Fourteen, Mull, and Miss Connell

Lizza treated Hyrum to his favorite birthday cake, Oreo ice cream cake.  We have a 14-year-old that is 1/2" taller than Talmage and 2" taller than Bryant at the same age.

After 2 1/2 hours in line, Libby got her Brandon Mull books signed by author and illustrator.  Rex and Lyle were good sports for an unplanned trip.  It's a good thing we had a rotisserie chicken in the car so they could take an "intermission" while I kept the place in line.

Friday night was dress rehearsal and Saturday night was the main event.  From Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and near and far in Washington, 25 seats were filled with people to cheer her on.  Grandpa and Grandma even made it in the nick of time while Grandma was recovering from Salmonella.

The fan club.

Uncle Vard was Lincoln's voice in Sariah's breathtaking speed-painting talent.

Talmage made a huge sacrifice and was only here for about 36 hours to cheer on his little sister.

2023, Miss Connell, Sariah Hales!!!

A dream come true.

Sunday she tells me, "I thought it would feel different, I don't feel any different."  I told her it's because she has imagined it so many times she already felt it, and because the last 13 years she has been "becoming" it all along.

 

Literature for the Lakehouse

In an effort to get the boys to use some of their hours and hours of reading time for literature with meaningful content, I told them I would take them and their cousins to the Lakehouse if they met a reading goal.  I hope it was more than just meeting a goal for them.

They even got to miss a day of school.

They are all toothpicks, but they can put down the food!

Arm wrestling

Hours and hours of airsoft battles

More food and the cup game.

Movies and popcorn

Testing the ice

Sledding (and a Jhett injury)

Rootbeer floats

And actually, a great Come Follow Me discussion.

Church on the way home (Hayden and Lyle fell asleep).

This was one date Sariah didn't mind going on after the temple trip.

A photo on the CHS webpage of Sariah's floral design class.

Gigi's baptism in Rexburg.

Sariah's basketball season ended last night with a loss to Royal.  It's been a rough season for a lot of reasons.

With Coach Freitag after the last game.

James found Bryant on Facebook (in the back row, 5th from the left).

 

Pie Face

Monday night we had Gp and Gm over for dinner and family night.  We listened to a short clip that Sister Eyring gave at the first devotional of the year at BYUI.  She told a story about how the guy at the ski resort tricked her into the thinking that the ski lift safety bar was voice activated and how they all had a good laugh when she was talking to the ski lift and nothing happened.  Her message was that it matters which voices we listen to and if we don’t want to be led astray we are safest listening to the prophet and apostles.  Afterwards, Sariah was in charge of the activity and Gp and Gm were good sports to play Pie Face.  Rex won.  I was the only one that didn’t get whip cream to the face.  Gp and Gm got slapped at least three times each.  It was good to have them here.  We are so blessed to have them be a part of our lives.

The winner!

What a great sport!

Dad finished another certification project on Thursday night.  He really does not like spending time on those so I’m really proud of him for committing to that goal.  Tuesday and Thursday we took the gridle to the seminary building and had dinner with him—grilled cheese and French toast.  Dad has been doing math riddles with the kids at night.  He heard somewhere that that was something one family did whose kids’ ACT scores were really great.  Whether or not it has any impact on ACT scores, it’s been good for all of them.  Hyrum has a math mind!!

We have had some gorgeous sunsets this week!  It has been so nice to see the sunshine.

Rex REALLY did not want to go to the dentist to have his cavity taken care of.  Tears were coming down his cheeks as we pulled up to the dentist.  We had a prayer and he was brave.  By the time he was numbed up, he was laughing.  Answered prayer.

On scouting adventures for Sariah's Miss Connell.  We found foam board and a bigger easel at Hobby Lobby.

Crunch

Monday after basketball practice, Sariah was getting gas before meeting us at the dentist.  She saw the pick-up backing up and couldn't get out of its way fast enough.  Some cars just seem to have a target on them.

Got our Valentine's cards off to Bryant, but still don't know if they will make it there on time.

Newspaper clipping of Sariah's highest scoring game yet, 16 points.

Last week's phone conversation with Bryant.

 

Kicking off 2023

Bryant got a new companion, his first native, Elder Monzon--"Elder Sacred Tree."  He survived a terrible fall off a cliff where he was impaled in several places by sharp stumps--including right under his eye.  On occasion, he still blows splinters out his nose.

The very first day of the year, Rex and Lyle were ordained Deacons.  Preparing to serve like Bryant.

First time to the temple.  I was in the middle of 9 days of fever but I wasn't going to miss it so I faked it and kept my distance from everyone.  Rex and Lyle were excited to go and had a great experience.

They look good, even if they are having a hard time winning a game.

 

Wrapping Up 2022

Lyle was a Mesa Mustang Student of the Month in his Edwin Markham hoodie.  Rex was sick that day and I didn't get to go see it in person.

Bryant making friends in Guatemala.

Grandpa and Grandma coming home from their mission on a snowy night!

Boys playing in the snow late at night after a delay was announced for the following day.

Beautiful White Christmas Season in the Basin.

Happy sight--our own Family Circus comic.

A new basketball season for Sariah on varsity.

Rex tying his quilt with help from Grandma at Mary Wither's.

Sariah's team.

A much improved basketball season for Hyrum.

The Hales and the Woolfs as the Nativity for the ward Christmas party.

Maybe the only time Rex and Lyle have ever sat on Santa's lap.

Mom and Dad's mission report.

Sisters.

Our last elementary school Christmas program.  Rex and Lyle on the trumpets.

The 6th Grade choir.

Laryn came too, but slipped away before the picture.

Christmastime at Zarahemla.

Unusually cold this year - 0 degrees.

Dropping off Christmas treats to the neighbors.

Christmas Eve at Oakdell Pool.

Christmas Morning:

With Elder Hess and Elder Jensen

Paintings by Lyle and Rex

The Lincoln moving for the first time in 8 years.

James has been saving money for this for awhile.

Dax here to see it happen.

Future engineers at work

Sick Holidays

Missing our Bryant boy, but so proud of him.

From 4 lbs. to Priesthood

Surprise late night New Year's Eve call from Elder Hales.  Perfect way to end 2022.