Girls at the Temple

Calista has joined Young Women's and was able to go to the temple for the first time.

It was a chilly evening, but we still took a few photos outside before we headed inside.

Calista's words: 

"I went with Mom and Dad and my friends Olivia, Bethy, and Charlotte. It was the most wonderful experience I've ever had. Even in the waiting room, I could already feel the Spirit and it was just so peaceful. 

"Doing the baptisms made me feel very happy. I felt like the people I was doing baptism for were looking down on me, happy. The Spirit was also telling me that I was doing the right thing. It was so fun going to the temple with my friends. I can't wait to go back again!"

We can't wait to take her again, either!

Christmas bells are ringing!

As always, one of our big starts of the Christmas season was the kiddos' Christmas concert. 

This year was in person (yay!), making it the first - and last - year that Kyler and I have no children sitting with us in the audience. How freeing!

Craig did the introduction for one of his class' songs.

And Calista has been looking forward to this year for a while now: probably 6 years! 

She finally got to play the handbells! She was so cute, telling me her hair had to be back so that she didn't get any oils on the bells, and nodding to her friend Christian whenever it was his turn to play a note.

They all did great, even if they won't smile and pose for me. Sigh.

And with the concert out of the way, it's time to prepare for the big day itself!

Christmas eve brought pajamas, obviously.

And, also obviously, Christmas morning brought cinnamon ring roll.

I got up pretty early to make sure we have breakfast before church. Definitely worth it, though, to make my great-grandma's recipe. 

We all got dressed in our Sunday best.

Not a bad looking crew, I think!

After church, it was back into pajamas

to open presents

and start using them!

They're learning the rules and also how to lose with grace.

With Christmas over, we were then able to enjoy the rest of the break from school/work.

We went on a couple of different snowy walks and sledding, too.

And when weather was decent, 

we also just had time to relax and play outside.

When weather wasn't as decent, we went to the library

And used our Christmas gift from Ken and Maria:

Year-long passes to the Science Center!

My favorite part of Christmas break, though, was in the calmer, quieter moments. 

Kyler decided to read aloud The Hobbit to the children. They were into it.

Except when Caleb fell asleep in my arms. Still, even he liked it. "I hope the dragon eats Bilbo!" Caleb said. "Or he gets burnt to a crisp."

The kiddos (with help from Kyler and I) even re-wrote the lyrics to "Whistling In The Dark." Presenting, for the first time in public,

"Riddling In The Dark"

A Hobbit came up to me and said I'd like to exit your cave

Before the goblins catch me and send me to an early grave.

What has it got in his pocketses, not hands or knife or string,

I lost the game and that Thief, Baggins, he stole my precious ring.

(Chorus)

There's only one thing that I know how to do well

And I've often been told that you only can do

What you know how to do well

And that's be you,

Be what you're like,

Be like yourself,

And so let's have a wonderful time

And get on with riddling in the dark.

Riddling in the dark

Riddling in the dark

Riddling in the dark

Riddling in the dark

Riddling in the dark

There's only one thing that I like

And that is riddling in the dark.

A spider came up to me and said I'd like eat you whole

And chew you with a side of dwarf within my webby bowl. 

We were trapped like flies but it was time to save the day.

I take my sword and chop them up: few of them live today.

(Chorus)

A Hobbit came up to me and said I'd like to take burgle your hoard 

And give it to some hungry dwarves, sitting outside, bored. 

But I'd rather go out and burn the town sitting on the lake.

To not inspect my armored chest would certainly be a mistake. 

(Chorus)

Riddling (riddling), riddling (riddling)

Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

Riddling  (riddling), riddling (riddling)

Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

Riddling (riddling), riddling (riddling)

Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

Riddling (riddling), riddling (riddling)

Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

Merry Christmas, everybody! I hope you felt the love of your Savior and that no one stole your precious!

Beach Birthday Bingo

For our birthdays, my mom wanted us to take a weekend beach trip together, like we used to. 

So, my parents booked my plane ticket and a little house to stay, 

and with everything ready I headed to Oregon to meet them and my sister! (Thanks again to Kyler who was a single dad for the long weekend!)

The morning of my 37th birthday (Thursday), we headed to meet Loradona on the coast. 

And stopped to eat clam chowder in a bread bowl, obviously. We then got settled in to the Red Door Cottage in Seal Rock. Loradona and I can't resist the beach, so when we had a little downtime, we walked down to check it out.

We had never been to Seal Rock, so it was fun to explore somewhere new. 

We encountered washed up sea stars, 

(we tried to put them back in the water, although I truly think they were dead.)

rocks, 

and even seals! At Seal Rock!

I think our afternoon walk was probably my favorite part of my birthday, although dinner at an Irish pub (I had fish 'n' chips, of course! And some amazing chocolate bread pudding)

was pretty good, too.

Friday started out beautiful, but we knew the weather was scheduled to change later. So we took advantage of the beautiful morning while we could. 

We headed to Ona Beach at Brian Booth State Park, 

where Loradona and I tried hunting for agates. We weren't terribly successful, but that's okay.

There were some really cool rock formations that we joked were the spine of a prehistoric megafauna.

The weather forecast did indeed bring rain, as predicted, but that means it's a great time visit Thor's Well and Spouting Horn, as well as Devil's Churn. 

The beach is still lovely, even in the rain. 

One just has to be prepared for the weather! 

Our stop at Cape Perpetua (highest viewpoint accessible by car on the Oregon Coast), was great because of the visitor's center. The view itself? Kind of dismal. Oh well!

By Saturday morning (Mom's birthday!) 

the rain had all passed and we were back to beautiful blue skies!

We started the day at Seal Rock, 

in our matching boots!

The waves were still pretty strong, so there weren't any seals sunning themselves. Plenty of them in the water, though, and birds to watch as well!

Next we headed to Driftwood Beach, 

and then back to check out the little shops in Seal Rock. 

We had a lot of fun, and supported to local economy a bit, too.

Soup, souvenirs for the kiddos (and me), fudge, glass works, and Mom got another birthday present:

Sir Bartholomew of Paddingtonhamshireby.

Happy beach birthday, Mom! 

Thanks for inviting us all along!

Sunday we headed to church and then went driving down Highway101, stopping at beaches along the way, including Governor Patterson and Yachats State Recreation Area. 

We also headed back to Cape Perpetua to see it without rain. 

Not too shabby, eh?

PS, I love Dad. He's driving down Highway 101, and asks if we want to stop at the upcoming beach access. But before we even answer, he's already turning in to the parking lot.  Because of course we want to stop at a wayside and check it out. So to Smelt Sands we go. And it was great!

Sloooooow motion waves!

Monday morning, I did one last trip to Seal Rock. 

Because if I'm at the coast, I have to go down to the beach every day!

It was a perfect few days, but even perfect days have to end.

One last meal of seafood, hugs goodbye to Loradona, and my parents and I head back to their house.

To prepare for me to head back to my house Tuesday. I do still come back home, though part of me doesn't want to... 

I purposely sat on the side of the plane that might have mountain views. I succeeded. 

So far, 37 has been pretty good, and this beach trip was absolutely wonderful. 

Hopefully the rest of my 38th year can keep up!