A Map

 Camille made this map at Cloverleaf and was so proud of it! She loved naming cities after her sisters and friends.

Pep Band

 Audra doesn't necessarily love basketball, but she does love Pep Band. Camille and I went and watched her, and the game- which the women lost 78-32. It was pretty terrible. And, Audra only played about 5 songs, which she has to stand the entire game for. But, it was still fun. Just not Disney fun. More like pickles covered in peanut butter fun.

Refugee Warehouse

 A month ago an e-mail came out to our stake asking for volunteers to work at a warehouse out in Aurora (about 30 minutes away) to help inventory and sort supplies for Afghan refugees.

As soon as I read the e-mail, I knew this was what I needed to do. I have been praying for years for an opportunity like this- to feel needed and useful in helping an underserved and hurting population, while not sacrificing my family.

I started last week. My shift is every Monday from 9-12 for the next 6 months.

I LOVE it! I cannot even tell you how much I love it! If I could stay there all day every day I would! But, in reality, this is a perfect balance for our family right now.

Yesterday we had a huge order come in. The LDS Church has donated $35,000 to each of three refugee resettlement organizations, and. we got 40 beds and mattresses delivered to inventory and organize. It's pretty awesome to see. It's just a drop in the bucket for how big of a need there is, but it's still awesome to be a part of.

Rubik Cube

 This Little Munch has decided she wants to work a Rubik Cube. She is doing this all on her own by watching YouTube videos. She can't figure out the top row, but is doing awesome.

Forgotten Jerusalem Dinner

 I cannot believe I did not put this story on the blog, but somehow I didn't.

Elder Pace, the Sunday School General President, asked for stories about Come, Follow Me. I went back to 2019 to try and find this story, but it wasn't here. 

So I'm putting it here now.

For our annual Jerusalem dinner that Christmas, we asked the girls what they learned from Come, Follow Me.

Here's the story, as sent to Elder Pace:

"With three primary-aged children, when the Prophet told us about "Come Follow Me," like many of you- we had no clue what to do. 

So we decided to just jump in and see what would happen.

I wouldn't call the first year glamourous. There was a lot of whining, complaining, and frustration. But, there were also small glimpses of Heaven's light- times when a lesson really seemed to stick. These moments were small, but they were there.

After the first year, the year of The New Testament, we asked our children what they learned about the Savior over the year. Our then 9-year-old (note: Claire), the one who whined and complained the most, and who made Come, Follow Me so difficult throughout the year, said with the most sincerity, "I really feel like this year I have gotten to know Jesus. He feels real to me now."

And that is our family's testimony of Come, Follow Me. That each of us has gotten to know the Savior in a real, personal, intimate way. I will take all the whining in the world to have that be accomplished in our home and hearts!"

How on earth could I forget to put that here?????

The Lion of Mars Book Party

 This is the first year that we have done "Book Parties" and we have enjoyed them so much! This month we hosted and partied over "The Lion of Mars." We had so much fun.

The kids painted rocks,

Played tic tac toe,

Designed their ideal settlement (they spent over an hour on this!),

played pictionary,

And ate lots of food but apparently I didn't take any pictures of that.

It was a great day! We are grateful for our Book Party Family!

Snow!

 We FINALLY got some measurable snow. It sure took long enough! I don't enjoy snow, actually, but we desperately need it so I'm not complaining. The kids aren't either!

On Saturday we dropped them off at the high school to sled, and the temp was in the teens. The kids played for over 4 hours and only came home when the sun started to go down. So, yeah, they were ready for some snow to play in.

2022 Predictions

 Here's my predictions for 2022:

1. Vic Fangio will be fired from the Broncos. Aaron Rodgers will be our quarterback and we will have a winning season.

2. Audra will be driving and will not have gotten in an accident.

3. We will be planning a trip to Hawaii (I'm hoping! I'm already working on Ben for a March 2023 Hawaii trip)

4. Covid will no longer be a major factor in our lives- as in, we won't have to plan around Covid anymore.

5. Claire and Camille will start at Cherry Creek Options and longer at Cloverleaf

6. I will be doing more volunteer work, specifically with refugees

7. The girls will all go to state for 4H. Though for what I don't know...they still haven't decided what they want to do. I'll predict Audra for sewing, Claire for baking, Camille for sewing.

8. We will all get Omicron. But it won't be bad.

9. We will have taken a trip to Vegas/Grand Canyon and a Church history tour. That's what we are hoping for- fingers crossed Covid doesn't ruin it.

10. Audra, Claire, and I will go to girls' camp (I have been called as the camp cook) and have a blast!

Here's sincerely hoping that 2022 is a GREAT year!