This week we welcomed in the new year! On Friday, the Groslands and the Griggs came for our traditional game night to celebrate New Year's Eve! We had Robin, Jess, Sam, and Hannah Grosland. We also had Jen, Stuart, Bekah, and her roommate Grigg. Cali and Chey had their own party at their friend's house, but Megan and Ammon came! That left Kevin, Savannah, Beth, Ben, and I participating, too. Fun times! We split into a couple of different games but came together to count down the new year and toast each other with sparkling apple cider. Yay for good friends and traditions! Yay for a new year and 2022!

Saturday was my birthday! I slept in and then went on a hike through the winter wonderland of new fallen snow. Then Kevin made me an omelet and we went to the movie theatre to see Spiderman. Afterwards we went to our favorite Indian restaurant for dinner. Yum! When we got home, the kids had cleaned the house and wished me a happy birthday. That evening Grandma and Grandpa came over so we could have smoothies and sing Happy Birthday to Me. It was a fun day!

On Wednesday, Sarah had us all come to her place and we helped get her dresser/changing table moved in and put together her bookcase. McKay got the carseat in the car and we got the clothes in the dresser. We even packed her diaper bag (which is super cute and she got from my sister, Maggie)! The room is ready for little miss Avery Kim whenever she decides to make her appearance.

It's a good thing it's not yet, though, because the very next day Sarah and McKay felt very sick. They got tested on Friday and they have COVID! They are starting to feel better today, though, and they don't have fevers anymore so Sarah is hopeful she can see the doctor this coming week and get out of her house again!

Another fun thing we did this week is we took the kids to Barnes and Noble to pick out books with gift money from Christmas! It's harder to find time when we have so many different work schedules, but Kevin and I, Savannah, Chey, Cali, Beth, and Ben went Thursday morning. We had great fun browsing books and afterwards went to In and Out Burger. Fun times!

Cheyenne has started as a CNA working at an assisted living center here in Springville. She is only working a couple of days a week and it is HARD work! She comes home exhausted and "questioning her life choices." That's a quote! But, she thinks it will get easier as she gets more used to it. She did manage to see Jens once this week and also spend more time with her high school friends. She even hiked the Y on Saturday in the snow.

Calianne worked at Funfinity just a bit this week. Chey convinced Cali (and Beth) to do her hurdler's workout on Tuesday. Chey and Cali did 200 squats (Beth "only" did 80), all of them were sore the next day but Calianne followed up with three hours of basketball with her friends (Chey was at work). Thursday she could hardly walk but still went to Barnes and Noble and then to work. She was in so much pain by that night we were afraid she had injured herself. So, she didn't go ice skating with her friends that night (thank goodness!) and sat out on some of their more rambunctious games New Year's Eve. She is feeling better now, though, and can walk without limping. We are so glad!

The twins' New Year's Eve party they helped plan with their friend Larissa. They held part at the church and played basketball and set up our gaga ball pit. They played Dare and Socks and mostly had a great time! I'm so glad they make things happen with their friends and do such fun things.

Beth and Ben had friends over this week and went sledding with some friends one of the days, too. Ben ran into a rock, though, and I'm not sure he thinks sledding is very fun anymore. It can be kind of painful!

Today, Sunday, Ben was ordained to the office of a deacon in the Aaronic priesthood! Wow! Such an honor and he will do well with it, I do believe. Grandma and Grandpa Gazdik came and Megan and Ammon and Savannah and all the rest of us who were already there for church. Kevin did the blessing and did a grand job.