Christmas Card

 

New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, we went over to the Whettens' house for their annual New Year's party.  Jonah and his friends left from their for a New Year's dance in Frisco, which Corey and I drove them to.  Westley and Alejandra had gone to a friends' house to celebrate New Year's with them.  Eliza had gone to her friend's house as well.  The rest of us were at Whettens until it was time to take the kids to the dance.  Corey and I drove them.

Sibling Gift Exchange

This year's gift exchange was really great.  The kids are getting older and more proficient at creating gifts.  

Westley and Alejandra had Caleb.  He likes to read, so they created some great bookmarks for him.  Westley drew the pictures and Alejandra colored them and then they laminated them with my laminator.  

Caleb had Nathan. He made him this cool Minecraft box with the numbers 6 and 7 inside.  He used a woodcutter that he had access to on campus.

Eliza gave Jonah a piano book filled with some simplified versions of classic pieces for Jonah to learn.

Jonah gave Annmarie a picture he drew featuring cowboy boots, a hat, and a microphone.

Annmarie gave Westley and Alejandra a King-o-poly game that I helped her make, featuring the King Family.  

Nathan gave Eliza a necklace/jewelry holder similar to mine that Dad helped him make.

Christmas 2025

On Christmas Eve, we hosted the sister missionaries for dinner, Sister Tobie Polanco from Arizona and Sister Mikaela Christensen from Provo, Utah (Timpview HS).  We had a delicious ham dinner with some great dessert of chocolate cream pie and brownies.  We also had a musical program.  Westley and Jonah played trumpet together (Westley played on the old coronet in the guest bedroom).  Annmarie and Eliza each sang a solo.  We then read Luke II with singing Christmas songs throughout the story.  Then we opened our ornaments and I had bought some special Texas ornaments for the missionaries.  It was such a fun Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day was the usual.  We lined them up.  Travis was even represented with the South African flag hanging from the top of the stairs.  We opened stockings, then presents and had our big breakfast.

I worked really hard and gave my mom a drawing I had done of me, her, and her mom all of us around the age of 20 or so.  I used photos that I had from those ages and composed them into a picture. I did use AI to help by having it create the picture and then I used it as a basis for my drawing.  Alejandra and Westley gave Corey and me these great Mexican shirts (they probably have a name but I don't know it).  They were so nice!  On Christmas Day, some of us drove up to Plano's Deerfield Neighborhood and walked through Christmas lights.  We also had our chicken nuggets and applesauce on Christmas Day.

The day after Christmas, we had a breakfast gathering with the Fowles family and played some games.  It was a fun time. All in all, a very good Christmas!  

Mom's Birthday and Messiah Concert

My birthday celebration was nice. We had our Christmas program in Sacrament meeting at church. The choir sang a number and I played the piano (I'm the accompanist, that is my new calling, released from YW in September). I also played a cello/violin duet with Eric Whetten. My parents came over for dinner that night, which was chicken cordon bleu. Dessert was angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries. The best part was that Westley, Alejandra and Caleb got into town in time for dinner, so they ate with us as well. On Tuesday, the Dallas Bach Society was doing Handel's Messiah at the Meyerson in Dallas. I've always wanted to see Handel's Messiah performed in its entirety by a choir and orchestra. This wa the perfect opportunity. So I bought tickets for me and Corey, Westley and Alejandra, and Caleb and Eliza. But Eliza ended up not getting the night off work, so we ended up finding a blind date for Caleb instead, Eva Shipp from the 3rd ward. It was a nice evening and I really enjoyed the concert.

 

December Week 3

After getting over my illness and Jonah getting over his, we had another busy week.

I got the ornament I bought for Travis for this first Christmas as a missionary.  

I had an orchestra concert that had kept getting put off because they couldn't find a night and place that worked.  Finally they just held it in the orchestra room.  I am really enjoying playing the cello.

And Jonah wrestled at the Wylie Invitational.  Corey helped with the score table and Nathan and Annmarie helped by being towel people (they tap the ref with a towel when the time is up).  I donated muffins, which I made the morning of.  Jonah did not have the greatest wrestling day, and he wrestled JV for this tournament.  He is still learning.

 

 

Weekend Fun

I was supposed to take Nathan to a play on Saturday night the 13th but I came down with strep throat. So Corey took him to see his friend Samuel White from school and our street in the Wylie Acting Group rendition of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The next day was the In-N-Out kids Christmas party. I was not able to go to that either. Even Jonah was sick and we both went to Urgent Care. He was diagnosed with Flu and I was diagnosed with strep. I got my strep medication and he was given tips on healing. It was a rough week starting out for our family. That Sunday night was also the "Light the World" choir concert. Eliza, Annmarie and I were in the adult choir and Nathan was in the children's chorus. Jonah and I didn't go at all, but the rest of the family went and my parents went to see it too. They said it was really good. I was sad to not be in it the last time I could with Eliza.

Jonah Wrestling

Jonah wrestled varsity and at his first varsity match, a dual hosted by our school, he got a pin!  He had a harder time with his other matches, but nowhere to go but up!  I took a picture of the score board because it was exciting to see "King" up there, especially when he's only a freshman!

Annmarie Voice Recital

Annmarie's holiday recital was also this week.  She sounded so good singing her song and was probably the best one there.  She is not afraid to perform solo.

Winter Band Concert

December is just a series of concerts for my musical kids.  Jonah had his winter band concert.  He was recognized as having made alternate for All-Region, but he didn't even know he had made alternate!  He is so good at the trumpet.

Holiday Voice Recital for Eliza

Eliza had her holiday voice recital.  She has improved her singing so much under Mandie McMurdie's tutelage and it's always wonderful to go hear her sing.  Sadly, on this night, she was not feeling very well and ended up sick the rest of the week.  

Celebrating Eliza

Since we weren't able to celebrate Eliza on her birthday, we celebrated the next night.  I made her the dinner she wanted and a cookie cake and we gave her a few presents.  Happy 18th Birthday!  Our fourth adult.