Holiday Fun

We put up all the stockings, plus one for the baby. That's a lot of stockings! We've had fun with something new in our gingerbread house each day. Sometimes it's for Light the World and sometimes it's a little activity like getting the Christmas lego train out. 

Jean-Pierre and Olivia and baby Pierre came at the beginning of the month for Christmas baking. We made some good progress on our Christmas baking list. It all goes in the freezer and then when we are ready to pass out treats to neighbors to take it out and put it in these cute boxes. We also made cinnamon bread for neighbors. My cute little helpers made quite a few deliveries! 

Our Christmas date looked a little different this year. We masked up and went to Susie's basketball game, then dropped Susie off and headed out for dinner. Then we drove through the Layton city park lights. 

We got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa West this month too. We had a fun day at their house. It's so nice to have them closer. We made a little store bought gingerbread house (don't tell my sisters-in-law who all make their gingerbread homemade). It was fun to be together. 

I've had some fun crafting this month for gifts. I made ornaments for friends, a quilt for Susie for Christmas (shhh!), we made CTR ornaments for all the Primary kids, and I made pillows for family members with my Grandma's shirts. We are all missing her this holiday season. 

My brother graduated from nursing school! Hurray! We weren't able to go to the ceremony but we watched it online. I took Braden and Susie and we drove Olivia down to Cedar for Christmas. JP can't come until Christmas Eve. We did some baking and mom signed us up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. 

Thanksgiving 2020

We had a quiet Thanksgiving at home this year, it was really nice. We made pies the day before, apple, key lime, and cherry, and we bought a pumpkin pie from Costco. We had a few appetizers to snack on while we made rolls and the rest of the meal. We made little turkeys with oreos and candy. 

Dinner was delicious! We set up my phone and took a picture using my watch, very cool. 

We had lots of turkey left over, yum! After we cleaned everything up we watched Christmas Chronicles 2. I liked the first one much better..

The next day we worked on taking down our Thanksgiving things and putting up some Christmas! Paul hung the lights outside and we put up the tree. The Christmas season is here! 

Circle of Life

Last month was a happy and sad month for our family. 

Happily little Pierre Augustin was born. Paul took some time off and I was able to go and spend some time with the new baby, helping the new parents. It was a great little visit. I took some freezer meals and treats with me. It is always fun when I get to spend time with my sister and she is a great new mommy. 

I was able to babysit Samantha's little boy Kingston recently too! 

While I was at Olivia's house in Idaho Falls, our Grandma Maxine Hildreth was brought from Soda to IF because of COVID-19. At first she was very sick and we were very worried, but she started improving and was even able to go off the breathing machine for a day or so. We were hopeful she would recover but sadly she started to decline again. She was in the ICU for about a week before she died. Jean Pierre and Olivia work in the ICU and he was able to be there to check on her often. Olivia was able to go in once as well. Just before they took her off the bipap, Todd, Sarah, Mandy, and Grandpa were able to go in and see her. My mom was on Facetime with them and they all had a chance to say goodbye. 

Grandma's funeral was a week later. Mom gave the life sketch and did such a beautiful job. All her grandchildren sang, I Often Go Walking. Uncle Todd gave a great talk. 

This picture breaks my heart. 

Tiffany had the idea to get Grandpa a dog for a companion. He's always wanted an Australian Shepherd. Weston found one and we all pitched in to get it. We gathered on Zoom to give it to Grandpa. I think it's been a lot of work for him but hopefully he'll be a good friend for Grandpa. 

I've tried to spend as much time with my mom as I can this month. She is so heartbroken and struggling. She's a strong woman and has been through so much this year. She's a great example to me. 

I will miss Grandma so much. I'm so thankful for the memories we have. I had a New Years resolution this year to learn how to pickle green beans with Grandma and I'm so glad we made that happen. I felt that was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. We will always hold her in our hearts and look forward to being together again.