I was hoping to do the Passover dinner with the kids again, a pre Christmas tradition, but I just didn’t get it together so we had Chicken, rice pilaf, rolls, cooked carrots and fruit. I will make it happen next year. It’s a tradition I don’t want to lose.
Monday our three new missionaries arrived! They are great missionaries with lots of energy and excitement to share the gospel. We picked up Jessie on the way home so she could join us for lunch and so she can visit with each of the new missionaries as well. She loves transfer week! After lunch, Aaron and I meet with the missionaries briefly and then we head over to the mission office to welcome them to THSM and oversee transfers. Once everyone is on their way to their new areas we load up the departing missionaries to head back to the mission home for testimonies and dinner. One little mishap, I forgot to let our sweet member that helps me with the transfer meals know that transfers had been moved up a week. YIKES, the missionaries arrived at the mission home and there was no dinner!! Sister Morton and I did some quick thinking and got a meal in motion. We ended up with steaks and grilled sausage, rolls, fruits, veggie tray, chips, salsa and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Worked out pretty good for last minute.
Tuesday started out beautifully in the Houston temple with our departing missionaries. I love that we have our missionaries do a temple session on the last day of their mission. It is so nice for them and a great way to begin their journey home. We have our send off lunch at Paul’s Pizza, a long-standing THSM tradition. We then headed to the airport, which is always surreal for them because they haven’t been to the airport since their arrival. We love our missionaries and we’re excited for their next steps in life.
Most of this week was a blur for me. I was doing my best to get ready for Christmas for the family both here and in Utah. I knew I had to get gifts bought and in the mail so that they would be received in time for Christmas. One of my favorite gifts I do every year is the family calendar for my mother-in-law, Jeanne. My sister-in-laws were so good at getting their family photos loaded on the site for me so I could put the calendar together. However, time was working against me since free shipping and the calendar sale was coming to a close. I started it Wednesday, transferring the pictures to my calendar project and then on Thursday I really got to work designing it. Well I did it. I got it done! Happy dance. Only problem was I realized two days after submitting it that I had left a couple of cousins off a certain page I included to show each one of them individually. ;) I hate when that happens, but I let them know of my faux pas and apologized. They were very understanding and actually expressed gratitude for my efforts in doing the calendar each year. I am so grateful for forgiveness. Another principle I love.
We trained our new missionaries on Friday and with such a small group we were able to teach them almost with a one on one approach. It created a more personal experience on how to share the Atonement with those we teach. I left a little early to join Jessie for her class Christmas party. I was expecting a class party that I have helped with in years past with the older kids. It started with cookie decorating with half the class while the other half sat at their desks. Feeling bad for those just sitting, I started playing hangman with the other kids until it was their turn to decorate. After they finished decorating cookies the mom in charge introduced the one and only game besides my impromptu hangman. The game was to see who could draw the “perfect” snowman and the kids were asked to put a blank piece of paper on their head. They had to blindly draw the snowman following the instructions given by one of the mom’s. The winner received a snow globe and the others a candy cane. The kids weren’t that enthused for the game so when it was finished and there was no other activity we just left for home. Jessie was grateful I had come so she didn’t have to sit there until the end of school. I think I might volunteer for the next party to add more fun.
Bode has wrapped up his bball games until after Christmas break. Bode was frustrated with his playing time this week. I encouraged him to put more time into practicing outside of the team practice. Zac will still practice during the break but not everyday. Both boys had finals prior to the Christmas break. They both did well on their finals and Zac received an academic award from the school. Zac had a game tonight up in Katy and then we picked up Allie afterwards. We celebrated her arrival at IHOP for dinner. The waiter was entertaining as he teased Allie about her inability to decide what she wanted to eat. She finished her finals this past week and ended up with a 3.8 for her first semester at UVU. Good job Allie girl.
Later today we are attempting to get a family picture. It’s pretty windy but we are going for it. Jessica Nielsen from the ward is taking them for us. Let’s hope we have at least one that will work. ;) Bode is a pill about pictures as of late and the boys tease Jessie until she is just mad. Wish us luck! We are also going to a family favorite, Torchy’s and then seeing Rogue One. We would love to bring Torchy’s to Utah one day.