New Fears, New Years

Maddie & Emily started off the morning of Dec 31 to visit friends/cousins in Syracuse for the day, and 45 minutes after they left, I got a call from Emily using Maddie's phone saying, "We're all right; we were in an accident on the freeway with a semi, but we didn't get hurt, and the car's not too bad, and the police are here now..."

I drove down to Ogden where they were, and Brian came from work as well.  A semi had just caught their right corner as it was passing them from behind (following way to close), and set them in a spin, across another lane of traffic before they ran into the median w/ the front bumper.  The truck kept driving, so we got no info there, and it turns out our little Honda was totaled due to the rear damage + front bumper impact.  They were pretty shaken up, but THANKFULLY, they really were FINE!!! A little sore the next day, but able to continue their visits, and handle things really well.  After getting all of that taken care of, I came home, LOVING the sounds of all my children--even Anne's whining or Jane's screaming--my perspective was really shifted! SO GRATEFUL they were so watched over in such a recipe for disaster.  

That night we enjoyed a fancy schmancy buffet Dinner @ Logan Marriott w/ 2 darling couples in the ward who invited us for their tradition--I can't get enough of good people, and Brent went to the Youth Dance w/o his sisters (still in Syracuse) while Spencer partied w/ his little sisters until we got home :).

Not a real fear, but Spencer started NEW Basketball this year, and he's having a real blast.  He's quite a hustler, and scored the first shot AND 1/3 of the points in his last game!!

Spencer w/ ball

Spencer w/ ball

Brent's entering the NEW world of dating, getting invited to Girls Choice by creative friends: (and hilariously, by a 2nd cousin--one of Kurt's granddaughters--way to make us feel like we've really "

Gone Country"!--all good friends though--he assures us there's not anything to worry about w/ awkward family reunions, etc.)

In between putting our new snow blower to (REALLY) good use w/ SO MUCH SNOWING, we've helped w/ Temple Cleaning, gone to Book Club, Ward Temple Night, Bridal Showers, library storytimes, taught Relief Society mini-classes, subbed in Primary, worked HARD on the basement--clearing out sheetrock messes, painting and painting and painting, then supporting Brian tiling the bathroom!, 

AND celebrated our two January Birthdays (we now have to include "Happy Birthday in our Lullaby rotation since it is Jane's FAVORITE song, and makes us sing it w/ EVERYone's name when tired!)

 We had a family lunch @ McDonald's per Anne's request on Saturday, then came home for her Chocolate Coconut Cream Bars for dessert and presents.  We did her birthday dinner today (Sunday) since we had Ward Temple Night last night, of Macaroni & Cheese :).  Happy Girl to be turning 8,--her favorite number! She is SO excited to be baptized!!

Birthday Lunch @ McDonald's