January 2024

Cameron got a ski pass to Nordic with Kiley and family. He loves to come home and have a cup of hot cocoa after. This cup is one he made in ceramics.

Family dinner game playing. Clue was the game of choice this day.

Zone conference in Germany, the Turkiye Zone.

Shane made and sold these cups on his laser for Valentines Day.  He didn't sell too many, but it was a good way to get the word out on the new business Fusion Craft Design. He mostly makes missionary plaques, but also does water bottles, necklaces and glasses. He also does amazing Christmas tree ornaments.

My boy, his mission. Dakota is doing amazing in Germany. The language is a bit of a learning curve, but now that he has been there for a few months its a bit better. The sister missionaries drive him a little crazy sometimes, but it is all part of getting along with others and learning to Love Jesus and the work.

Cam had a robotics tournament in SLC called Rumble in the Rockies. We took Tara and stayed in a hotel with Braxton and Logan and Cam. It was a good time.

 It was that time of year. I have been planning a Christmas Party after Christmas for 25 years with my friends from high school. We had a wonderful time once again.

Christmas day, New Years Eve, 1000 Hours Outside

Braxton got to spend a couple of days in SLC with the Munford's to celebrate Christmas. And they gave him some Chaps that he was very excited about!

Christmas morning. Its such a magical time of the year. Even as teens and young adults the excitement is amazing and I love saving up all year to spend it all on my children on Christmas. Braxton got coveralls and Cam got a bike trainer and bike repair rack. Dakota got some things from Amazon.de that he needed. Shane and I got the pleasure of watching them bask in the pleasure of being spoiled one time a year. And we got to talk on the phone with Dakota which is the highlight of each Christmas on the mission. Grandma and Grandpa Russ and Julie and Tara also came over for Christmas breakfast and got to talk to him.

Shane made me the most beautiful gift that I've ever been given. It is a clock that I can hang on my wall that shows the time in Germany. I look at it multiple times a day. It is such a beautiful way for me to think about my boy and imagine what he is doing in that exact moment. Shane spent hours on it lasering and inlaying the numbers, it is a beautiful work of art.

Grandma Becky and Grandpa Russ gave us our Christmas money shaped like a fish on the end of fishing line, it was such a creative idea!

We also got to spend a day up in Logan where Braxton was working on the Munford's house. We helped with some demolition as well as clean up. It was the beginning of a 9 month adventure of remodeling and doing a giant addition on the house. 

One day Kiley and all of her kids came to aerobics and Kiley taught. All three of them helped her. 

Happy New Year's Eve. We had Tara and Ridge come over to help celebrate. 

On January 1, 2023 I decided that as a family we were going to do a challenge of 1000 hours outside. It was to help raise our moods and also help us remember to spend less time on electronics and more time together. We began taking walks in the winter and eating more dinners on the patio. It was a wonderful way to remind ourselves to get outside and enjoy this earth that God has given us. We kind of gave up on the keeping track, but we all accomplished it. The boys were the fastest of course, but it was a wonderful way to get outside and do more adventuring together!

 

December in Germany, Shane Weston Family Party, Shephard Dinner, Pinata Party

Christmastime in Germany is magical. Dakota got to go to the Christmas Markets every week for the entire month. And he also began to experience the amazing architecture of Frankfurt.

Shane began making these amazing ornaments for missionaries. I absolutely love mine!!

Dakota made his first pan of banana bread in Germany. He has to feed himself everyday and often has to take a pot luck item somewhere, so he has become the famous Banana bread guy!

The Munford's aunt that lives right up there by Braxton sewed back together his pants that they cut off the night of the accident. He brought them home to show to me and I had to make him put them on for a picture. A day never to be forgotten.

This year I wanted to start a "Shane Weston family Christmas party" where we played games for money and prizes. We had such a fun evening at the bar in the kitchen. It somehow ended with Braxton and Cameron looking at old yearbooks. I think I will make it a tradition!

Annual Shepherds dinner was at Jake and Alayna's house this year. We try to do it with them annually, but sometimes its just too busy. It is such a beautiful tradition to help us think about our Savior and how the Shepherds may have eaten all those years ago the night that the star appeared. 

A random afternoon where kids are being kids. These are my absolute favorite kinds of days. This day they were playing Life. 

Annual Facer Family Piñata Party. Everyone is getting so grown up and we still love this tradition so much. 

The Forgotten Carols. Bella's traded food for ticket and man did we have a wonderful time at the play.