Christmas festivities

Dakota and Matheus putting together a bed for their job working for Tom Cottam. Dakota did this job from June-December, but Matheus just worked for a couple weeks.

Braxton worked for ClearCut Construction for the entire 2021, he really liked his job. He went to a Christmas party and got a $650 bonus as well as a drone. Quite the Christmas gifting.

We were at the Pilgrim Family Christmas party at Kiley's church. Braxton got tired and crashed out right by the present table.

Christmas morning, my last one with my family as we know it, it was painful and sweet and all the feels. I knew Brax was moving and life would be very different from now on. I knew it was the last time they would all sleep upstairs together and Shane would make them wake up before the sun. I was sad, but I was ready. I had been expecting it for a while and I insisted on making the best of it instead of being so sad and it was truly one of the best ones so far. I love my boys and having them under my roof, but all this stretching and adulting was meant to happen. I shed a lot of tears in the couple weeks coming up to Christmas and even got myself sick and laid in bed for two days lamenting. It was not easy and I miss him so much, but we are all settling in and adjusting.

This year we invited Brent and Lisa over for our annual Shepard dinner.

As we walked into church together for the last time before he left, I snapped this photo to remember the last 19 years of doing this exact thing together. First with me holding him in my arms, then with him holding my hand, then me chasing him in, and now together off to the primary room as I was the Primary President and he was one of my teachers. Oh how I have loved being his mama, mother, Linda, the one he tormented but loved fiercely in the quiet moments.

Grandma, Grandpa and Tara came over to give us all gifts and the boys had to unwrap a saran wrap ball to get their money.

We were at Grandma Becky's and she made Cade and Brax stand back to back to see the height difference.

And then we had to see the difference between Brax and Dakota. They have both passed 6 feet now, and I feel so short when walking in town with them.

Brent and Lisa were matchy matchy and looked so cute.

The day after Christmas Shane and I took a nap and the boys went to cleaning out Braxton's room together. It was quite an adventure that they will remember forever. They laughed so hard, threw away a bunch of junk, and made it look even worse. In the end they got him ready to pack and put the rest in totes, what a grand adventure.

Brent and Lisa's Christmas party, we played lots of games and had great food. This one we had to roll doubles and unwrap it with oven mitts. What a great party.

 I tried some no heat curls. I loved them, but of course they didn't stay too long in my stick straight hair.

Facer Christmas Party

Annual Facer Piñata Pajama Party at Mom and Dad's. All the kids are growing up so big!

hi my name is

Knox and Braxton, best friends for life. By the time we had this Party Brax knew he was leaving for Texas on January 5th, 2022. This would be the last time he saw most of his cousins, and he was feeling a bit sad about not seeing Knox. They love each other so much.

Oldest to Youngest. Eliza was holding up the Piñata and wouldn't be in the photo.

 

Nativity, California, Tara's birthday

After what felt like forever, we finally started Weston Family Home evening again in December due to COVID. It had been so long since we had seen everyone, some even had babies we didn't know about. Lisa and Neil planned a fun modern day Nativity that was so fun. All the adults were the cast and the children watched. I was an angel and Brax was a wise man and Shane was a star. It was good to be back together and to learn about Jesus.

Many many days this summer and fall there was a gang of biker boys riding up and down the streets of Plain City, I am sure annoying the citizens, but living their best life heading out west to ride. Braxton bought a new motorcycle and now owns two. They are his prize possessions for sure. 

We needed some new pictures for the wall of Dakota and Cam, so Shane took some very handsome portraits outside in our back yard. Brax had one from his senior picture.

Somehow the boys always pull out the old school Nintendo every Christmastime and many hours are spent gathered around a small TV playing Dr. Mario and Mario Bros 3. It is the only time I even game with them and I quite enjoy it.

My sweet sweet Dresden playing with the Christmas Advent house that Cam built each day of December.

Tara turned 40!!! So we took a girls trip to California. We flew out of the Ogden Airport and it was so quick and easy. I can't seem to get many pictures to load, but we can get the idea that we went to Hotel Coronado, Sea World, Mormon Battalion, and all over San Diego. We had great conversation, great food, and a wonderful time celebrating Tara.

Then we came home and celebrated one week later with an 80s theme glow party. We got all decked out in our 80s gear, and Brax even pulled out his letterman jacket that he got after graduation so never used. Tons of her friends came and guessed her age on pictures, ate soft serve ice cream and had a blast.