Endless Fun

We spent lots of time playing over Thanksgiving break.  There was a ton of laser tag in the yard and even in the house a few times.  We played game after game after game, and we're pretty sure the kids will never forget doing "Just Dance" with Grandma on the Wii.  She's still the reigning champ on the "Grandma Song."  One night we even braved the cold to do fireworks in the backyard.  The kids were in heaven.  After a week of straight play we definitely went through some serious cousin withdrawal.

Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving 2020 was full of ups and downs just like the rest of this crazy year.  We were planning to have Jared, Dianne, and Grant and their families all here, but one by one they started backing out.  Jared's family was packed and on the road when poor Leah threw up and they had to turn around and head back home.  Luckily Grant and Rachel and the kids were still able to make it and man were we happy to have cousins in town.  We spent the day watching the parade, making food, and then joining everyone at Mom and Dad's for dinner, pie, and fun.  The kids ran around outside a bit, played with toys, computer games, and card games.  Tanner took the task of making the place holders VERY seriously.  And we all took eating VERY seriously.  I tried my hand at pecan pie for the first time and it won Janna's stamp of best pie this year!  After a fun day with family by the end of the night I was tired, admittedly ornery, and a tad disappointed in a few kids behavior. I wasn’t feeling very grateful, but I chose to have continual hope in a bright tomorrow because of my Savior and it’s ok that we’re still far from perfect because He is patient and forgiving. So that night I chose to remind myself of times the boys were kind because I needed to remember that they can be! 🤣 

    - Landon made Tanner a smoothly when his teeth were sore from getting his braces tightened. 

    - After finishing a long day of virtual school Tanner came out and asked me what he could do to help. 

    - Braddock loves to read books to Bridger and teach him things he’s learning at school. 

    - Bridger loves to write sweet notes about how much he loves us and is careful to include each family           member. 

I’m grateful for eternal new beginnings because of Him and for a great season of gratitude regardless of the crazy year it's been.

A Trumpeter

 

Landon is the coolest.  He decided this year that he wanted to play the trumpet.  We found a screaming deal on a nice one on facebook marketplace, and despite this being the worst year ever to take band for the first time, he has powered through and basically taught himself.  He's the fastest 5th grader ever to earn his "belts" in the band karate program they do.  His teacher wanted to start doing one-on-one zoom lessons with kids and she asked him to be her guinea pig to help her figure out the new program.  I'm so impressed by his self-motivation and go-get-'em attitude about life.  He is definitely going places.

Glow in the Dark Volleyball

 The Young Women were in charge of the combined activity this month, so I got to work putting together the supplies for glow in the dark volleyball.  Tanner was all in and came decked out in the brightest sweatshirt of all time with some glow-stick face paint too.  The led black lights we bought made our volleyball glow and with some glow in the dark tape on the net and court lines the whole thing turned out pretty awesome.  We all had a lot of fun and the best part was the leaders vs. youth game at the end where the leaders soundly beat the youth even though we were outnumbered 3 to 1!  We'll definitely be doing it again sometime.

Our Basketball Star

Landon has been begging to try basketball for a couple years now.  Last year we didn't know how it worked and signed up before the deadline, but apparently they cap the teams at a certain number so he only made it on the waitlist which never amounted to anything.  This year we were hesitant to sign up due to Covid, but decided to try anyway.  He was put on a team with one of his Uncle Grant's high school football teammates and some of his buddies from school.  He was only allowed two spectators at games and they also broadcast the games so others could watch from home.  Games and practices were often postponed due to Covid and by the end of the season they even had to wear masks while playing, but he was a champ and rolled with the punches.  His coach wasn't very fair, and because Landon was a new player, he didn't give him the playing time he deserved.  But Landon didn't let any of those obstacles stop him and he gave it his all and learned a lot this season.  We're so proud of this Basketball Star of ours!

Thankful Turkeys 2020

In a crazy year when nothing has been normal, it feels good to be able to do our normal traditions.  I know lots of days it seems like 2020 has been the worst year ever, but as I reflect over all we've gone through both as a family and as a society, I can't help but be so very grateful for what this year has brought.  The pandemic has slowed things down and allowed us to focus on what really matters like our Savior Jesus Christ and our families.  We're still far from perfect, but I'm grateful for the growth this year has provided and I always love hearing what my family is thankful for as well....

Dean: Friends, Prophets and Apostles, Atonement, My Boys, Andrea, Employment, Medicine, Technology, Sleep

Andrea: Temple, The Spirit, Trials/Growth, Good Health, New Floors, Dean, My Boys, Friends, Young Women's, My Savior, Heavenly Father

Tanner: Jesus Christ, Pets (Phoebe and Chloe), The Scriptures, Home, Braddock, Dad, Heavenly Father, The Gospel, Landon, Technology, Mom, Bridger

Landon: The Gospel and Jesus, Heavenly Father, Tech, My Home, My Brothers and Family, The Atonement, Chloe and Phoebe, Food, Education

Braddock: Home, Technology, My Pets, Bridger, Tanner, Dad, Landon, Mom, The Scriptures, Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, The Gospel

Bridger: Music, My Family, Home, Freedom, Jesus, Flowers, Health, Holidays, Pets, Toys

Bridger's 5th Birthday

Let the "PANDA-MONIUM" begin!  Bridger has been counting down the days till his birthday for months!  When it finally came he was more than ready to P-A-R-T-A-Y!  It was a little different having a Sunday birthday, but that didn't stop him from celebrating all day, and even into Monday as well.  The rest of us were fasting, but he got to start the day off with a donut breakfast and open his first present before Church.  After Church we had a birthday dinner over at Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's where they made everything he had requested despite the long list....Ravioli, jello, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, and garlic bread.  He loaded up on so many fruits and veggies we weren't sure he'd make it through the main course, but luckily he packed it away so he could join us for cherry pie for dessert.  Grandma and Grandpa even went to the effort to make a panda candle to go on top just like he wanted.  We did his grandparent gifts over there and he was spoiled rotten.  We came home and he spent the next hour face-timing with Char(the birthday girl!) and Grandma and Grandpa Hilton.  Then he got to open the rest of his gifts from us and we ended the night with his Panda cake.  

As I tucked Bridger in bed that night he asked if the boys were having an in-school day the next day and when I told him it was a homeschool day he got pretty upset.  I assumed he was wishing it was just a "Mom and Bridger Day" and thought he was so sweet for wanting to spend the day with me, but I quickly realized he was sad because he thought he'd be starting school the next day.  He equates turning 5 with starting school, so he was all geared up to head there in the morning.  He ended up falling asleep crying over his disappointment that he has to wait awhile for that, but I'm pretty grateful I still have him home with me until next fall.  

On Monday night we had a second birthday dinner of lasagna, garlic bread, and beans, with cherry 7-up to drink.  We had just enough cake left over to have it again, but this time with ice cream too!  We sure adore this little dude.  He makes our family so much better and we couldn't imagine life without him.  Love you Bridgey!  Happy Birthday big 5 year old!

Grandma filled in for Great Grandma since she's stuck at home due to the pandemic and made sure Bridger got his traditional ear-tugs.

Janna got him the panda lego set he wanted!

Check out that candle!!

Sure love these birthday twinners!