A mesage

 Hello,

It is 2021! Now that are are 2 months into it I am trying to be hopeful that there are still blossoms and and beauty in all the trials but 2020 was hard, but i am very aware that my privilegs and blessing made the last year really not that bad. We have had LOTS quality time as a family and the quantity of family time I know contributed to that as much as we have had difficulties with cabin fever and restlessness we have take opportunities to build new memories with family and friends along the way. I am setting a goal to backlog some of your special times in 2020 and create a record for a big addition project we are starting. We are adding 1,104 square feet to our home, a master suit and 2 more bedrooms. We are doing a majority of the work ourselves, the time table will be for most of this year with a few snowball projects following I am sure.

Some exciting notes for this month, we got a couple really great snowstorms, ski hill opened and Wyatt tackled learning to ski. 

We made rootbeer Hawaiin ice a couple of times with the fresh snow in our yard. The kids tried to talk me into storing some of the snow in the freezer so they could continue making this favorite snack.

 And this 3 year old dresses himself backwards more days then not, but he is so proud every time he gets dressed all by himself! Sure do love my Ryke-Star

Christmas 2020 in Ramah

 

We got to go to Ramah for Christmas week.

Britton and Westley drew out for a Elk Hunt in Ramah the weekend before Chrismas so the left a couple days before school got out and when hunting the first available day to tag out they were able to walk right up to them with all the scouting Dane had been doing for them. Then Britton stayed and helped his Dad tag out as well that evening. The kids and I finished out school and went to Church with Grandma and Grandpa here. We left Monday morning visited with Nana on our way to Ramah.

That night was the super star and Aleeya's birthday party, it was so neat to see Grandpa Lambsons telescopes in action and look at sky and stars

Birthday dinner and Birthday girl in her new coat

Star Gazers trying to stay warm

On Wednesday we did Cousin Christmas Party with all the Lambson's cousins on zoom, didn;t get a picture but we read a book, sang some songs and, played bingo. It was so nice to see everyone and be together virtually.

For Christmas Meme and Grandpa gave all the kids a rocket kit, so for Christmas eve they built the rockets and launched them with Grandpa and Uncle Seth. they all worked really hard and built beautiful rockets. Thanks Meme and Grandpa for the great gift they loved it.

My Christmas CREW, Aunt Hannah found us these perfect shirts, (fingers crossed they fit again enxt year, they were a little big on everyone for this year)

They loved chasing after their rockets in the old baseball field in Ramah. I think the majority of them stayed in one piece

Christmas eve we had a special Christmas dinner got to open the rest of the gifts from Meme and Grandpa, got some more toys then did a singing nigh while Meme played her beautiful piano with all the extended family over zoom and read the Chirstmas story from Aunt Kaysha. It was nice to connect with everyone again during the pandemic holiday

Christmas morning we could not sleep in enjoyed our hot Coco in new mugs we made it art and egg casserole and opened lots of fun presents, new switch game, legos, clothes.

We loved spending time with Meme and Grandpa and our Ramah cousins, we love them all so much they mean so much to us all.

Came home Christmas Day and had Christmas round 2 with Grandma and Grandpa her and a Christmas dinner with the Christensen girls. Mom got everyone a bidet I don't think anyone was more excited then Britton, got it put in right away, he loves it. the kids got scared away after the first use. Hahahaha

The best gift Britton gave me was to go After Christmas shopping with my Mom the next day. Target, Michaels and Walmart. Filled up her car and have so many fun things for gifts for everyone for next year and birthday toys for my boys that I can save for a couple months. It was so fun!

Finally for his Birthday this Man got to cut up his Elk he had killed before Christmas. Grateful for him and all he does for our family. He really is the best of the best! Love that he was born today!

Grandpa Bingham

My Grandpa Bingham passed away July 1st 2020
At age 91 my Grandpa had lived a very full and special life. Wyatt was born on Grandpas's birthday May 27th. we decided they should share a name too so Wyatt's middle name is Eugene which is my Grandpa's given name though he went by Gene his whole life. I loved getting a picture of the two each time we visited. I hope Wyatt always remembers to be a good and loyal man like Grandpa Bingham.

My grandpa was a doer, he was never not working in the yard on his house or cleaning the cars. He was always in charge of the meats, for breakfast he usually made us bacon and sausage it felt like a special treat since we usually only had one or the other if we had meat at breakfast. And any meat for dinner he would be the one to inspect it, suggest the seasoning and cooking method. One time my sister and I came for a visit when we were in college, we tried to make him pizza he was not impressed but he gave us tips to improve our skills. 

I will always remember coming to visit us in NM and playing in the snow or helping with projects around our house. I love that i got to go to Disneyland and Disneyworld with him when I was a kid, it was so fun for me to see my Grandpa being a kid.

When Britton and I got married both my grandparents came to help with the reception prep, he painted all the flower stands and helped with all the set up. His service to us was very sweet, and as soon as he learned Britton was a doer they become kindred spirits.So many great things about my Mom she got from Grandpa. I know his legacy will live on in us all as we emulate what he taught us

 For Spring Break in 2018 we decided to spend a few days with Grandpa and Grandma, Britton helped get some sod in and we all got to visit. Looking back on these pictures I can't help but cry. In these pictures Wyatt climbed up to Grandpa and just started chatting, Grandpa told him about all the games he liked to play as a kid, Wyatt was fascinated. To this day Wyatt can still tell you how to play the kick the can with Grandpa's rules.

My Grandpa loved having his home full of the people he loved. He loved his family fiercely and there was never a goodbye or a family prayer without him getting emotional. 

last Christmas of the decade

Cooper and Hannah were able to fly to New Mexico for Christmas with the Christensen's We missed the Kodras, WA is just to far to travel for all the holidays. Christmas Sunday in our matching outfits, green, gold and black this year.

Chi

Grandma and Grandpa

Aunt Stasia has been teaching Elle piano for the semester. They learned a Jingle Bell duet for Christmas. Elle loves her piano with Aunt Stasia, she is such a fun teacher,

We did a family evening in Santa Fe dinner at Dion's and bowling at new place in teh mall we had never tired before after everyone was done working on the 23rd.

It was the kids very first time bowling, i think they liked it especially when they got to use the dinosaur to help.

the next day we all went ice skating together. I love our out door rink, wyatt tried it for the first time and got pretty confident with a cart. Elle graduated from the cart and and Conway picked up right were he left off last year.

Christmas Eve was a little different, for the first time in Britton's and I's life we were not at one of our parents for Christmas Eve. Even living in White Rock we have slept at my parents house Christmas eve for Christensen Christmases

The big gift this year was a Nintendo switch! being our first gaming console we all need a little more practice but it was fun to reminisce about the good old N64 days and play some Mario Kart and Smash brothers again. 

The kids all got book pillows, new robes and other clothes and shoes they needed. Also got a couple fun family games we are excited to try out like Disney code names.

Christmas Tree hunting with the Whittons

Preschool for Wyatt

Wyatt started Preschool this year. It has worked out so nicely with each kid to team teach with my friend Shai, her 3rd daughter is the same age as Wyatt and she has a little boy  Ryker's age. So she teaches Tuesdays and i take her baby and I teach Thursday's and she take Rykers, I love teaching and enjoy spending that time with Wyatt and Brooklyn. It is going to be a really fun year.

1st grade and 4th

We absolutely love Chamisa, they both were just excited this year. They knew what to expect in the primary and middle team pods and knew that they were going to have fun with all their friends they had missed over the summer. (mom was the worst at getting play dates this summer)

Sure to love these kiddos we are blessed with. Britton luckily had a break in his crazy travel schedule in August and got to participate in all the first day of school fun.

We had flown in from Las Vegas the night before and had to wake up the little boys to get to school on time, hence the sleepy grumpy faces.

4th grade and 1st grade got some good ones.

Conway is so thorough and thoughtful he loves science and math and wishes he could just think about and discuss things with out writing it down, but he is getting better.

Ellese loves to try new things and is the bravest girl I have ever seen especially if she doesn't have time to think about it she will jump right in and try the hardest things and rock at it!