Post Christmas Fun with the Waltons
Tuesday, December 27th
(Chris working in Wyoming)
Wednesday snow meant that we headed to Provo on Tuesday instead. We played a few games while we cleaned the kitchen and spend a good couple hours packing and organizing for our 7 days in Provo/Draper. Megan worked at Crumbl from 8:00 to 3:00. Ryan, Cassie, the boys and I loaded the van and headed for Provo with really wet conditions. It was not the best drive, especially in the dark and looking back we really should have checked our tires before heading to the land of winter. Obviously the rain was better than snow but it was so wet that I felt like I was slipping and sliding too many times.
We got to Scott and Elisha’s house about 7:00 and it was fun to gather in the front room and catch up with them and Amy, Chris, Mike, Carly, Brian and Mom for an hour or so.
Katie, Emily and Megan drove separately and came in about 45 minutes later and Katie urged Emily to announce that she had been accepted into the Communication Disorders major at BYU. Everyone cheered, especially since I had just shared that she was waiting to find out. Emily seems excited and also worried about having to do four more semesters instead of finish in three like she had been working hard to do. She’s such a hard working dedicated girl and has done so well academically this semester. Way to go, Em!
Brian gave Scott and Elisha a new game for Christmas called Down Force and it was really fun. We played a few games… Scott, Amy, Chris S, Ryan, Brian and I and it was fun. We headed over to Grandma’s house about midnight and got everything unpacked from the van. Another late night. I need some more sleep!
Wednesday, December 28th - Emily’s 20th Birthday
(Chris working in Wyoming)
Wednesday was a great day. We watched the Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas special while I worked out. Ryan loved it so much that it made it really fun to watch together. We got ready and then Ryan and I taught my mom how to play Architects - which was really fun.
All the siblings went in together to buy my Mom a new Kitchen Aid for Christmas. It’s a cute grey matte one that will look great sitting on her counter. I also gave her a small green Stanley. She gave us BYU basketball shirts for the boys, Rifle Paper Co. Planners for the girls, a prayer journal and just ingredients things for me and a BR plaid shirt for Chris.
We had given Emily her birthday gifts on the 26th, while Dad was still with us in St. George. Katie gave her cute overalls, Ryan and Cassie gave her a Barnes and Noble gift card and Taylor Swift birthday card, and Dad and I gave her a much desired COMFY, cute orange Converse, a book and some money for thrifting.
To celebrate Emily‘s 20th birthday we headed to 7 Brothers - a Burger place in the Riverwoods. Scott, Elisha, Brian, Mom, Chris S, and Amy and kids joined us and we had a great time. Then a little shopping at Called to Surf. Katie went up and talked to the manager and introduced herself and ended up interviewing later in the week and getting the job. So fun! We also checked out Soel and I used the gift card Megan Jackson gave to me to buy a weighed migraine mask (which unfortunately will come in handy.)
My kids headed back to grandmas house and Mom and I headed to Costco to grab a few things. Emily, Megan and Molly went with Romney to go thrifting and found a few things. Ryan, Cassie and Katie were playing Splendor when we got home and then I joined them for a dice game of Sagrada and then Dominion.
All the Waltons came over at six for lasagna, ceasar salad, garlic bread, and then chess cake and ice cream - fun to be together. Emily and I taught Mike and Carly how to play Azul Summer Pavilion and it was really fun. They are always so fun to play games with. Fun to have a full house of cousins and siblings and aunts and uncles. My mom got a little emotional one time as she looked around at everything doing different things in different rooms together. Easy to miss my Dad when we’re all together.
Thursday, December 29th
(Chris working in Wyoming)
The boys stayed over at Scott’s house - which they loved. Foster got a VR so they played it endlessly! In the morning Scott and Amy took all the kids over to the church to play chair soccer and basketball and pickle ball. Mom and I headed over to watch for a minute, then ran over to Sun River and then back to the church.
Then over to Scott and Elisha ‘s house for lunch. Janet and Terry came to visit, which was fun. It was good to visit with them, especially since Janet’s back wasn’t in good shape for the funeral so we didn’t see them. We had some good conservations about living life to the fullest, parenting grown children and missing my Dad.
Another couple games of Down Force. Then the girls headed off to Swig and I headed off to my hair appointment with Elisa. Paid for two and a half hours of therapy and got a free hair cut and color. haha So good to talk about a lot of things - but mainly about how loved ones deal with Depression. So interesting.
The family gathered at Mike and Carly’s house for dinner and it was fun to be there and see their place again. We enjoyed staying late and playing murder, and ‘gnoming around’ and eating popcorn and taking turns holding Becca. Matt has found every opportunity to hold Becca. Mom found him holding her and he said I can’t wait to be a dad. I’m going to be a good dad. He really is so cute with her.
Friday, December 30th - 27th Anniversary
(Chris working in Wyoming and then driving through treacherous weather to get to Provo)
We headed ice skating from 11:30 to 1:30. My mom and I watched from the seats and slowly Sam and then Alice and then Foster and some of my kids came to join us. I fed them oreos and we had a great time talking with Sam and Ali.
Then back to grandmas house for lunch and hot chocolate. We watched Red Notice - which Ryan and Cassie hadn’t seen before and Amy and Chris came over to work on the puzzle with mom.
We went out for Dinner with the adults - hoping for Via 313 Pizza but it was too busy so we ended up at Blaze Pizza. And then a celebratory LOBSTER POT game at Scott and Elisha’s house. Brian had decorated their kitchen with seaweed, kelp, fun lights and lobster candy. He’s the best. It was fun to play! The teens played a game with Brian once we were finished and then we played a funny game of Drawful.
Chris had a brutal drive but was able to get in by 11:00. Icy windy conditions. It was good he left when he did because the I-80 road closure would have blocked him from getting to us. So good to have him here. Happy Anniversary, hon! Love you.
Saturday, December 31st - New Year’s Eve Morning
Chris and I had a tough time sleeping last night. Both exhausted but unable to actually fall asleep… So finally I think I slept after I had a hot shower at 3:15am. Sheesh. We both slept in until 9:00, which was nice, and then got to work getting everything ready for a crepe breakfast with all the Waltons at 10:00. Fun to eat and visit. We did a puzzle competition with four mini 150 piece puzzles, taught everyone how to play Architects - which they loved. Ryan was so pleased Mike wanted to play again and again.
So fun to have a couple days together with my mom and siblings and cute nieces and nephews. Now up to Herriman to spend some time with the Johnsons.