Christmas Part 1

Man this Utah trip has gone by so fast. We headed to Utah on 12/21. We left at 4:30 AM and man I am glad we did. We had 65 mph wind gust when we first entered WY and then it was smooth sailing until we got to Rock Springs. After that it was 4 hours of non stop snow and rain and just crappy weather. This is the reason we don't travel home for Christmas and this just really solidified that tradition. 

We got to SLC around 2 pm and we stopped to have lunch and hang out with the Geronimos. We loved it! The girls loved playing and we just laughted and laughed with Melynda and Marco. 

We headed to Logan. The big event was the blessing and sealing of Milo. It was a wondeful event. We loved it. It was so amazing to see both sides of the family there. After the sealing we ate lunch. Here is recap of the rest of the things we did in Logan. 

Jump Zone

Chick Fil A play ground

Santa ride with Gaylan

Playing with Oaklen

Visiting Strat and Lauren's home

Cookie Decorating With Debbie

Seeing Hunger Games Movie by ourselves

Going to basketball game with grown ups

Straton and girls taking silly photos with iPad

Santa visiting the girls and knowing their names

Playing with Chi Chi

Hearing Debbie and Gaylan tell stories

Doing a family nativity scene

Driving around Logan and North Logan

Taking Family photos.

It was a jammed packed 5 days. The girls did better than expected. Sydney no longer naps but even she tooks  a few naps since we were going so much. Still I was able to slow down. I took naps and relaxed. Tyson and I Joked that it was amazing to be alone together and see that we actually enjoy each other! Christmas morning the girls were excited but no over the top. Stockings were fun and we had great food. The girls played for hours by themselves and their cousins. That' was probably my favorite part. Sydney was totally in love with Oaklen and keeps asking about him. 

Debt free

See this little picture? This picture is s huge deal!! 

After 25 years my mom and dad paid off their home.

Let me say that again- my imigrant parents, who came in their 30's with no education, worked only low income jobs, supporter SEVEN children, learned English, worked 7 days a week, every Christmas and holiday and survived pay offs, debt to cover just being able

 to eat - paid off they house. 

I remember mom and Fredy spending months searching for a home. I remember going years without any furniture in it. I remember having a 4 person table for all six of us. I remember all those late night of mom working. 

It seems unreal that all that happened. My parents honestly never wanted this goal - most of the time they were just trying to stay afloat. For the last 10 years my mom worked 7 days per week and had her cleaning business. Hard work was a way of life. They started thinking it could be possible about 4 years ago and then be some super intense to reach the goal. Today they did it!!!

To see all of that pay off - it's just plain amazing. I am so profoundly proud of them. We have always been the cast off family. The children with no dad and really no future. And yet God helped my mom. He guided her and Fredy. Today all 4 of us graduated college, married well and are raising our own little families. 

My mom has overcome such obstacles  and so many people who put her down   

One of my goals is to pay my home off and now I believe I really really can. 

We will have a big celebration when we go to Utah to celebrate. 

Holiday weekend

Wow what a weekend! It was so busy but so fun. 

Friday was the Goddard holiday party. Both girls sang and did great. Sydney really wanted to be the center of attention. 

Saturday was the ward Christmas party. We had great food. Then a holiday party program. Sydney and London played in the nursery with abbey and Emma. 

Sunday was the church Christmas devotional. We had the Calleys over for dinner and the whites also joined us. 

So three days of non stop parties. We had such a blast but also glad to have a quiet week. 

I also wanted to capture Jacob - this is Sydney's favorite friend on school. They are best friends and love to play together. 

Thanksgiving 2015

Well this year's Thanksgiving was one for the story book. It started out great. It snowed all day, Tyson was home and cleaning up the house was a snap ( I love being minimalist :) 

Well we got the turkey ready and preped in the oven by noon, then everyone went to take a nap and I worked. 

Well at 2:30 I checked the turkey and realised that the "clean oven" light was on. Well when yo "lock" the oven it automatically switches to clean mode - who knew? Well I freaked out and I started to actually cook the turkey. 

I texed the Biglers to let them now to come at 5:30 instead of 4:30. 

Well everyone arrived, the turkey was smelling great. Well at 530 the timer beeped and I took at a look at the turkey - the roasting bag had melted  - totally disappeared. So I called Tyson to show him and he said we could not eat it. So with everyone here at 6 pm, we had no turkey. 

I was mortified. I was horrified. and so embarrassed. 

We eat ate a vegetarian Thanksgiving. I kept telling myself that It was not that bad or that it was funny - but it did not feel funny. I kept thinking "what would I tell my girls on how to react" and I knew I had to just make the best of it. So I apologised to the Biglers and they were amazingly gracious. This will be our last Thanksgiving with them since they are moving back to Utah - but what a night. 

They left at 730 pm and we were cleaned up in 20 minutes. It was amazing how fast we cleaned up. We put the girls to bed and we finished watching the Scortch Trials movie. I was in bed at 930. 

So lesson's learned.

1. Double and triple check the oven.

2. Cook ham

3. Have frozen pizza just in case :) 

I have so much to be thankful for, especially the fact I even have a Turkey to ruin. The fact that I had people over, food to serve, issues to be had.... it made me realize the small things in life. 

So here's to 2015 Thanksgiving! 

Ginger bread house + Cheneys

We did our ginger bread house Sunday night. The girls loved it! Tyson is the master architect while the girls assist. 

Also this week, Shea Cheney moved. He has been staying  at the green house for three weeks. Megan, Marlee and Brooke moved to California and he stayed to finish work. He had been looking for acne job for a year with no luck. His family had to move without him to live with grandparents. It was a tough time. She's has a masters and lots of experience. It was hard to see him struggle. But it all paid off. He got a great job in aurora California. It's a small town and the houses cost about the same as Denver.

Shea helped Tyson at night in exchange for the rent. It was fun to work along side him. We will miss the Cheneys but so happy that things turned out ok. 

Tyson is going through some work changes right now. A lot of things are up in the air. We thought we would start school but the classes don't start until September. We don't know where he will be in January and it's scary since we are just about done with our house. I know he is worried. I am so thankful for my clients and our savings. Most importantly Im thankful for our simple lifestyle. We have learned so much this last two years in terms of simple living. We will be ok either way and that is the most important thing.