New Life- Week 91 (Christmas 2021)

 Ok so let me first begin by apologizing for the picture overload that is about to happen.  This week was Christmas!  We started with some pre-Christmas fun.  We went to Christmas ships in the pouring rain, we decorated a gingerbread house, we made treats and cookies, had sleepovers, and visited with friends as we received and delivered treats.

Friday was Christmas Eve.  All the family got together at Emily and Tala's in the early afternoon.  We started with sugar cookie decorating so the kids could decorate cookie for Santa.  After cookies we ate dinner, Thai for the adults and pizza for the kids.  We then did our gift exchange.  The cousins all gave and received some awesome gifts.  The highlight was the new Cousin Crew United sweatshirts from Nana and Papa with the flags of all the different heritages of all the cousins.  It was such a special gift.  After presents, we did our traditional saran balls with all the fun and feisty competition that entails.  We left the Ioapo's fairly early so we could get to bed before Santa came.

It was a good thing we got to bed early because Christmas started bright and early the next morning.  This year Santa brought us an awesome family gift, two inflatable paddleboards. While we plan to get lots of use out of them, probably not for a while, since we got out first snow of the season today.  We were all also spoiled by each other with lots of great gifts.  Merrick was excited to get a phone (he had been pitching hard for one but didn't think it would happed), games, and sports accessories.  Carrigan got the ukulele she had asked for, plus a Fitbit, and lots for different crafting things.  Elsie got the Chelsea Barbies she asked for and plenty of Elsa and Frozen dolls and toys.  As for Jeremy and I, he got a pressure washer and I got laser hair removal, in addition to lots of other great things.

Today we are trying to dig out from our Christmas chaos.  As I mentioned though, we got our first snow overnight and it has been difficult to focus on cleaning when the snow is calling our names.  I have lots of pictures from our snow adventures, but those are going to have to wait.  We are possibly going to have more snow next week so maybe I can share those next time.

For now I am so grateful for this season and the time we have been able to spend with family and focusing on our Savior, his birth and life.  It's the most wonderful time of the year!

New Life- (Week 90) Shocker...More Basketball

It was another week dominated by basketball.  We had our usual practice schedule, but this weekend's tournament spilled onto Friday, in addition to Saturday and Sunday.  That meant that we had four separate trips to Sherwood over three days.  The boys all played their hearts out this weekend. We had several blow out games and one harder-fought championship game, but the boys pulled out a tournament win.  Not only did they win, but the tournament was a qualifier for the state tournament in Salem, so they were able to punch their ticket for that as well.  In the end, the boys walked away with shirts, socks, foam fingers, bag tags, medals, and smiles for days.

For those of us not practicing and playing basketball 30 hours a week, the major excitement was preparing for Christmas. We have been wrapping gifts and starting to make treats.  On Friday, Elsie helped me make approximately 150 ounces of salsa to give people.  She was especially excited about helping with washing the dishes, which I didn't mind, except when we tried to flood the kitchen.

This coming week Merrick doesn't have any tournaments, just practice, so we will have a bit more time (plus no school!!!).  We are planning lots of baking and decorating gingerbread houses.  I might even have time to finish wrapping Christmas presents, fingers crossed on that one.  

New Life- Week 89 (Blur)

 What is it about time?  Does it ever slow down?  I feel like I was just sitting down to write last week's blog and yet, somehow, here we are again.  As a follow-up from last week, Merrick's team won their tournament.  It was Merrick's first ever basketball tournament and his first ever tournament win.

This week's tournament was a mixed bag.  They had some heartbreakers yesterday, losing by 3 (to the team that won the tournament) and losing by 1 (in double overtime).  That meant today they were in a lower bracket for play and they won one game by about 20 and the other by about 45.  They have some work to do, but they are a solid little team.

The other big news is yesterday Carrigan got her second Covid vaccine.  She got to miss her brother's game to do it so that was big for her.  She was pretty happy about it and said she would rather get shots all day than go to Merrick's games, but she might be changing her tune.  She is making some good little friends with some of the team siblings.  I think it's going to be a fun season.

One more week until Christmas break.  I don't think time is slowing down anytime soon.

P.S.  Happy birthday to my daddy-o who turned 69 this week.

New Life- Week 88 (Have a Ball)

The title sums up the week pretty nicely.  We spent much of the week all about basketball or having fun as we prepare for Christmas.

First, basketball.  This was our first tournament weekend.  Merrick had three practices during the week (plus two baseball practices as bonus). So far we have had three games this weekend, with the championship game still to come.  The first game was a bit of a nail-biter with a 4 point victory, but the other two games have been blowouts. Now we are heading to the championship game tonight.  This is Merrick's first time playing tournament ball for basketball.  The first game you could tell he was nervous and not bringing his A-game, but still had something like 8 points.  Since then, he has shaken off the nerves.  The last game we played he scored 8 of the first 10 points and ended up scoring 14 during the game.  It's good to be the big man.

The other highlight of the week has been parties and playdates.  Carrigan and Elsie had several playdates this week and it feels good to be able to see friends a bit more now.  Also we had several days with great weather and we were able to stay and play with friends after school.  The fun times capped off last night with the ward Christmas party.  The theme was bedtime stories with Santa and Ms. Claus (Papa and Nana) and Becca (who was in charge) knocked it out of the park.  I think the girls also appreciated having that party to go to instead of Merrick's game.

Tonight the girls are going to have a pajama party at Nana and Papa's instead of going to the championship game.  I don't know who is more excited about their evening plans, the girls or Merrick, but it should be a good night.  

New Life- Week 87 (Thanksgiving and Then Some)

This week was the official start to the holiday season.  On Monday, Jensen came to town for a short visit.  We did a lot of hanging out and a little sight seeing (Oregon City elevator and toy store and the dragon house).  He was here until Wednesday and then went to Arizona for Thanksgiving.

For our Thanksgiving, we went to Emily and Tala's where, not only did we have a turkey and the traditional sides, but Tala also slow roasted an entire pig in their backyard.  It was Nana and Papa, Brendon, Julien, and Maude (plus her boyfriend), the Ioapo's, Uso, and our family.  We were so busy eating that I didn't take many pictures, except of the food.  I made a new candy cane pie this year in addition to Swedish Apple and it was a big hit.  Maybe the biggest hit of all though were my (Carolyn's) rolls.  They literally almost caused a fight between Tala and Uso and even though I had made 4 dozen, they were gone and I had to make another two dozen the next day.

Friday, the Christmas season was in full swing.  After a little Black Friday shopping, we put up our outside lights and went and got a Christmas tree.  Many farms are closed this year because of recession related supply issues, for once it isn't Covid's fault, but we were able to find a place that had some great Nobles and found a tree that fits well in our space.

Saturday, the Christmas festivities continued with getting up the rest of our holiday decor and decorating the tree.  The kids were a big help with this.  We also discovered that Elsie is apparently not as afraid of heights as some of us because I kept finding her climbing the ladder to put an ornament up high.

Oh! Also, unrelated to Christmas, Carrigan got to ride a horse yesterday!  Our new dog trainer has horses and she invited us to her barn to go for a ride.  She was a little nervous at first but quickly decided it was fun!

Tomorrow it's back to the routine, work, carpool and 5 practices and 4 games a week.  BUT we only have three weeks of that until Christmas break.  Let the countdown begin!