2022 -- Happy New Year!

Marty and Lizzie came home at 11:00, before we were in bed,

so thanks to their enthusiasm, we rallied!

Welcome 2022!

Happy New Year!

The End

 Dan and Nick had an epic powder day -- 25" in 24 hours, 16" overnight.

I had an epic sit and do nothing day. No seriously. I am WORN OUT!

(I did to a Barre workout, laundry -- so many towels!, and put a lot of things away.)

Nick's getting good at 360's!

A couple more pics from Dan's ski day with Michael & Courtney earlier in the vacation.

Marty out clearing the driveway. In shorts.

Happy New Year! 

I think we're going to go to bed early and we're super excited about it!

Quick Trip to Colorado

Quick trip to Denver to go apartment hunting with Marty and Lizzie.

We planned on leaving the airport at 6:30 a.m., but after we woke and showered,

learned the airport was closed until 9:30 while they plowed snow from the runway.

Used that time to take down the Christmas tree.

When we finally boarded, we sat on the runway until 11:00 waiting our turn.

And unfortunately we had to leave Colorado by 3:30 p.m. to get home before a storm in SLC.

We worked fast and toured four complexes.

The newest ones are nice with backsplash, granite and nice cabinets. 

Interesting that dining areas are very tiny or non-existent. (Opting for barstools at an island.)

But lovely communities with gyms, game rooms and pools. 

And neighbors with a Tyrannosauras Rex on the porch! 

It was a WINDY day with lots of turbulence going and coming.

But fun to see their new area, even if it wasn't enough time to really look around.

We arrived back in SLC with minutes to spare before getting rerouted due to low visibility.

So all-in-all, I'd say we were really fortunate in getting everything accomplished.

Met Lizzie's parents and Erica at Rodizios to celebrate Marty's graduation with their family.

Once again, aren't we lucky that the in-laws want to include us and we enjoy spending time together?

#SoBlessed

Celebrating

 Bob and Rhonda came over for brunch.
(And all the boys/men played on the simulators after!)
We love that we love our kids' in-laws so much and are glad they finally got to come to our home.

We are so fortunate!

Our last night before Courtney & Michael go home (missing Chris who left this morning to California for the Rose Bowl), so we went out to a fancy Italian restaurant to celebrate Marty's graduation. 

You done good, kid!

Everyone is exhausted from all the festivities and late nights, we've got a VERY early 6:00 a.m. start to go to Denver apartment shopping with Lizzie and Marty tomorrow. 

The four bedtime disciplined people went to bed (can you guess who they are?)

But of course Courtney, Michael and I stayed up because we had to finish "Only Murders..."

FOMO. I can't help it. 

Family Games

Yoga in the playroom this morning with Lizzie, Courtney and Michael. Spider Man "Far From Home" after. 

More skiing for Chris, Spiderman 3 at the movies for Courtney and Michael, Clara for me, studying for tests for Lizzie and Marty. Nick working out.

Kay, Chuck and kids are in town so in the evening the Shaeffers came over for dinner and we played on the simulators, VR, air hockey, ping pong and a game where you sit in a circle, roll dice and if you get doubles you dress in snow clothes and try to eat chocolate with knives. Lots of laughs. 

Outside and Inside

Dan, Nick and Chris went skiing this morning and Courtney, Michael, Marty, Lizzie, Kershaw and I hiked up Millcreek Canyon. I feel so lucky to be doing "my perfect Christmas vacation" with my kids! 

Cafe Rio for lunch. Courtney, Michael and I watched Spiderman Homecoming in preparation for seeing Spiderman 3 in the theater. They went to Kirkham's for Second Christmas tonight now that Michael's parents have arrived in Utah.

Meanwhile we made Babs' Sausage Rolls for dinner and played some games with Marty and Lizzie before they went to Spiderman with friends and Chris. We got a "snow squall" warning and alert on our phones so didn't let Nick go out for a couple hours until it passed. Seriously cramped his style and his friends and Lizzie got a little taste of mom and dad putting their feet down, angry style. Marty, of course, has seen it before and also commented it didn't seem near as bad as the fights we had with him when he was a teenager. I guess Dan and I are growing up.

Started "Only Murders in the Building" when Courtney and Michael came home and stayed up long after we should have been going to bed. But its vacation.

Every night feels magical.

Today We Sleep

The only thing better than two hour church is one hour church.

But grateful for the chance to take the Sacrament, give thanks for our Savior, hear testimonies of the light of Christ and say hello to our neighbors and wish them Merry Christmas. Also get to introduce Michael and Courtney to friends.

Katz Pastrami and corn beef shipped in from New York for lunch! 

Paul F. wanted us to go to Katz Deli over Thanksgiving in NYC, but we didn't have time. So the kids ordered a sandwich pack for Dan for Christmas.

Naps, puzzles, a walk, The Chosen, Cowboys football, Legos, games, food. Perfection. (Also, Lizzie is feeling better!)

Merry Christmas!

 What a leisurely Christmas morning! 

We agreed to get up for breakfast by 10:00, which was closer to 10:30. 

Sat around the table for waffles, sausage and fruit salad, then moved to the Christmas tree to start on presents after 11:00 I would have never guessed Christmas day could be so relaxing!

Both Lizzie and Michael's families open gifts one at a time like ours, so they are used to the drawn out system of going round, youngest to oldest, opening. I love being able to see what each person gets, the enjoyment of giver and receiver, hugs, laughs, and gratitude. 

First gift was the family gift -- The Stair Slide. 

The boys' stockings included a "Shashibo Cube" which was the biggest hit of Christmas.

Notice how in every picture, the boys have cubes in their hand!

Highly recommend. Santa did a lot of shopping from Instagram ads this year.

Dan has been so excited about my gift for the last two months. 

Throughout November he'd tell me on a daily basis how excited he was that he finally thought of something good and ordered it on time.

A TELESCOPE!! 

I didn't guess ahead of time and was so THRILLED! 

I'd said I wanted to get a nice telescope for Pagosa and Dan remembered.

Such a fantastic surprise!

I also got lots and lots of books! 

The kids each gifted me some of their favorites, Santa put a couple in my stocking

and Erin & Marty sent three books & a puzzle. I couldn't be happier. The only thing better than a new book, is a good book recommendation (and the book accompanying it)! 

Nick also made this sequin pillow from a picture of Dan and I! 

I love that he saw an ad for it and knew we'd love it.

Some people took naps after presents, and unfortunately Lizzie woke up feeling sick and was out of commission the rest of the day. (Residual bug that had circulated through the Rosens during their Florida trip. :-( Marty was a good nurse looking out for her.)

Charcuterie boards with lots and lots of cheese for lunch.

Snacks and treats galore.

Ham and funeral potatoes for dinner. Courtney and Christian and kids joined us. 

(Michael's sister and brother-in-law.) 

More puzzles. More Legos. Games -- draw game, Gnoming Around, and Perpetual Commotion.

And of course the ever-present Shashibo cubes.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Eve All Home

Heading to the airport to pick up the Rosens after their family holiday trip.

I've missed my Wander Lane bedroom view seeing the morning light on the mountains across the valley.

Christmas Eve dinner at Asian Star, per tradition.

Ethan C. joined us because his wife got Covid. 

After dropping dinner off to Marge,

festivities continued at home.

Nick made Chex Mix.

Chris made Mexican ponce.

And Lizzie and I puzzled.

After snacks and drinks, we finished the night watching It's a Wonderful Life,

which surprisingly, only Dan, Chris and I had seen, but everyone loved.