December 2017

I love this picture of the Idaho Falls Temple taken by Josh Packer.  I love the temple and the feeling of peace that comes as soon as you drive into the parking lot.  Blake has spent a lot time in the early mornings in this building since it reopened in June.  He has been successful in seeing that hundreds of people have got their work done.  I have been able to go at least once a week, and sometimes more often thanks in part to Blake being willing to watch Ryder while I go.  It has been an immense blessing to us to be able to go so often.

December 2nd - I got to spend some time with Maden, Annie and Clark, we made some ornaments out of pipe cleaners and beads.  Then when Nikelle and Molly came, they made some too.

I love how these little cousins love to be with each other.

Clark thinks he's funny to climb on the stool just like the big kids.  Maden turned 8! (How did that even happen?) Ryder loves to play games with me on the IPad.  All the kids love Jared!

December 9 - Since Maden's birthday is on the 5th, and Jared's on the 11th, we celebrated them together on the 9th.  Maden turned 8 and Jared turned 27! They broke the wishbone from the turkey, it was as close to a tie as is possible.  We had a great lunch and cakes.

Then they opened presents, then had a bingo tournament with Grandpa Chin Chopper or Grandpa Paul as the bingo caller.

Maden took the kids for a spin on the sled.  Clark only wanted to ride behind Maden, Molly loved the sled from the start and Ryder decided he liked it pretty well too.

Later on, Jared and Randy took Molly and Ryder shopping, they thought the Mickey and Minnie cars were great!  Jared and Randy were so excited to find some little trucks and trailers like they had when they were little boys.

Annie had fun with the activity from the Kiwi Crate.  Blake and Ryder are playing a game with a car on the table.  Clark loved pushing this wheeled tub around.  Randy and Courtney joined Grandma Beth and I for fun game of Phase 10.  Ryder thinks he plays cards with us too.

Ryder got to help plow the snow for the first time.  He thought it was funny.  He talked the whole time about what they were doing.  Thank goodness he hasn't had as many chances to plow this year as he could have last year.

December 17 - We went to the Live Nativity at Jensen's Grove.  It was cold, and a long wait in the line, but it was also fun.  Blake took Molly and Ryder in the shelter by the fire to listen to the singers for a little while, the rest of us just stood outside waiting.  

Here we are finally all on the wagon.  It was a very nice depiction of the 1st Christmas, the birth of our Savior.  

December 23 - Blake and I tended Molly and Ryder while their parents went on a little snow machine excursion.  What one of these little people does, the other one has to do too.  So, when I fix Molly's hair, Ryder has to sit up on the stool too.  If one has juice, the the other does too.  If one is playing with a pillow, the other plays with a pillow too. If one sits in the chair, the other one does too.  It's a good thing they're good kids, because their grandpa had a good nap while he was in charge of them.  Nikelle and Courtney ended having to ride together on one snow machine because one got broken, but they said it was a fun trip anyway.  

December 24 - Clark got a fun new crane!  Brian's family came to spend Christmas Eve with us.  Maden had a fun time making a domino structure.  Clark and Ryder liked eating cheetos and watching Mickey Mouse.

Christmas! Molly woke up to a lot of lute from her parents and Santa! Annie wanted to watch me put my on makeup and get a little on her face too.  After the traditional monkey bread breakfast, we opened lots of presents.  

The kids were excited for me to open my huge round present.  It is a swing for them to use this summer! 

Still opening presents, while FaceTiming with Cindy and Ken.  

Annie loves her Rainbow little pony jacket, Ryder got a "Ryder" truck, Courtney got a soft blanket that's big enough to cover her whole body.  Molly is helping Annie get her gloves on so they can go outside. 

Annie loves the tree swing, even in the cold and snow.  She and Molly had a great time having Jared pull them on the sled behind the 4Wheeler.  All the big kids including Maden and and Annie went to Courtney's school to play a little basketball, Ryder, Molly and Clark got to stay home with Grandpa and Grandma.  

Maden lost another tooth! Molly got to stay here because Nikelle had to have her Gallbladder out.  I took her to Tracy's and we both got our haircut.  She was a very good girl.

December 29 - We took the Christmas decorations down.  Thanks to Courtney, Ryder, Jared, Nikelle and Molly, it went really fast! Ryder and Molly helped do the dishes too.  Molly loves to dance, she can really shake her bootie! But she loves to dance with her daddy most of all.

December 30 - Chambers Family Party.  We had a little holiday party at the Groveland Church while some of the Chambers Clan were in town.  The big kids had fun playing a little basketball, and the little kids even had a game.  Annie was thrilled when Matt lifted her up so she could dunk it.

There was a lot of games played!

The little kids had fun with spike ball, and sweeping, and finding different places to sit.  Ryan was such a good helper pushing Molly on Ava's scooter.

New Year's Eve - We had an early countdown for Molly and Ryder before they went to bed. Then some watched a movie, and some played some games.  Blake and Jared went to sleep before midnight, Blake woke up just as I snapped this picture at 11:58.