Christmas Happenings

With no concerts or Christmas parties, you would have thought the days leading up to Christmas would be slow, but I felt like this month flew by and Christmas came fast. Despite not having a Christmas party for work or church and no Christmas concerts and programs, we were still busy and had some fun. My mom came over one day and we spent it cooking and baking christmas goodies. I went back and forth for a couple of weeks about whether I should do it this year with COVID. I wasn't sure how people felt about homemade goodies, but the more and more I thought about it, I just deiced that keeping the tradition was what was important to me. Christmas candy day is one we look forward to every year. We plated 20 plates to deliver to our neighbors and family.

Our Christmas Sunday ended up being on the 13th due to only attending church every other week. The boys all got matching ties again this year. I'm always surprised when they don't complain about having to wear matching ties, but glad when they don't!!

On the 22nd, we celebrated grandma Foulger's birthday at our house. We enjoyed some french dips for dinner and thyey were yummy!

After dinner, Grandma opened her gifts and we voted for ugliest sweater. Landon ended up winning, but Megan was right up there with her sweater! She definitely gave us all a laugh!!

Then we did a white elephant gift exchange. They boys really wanted to do one again this year like we did last year for her birthday. We had some pretty funny ones. Carson got some blow up boxing gloves (which provided much entertainment after...until one of them popped...), Christian got a fart machine, Landon got a box of stress pops, Travis got a princess puzzle and I got a crocodile mask.

After white elephant, we sang Happy Birthday to grandma and had cake while we sat around and visited. It was a great night with family!!

The middle school and high school had a few Christmas dress up days leading up to Christmas break. The middle school had ugly sweater day, Christmas hat and socks day and Christmas pj's day. Travis dressed up all three days and looked great each day! The high school had ugly sweater day and pj day. Carson took an ugle sweater, but didn't end up wearing it because hardly anyone else did, but supported the pj's day with sweats and a sweatshirt. Christian even wore an ugle sweater to work one day!

On the 23rd, our ward had a drive by Christmas where Santa and the Grinch handed out candy bags to the kids out at Durfee's house. (The ward had given out hams earlier in the week to each family since there were no ward Christmas parties this year due to COVID) After picking up candy bags, we grabbed some hot chocolate and drove around town and looked at all the houses that were decorated for Christmas.

3rd Grade Play

This Thursday, was Landon's 3rd grade play. Normally, they have it at the Hyart and we have to wait in line forever to get in. This year, however, it was done at the elemenatry school and no spectators were allowed (because of COVID restrictions) which was a big bummer especially since Landon was Santa. They recorded it and will be sending out the links later to watch it. Landon practiced super hard on his parts to memorize them all. The day of his performance, we practiced before school, he left on the bus and I went to finish getting ready to head into the school to sub, when I get a text from his teacher, Mr. Edwards, informing that Landon had puked on the bus and he was hoping it was just motion sickness. I knew right away it wasn't motion sickness...he was just so nervous he threw up. He was great all morning and did his parts great when we practiced before the bus came, but when he was done and we were standing looking out the window for the bus, I could just tell that it was sinking in that today was the day of the performance and he just looked super nervous! I even texted Christian before Landon left on the bus, and I told him I thought he was super nervous about it all and even said a prayer that his nerves would be calmed! I hurried up and finished getting ready and headed to the school so I could go talk to him after the school also called to tell me that he had been sick. I got to the school and asked him how he was and he said he was fine and then I asked him if he was just nervous and that's why he got sick and he got all teary-eyed and said yes. We talked abou how it was going to be just like their practices because no one but the teachers would get to watch and the only difference would be that he would have a bigger belly and an itchy beard! After chatting, he was ready to head back to class and when I went to help him get dressed at 10, you would have never known that he was nervous! He was happy and excited to do the play. I was fortunate to be able to be subbing that day and be able to go help him get ready and slip in and watch about half of the play before I had to get back to subbing. Landon did an excellent job on ALL of his parts and didn't even mess up on any of it! I'm looking forward to getting to watch the whole thing next week! All ready for the play!

The whole 3rd grade class.

Santa and Mrs. Clause

Carson turns 15!!

Today, we celebrated Carson's birthday. How can it be that he is that old? We started the day off with breakfast, which included our traditional birthday pancakes.

After breakfast, we let his open his gifts from us so that we could head out pheasant hunting. This year, he got some clothes, muck boots, wireless earbuds, and a new game for his switch. He has been loving his new earbuds and game. After presents, we headed out to pheasant hunt as a family. We really didn't see very many birds, but Travis was able to get one.

After walking a couple of places, we went and said hi to grandpa and grandma Asay, had a bite to eat, had some cake and ice cream and sang to Carson and he opened his gift from them (a sweatshirt and maverick gift card). After eating, we headed home so that we could get chores done and get ready for the day.

At 5, Carson and I left and picked up some of his friends and headed to Powell to celebrate his birthday. We had pizza at Millstone and they played arcade games like they were little kids! They ended up winning over 2700 tickets and used part of them to buy one of their football coach's daughters some toys, which I thought was super thoughtful of them. They spent the rest of their tickets on tootie frooties, star bursts, and a pair of giant blow up fists that were used extensively during the ride back home! They were so funny to listen to as they laughed and giggled as they beat eachother up with these blow up fists!

Carson, we are sure thankful that you are part of our family and we are proud of the young man that you are becoming! Oh...and we did our usual birthday lunch date on Friday. I picked up champs chicken and we ate it in the parking lot at the church!