finishing the year

Christmas Break was pretty chill.  We really didn't do much.  The one and only thing we did was spend a day in Plain City.  I had dentist appointments scheduled for me and the kids so we decided to combine it with our girls night and do it while we were already there.  We drove up two days after Christmas, got our teeth taken care of (Ivy had cavities but everyone else was good), and then we met up with all the girls at my mom and dad's house.  Stockton quickly escaped to the Broadbent's to hang out with Ali's boys.

Harper, Brynn, Josie, Molly, Ivy, Lucy

We didn't have a concrete plan so we sat in the living room for a while and brainstormed what we could do.  We tossed around a few ideas but there wasn't one thing that everyone was on board with...until we came up with the idea of a mall scavenger hunt.  Everyone thought that sounded super fun.  We got online and found some ideas and then drove to the mall and broke into three groups.  Then we ran around the mall for 30 minutes taking pictures of the things that were on our list.  It was super fun and silly!  I think all the girls loved it and we got some pretty fun photos!

Abby and Ivy

Ali, Lucy, Josie, Ivy, Brynn, Tessa, Abby, me, Erin W., Molly, Grace, Erin M. (Harper is hiding behind Ali's head and Chloe was sick and didn't make it)

find a "sale" sign-Abby, Ivy, Harper

find a mustache-Grace, Josie, Molly

take a picture in a bathroom stall-Tessa, Brynn, Lucy, Ali

take a picture with a plant-Josie, Molly, Grace

find a movie poster-Tessa, Brynn, Lucy

And more!

We ate dinner at Chili's then went back to grandma and grandpa's house where we did nails, watched a movie, and had a sleepover.  Ivy and I got the big king-sized bed upstairs so that was nice.  My other girls were on the floor in the living room with all their cousins, which is exactly where they wanted to be.

Molly wanted to make the pumpkin waffles from Gilmore Girls so the older girls made breakfast the next morning.  The waffles were delicious, especially topped with the cinnamon butter they also made.  Molly had to work that afternoon so we left shortly after breakfast and after we helped clean-up the mess we had made.  But, safe to say, Ivy's first girls night was a success-these girls have so much fun together!

Stockton also had his own fun with the boys-he was able to go skiing with Jeff and Bryce and their boys.  I grew up skiing but we have never taken our kids because it's just so expensive to ski where we live.  Nordic Valley in Ogden is pretty cheap though and I was able to get Stockton a ticket for just $20.  I was a little worried that he would slow the others down, since they ski often, but Jeff said after two runs down, he was a pro and kept up with everyone else with no problem.  Stockton loved it so I'm really glad he got the chance to go.

Grant and Stockton

On Saturday that weekend, we drove to Lehi for Tiana's bridal shower.  Crazy to think that I have nieces getting married!  We went in on a gift with Rachelle and Camille but Molly drew her a pretty picture of her and Corbin.  It turned out great and Tiana loved it.

Tiana and Molly

The room clean-outs happened again this year.  Brynn was first.  It's a big chore but feels so good when it is finished.  Brynn has been so good to keep her room spic and span since it got cleaned out...she has been vigilant at putting everything in its place these past few weeks.  Hopefully it lasts!

Molly asked a boy to Sweethearts over the break and this was his positive response. "I'm Berry Glad You Asked!!" with some skittles and gummy worms.  There is always some drama involved in planning dances but I do think Molly is looking forward to going.  She knows her date well-enough and she says he's pretty laid-back and cool.  I wasn't sure she was going to go at all so I'm glad she ended up asking someone.

 

 

New Year's Eve-

This is what everyone picked for our NYE dinner:

Justin: shrimp + cocktail sauce, chips & queso

Megan: tri-tip steak

Molly: pretzel bites with cheese sauce or marinara for dipping

Stockton: wings

Brynn: taquitos

Ivy: spaghetti

We also had Shirley Temples and Ivy made fruit cubes (frozen fruit in ice to go with Sprite).  It was  feast!

We watched our Harry Potter movies and got through a few.  The kids took turns playing games.  

Brynn: Exploding Kittens

Ivy: Code Names

Stockton: Monopoly (we stopped when I had hotels on three of my properties because I was soon going to bankrupt everyone else)

We also played Sushi Go, Skyjo, and Clue.  It was a Sunday so the youth dance had been the night before.  Stockton went, Molly said she was too old and did something else.  Molly did go with Caden Lundberg's family and Regan for a couple of hours that night-a special request from Caden's mom (who is the high school soccer coach and knows Molly and Regan really well).  I think they just played some games.  The rest of us rang in the New Year at midnight and then went right to bed.