Saturday ski day for the boys!

 

Happenings....

 

Shawn's murder mystery work party.  It was a really fun evening of comedy and Shawn got called up as one of the suspects! 

Friday - no school - went up to Alta to get a few runs in!

Lemon contest at Sunday dinner last week! 

Alegra has been into making food - dinner and breakfast lately.  It's been nice, now she needs to learn how to clean up after :).

My 50th Birthday!

 My pictures loaded backwards, oh well!

The plan was originally to ski on my birthday as a family but Alegra had a scrimmage get scheduled to play at 10 a.m.  I LOVE to watch my kids do their things so we switched gears.  The scrimmage was out at Eagle Mountain, about a 45 minute drive.  It was a very chilly morning.  When we got home we had decided we would go through our emergency backpacks and make sure all our paper work was up to date and in an easy place to grab.  Watching the Californians go through this tragedy, especially Rich and Katie losing their home, it brought a whole new perspective to my birthday this year.  It was kinda hard to celebrate actually with so many people really struggling.  It did make me appreciate the small things and look for the silver lining in situations.  My family is safe and we have each other and we have the knowledge that our Heavenly Father and Jesus love us!  

I loved the handmade cards I received this year. They were each so thoughtful and brought tears to my eyes.  

Lexi's Card.  It was based off a nutrition label. I loved it!  

Cruz's 17 things (because he is 17) that he loves about me.  This one really made me cry.  He isn't one of too many words, so I LOVED it.  

Alegra's cute card and hand lotion.  

My mom took us out to a nice dinner last night.  We went to Ruth's Chris.  The kids had never been there before and I had only been there one time before. My steak was really yummy and we picked really good sides to share.  

This is us going through our emergency supply packs  and me opening the cards earlier in the day. Shawn and I even went through our files we have downstairs and purged a lot. It felt really good!  

I LOVE MY FAMILY. I LOVE BEING A MOM. I LOVE THAT I HAVE HAD AMAZING EXPERIENCES THESE PAST 50 YEARS. I LOVE THAT I GET TO KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING AND IMPROVING MYSELF. 

Back Flip - not sure how I feel about this

 Cruz came home from skiing today so excited and then shared a video of him doing a back flip and landing it. It is the first time he has done it.  I was excited for him because he was excited about it, but it makes be real nervous too.  I took a still from the video.  

The miracle of a standing church building

 

It is truly a miracle the church building is standing.  I think it will be so nice for the Palisade members to be able to still gather and grieve, console, and just be together.   

Rich and Katie's home - so sad!

 

I took this screenshot from a video Katie shared with us.  SO SAD!!!!!!!

Random stuff

 After seeing Rich and Katie's house down to nothing (on a video) I cried and cried for them.  So devastation.  I turn my attention to our home and belongings and realize we need to be more prepared. I screen shot these items to gather to have.  

My pictures loaded backwards, but this is something I want to try to do as I read the Doctrine and Covenants this year.  

Micki and I went skiing on Wednesday to celebrate my birthday.  I was a bit heavy hearted to be skiing when I knew my brothers were in a sort of chaos (safe in San Clemente at Ryan's beach house) but not sure if their homes would make it.  Micki brought me these fun gifts and we split a Rachel and fries at Alfs for lunch. It was  really nice afternoon!  

Cruz and his friend Matt went with Grammy and Russ to the BYU basketball game on Tuesday night.  

Pacific Palisades FIRE

 A fire started on Tuesday mid morning near the Pacific Palisades area.  Katie could see a smoke plume.  They were ordered to evacuate. I don't know all the details but Katie and Clara couldn't get down to Ezra's school (the road was blocked).  Naomi was around and could help get Ezra and Isla from school, which took 4 hours. It sounds like mass chaos and the pictures are so devastating.  Both Ryan and Rich's family were not aware of the status of their homes. This morning Katie confirmed their home is burned down.  As of right now Ryan's is still standing.  Pretty much the whole community of Pacific Palisades is burned down. I am so sad for Rich and Katie and their family.  It is truly heartbreaking.  It is overwhelming to think of what the next steps are. Just praying for them at this time!   

Fun Night

 We went up to Stacey and James' house last night for dinner and games.  It was a fun way to end our winter break!

Hiking with Murphy and Olive

 Lexi and Shawn took Murphy and Olive on a hike on our snowy Saturday. I stayed home to finish cleaning the oven.  The snow was deep and thick but I am impressed, they did it. Murphy only had to be carried for a little because the snow was so clumped up on his fur he probably weighed twice his normal weight.  We were watching Murphy for the day because Russ drove Grammy up to Idaho Falls to Angie (my cousin, Nina's daughter) husbands funeral.  

Friend time

 Alegra was able to have plenty of friend hang out time over the break.  Her and her friends bought a week groupon to a tanning bed place, ugh, this week. Not a fan but hopefully it's a week long thing and then she is done.  

New Year -2025

 

Pictures loaded backwards......the girls and I skied a powder day yesterday, January 2nd.  We even took a french fry break, which is always nice!  

January 1st - took Christmas down at our home (pretty much the whole day) and then Lexi and I went with Grammy, Russ, Elle, and Walker to see Wicked part 1.  It was ok but kinda long.  

Tuesday night Russ, Elle, Walker, Grammy, and Rich and Ezra came down from Snwobird to eat tacos and watch the football game - Boise State vs. Penn State. It was a nice, chill night.  They all left at about 9:30 and Shawn, Lexi, and I stayed up watching tv.  Alegra went out with friends.  I am missing Cruz terribly, he went to St. George on Tuesday morning to celebrate New Years with a bunch of his friends.  It is Friday and I believe he is coming home today!