quickly:

We made it to Salem, Virginia!

12/20/25

A good hotel breakfast is very important to Dad! This Holiday Inn Express had a Very good breakfast.

Mom was quite please with the breakfast as well!

Rachel took the co-pilot seat:

And Lizzy took her favorite position:

We actually asked for a winter hike so we jumped on a portion of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania and hiked out to Hawk Rock:

Rachel had a book on tape ready:

It was pretty cold!

Icicles!

It got rocky and steep:

The halfway mark to the Hawk Rock:

We made it! Looking over the edge of Hawk Rock:

Awesome hike on a beautiful cool day!:

We were all enjoying the views!

Rachel and Mom were chillin’ on Hawk Rock:

The Susquehanna River:

We took a steep way back:

A successful hike (although Mom fall on a slippery boulder but just a bruised wrist):

We drove to Williamsport, Pennsylvania and stopped at a Giant grocery store. This robot followed us around the store:

We got to the hotel and Rachel painted all of our nails!!

We ate the dinner we got at the grocery store and then Mom had a gift for us:

In the hotel we wanted something to do so Mom gave us an early Christmas present. The card game Monopoly Deal:

Lizzy snuggled up in the cozy blanket hoodie that Lilly gave her and we all relaxed. Tomorrow we will go to church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and then head to NY.

December 1st

December 2nd

December 3rd:

December 4th

December 5th

December 6th

December 7th

December 9th

December 10th

December 12th

12/13/25

December 17th

We all enjoyed the mischievous adventures of the Elf on the Shelf, especially Rachel!

12/16/25

This year we somewhat recreated our Christmas card from 2011. Here is a side by side of the two cards:

2025

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

12/15/25

The Arague family brought us birthday gifts:

They found a picture of Dad from several years ago:

There were treats and gifts:

A speaker for Rachel:

A book for Dad:

A book for Lizzy too:

We each received a photo from years ago:

We are grateful for our friendships with the Araque family.

12/14/25

Lizzy opened more birthday presents today although we celebrated hers and Dad’s birthdays this weekend. She received several gifts from her friend Yara’s family:

There’s more…Now from Yara:

Now gifts from her former teacher and friend, Mr. Turner!:

Happy Birthday Lizzy!! You are so Loved!!

12/10/25

Mom got dad some baguettes from Upper Crust Bakery:

And his favorite cheese, Roquefort!:

It’s only a little stinky Luna:

Mom also got him a yummy eclair, one of dad’s favorite pastries from Upper Crust too:

Dad’s parents sent him a card for…

Hanukkah (?)

In the letter she explains that she has a lot of cars she is using up:

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Beck!

We will more fully celebrate both Dad and Lizzy’s birthdays on Saturday!

12/13/25

Rachel made a cookie cake for Lizzy’s birthday!

Mom and Dad made Pizzelles:

They each man a pizzelle maker and it goes pretty fast but is still very time consuming:

For dinner we all went out to the Japanese Steakhouse for the birthday celebrations:

Then we went to go see a ginormous Christmas light display at a house not far from our home. It took up an entire corner lot:

Then we went home and gave birthday cards and gifts to Dad and Lizzy:

What did it say?:

Happy Birthday Dad from Lizzy:

Now the fun of reading Lizzy’s iconic cards:

We asked Dad what he wanted for his birthday and he wanted experiences gifts this year:

From Rachel to Dad:

Mom’s turn:

Dad’s favorite chocolate covered orange slices:

Miss Kitty wants a birthday gift too:

Time to celebrate Lizzy’s 19th birthday!

Lizzy needed a little help getting this one open:

Best friend sisters:

Now from Mom and Dad:

A phone case:

An IPhone!

The case fits perfectly!

Happy Birthday Dad and Lizzy:

They both blew out a candle:

Happy Birthdays, we love you both so much!

12/08/25

Out Aunt Anea, Dad’s sister, made us a beautiful origami Christmas ornament:

It is beautiful and took many many hours to make:

Thank you so much Aunt Anea!

12/07/25

The Lewis family invites us for their traditional Danish candle lighting celebration each year:

Brother and Sister Lewis (on the left) are so happy to have all of us thee to celebrate with them:

They invited several other people to join in on the celebration as well:

We were all having a good time:

Haden lit the candle wreath a beautiful Danish tradition at Christmas (although typically you light one candle for every Sunday in December leading up to Christmas:

Then we all sang some Christmas carols. A very enjoyable evening!

12/06/25

It is time for our ward Christmas party. It is a little early this yer but we are already in the Christmas spirit!

The Young Men and Young Women served the food this year:

Mom and Dad were ready to eat!

We were done serving and ready to eat too:

There was beautiful musical entertainment while we enjoyed the delicious meal:

After dinner a special visitor came!

We contemplating going to see Santa!

It was a very nice Ward Christmas Party.

12/02/25

Rachel has an exceptional teacher named Miss Mindy, at Sante Fe college that she has had two classes with so Rachel hand made her a Christmas gift:

And this awesome thank you card!

So creative and artistic!!