TIS THE SEASON...for putting up our HERSHEY TREE! We loved that two of our children started their own Hershey trees this year!
We got back from New Zealand and a few days later, Scott took off with a photographer to ENGLAND.
He had a great time despite the accident the photog had while driving (because Scott's new license did not arrive in time before the trip, but the day he left)
The beautiful London Temple.
The not-so-beautiful, but interesting Stonehenge.
For our annual December Christmas Family Activity, we booked an escape room!
SCROOGE'S FATE
It was new this year and was really quite difficult but so much fun! Working together, and with the help of a few clues along the way, we finally figured out all the codes and riddles and got the box open in time to find the stolen funds...
...and we ESCAPED with only a minute plus left.
Then, it was home to eat...and eat...and eat! We charcuteried all evening long!
And when we were done charcutering, we had a CHAR-SWEETERIE (or Char-Cookery or Sweet-cuterie You decide!) for the rest of the night with this decorative collection by Scott. He chose the sweets at Trader Joes (or England) for the most part and made it into a work of art!
So, I never know what I will find when I visit my Dad. He had taken apart his razor, or let the battery die or something, but his razor was in pieces and he was SCRUFFY! I got to shave him, and he let me. Very humbling experience. I am really bad at it too.
Christmas Eve, we scheduled the activity room at Ashford for a family party. It was really nice and we had cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate and sang carols and tried to keep Dad from whistling too loudly trying to get his friends and the CNA's to come join us. HA! He really was so distracted and felt everyone should have been invited.
But we had a lovely time together!
CHRISTMAS MORNING out for a good walk. We forgot our Santa hats!
But we remembered them when we went to visit Dad at Ashford and took him on a walk outside around the building. He was so much better this day, super witty and remembering vague details like the fact that Elliot does "curling." Where did that fun tact come from?
Wonderful Christmas Day with family!
White Elephant Party with our old neighborhood friends at the Russells in Saratoga Springs. We had a super fun night with them all and exchanged some very creative gifts!
NEW YEARS EVE 2023 or 123123 as it was called.
Very very fun night with the kids playing the newest WINGSPAN and eating AREPAS...
And then making a midnight pizza just like the one we loved in New Zealand...THAI SWEET CHILI PEANUT PIZZA.
IT WAS SO GOOD!!!
We have had the most happy year despite so many horrible events and so, so, so much hard work. It has all been wonderful because of FAMILY and FRIENDS and JESUS CHRIST'S GOSPEL. Seriously, the love we have felt from and for people has made it such a great year!
SO...we can even overlook artwork depicting Grandpa wearing a dress.
Nope.
(You didn't see me fussing about the huge bow in my hair.)
Grandpa has given Cassidy the worst teasing time about the picture she drew, and then how he "fixed" it. HA!
I sort of liked him in the mini-skirt.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! We love you all!
