2026, January 5-11

This was our last week of nearly a month with everyone together in Springville.

Eliza took some of the money she earned from the sale of Leslie's pony and bought art materials, including embroidery floss to make bracelets. 

Fergus seems fully recovered from his surgery. We even let him get some time outdoors this week. While some chillier temperatures came in toward the end of the week, this has been an atypically warm and dry several weeks. 

We had a few Japanese-themed goings on, including the purchase of accessories for Hallie's fake Labubu, a Hello Kitty pendent, and a family trip to Hana Mart (a self-described "family-run conbini" in Provo), where we had onigiri and bento lunches.  

Landon must have had a long day that day, because he conked out at around 7:00, which is something we never see him do. 

The boy has been letting his hair grow long. A few days not washing it, and he gets this. 

He and some friends are looking into several entrepreneurial ventures. The photo below could be their HP garage moment. 

We had to take Mike to the airport Sunday to get his car for the long drive back up to Missoula. He made it there safely and in good time. It's a strange feeling to miss being with everyone back in Springville while enjoying being back in his now-familiar university setting. 

Back at home, Eliza had Fergus make his mark on a stamp ornament Hallie had gotten for him and Kai. We didn't get a picture, but Kai got a haircut before going back to Brittany's for a few days.  

Eliza always surprises us with her adventures. Sunday night was no different when she heard and saw a cat in a storm drain while walking the neighbor's dog. Eliza called Hallie and Landon to come and help. Possibly with all of the commotion the cat hid, because when they got down there, no one could see or hear the cat. Eliza even found two metal poles to help Landon pry the grate off, but all it did was bend the pole. We hope the cat will find help soon.

  

2025, December 29 - 2026, January 4

Here we go 'round the calendar again, another year gone by with a new year started.

Fergus continued recuperating. He wouldn't quit licking, so he had to wear his cone and be supervised until having his suture removed.  Mike and Hallie had a few late nights to make sure Fergus was successful.

On Monday, Hallie, her mom, and her sister went to have a spa treatment. Korean facials were a hit!

Eliza has spent time doing art and expressing herself. At the end of the year due to an end in her current insurance coverage, we had to unenroll her from Summit. We're in an unusual spot in that regard. When Mike was unemployed full time with benefits, the kids qualified for different insurance. Now we're in limbo until the Montana University System kicks in once we jump through the hoops of getting everyone onboarded. 

Mike finally relented and let Ferg go without the cone. He only licked occasionally. Now he gets to stay indoors for the next several days.

He stayed with the cat while everyone else went to Gma and Gpa M's to celebrate Dwight's birthday.

The morning of the last day of the year dawned sunny. The neighborhood murmuration of starlings were out in force as we walked the dog. 

In the evening, a few neighbors set off fireworks. Kai wasn't a fan. 

Ferg seemed to be over the need to lick his wounds by the end of the year. 

New Year's Day dawned rainy. Drops clung to the naked twigs on the tree branches. 

We didn't do a whole lot other than some cleaning, packing, working, and taking down Christmas decorations. Eliza decided to do a solo run to DI and the library on Saturday, bringing home a sewing machine on her bike. That girl! Super independent and resourceful. Ferg decided he wanted to be involved in her project, which consisted in repurposing some of the fabric from the kimono she bought in Tokyo to make a bag. 

Hallie spent a few hours each day at the end of the week at Starbucks. We are grateful to Starbucks/Smith's for being able to give Hallie hours to work while Mike has been in town. 

2025, December 22-28

We filled the days leading up to and through Christmas with lots of little activities to celebrate the season with family and friends. 

Gma and Gpa Dorey sent well wishes and this year's Amos Pewter annual ornament. We miss you guys! 

Hallie got winter-themed nails done. Fancy! It is awesome getting them done for free in exchange for being a practice model. 

Jocie came over to visit early in the week, and we watched the movie remake of The A-Team, which is a family favorite of hers and which we somehow never ended up seeing despite being fans of the original show. Eliza wrapped gifts while we watched.

Evidently Landon was enthralled (vacation from school is so tiring). 

Eliza had Jocie open her Christmas present early, a hand-woven bracelet.

We couldn't resist getting a close-up of L in his slumber. 

Hallie and a couple of other Starbucks employees got Kenyon a tumbler for the beverages he drinks daily at the store. 

Eliza had to attend Summit every day this week except Christmas day. She didn't have a lot of schoolwork to do, so she took some time to practice her horse drawing skills.

Mike caught this Christmas Eve sunrise. Red sky at morning meant weather in the evening. We didn't get snow or even much rain, but the mountains got dusted. 

We spent some time packing items for the move, among which were some framed items. Here is a picture of Mike and his sister from waaay back. Note the fetching turtleneck, the Western-style plaid leisure suit, the bangs (on both kids), and the blue gingham. These two were the peak of late-1970s style! 

Once upon a time when Mike was in elementary school, Mike dabbled in oil painting at (the now long-since closed) Nora's Art Gallery. Such an abundance of burnt umber and burnt sienna! 

On Christmas Eve proper, we went up with Natalie and her son Joshua to look at the lights on Christmas Lane and other streets in Salt Lake before grabbing some hot chocolate. We beat most of the predicted inclement weather and had fun visiting. 

Christmas morning dawned bright and mostly clear. We let the kids sleep in while making breakfast. Everyone came up for unwrapping presents. Interestingly, this meant we never go around to the annual picture on the stairway.

After breakfast, the kids took some time to practice the ukulele and guitar and perform a little for Papa O. and Alie on a video call.

Kai took it all in stride. 

Here are the fancy earrings Eliza got Mom for her present. 

We are slowly eating through the many extra Panda Express fortune cookies. Mike liked this one especially. 

L and E showed off some of their musical talents before we played white elephant with assorted cereals. Almost everyone ended up with something they wanted. 

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals! 

After photos, some hijinks ensued. 

Apparently, a little before Mike arrived back in Springville, Fergus had gotten into a fight in the night. Eliza said she heard yowling, and the following morning Ferg came home with a couple of minor battle wounds. Or so we thought. Over the past few days this week, a bite or scratch we didn't see on his hip had become infected and developed into an abscess. We couldn't take Ferg to the pet hospital on Christmas Day, so Mike and Eliza took him over after she got out of Summit on Friday. He needed a small surgery to get him fixed up. Needless to say, Fergus did not want to be at the vet, but we hope he feels better soon. 

Landon's Aunt Silla sent him this camo jacket. He said it was warm and fit well. Thanks! 

We brought Fergus home in the evening after picking E up at Creekside. The poor guy was completely loopy from the anesthesia. We looked after him the best we could overnight and tried avoiding having him wear the cone of shame. 

Saturday morning, Hallie found this kitty under her car. The kitty wanted to come in, but it looked too well-cared-for to be a stray, so we made it stay out in the garage for the day. We provided water and a bed and contacted the lost pet Facebook group. No one responded, but by the evening, the kitty had left again. We think it belongs to someone in the neighborhood and may have gotten out for the day. 

Mike spent most of the day with the pets like this while Landon worked and Hallie and Eliza went shopping at Barnes and Noble with Sawyer. 

Hallie saw this four-ornament LEGO set and brought it home. 

While the weather was a little stormy, it did have its beauty. 

In the early evening, we each put together one of the ornaments from the LEGO set.  

Bleppy stoned kitty. Those pain relievers seem to be doing their work. 

Hallie took over cat-sitting duties while Mike took Kai for a walk and stretched his legs some. 

Eliza has continued developing her drawing skills. Here is an anime character. 

Landon and friends did some urban exploration in the evening. 

By the late evening hours, Fergus decided he would rather keep trying to lick his wound than not, so he got the cone of shame. Hallie and Landon took over looking after him in the night, and then Mike resumed his duties at around 4:00 a.m. Sunday.  

Poor guy looks hung over. Here Mike found him after the kitty tried using the facilities. 

Hallie took over with Ferg in the morning for a few hours. She sent Mike this pic of the boys kind of snuggling. 

Eliza found her way into BUH social media again this week. We're so grateful for the positive influence BUH has had in her life. 

Hallie spent a majority of Sunday afternoon at Starbucks. Mike made a yummy dinner that we all enjoyed! Later, Landon and more friends did more urban exploration.