DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS!

 Here are some random things we did in December that didn't get their own post! For mutual one night we did a study break drive through and dressed up and handed out treats to all the girls as they came through and then the boys showed up and attempted to attack us with marshmallow guns, but really I found out through my gut instincts and a Crew Steere's face that they were up to something so we countered them with waterballoons and we for sure won!  We all attended Christmas Sunday church together as a family! Eli requested that we go to the Mesa Temple Lights together, so obviously anything he wants this year he is getting from me, ha ha. We still wrote letters to Santa even though we didn't get to mail them until Christmas Eve on our way to ring the Salvation Army bells. Jared and I took the boys to target to buy gifts for Noah's Ark and then we headed to the giving machine and the boys bought things there and then we ended up at Big Chicken for dinner! One Saturday night, Sara told me they were heading to downtown Mesa to hand out toiletries and toys to those who needed it from Noah's Ark and that my boys could go. None of them really wanted to go, cause they always complain at first about doing service, but they all went and spent several hours handing them out and then they all loved it in the end. It is great to bring smiles to faces of those who are less fortunate and it feels good giving back. So grateful for all these opportunties to serve others! 

JENSEN CHRISTMAS!

 Jensen Christmas was Monday, December 30th. They wanted to wait until Bryant and his family got in to town. It wasn't really Christmas...no gifts were exchanged, no nativity...it was just a regular Jensen get together if we are being honest...but it was still fun none the less! We split up into random teams and did a pickleball tournament. Eli was with Brylee, I was with Hudson, Jared was with Masen and Tyson was with Ranae...when he found out who his partner was he said, "no she is going to give birth on the court!" She wasn't pregnant, but just has been so much he was being funny. Eli ended up in the finals partnered with Jenn against Nate and Emmy! Then it was time for some basketball games. So glad my boys have all these cousins to hang out with! Eli's friends and the twins friends sometimes cross paths with Brylee and Nash's friends so it's fun when they all get together and hang out! 

LAST NIGHT WITH EMMA & HUNTER!

 We are sad to see the week end...we've loved having Emma and Hunter in town! To celebrate the last night we went to eat at Zin Burger, went to Top Golf, hit up Culvers for frozen custard and then headed home and played games together and then the kids played some weird xbox game together! Shockingly, Emma won at Top Golf, Eli wasn't having that! We are so grateful for the best week we had with all our kids together...making memories to last a lifetime and especially soaking it all in since it will most likely be 4 years before we all have a Christmas together again! My happiest times in life are when I'm with my family! I have been so eternally grateful for this week, all we got to do and that we were blessed to all be together, healthy and happy! 

ANDRETTIS!

 For my work Christmas party we went to Andretti's and rode the race cars and got an arcade card good for an hour of unlimited yellow games...everyone saved theirs because it was so late and we were all tired. So during Christmas break, I knew the boys would all love to ride the race cars so we took them there and I ran around for an hour swiping the card over and over for everyone while they hopped from game to game! They had the best time. Then we got to finally ride the cars! They LOVED it! Everyone wants to go back again...Emma didn't love it that much, Tyson complained she held him back, Eli couldn't believe he didn't go faster, but every lap they drove past me, everyone was smiling from ear to ear and gripping that steering wheel! Then we headed home to do pizzas in the pizza oven - we've been trying to do this with Hunter for the last year and it finally worked out. Then we sat around and ate pazookies while we watched Home Alone 2 together outside!