My Joy

12/18/2021

We went to Joy’s house (she lives with her daughter Cindy):

Merry Christmas Joy!

12/14/2021

We went to Yo3 Metro Frozen Yogurt Shop:

Our neighbor friends left birthday gifts at the door while we were away:

Another bag with treats:

We later had the Araque family over for a celebration. We had pizza then we lit a candle for Lizzy to make a wish (she wanted Yo3 Frozen yogurt so we didn’t get to light a candle at the shop).

Time for cards and gifts:

Gifts from Rachel:

From Mom and Dad:

Happy Birthday Lizzy!

We Love You So Much!!

After the birthday party we shared some Christmas gifts with the Araques since we will be heading off to NY for Christmas:

We made personalized mugs for everyone this year.

Special treats!

Mugs!

We are so grateful for the Araque family! Merry Christmas!

12/12/2021

We followed tradition again and took a trip to the NFRMC Christmas Lights:

12/10/21

We had the Araque Family over to celebrate Dad’s Birthday. Pizz and Breadsticks on the menu:

Let’s Eat!

Time for cards and gifts:

Very Nice:

It must have been good!:

Now a gift from Rachel:

Dad wanted this movie:

A gift from the Araque Family:

A can to make caramel:

Franklin:

Mom got something for Dad too:

Time for dessert:

Time to pet Luna:

And snuggle:

Happy Birthday Dad!

11/26/2021

Yet another tree off the lot at the big box store. . .definitely not as fun, but we found a nice tree anyway. We sure do miss the tree farm that closed a few years ago!

We followed tradition with putting “snow” on the tree branches (when I was a kid we had tinsel):

Also a tradition to put a bird in a bird’s nest on the tree as the first ornament:

Garland, lights, and of course the star:

Now for the color schemed ornaments. Can you guess what are theme was this year?

Silver and Gold:

Mom was busy decorating the rest of the house the next couple of days:

Grandma (mom’s mom) in Heaven’s Nativity Scene (Avon).

Another nativity from Grandma in Heaven:

We are so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and we look forward to all the celebrations of his birth this Christmas!

12/02/2021

Another tradition: Advent Calendars

November 25, 2021

This year we are having the Tanners and the Araque family over for Thanksgiving dinner! The girls helped with the set up:

Lizzy even made a fancy menu!:

We had to set up in the gym to fit everyone:

Sullivan did a great job on the food!

We were all assembled and ready for the feast!

Don’t forget about the pies:

We had a very nice time with our friends enjoying Thanksgiving!

November 6, 2021

Rachel had a table for her very first art show (this is the art show that Joy puts on each year).

She sold several paintings but for some reason the rocks drew a lot of attention:

Several people later commissioned Rachel for painted rocks (large and small) and even some specialty pavers.

Rachel also started a Facebook Marketplace page, “Little Miss Art Shop”, with her artwork for sale and has sold many more paintings there. We are so proud of you Rachel!!

On the exact same day Lizzy had a theatre performance of, “High School Musical”. So we spent a couple of hours with Rachel and headed to the show:

She played the part of Kelsi Nielsen (a supporting character), a songwriter and composer and student at East High. She is very introverted and is very intimidated by Sharpay Evans, the president of the school’s drama department. By the end of the show Kelsi overcomes her shyness and takes on a pivotal role in the plot.

It was a great performance!

Lizzy enjoyed her character and played her part very well!

After the show we all went back to the art show for Rachel! Whew, what a day!

October 31st. 2021

Rachel did her own make-up for her Skelton look:

Lizzy was a rat!

Mom was a cat:

Ready to go see Joy and then go trick or treating!

Happy Halloween!

October 29th, 2021

Happy Halloween! This year mom carved a pineapple:

He looked angry:

Rachel was a skeleton and Mom dressed up half good / half bad for our trunk which was a You Choose Your Way / Come Follow Me theme. Lizzy had a school theatre performance (we will go see her play tomorrow):

Trunk-N-Treat:

Choose The Right – get two good candies!

Not everyone decided to choose the right…they still got some candy.

October 17, 2021

Kevin offered to take Lizzy and Rachel on a motorcycle ride. They decided to have Rachel go first:

Lizzy’s turn. She was a bit nervous:

They both really enjoyed it, but Lizzy reportedly might not do it again. Rachel will 100% ride again!

October 9, 2021

Mom and Dad traded in the mini van for an SUV:

Mom was pretty excited!