A Laurel, A Deacon and A Sunbeam!

Hello Landon and Mason!  

Welcome to January!   How are you guys doing?  Mason did you guys get snow?  I could see it on the web cam.  Landon still roasting in Chile?  

Well we are definitely in winter but I am quite enjoying it right now, might be different next week, but it is nice not to have a garden to take care of or weeds growing everywhere.  

I know we told you guys a little about skiing last week.  I did the blog before we went so you haven't see pictures.  Isn't Gracie a  cute little skier?  It's a lot of work to teach a little one to ski but she did alright.  Dad and I were sore the majority of the week after from the constant squats from helping her down the hill.  

She enjoyed it and wants to go again.  She's more of a chair lifter than a skier.  Riding the chair lift was her motivation to ski.   She always wanted to ride the lift, but when we got to the top she wanted to go home.  We would help her down the hill and she would see the chair lift and want to go again, that was pretty much the pattern for the day until she cried the whole way down the last time, then we knew she was done.  

It was a pretty cold day up the mountain. (we actually went up Ogden canyon to a beginner's resort and less $$).  The day we skied was about 15 degrees.  Brrrr....

 Jacob, Lydia and Mom (incase you can't recognize us with all the ski gear. 

 Down, the hill she goes. 

The day we skied was New Years Eve.   We got home pretty tired and enjoyed a quiet relaxing evening at home.   Lydia went to some friends house and the rest of us got into our PJ's and chilled (perhaps a little too much cause Dad and I feel asleep before midnight).  

Here is our New Years tree this year.  

A new year meant lots of changes for your three younger siblings at church.

  

Gracie is now a Sunbeam!  We decided to give her some pampering so she would be beautiful on her first day of Sunbeams.  I trimmed her hair and we put rollers in for the big day.  She enjoyed it! 

 Already for the first day in Primary! 

 Here is a quick shot I took of her sitting with the girls in her class.  There is actually 2 Sunbeam classes.  We have several 3 year old girls in the ward and a few boys.  Gracie loves all the friends and these two wanted to sit by her.  They were both a little nervous unlike Gracie. 

As much as it's weird to think of Gracie as a Sunbeam, it's almost harder for me to except that Jacob is a DEACON!!!  It seems like last year you guys became Deacons.  I remember going to get you guys a new suit and how excited you guys were to have wear it and pass the sacrament.  Jacob is just as excited as you guys.  Except he didn't care for suit shopping as much. 

We found him a great suit and guess where we bought it from.....Missionary Mall if you can believe it.  The same guy that helped with Mason's suit helped Jacob with his. 

 Jacob looked very handsome! 

Lydia also is officially a Laurel!  She is sad to leave her former Mia Maid leaders but is excited about being with the Laurels.  Last week she went to her first Laurel activity and said it was fun but felt weird.  Guess she is getting older too:(

 A Sunbeam, A Deacon and a Laurel!  

A big Sunday for all three! 

 Dad spent the day going to many houses in the ward helping ordain some of the boys in our ward that are advancing in the priesthood.  His last stop was our house where he ordained Jacob along with Grandpa Evans.  It was a unique set of three as Dad pointed out that they are all the 3rd son in their family.  Grandma and Tommy came too and I failed to get a picture of everyone there. We had a nice dinner with them and enjoyed each others company. 

Love you both!  Looking forward to hearing from you!