2023, December 4-10

We have met the winter chill with resolve. We still need more snow, snow, snow (thanks to Breagh Isabel for the music)! 

Can you tell how many deer are hidden in the brush in the picture below? The girls rolled their eyes when Hallie had to take more pictures of deer.

Fergus has adopted Mike's lap blanket as his own. 

Doesn't matter who (if anyone) is using it, he'll eventually lie down on it. 

And he'll sit on Mike's lap by itself if Mike sits down. He seems to miss having Mike around. 

Grandma O sent Kai this sweater, and when the doggo came back this week, he even wore it! Pics to follow. P.S. It is from Hallie's favorite grocery store.

 

Looks like Mike caught his first bit of sniffles from the littles he's teaching despite taking precautions. He's been making a Starbucks-inspired "medicine ball" tea blend with honey and lemonade, all toasty warm to soothe his throat. 

The cold weather has brought interesting effects on the vehicles. One morning, Mike came out to steam evaporating off the car in the morning sun. The photo doesn't capture the moment very well. 

Mike continues to get reacquainted with local friends and neighbors as he goes to different schools. This week, he went to one school where a mom we knew from gymnastics was another sub and to another where our next door neighbor works as a speech therapist. One of the kids at one of the schools caught him on camera when they both were making silly faces. He's been enjoying the work while continuing to hunt for something more permanent.

 

Helping out with the kids in Special Ed sometimes means play time in the sensory room. 

Hallie and Priscilla went white elephant shopping, and they found some cool Hello Kitty-themed items. 

Here is Hallie leaving with Landon at the crack of dawn to go get Dutch Bros. Landon was only five minutes late for school. Hallie got a sticker to prove they had gone.

And finally we have the promised pictures of Kai in his sweater.  Isn't he adorable?! ALDI should pay him an endorsement fee. 

One of the 5th graders he helped gave Mike this picture. Thanks, dude! 

Hallie and Eliza joined Gma and Gpa M at the high school for the annual holiday concert choir concert. Hallie knows a number of kids from school who sing there. 

Here are Mom and Landon up late at night after sick Mike and healthy but young Eliza went to bed after Landon spent the afternoon and evening trying to do homework. Landon seems to come alive after 10:00 pm.

On Saturday Hallie went to an extended family Christmas party with relatives from all over the area. Hallie hadn't seen some of these relatives in over 30 years. Hallie had a really nice time. Grateful to everyone's kindness and generosity at the party.  

We spent a quiet Sunday at home wrapping presents, listening to music, watching Christmas movies, and visiting with family. It's been a bit of a struggle to get into the festivities of the season, but we take it one day at a time and try to remember the herald angels' promise of "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men."

2023, November 27-December 3

We're finally feeling a bit of winter chill, but not enough of it for Mike's taste. The mountains bask in a white blanket. 

Eliza continues visiting the ponies Raunchy and Jack.

Kai got to come too. He was on high alert. Kai was jealous that one of his favorite humans was associating with another mammal. Poor Kai.

Eliza had a riding lesson at BUH. This pony is named Harvey.

Mike decided to update his Facebook profile pic, so here's a rare Mike sighting. Smile, boy! 

And here's another view of the coastal-themed Christmas cheer at home. 

Here's Eliza with a tasty treat. Starbucks had a day where drinks were 50% off. Lucky girl.

While Mike and Hallie were at the store, they saw these enormous pomegranates for $4.99 a piece. Mike put his hand up for a reference.

We got snow on Friday. Mike says it's about time. The look on Hallie's face says she's none too pleased. It stuck around on Saturday and had mostly melted in the valleys by Sunday with some rain that came in. Yay for clean air and no more inversion! Mike thinks it's too warm for December and that the rain should have been more snow. Hallie's classroom has no windows, so it can be a bit of a shock when she leaves for the day and sees the white stuff.

Speaking of snow, 'tis the season for paper snowflakes! Hallie showed off to Priscilla a couple Mike had cut this week.

 

Mike took Eliza over to visit R&J on Sunday. Fergus decided to tag along. He wasn't too sure about the horses but managed to find and kill a varmint while we brushed the ponies and Eliza rode around for a bit. 

These trees are full of the loudest little birds in the neighborhood. You can really hear them off 950 W. Occasionally, a few of them will fly over to Jaker's and scrounge around for corn or whatever is in the now-vacant fields.

 

Sunday was a very nice relaxing day. Landon did homework, Hallie and Eliza read lots of The Questfields: A Summer in Yosemite, and Mike took a bike ride. In the early evening we chatted with G'pa and G'ma Owens.

 

2023, November 20-26

We celebrated Thanksgiving with new friends, and Eliza got friendly with some new horses. 

Eliza had the chance to look after some local horses, and this week, the owner's wife invited her to feed them while the family was out of town for Thanksgiving. She even got paid! Here she is on Monday taking Raunchy and Jack on a ride around the field where they live.

Thanksgiving preparations started early with some make-ahead items. Hallie found some good recipes and got supplies, and Mike cooked some of them up early in prep for the next day. 

On Thanksgiving morning, Mike took Eliza over to Raunchy and Jack's and helped her feed them. 

Here we are, enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with the Melos, Lisa, and Marcos. Landon is clearly happy about the goodies he's about to eat. 

Friday morning dawned cold and snowy. We only got an inch or so. Winter has finally arrived.

Even with the weather, Eliza was enthusiastic about feeding the ponies. 

Good ol' Fergie found Eliza's blanket covered behind to be comforting.  

We took a couple of days switching over from the fall decor to Christmas decorations. Seems like the Holidays came up out of nowhere!  

Landon is studying for his learners permit and hopes to get on the road learning to drive for reals in the next couple of weeks. 

2023, November 13-19

Mid-November brought new activities and rain. 

We took Ferg to the vet for another follow-up visit and a booster for one of his vaccines. Hopefully we won't need to go for another year. This old cat is getting expensive!

Here is Landon dutifully studying using his phone. Oh, wait. He's watching YouTube.  

Eliza had BUH in the afternoon. Hallie took Kai for a walk at Bartholomew Park while she waited. 

This photo makes Kai not look like Kai. 

Eliza learned how to make a pumpkin roll. She was kind to share with Hallie. Both girls thought it was very yummy!

On Tuesday, Landon had a doctor's appointment. He's now 5' 9" in shoes. Eliza had to tag along, so Hallie had both kids get their flu shots. Our neighbor used to work for our pediatrician. Julie has since moved, and it was definitely different going to the doctors. 

Mike went to a workshop to finish his application process to be a substitute teacher in the Nebo School District while the applications he has sent in continue to go through their process. If nothing else, subbing will get him a foot in the door at the district.  

We made real progress on the Disney Parks puzzle this week, finishing it by Friday. 

A lady Hallie knows boards horses a couple of blocks over, and she gave Eliza permission to pet and interact with them. The horses' names are Jack and Raunchy. Jack is not so sure about us coming over. Raunchy is more amicable to Eliza.

Hallie has been helping collect tickets for the local high school musical. On Friday, we went with the Melos (our Chilean friends). Three of Hallie's students were in the musical Newsies, and one of our good friends, GianMarco, played Crutchie, one of the leads.

Eliza got more time with the new horses on Saturday and Sunday. 

Hallie took Priscilla over to Ream's on Saturday, and they bought Thanksgiving goods and popcorn. In Chile, they're more used to sweet rather than savory popcorn, and at the musical the Melos were surprised when the popcorn they bought at the concessions stand was salty. Priscilla bought several sweet mixes at Reams. Hallie has so much living vicariously through her friend. It has been a good new friendship for both women.

Hallie and Eliza went to Gma and Gpa M's to help out with Christmas cards. We didn't do our Sunday Social due to inclement weather. The Sunday Social may actually be coming to an end due to our weather changing. It sure was fun while it lasted. Before you know it, the fun will be here again!