December

December was a very filled up month.  As I was putting things on the calendar for the month at the end of November I couldn't believe all the things we needed to go to. I think I will just take this one by day in point form.

- 2nd Leah had wanted to see the second half of Wicked.  She got us tickets on cheap night.  I drove down straight from work. I went to the Giving Machine before the movie started. The movie wasn't bad.  I am glad I finished the movie.  I liked part 1 better.  Driving home the roads were very icy and foggy, but we all made it.

-3rd back down to town, I had my annual mammo and US. Got all the groceries for the stake hot chocolate bar Dave was in charge of.  And by Dave I mean he turned it over to me because he knows I love doing them.  That night we had a practice for the ward live nativity.

-5th We preformed the live Nativity.  2 performances.  We had great attendance the first one and a few stragglers for the second.  As Dave and I were setting up in the morning it was clear and beautiful.  We ran up to town to get a few things and on the way it got foggy and windy.  We went out for lunch and then did more prep to get ready.  Dave figured we spent about 20 hours getting ready for the nativity.  It is a lot of work.  Weather did not improve and we were happy for those that did come out. 

-6th Dave and I went into town with the tractor and trailer to bring all the bale home that were used in the nativity.  Jared had been asked to supply them and had taken them all in.  We knew that he had ball tournaments all weekend and wanted to surprise him with it all taken care of.  Tractor was not running well, I just prayed we would make it home.  Prayers were answered. Next we headed to Calgary to do what Dave has started calling 'the turn and burn' to pick up Myrna. After that was a quick shower and late lunch and off to Macleod for the Stake Youth Activity.  The whole night was very nice.  I didn't see much as I was in the kitchen doing the hot chocolate bar, which was a hit, but it seemed lovely.

-7th Church, my family zoom, and the 1st Presidency Devotional.  It was lovely being able to stay home for most of it. 

-9th Dave was asked to speak at the Christmas RS party.  We had a nice dinner there.

-11th, was supposed to be a coral festival, we were thrilled that it got cancelled and I skipped out of my work Christmas party.

-12th We preg tested the cows.  It was a COLD day!  I was hoping for just one open so we could eat it.  Thankfully that is exactly how it went down. Although the vet brought an apprentice and somehow he got put in charge of the back part of the squeeze.  He did not do well at that part and we had a few disasters, but made it through and no one got hurt.  So I guess I can't complain.

-13th My whole family was in Utah for Kailey's wedding.  I was sad to miss it but just couldn't take any more time off work and travel.  Everyone did great at sending me lots of pictures.  We had chores in the morning. (Jared had taken over chores for us while we were in Africa.  Usually we trade off every other week.  So when we got back we said we would do a month to make up for all he had done) We next went to see the Holiday Train and got to see The Barenaked Ladies perform.  We went to town and grabbed some last Christmas gifts and then to Dave's work party.  We again helped serve.  A delicious turkey dinner. 

-14th After church we went to Leah's.  She invited us to go to her Community Concert.  Dave was going to need to go to work that day to undecorate from the work party, but they got it all done as he was at church.  Leah fed us dinner and then we went to the concert. It was well done.  A lot of beautiful numbers. 

-17th I went grocery shopping for all the Christmas needs.  I had picked up some extra days in December and only had a few days available to shop.  I had heard that the wind was going to come up and a storm was going to come in around noon.  I was at the stores at 7:45 in the morning.  I finished and was 10 mins away from home when the snow started.  By the time I got home and was hauling in groceries it was crazy.  Thankful for my attached garage.  The whole house was shaking and rattling.  I couldn't see my driveway.  4 hours later when Dave came home all was calm and there was no snow.  

-19th We had our Ward Christmas Party.  Blake had left Cherry Grove that morning after getting dug out.  There was a do not travel advisory on some of the roads he was travelling.  We had planned to move him down to his apartment that afternoon, but he did not make it as he had to go pretty slow.  He pulled up just as we were leaving to go to the party.  I was assigned to bring a dessert.  I had a lot of fun designing the stickers and making the cheesecake I took. It went so fast we did not even get to try it.  Hope it was ok.:)

-20th Blake had an alumni tournament to play.  Dave was asked to play as well, but didn't think it was wise as last time he wrecked his back so bad it has taken the last 3 years to be ok again. It was so fun to watch Blake play again.  Blake said he forgot how much fun he had with everyone.  Lots of people asked about his mission, which I thought was nice.  He did great.  Even almost dunked it.  He has lost a little of his vertical, but hiking all those hills in Salone kept him in shape. He had a great time catching up with Gilbert. He had back to back games.  After we took him and Natalia to New Club for lunch.

After the tournament we loaded up his bed and and took it to Lethbridge to his apartment, then out to Magrath to Leah's to grab the desk she was giving him.  Back to his place to drop it off.  Then Blake bought us DQ. 

-22nd I had another fill in work day and got our turkey.  We did 23 lbs this year and ate it all in a few days. Jane helped me organize the flowers Dave surprised me with. 

-25th- 27th Christmas with the kids

-28th after church and dinner, Dave and I headed down to fix the co-op that had gone down.  Water was till now working at the farm as power wasn't working and also the co-op. We tried to feed but tractor was not starting as being plugged in didn't help if no power. 

-30 Dave was taking Myrna to Calgary.  He was leaving earlier than I got off work.  Blake was in Raymond.  Just before I got off, Dave texted me and said they had got away a little later and did I want to go.  I had undecorated after work on Monday and was really looking forward to cleaning everything up when everyone was gone.  And I was starving, I had only packed a small lunch.  But decided to go so he wouldn't have to drive home by himself. We decided to get food because we were both hungry.  I had left from work unexpectedly and so I had not packed snacks. Even though it meant not going for Chinese the next day as I had wanted.  Can't go out twice in a row. When we got home I saw that Dave had surprised me by vacuuming the floors and putting stuff away.  Wonderful!

-31st We were boring for New Year's Eve.  I had really wanted to go for Chinese and a movie like we used to before Dave's dad passed away.  We used to do that every year and I was excited to do it again after so  long.  But as mentioned, we went out night before and there were no movies that were interesting to us.  So we just stayed home. Blake and Dave got his car fixed and the shop cleaned.  Then Blake took off.  We had a nice dinner and watched Frankenstein.  Cora had told us about it.  I enjoyed it.  Dave said it was good but did not like the graphic blood during surgery.  We toasted in with blackberry ginger ale at 10:30 and went to bed.  

2025 was another great year.  Filled with family growing, adventures, Blake returning and so much more.  We are so thankful for the place we get to live, the great kids we have and the decisions they are making, our health, and our jobs.  Life is good, the Lord lives and guides us and we are feeling so blessed. 

Happy New Year!