Nick And Missy Lane Sealing

A bright, crisp morning for a special event.  Let's just say it was 0 degrees when we left our house that morning to drive up to Salt Lake.  Surprisingly, lots of weddings were going on as well.  With it being New Years Eve, I guess I was a little surprised.  However, it was great to be there and see Missy and Nick Sealed to their boys, Jase and Gage.  Sealings are still a little hard for me...it's not the ordinance, but still learning about many things in my life and marriage that is hard to swallow.  I know there is joy when both people are committed in a marriage.  It's keeping that commitment alive and healthy that jarred my faith.  

I'm happy for Missy and Nick...3rd times the charm, especially when done the way the Lord has asked us.  I see the happiness in their eyes and I see the strength the gospel as brought them.  Their timeline is a testimony how the Lord can bless you if you but do all you can with committing your life to the Lord.

Bailey, Rian, Denham, Jarom and Brenin

Afterward, we were treated to lunch by Gma and Gpa Wardwell at Golden Corral...a perfect kid friendly place.

Nick, Jase, Missy and Gage

Aquarium

Two older kids were at Gma and Gpa Wardwell's for a cousin sleep over with Denham and Brenin in town.  So I took the three younger kids to the Aquarium in Draper.  None of us have never been here.  It was really nice, but realizing we are starting to move out of that kids phase of these types of things.  Ammon was ok with it and Tarin and Rae liked it too, but with them getting older it was almost 'boring' for them.  It also didn't help that a ba-gillion people had the same idea as us to come that day...so it was terribly crowded and hard to enjoy anyway.  It was fun to say we did it.

Penguins

Christmas Eve

At Gma and Gpa Wardwell's house for Christmas Eve, there was a wonderful dinner and fun games.  Here is Ammon representing our family in this age group.  

We also tried the Nativity at their house.  The Wardwell's don't usually do this, but had us head it up.  It was fun.  This is something we will do every year.  Reenacting the birth of Christ is hands on learning for kids and such a testimony of how important this event and His life, in the history of humanity is pinnacle to our Salvation.  The Wardwell's didn't do a traditional Secret Santa, but a family giving to another.  This has gone on a few years, but this year was special...in my eyes.  With allowance (now changing to commissions in January) each month, I decided that they need the opportunity to give.  Sure they pay their tithing, but a jar was set aside each pay day and they had the opportunity to give whatever their heart desired or not to give...they weren't badgered if they didn't give, it was a choice.  We told them, whatever they totaled in donations by the end of the year, we as parents would match it.  They donated up to $70+ so as a whole family, we donated I think $140-150 (can't remember the total) to the big Wardwell family donation.  This year it went to a family Trent's parents picked out in their ward.  Gma had the older grand kids ding dong ditch the gift on night.  This was a great lesson that lasted all year long.  I hope to continue it this next year.

On the Palmer side, we had Tony for secret Santa, and this is him sporting our gift saying Thank you.  Big Devils fan...

Back home, we opened PJs and our own family secret Santa gifts.  It's a lot of fun to see our kids so excited to give.  Their hearts are so big.  Merry Christmas

Sadly, I didn't take any pictures on Christmas day!!  Weird I know!  I have video...something I've been bad at, so that took priority :o)  It was a fun day.  Kids slept great altogether downstairs...we had to wake them at 7am!  Weird again!  It was a great morning.  Then we spent the day at the Wardwells again eating and spending time with cousins.

Many Sides Of Leona

This cat is rarely documented, so I thought I'd dedicate a post to our most devoted family member, who endures many ways to be held, thrown, tortured, loved and best of all... many ways of showing her love and curiosities.

loved having the tree for a quick get-away from a certain 6 yr old

butt warmer...sleeping companions

loves her mamma

Another butt shot...loves her daddy!

Salt Lake Temple Night

Groupon inspired night, we hit the Gallavan Center in Salt Lake for some outdoor ice skating before hitting Temple Square.  It was a really cool environment.  We will have to do that again.

Ammon watching the Zamboni machine before taking off

Walked a few blocks to Temple Square

Not the best phone picture, but it's evidence that we were there :o)

Tuesday night before Christmas Eve, we visited my brother Jeff and his family and Tana and Matt with their family and had our get together dinner.  It was fun and full of games.

Busy Week

Jarom had a band concert, and looked so handsome in his dad's suit.  The best picture we could get of him was while he set up the instruments and chairs...I'm so proud of him and all of his hard work.  Bias or not, he's so good looking!  He's still first chair with his baritone in the highest band, Symphonic Band!  Nice work Jarom!!

I substitute taught for an entire week for Mrs. Goodrich, 5th grade.  I was a little worried for two reasons.  One, its the week before winter break, so kids are natrually going to be nutty, and two, It's the week before Christmas!  Oh, did I already say that?  Well, it was the cherry on the top when Raegan designed my lunch bag every day... that was an extra boost.  But the kids all did an amazing job in the class.  I was worried for rowdiness or lack of control I could maintain, but it was total opposite!  Loved those kids and we all learned a lot.  Assist. Principle was impressed and basically offered me a job ... not really, but told me to consider it next year as another 5th grade teacher is leaving.  I was flattered.

Trent and I went to see The Lower Lights with Peter Breinholt as a guess musician.  I like Peter Brienholt...but I won't lie and say I loved the rest of the show.  No doubt they are talented and I even love the southern genre, Love you Trent, but this group was over played in our house...I know you loved it and it was a cool venue.  Glad you got to see them.

Raegan's Piano Recital

Raegan was so excited for her Fall Recital!  All of the students played songs for the audience to sing to.  This helped them learn how to accompany music.  She improved on her song so quickly, that I thought it was no sweat.  Once she was in front of others, she paniced...but I still think she did a fabulous job.  She played the drummer boy, and I think it was the hardest piece given.  Raegan, you are my hero, and you are very talented!

Raegan and teacher, Shannon Ipson

Gift From The Heart

Only I would know what this gift means.  It's not something I want to elaborate on, but to only remember where my heart was/is.  This represents my heart and even sacrifice (that only I know about), and was rejected/misunderstood.  I'm thankful for the lessons of forgiveness that I've so carefully learned and continue to visit.  I've also learned, or still in the process of learning, that not everyone will accept this principle and they have their own choices to make.  I love how close I've come to God and to learn the power of the Atonement.  This Christmas season was rough, trying to stand tall and be courageous for my kids, but it was deeper in spirit and meaning then any other Christmas I have ever experienced.  I pray so much, my pants must have wear markings, but when I feel He isn't listening, I look back to that past many months and see the rocky path that has been so  heart wrenching, but leading in a direction of peace and overall joy.  I know in the middle of storms, I can't make any judgements.  I can only see the path behind and recognize where the Lord is leading me, then I must look forward and proceed with faith.  This lesson is my hardest and most stubborn to concede to, "Let the Lord guide you!", let him share the burden by yoking together.  He will lead you and make your burdens light.  (Matthew 11:28-30)  I find myself trying to do it all.  I will break down, but then with a stern look in the eye, I am reminded of this sobering fact, "Let the Lord guide you".  I am strong, and I am capable of so much as long as I keep God at the head.  I know this for me and know that I am loved, no matter what others think of me, I am my own self.  We all have room to improve and that is all I aim to do.

updated in January

The Tree Of Life

We had plans to hit a live nativity in Alpine, but other family members said the line was extremely long, and it was freezing outside, so after a dinner out, we headed to Draper and was this park.  It had one tree all lit up that they called, The Tree of Life.  Other trees around were also lit, but this tree was enormous and must have taken a great deal of time and effort to assemble.  It was spectacular.

Sick Bug Hits Our House

My poor baby!

This marked the beginning of a long road (posting this in Jan.)  Ammon was the first to grab the nasty sick bug and prolong it with a cough that lasted over 3 weeks.  But to start, he had the chills and a fever...so he crawled into my bed with his coat, scarf and sweats and...anything else he could grab.  Later he passed it on as a gift to other siblings that kept on giving.

Annual GingerBread Houses

The Wardwell family get together every year and do the Gingerbread House tradition.  Gma Wardwell definitely out does her self finding all the fun candies and builds the frame of the gram houses ahead of time.  Kids love it.

Jackson Clayton's Baptism

My little nephew, Jackson, just turned 8 and was baptized.  They leave close by so we were able to attend and support this awesome little guy.

My brother Jeff and his kids, and my parents were also able to attend.  Some of Jeff's boys, my kids and Tana's kids enjoying themselves at the luncheon afterwards.

Jarom is the oldest boy cousin here in Utah, and you can see he's the life of the party with the younger boys.  Pretty strong too.  Jarom, Braeden and Ammon

Solar Oven

Tarin worked on a project in school, a solar oven.  She was so excited and did an excellent job at it.  She brought it home and showed me how it worked by putting marshmallows and chocolate chips in it, and with in a few short minutes, they were soft and gooey ready to be devoured.  She tried other more complicated foods and ate it all up.

A Time To Give Thanks

It was nice to spend Thanksgiving in warm AZ.  My kids need more Gma and Gpa Palmer time and cousin time.  It was a lot of fun.

The kids broke out all the classic games and tried to beat Gpa.  The kids got pretty good at it.  Watch out next time Gpa, the kids will be practicing... :o)

While there, the kids loved seeing the new baby chicks.  Ammon loved them so much but mostly loved looking for the eggs each day...or several times a day.  Because the older chickens were molting, they weren't laying eggs.  I know how much Ammon loves looking for them, so each day I'd go out and hide 3 or 4.  He was in heaven!!

Thanksgiving dinner was perfect outside.  It was a little warm for those not from AZ, 84 degrees (a record high), but I soaked it all in :o)  I helped my mom make the pies and several other things.  My siblings came with many other foods, so it was great.  Being all together was really nice.

Next day, Trent and I flew out to Albequerque, New Mexico for a wedding.  Seth Wheeler, Trent's last mission buddy to get married put everyone up in the Parque Central Hotel.  It was pretty cool.

That evening there was a fun little gathering on the roof for everyone to get to know the bride and the groom.  Great people.

Next morning, at the New Mexico Temple, Seth was sealed to his forever bride.  It was so great seeing him finally married and ready to enjoy his life with another.

Here we are all together.  The husbands were all together on their missions and roomed at BYU.  Slowly they all got married.  Seth being the last one to finish that chapter.

Summer and Jeremy, me and Trent, Evan and Cheryl, Chris and Deanna, Jason and Erin

To finish off the night, we all stayed up to talk and play games.  It was a great, short little vaca.

Back to AZ... Gma and Gpa and especially uncle Dan... took great care of our kids...

The morning we left, my awesome brother Dan, took our kids to go boating at Saguaro Lake with my other awesome brother Trevor and his family.

Later that same day, he took them to Tempe Buttes in Papago Park to do a little hiking.

The next day, Saturday--the day we got back, he took them to Tempe Lakes.  

They had a great time.  Thanks to an amazing big brother.

Sunday, we went to my niece, Brooke's mission homecoming talk.  She did such a great job, and had a good mission to always and forever shape her life.  I need to get a picture...

after that, we had an easy Sunday to enjoy.  I took the kids on a walk around the neighborhood.  I saw an ostrich once, and hoped it was still there.  While walking I had to teach my kids what I use to do in the irrigation ditches growing up.  My brothers and I would skip back and forth, side to side...Jarom is here trying it...they all tried it.

 We saw horses, rabbits and ...no ostriches, but emu.

Tarin loved the baby chicks and wanted to try balancing three on one stick...it worked

Finally, Sunday night we took the kids down to the Mesa Temple lights and toured the visitor center.

Then it was back to Gma's to make cookies for the long drive home the next day.  It was such a fun holiday, I wish we lived closer.  Thanks mom and dad and Dan and everyone.