Happy New Year! Happy 2018!

2018 is going to be real great. I can just feel it.

The snow melted real quick...

Last days of the Christmas house.

We got this puzzle for Christmas~ I like these old-timey ones. We took many days throughout the break to put it together, but then we took it all apart so Jon could put it together again... 

and ended up doing it all again without him! 

I love New Years Eve and New Years Day. We re-stock the snacks and drinks and party it up all day! This year we made Lime Ricky's. Very refreshing! It's the last day to stay cozy inside, away from real life. Happy New Year!!!

We whooped and hollered and banged pots and pans and were delighted to see a few neighbors out and some fireworks! Whoo-hoo for 2018!

President Monson died just a few days into the new year. A tender time in the church for sure! It was nice to reflect on his life and talk about the structure of the church with the family.

I continue to love being with the youth and it continues to keep me busy!

~ Joint activity~

I spy Adren and Eli!

Sweet Laurels at our "New Year, New YOU" class activity.

 Aren't these gals the cutest?

Laurels learning to make boutonnieres. Thanks for the tips and instruction, Abby and Ashley! It was a HIT!
One gal even went on to earn money by making them for the next school dance.

And I can't even believe we are already talking Girls Camp! But these ward YCL's are sooo excited for their turn to shine! (But really- we just finished Girls Camp!)

 Goofing around on the phone, the goofs.

And me goofing around hoping to convince Jon to make a billion dollars and re-do our house.

Oh, my word. I know what certain kids New Years resolution should be...

 Paisley and Zeke's nest.

Even Sookie thinks its ridiculous.

 I'm really nice and prepared a surprise after school treat, despite the train wreck room.

 No one was a fan of the store-bought strawberry icing. It's yuck!

Cute brothers off to do baptisms.

And then... truly, the most wonderful time of the year... Sista trip to Georgie! It was the best time ever! We talked and talked, we caught up on every corner of our lives... we shopped, we ate, we treated ourselves...
I love these Sista's the most!

 We missed Eliza!

We met up at Granny and Grandpas with the Whit's for some fun cousin time!

And then met up again to see Sophie off before her Mission to the Ukraine! We LOVE you, Sophie!

Zeke's chin continues to heal- except for a piece of string from the stitches he won't let me pull out.

It eventually did come out. I told him he and I now have matching scars on our chins from stitches! 

(doesn't everyone???)

Zeke left this cut note on the counter for us when we came home from our date:

Paisley had me snap a picture so she could see how her hair turned out after sleeping on braids.

 I'd say real darling, wouldn't you?

She put on Jon's sunglasses because the onions were burning her eyes while helping with dinner.

Real darling!

I see that most of these pictures are of groups of loved ones... so many special people in our lives. 2018 is wonderful!