On Sunday last week we had Anna and Erin Gazdik over to dinner with Anna's boyfriend, Ben. It was so great to see them and hear their laughter and check in on their lives. Love those cute nieces! Also on Sunday, Ben wore a full suit for the first time!

On Monday, Calianne had an away game and Cheyenne, Sarah, and Kevin went to cheer her on. They won by a lot and Cali had a great time. Beth and Mom had basketball practice and after dinner Ben and Dad had basketball practice. At the end of the school day, Ben had a school program where he sang the "Twelve Days of Christmas" (he was six geese a laying), "Silent Night" in Chinese, and recited all of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas!"

On Tuesday, Beth and Ben had karate, but we didn't have anything in the evening! We all caught our breath . . .

Because on Wednesday, Mariah left for her basketball tournament in Las Vegas, Sarah took over Mom's basketball practice for Beth, Dad took Chey and Cali to an early YW activity caroling, Mom and Ben had a dress rehearsal and then concert playing guitars, after which Dad hurried home to get Cheyenne to work for a couple of hours at 8pm. Phew.

Savannah was sick on Sunday and had a hard time recovering through work and finals. Recover she did, though, and she got those finals done! So proud of her and her finished semester!

Thursday morning, we left Savannah at home to attend her friend's wedding on Saturday, but the rest of us packed up the car, blew off the last day and a half of school, and went to Las Vegas to see family and watch Mariah in her tournament.

Friday was Kevin's birthday! Grandma and Grandpa got him a cheese cake. His favorite! We love that guy! Friday morning, Kevin and Sarah went with the basketball team to a food kitchen to do a service project. I took the youngest four to the park and we played basketball and tennis and badminton and soccer. We were so very active! That afternoon, we drove with Grandma down to my sister, Amy's house, and took Mandy, Kayla, and Emma to a park to walk and visit for awhile. That night Mariah had the only game she lost (pretty good record!) and the rest of us watched Thor with Grandma.

On Saturday, Grandma stayed home with Beth and Ben and the rest of us went to watch Mariah in her final game (Kevin and Grandpa went to every game. Mom missed just one.) It was a great game! Very fast and very close and very loud and they won! That put them in third place for the tournament! Way to go Lady Red Devils!

Amy's whole family came over to Grandma's that afternoon and the kids frosted cookies and the adults talked. A little while later, Kim came over! We had a great visit with her, too. Then, around 5, Pete's kids came over: Jack, Matt and girlfriend, Peyton, Scott, Piper, Levi, Cooper, Oliver, and Charlie! Fun times! We ate and talked and the younger kids ran around and the older kids played games. It was very loud and very full of love. It's always so good to be with family!

We left Sunday morning and thanked Grandma and Grandpa profusely! What fun to be there for a few days!