Spiritual milestones

In January, we had some exciting spiritual milestones. Andrew was ordained a teacher at church and now helps prepare the sacrament. He still passes each Sunday because we don't have that many deacons.

Then Millie had an evening where they welcomed everyone turning 8 this year and talked about the blessings of making covenants with God at baptism.

She loves Primary and likes to read the scriptures for kids books we have.

Next year at this time, we will have a missionary, priest, teacher, and deacon when James moves up!

We continue to love speaking to Max every week from Texas. He is learning so much and he is hopeful for all those he teaches that they will recognize how the gospel blesses lives. He is also hopeful to get his visa for Bolivia. Many many missionaries are waiting, so send up a little prayer when you can for that country.

Swings to sleds in this January weather

During the school Christmas-New Year break, we had really nice weather and went to the playground a few times. 

Millie's new doll from Christmas came with us to the park and sat on my lap if she wasn't adventuring.

Then, last week, it snowed a ton. There was a lot of shoveling and snowblowing, not just for our house but for several houses in a row where we have elderly neighbors. JB took the kids sledding one day and I took the kids sledding another day and they went by themselves another day with friends. 

Millie also wanted a snow fort. The first day, we (I) used buckets to pack snow into bricks and did two levels.

The second day I started on the third and fourth level. I was sore for a while.

This weekend we warmed up again, and the fort is a collapsed, soggy mess outside. But I imagine it will snow again soon because everyone prays for it at Church all the time.

New Year's Eve

 The last two years on New Year's Eve, JB and the older two boys have been at the Rose Bowl watching the Utes. This year, Max is on a mission and we miss him. But we had a great time with great food with our friends the Peters. They are the best.

JB took this with the timer on his phone on their mantel and we kept cracking up as we tried to get all in the right spots.

All the accessories were lots of fun to try.

Our family looks small with only four children at home. (I will mention this every time another one leaves, I'm sure!)

Millie's new doll, Mildie, came along.

We did the poppers at 9 p.m. I think. Maybe before 9. Sleep is always good! 

But partying is also fun.

With New Year's Day on a Monday, we got to do a video call with Elder Richards.

We are happy for all that he is learning and doing. Here's to a bright, peaceful, hopeful, productive 2024!

Christmas

This was our first Christmas with Max on a mission — which made me sad a few times, I won't lie — but we still were able to include him in our celebrations by talking to him on a video chat both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And it was wonderful hearing how he spent the holiday and testified of Jesus Christ to others. He was fed well by the members in the ward and had a nice time with the other elders. 

Here's a photo he took recently of a sunset in El Paso. He also resubmitted his visa application for Bolivia this week as requested, like many other missionaries, so hopefully they will be able to get to that country soon.

On Friday, Dec. 22, the weather was beautiful. We went downtown to see the Grand America and Macy's windows, the limited lights on Temple Square, and came home by way of Michigan Avenue. A couple weeks ago we did Christmas Street and the Nativity story in the neighborhood near us.

Millie got glasses right before Christmas, after she failed the eye test at her (late) well-child checkup. We took the prescription and ordered frames online for cheaper and she was ecstatic when they came.

Sunday going to Church on Christmas Eve was wonderful. How fitting to sing the songs and hear messages of Christ's birth!

Christmas morning the kids stayed in their rooms as requested until 7 a.m. We were done opening presents by 8 a.m. and had some happy kids! Here's a sampling of some of the morning.

Ben gave JB and me a movie-watching kit and we can't wait to use it.

On Christmas Eve, we had a nice steak dinner with the Richards and the kids did a bell concert with bells matching the screen. For years, a chapel on Capitol Hill has had a bells concert on Christmas Eve, but not this year.

The six Richards kids got their parents large canvas prints of the photos from Bear Lake. 

On Christmas day we had homemade pizzas for lunch with sourdough dough made by the very talented Suzanne and JB.

We also went to see The Boys in the Boat in the theater. I really liked it! I loved the book. We have been watching Christmas movies together all of December and college football bowl games and the Utah Jazz and watching Ben play basketball and playing with toys. I've had some days off work and we've gone to the park (best winter so far with mild temperatures and no snow!). Merry Christmas!

Andrew is 13

 Our Christmas time baby is now a teenager!

Andrew requested a mint ice cream cake for his birthday.

We opened presents in the morning before he had to catch the bus at 7:30 a.m.

As soon as he got home he worked on his new Lego set for hours.

He requested Tony Burgers for dinner. 

Andrew is finding out that middle school is a lot different than elementary school, and working through finding the right tools to keep on top of his homework and classwork. Here's a picture from school one day when parents were invited to talk about planning for high school, college and careers.

While watching one of Ben's basketball games, James sat on Andrew's lap. Sometimes they are the absolute best of friends. Other times.... not.

Andrew loves his younger cousins and loves any baby he sees at church. Here he is with Lou.

And with Jack in Idaho for Harvey's baptism.

He went with JB to a Utah game on Nov. 4.

On Dec. 12 was his orchestra concert. (Ben had basketball practice)

He is clever, creative, funny, goofy, kind, smart and curious. We are grateful for Andrew!

Ben is 16

Ben is now sweet 16! He requested a red velvet cake for his birthday, and we sang to him at one part of the day and then ate the cake at another part of the day between school, work, basketball practice and a young men's activity.

JB took him out to lunch during the week for a treat.

And he got his driver license this week! Hooray for independence (but boo for the added monthly insurance cost).

 

Here's his official basketball photo. What a baller! He plays for the sophomore team and JV team.

JB was working at the scorers table and at halftime had a quick talk with Ben recently.

His 6'3 height is super convenient for trimming the tree or getting things down from the top cupboards. 

He teases Millie mercilessly (he'll come stalking down the hallway saying, "Rugus! Where are you? I want to eat you" and she runs and laughs). He babysits sometimes for families in our ward and those kids love him. One mom told me the kids told her, "Just call Ben!" when she was trying to figure something out. 

He is at a school dance tonight with a group and he wanted to make sure he would help his date feel comfortable and have a good time. He checks on how his friends are doing and he takes his priesthood responsibilities seriously at church, making sure to show up early and stay late. 

He is on top of all his assignments at school without any prompting from us. He's just so smart with math, too. 

I love watching him talk on the phone to Max each week. They talk about food and sports and he's learning a lot from Max's example as a missionary.

Happy birthday to our Benjamino Bennihana Bennyboy Ben Ben bo Ben.