The Christmas Express is always a good time!
Checked out the new Chicken and Pickle for Erin’s birthday and it was a ton of fun eating and playing Pickleball.
We had an appointment with the orthopedic doctor on December 8 to see how Beau’s knee was doing and if he would be cleared to play sports or not. Beau felt strong and like he could run and do all the things but he also hadn’t tried because he’d been warned not to- that it could mess up his knee again. We thought maybe at that point he would be cleared to carefully start running and jumping with the physical therapist but when the doc looked at the x-ray, examined the knee, and looked at what Beau could do- he said he didn’t see why Beau couldn’t get right back to sports- no restrictions. Beau and I about cried right there in the office. It was earlier than we expected to be cleared, he had a volleyball tournament in LA that upcoming weekend he wanted to play in, and he was ready to go fully back to sports and PE and everything! I asked a million questions to clarify that what I was hearing was true. Doc said he didn’t even need to continue physical therapy. (Beau’s hard work doing all of the therapy paid off!) Beau and I got in the car and happy cried and text everyone and were just so happy and grateful! When we got to the school we ran in with all the doctor’s clearance notes to show them that Beau had zero restrictions and he could do PE that day! He got in two weeks of PE before the semester ended and he had to switch to Health but he was grateful to get those two weeks! He went to volleyball practice that week and got all ready for the tournament. He got his volleyball shoes and knee pads as an early Christmas present since he needed them asap. He put on rollerblades the minute he got back from school and his knee hasn’t bothered him one bit!
Youth night/ Valiant Activity Days caroling at a care center. I got to go and play the piano for them.
Beau’s volleyball team had a tournament in downtown LA at the Convention Center. The arena where the LA Kings and Lakers play is right there and our nice hotel and a couple of restaurants were right in the plaza there. One block any direction, though, was super sketch- in fact we were told to not even leave and try to drive anywhere (it was all moms and the boys who went). We celebrated Erin’s 40th birthday while there, had fun watching the boys and ate good food (the three restaurants and a food truck right there haha).
Kenny, Kayli, Trey and Sami were able to go to the ward party while we were in LA and they did the nativity again…
They also went to the Taylor family Christmas party.
I love that our school does Winter Concerts for each grade level and they always do such a great job! The songs are actually really cool. Livi and Trey got to perform one night and Sami and Jake were another night. It’s one of my favorite December activities!
Only got a pic of one school dress up day…
School sports proofs because they’re too expensive!
Super fun outdoor hockey rink is opening by our house. The boys have been there a few times when it’s not all locked up. Not sure when they’ll officially, finally open it up! Beau is in goal.
Gingerbread houses and Mike’s Christmas games at the Cahills’ is always a good time!
Christmas Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year! We work so hard at choir to perform that day and this year it was another amazing Sunday. I played one song for the choir and got to sing the rest. Kayli sang with the young women that I got to play. Trey and Sami sang with two other kids a super cute song, If I Were a Shepherd, that I got to play and so many people commented on how that was their favorite song and it brought them to tears. I am always so relieved when it is over because I don’t have to stress about my piano songs but this year was extra special for us and so I didn’t want it to end.
The Poulsen’s drove to Vegas and stayed with us Sunday night on their way to Utah. Monday morning we had our traditional Santa Pancakes. We’ve been doing this for 10 years!
The boys made a sleigh and reindeer to ride around… it was pretty cool!
Christmas Adam at the Eliason’s…
Christmas Eve morning…
Christmas Eve with the Englands…
Christmas morning…
More Christmas things… Beau is the abominable snowman!
Ice-skating at CNA…
The boys spent most of Christmas break (and now weekends and after school) riding bikes out in the desert (which Kenny and Chase love!) building bike tracks and jumps. The dads have been with them lots too. They were so excited to find a fake dog skeleton and rode it home, fixed it up, and then used it as a hockey goalie. They even 3D printed a hat for it and now it lives at Bennett’s house.
Kayli had friends over for New Years, Beau had hockey practice, and then they all went to the dance! Kenny was there, too, running the karaoke. Me and the littles stayed home and had our own New Year’s Eve celebration and Trey made 3D glasses and a ball drop.
On New Years Day when I heard a knock at my door I opened it to see Reef! Kim and Reef surprised us and came for New Years! That was such a fun surprise! We played at our house, ate New Years appetizers, went on a Haddie’s run, played in the rain, and went to see Zootopia 2 at the movies. It was fun that she was in town for Beau’s hockey tournament too!
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