Happy 20th Birthday Julia!

Our daughter in law Julia turned 20 years old on December 20, 2024, and to celebrate, she wanted to go ice-skating!

She had never really been ice-skating and we were all excited to go with her, but unfortunately when we got there, we found out that we were supposed to make a reservation, and that they were all sold out! ;(

But I have always believed that where there is a will, there is a way!

I walked up to the ticket window and very sincerely and politely plead my case to the lady working behind the window.

I basically begged them to please let just the birthday girl and her husband go on the ice, even though we had a big group there. We wouldn't mind not participating if at least they could go on for Julia's birthday.

The lady was so kind and agreed that we needed to get the two of them on the ice. And so we did.

After we had them fill out the online waiver to participate, we walked up to the ticket window to pay, and the same kind lady told us that it was a birthday miracle, and that not only would she let them skete, but that the man before them paid for their tickets, so they also got to skate for free!

Happy Birthday Julia!

The rest of us enjoyed the festive atmosphere, sipped on hot chocolate, enjoyed the warm fire and the pretty lights, and watching Dallin and Julia take their turns around the ice.

It was still a very fun and rewarding night, and I was so happy that at least the birthday girl got to skate!

I love all of the time we get to gather with our family, and seeing little Rodney learn and explore all of the new tings around him is so fun to watch.

I really enjoyed the night, and didn't even have to get sore ankles from ice skates over it. ;)

When we were done at the ice rink we all headed to Blue Fish for Julia's birthday dinner of sushi!

Tiffany, Colby, Xaxton, Lexi, and Raelle all joined us for the dinner and then we all came back to our house for cake and presents.

I had made the cake for Dallin per Julia's request for "your mom's yummy cake" and I think Julia felt loved, which was really important to all of us since Julia's own family are all far away in Brazil.

Happy 20th birthday Julia!

We love you!

 

More Special Things at Christmastime...

Our 4th grandchild Hayden Hyrum Johnson was blessed by his Daddy Riley Drew Johnson on December 1st, 2024.

Kierra now has 3 children, one blessed in Colorado, one in Texas, and now one in Hawaii.

Who would have thought?

Riley's parents Susan and Jim Johnson were able to go and visit Kierra and Riley and spend Thanksgiving with them and also to be there for Hayden's blessing, which made me so happy! I love that they were able to have some family there with them for that special day!

I love little Hayden and how happy he looks!

So big already and just so so sweet!

We also had a fun celebration for Kesslyn at the Riverton City Town Hall meeting!

On Monday, December 3rd, 2024 we went to the city hall meeting where the mayor of our town, Trent Staggs presented Kesslyn with a beautiful award and certificate along with a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart!

Kesslyn had entered a contest along with many other elementary aged students to design the front cover of the Riverton City Christmas card this year!

Her beautiful design won her second place!

We were so proud of her for her efforts, and that she did something to challenge herself, but also that she did it SO well!

She drew a Riverton City Firetruck with Santa and his sleigh right on top, complete with his reindeer too!

Kesslyn was only beat out by a boy who drew a fireplace complete with stockings hanging with the names of every city council person, which the mayor himself said "Sealed the deal."

Whenever you can talk about a city councilman or put their name out there for all to see, they will naturally choose that one as their favorite.

And although I believe Kesslyn's design was the cutest, she was perfectly fine with second place!

After all, did YOU ever win a $50 gift card when YOU were 9 yeras old?? Me neither! ;)

We also paused to acknowledge the pictures hanging in the city offices since it is what we do for a living! Clint really takes pride in representing the community of emergency vehicles and keeping them on the road and safe. Clint, you are AMAZNG!!!

After we finished at the town hall meeting, we went to Menchies for frozen yogurt to celebrate!

Way to go Kesslyn!!!

We are SO proud of you!!!

On Sunday December 8th, Clint and I were able to go with Kambriella to get her patriarchal blessing from Patriarch Garlick, who is in our ward, and also gave Gavin his patriarchal blessing.

We love that man and his family, and it was such an honor to be there and to fel the spirit in the room, and to hear of all of the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for miss Kambriella.

She is amazing.

But she already knew that, too. ;)

I loved putting up the Christmas decorations and making the home feel cozy everywhere...

...and hearing little Kesslyn practice her piano and begin playing well enough for us to recognize her beautiful Christmas carols...

Kambriella went to the Silver Ball with her friend Brayden and had a blast!

Kesslyn got her front braces on!!!

I took Clint on a romantic date with the Rocky Mountain Outfitters and a horse drawn sleigh ride by Jordanelle reservoir to see some of the Christmas lights!

We are always focusing so much of our time on everyone else that it was good to just focus on each other for a minute!

After our sleigh ride we went and had dinner in Park City at the Grub Steak restaurant.

It was delicious, but along with the yummy food, I just really enjoyed all the time we had to just sit and talk and talk. Like I said, he is my BEST friend!

Here are the pictures of the house on Christmas!

 All was calm and all was bright!

 

Bringing LIGHT Into the Christmas Season

Throughout the month of December we have been trying REALLY hard, to keep a focus on Christ and bringing more of His light into the world around us, and the lives of the people around us. It's been a really fun holiday with so many meaningful and rewarding feelings that have made it so special.

Here are some pictures with a few of the highlights...

Lighting our luminaries and trying to be mindful of serving each other in our home...

Taking Grandpa Trickett and Jill to the Beauty and the Beast play at the Hale Center Theater!

Decorating my 90 year old friend Anne's bookcase with her Christmas village!

(She loves how picky I am on the placement of everything and has me do this every year. )

I love the three hours we spend doing it and how happy she is when it's all done. :)

Attending the temple weekly.

I LOVE IT!

Visiting a friend and ministering to each other with conversation ...

...AND by having her do mu nails for me was the bonus! ;)

Bringing all of the trimmings to decorate a Christmas tree for our neighbor and friend Bryan who lives alone.

This was Maggi's idea, and we had so much fun doing it together!

Not only did it help Bryan feel happy, but Maggi too! When we lose ourselves in service we find peace and joy. 

Bryan is also taking the discussions right now, and so I've been able to join in on the lessons and feel so much love from our Heavenly Father too.

This has been one of my favorite things this Christmas!

Going on dates with my BEST friend!

(And this YUMMY homemade guacamole!)

Meeting up with family at the Christkindle market!

Kesslyn and Emmet

Finding a crepe Suzette at the market!!!!

WHAT???

We obviously HAD to try one, and I can honestly say that it was one of the BEST crepes I have ever had!

Dallin, Julia, Susette, and Clint

(and the GIANT pretzels!!!!)

It was so fun to enjoy this festive place with some of our people!
Cody, Laura, Emmet, Curt, Sara, me and Clint, Dallin, Julia, and Kesslyn

Watching the First Presidency Christmas devotional with our children that live close.

Visiting the Giving Machines on a family night in City Creek!

It  felt so good knowing that our little donation is going to make a world of difference for our brothers and sisters around the world.

Everyone chose something to give...

Kesslyn chose a baby goat

...this was Clint's pick...

...and I chose a Comfort Kit

I threw a end of the year Birthday Party for Kesslyn and her Activity Days friends!

They each got to decorate their own cake too!

They had so much fun and did such a good job!

They all wore matching pajamas, had lots of treats, and played some games.

We also talked about family traditions and how at Christmas time w eare celebrating Jesus' birthday too. ;)

Kesslyn had fun in the kitchen one night making some snickerdoodle cookies!

We wrapped them up on a pretty snowflake plate and took them to a friend...

Kacee, Charlie, and Annie Mickelson, one of Kesslyn's BEST friends!

We also took Annie with our family that night to go to dinner and then to go and see the movie the Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

We ate at the Pie Pizzeria

...and then delivered some to our friend Maggi who was sick that night, and so was her cat...

I went in for a minute and sat with them and MaryJane got right up and came and snuggled on my lap.

Maggi said she hadn't moved all day for anyone!

Maggi said she loves me the most. ;)

We made and delivered 30 jars of homemade syrup to our friends and neighbors!

We had Gifts of Time delivered by Santa!

We spent an afternoon at the cabin sledding and enjoying a wintery wonderland feeling since this year we haven't had much snow!

Everyone loved sledding down the driveway...

...and we even played a game of Bocci Ball in the snow!

We sent our favorite missionary some Christmas gifts, and although he hasn't received them all yet, he LOVED the ones that did make it there!

We had the Sister Missionaries ober!

Sister Couture and Sister Loulanting

We worked on family puzzles together...

(this one is Dallin and Julia's puzzle...)

Visited the Taylorsville temple for the first time, and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!

We went there with Tiffany and Colby, and had the best time together inside. we performed sealings, sat in the celestial room after, explored some of the most beautiful artwork that was hanging on the walls in the temple, and were even allowed to walk around after we were done to see some of the artwork in some of the other rooms that we had not seen. I felt like Heavenly Father was giving me a gift that night, One of peace and light and love for Christmas. Especially as we saw the most beautiful and unique painting of the Nativity hanging in the chapel. It almost felt like I was THERE.

It really felt like Christmas to me!