Lighting Off the New Year!!

 we had a full week of no school after christmas and after visiting with family.  so, we spent the days hanging out together, mostly here around the house...and we had fun!  we made playdough, watched movies, did some service, built fires in the fireplace, went on 4-wheeler rides, went to the dentist, went to the temple, and mom and dad took turns working on the farm and in the office.  lots of office work this time of year.  one of the kids snapped this picture sometime this winter/fall of me while they were running wild over there!

on new years eve, we got a take n bake pizza and celebrated with a ride up to the orchards. we started our '2014 jar' and played yahtzee.  emerson got a yahtzee on 1's the 2nd roll!!  then ben and the kids watched a movie and built a fire downstairs and i relaxed with them.  luna's brought us a cherry cheesecake for dessert.  everyone but ellee got to stay up until 10:30!!  she got up at her normal early morning time...the rest slept in.  happy new year!!  i worked in the office that morning and then our whole family went and played games and had fun at the bingham's!

 we had to have our 2nd annual burning of the christmas tree tradition. this year it was suspended on the backhoe until the twine burned thru.  it was bitter cold!  ellee was ticked we wouldn't let her just run around near the road and under the burning tree!!! the young pyros stayed out there until dark...we also said our farewells that day to aunt emily, who is off to mexico to teach english to kindergartners. what fun!

we picked up ben's great aunt elsie and brought her over for new years family home evening and dinner.  the kids couldn't believe she was 86!  we had fun learning about each others' take on 2013 and goals for 2014.  the kids definitely want to see 'this is the place' park this year and finish memorizing the articles of faith (we are stuck on 10:).  they loved christmas, city of rocks, reunions, and cousins!  ben and i were most thankful my health was restored and learned that we may have had too much work to do in 2013...here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2014, and reaching our goals that we have set!!!