January 2024 Idaho Trip

Back when Brian bought the Indie Ski passes for himself and Michael, we figured it would be a good excuse to go see my mom during the winter, since Kelly Canyon Ski Resort was on it. We originally thought we'd go over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, but since that was only a week after getting back from our cruise, we opted to go the last weekend in January. Kelly Canyon is a small lift, and at a lower elevation, but it's only 10-15 minutes away from my mom's house, so it makes for an easy ski day. When the kids get done skiing before Brian, I can easily go pick them up. And they have a really cheap kids ski pass that is good for just one of the lifts, which is perfect for Gabe and Rachel. 

I think they all had fun, but surprisingly, all three kids were ready to be picked up quite early, so my mom and I went and got them, and Brian enjoyed the slopes all on his own, which I think he really, really liked. 

Brian and Gabe helped my mom get hard drives out of her old computers. 

I still have Michael beat in height, but only barely. 

His arm span is longer than mine though. 

Rachel enjoyed some footbaths. 

And we played games with my grandparents and great Aunt Margie. 

 It was a quick trip, but we had a lot of fun, and it is always good to see family. 

January 2024 Rachel's Birthday

Our amazing, sweet rainbow baby turned 11 in January, and we can hardly believe it! We had several small celebrations for her, starting with having Nana and Papa over for Sunday dinner on January 14. I'm not sure why we did dinner with them so early--maybe they were out of town on the 21st? Regardless, I have photographic evidence that we put a candle in a brownie and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. 

We went to Texas Roadhouse for her birthday on January 15. We must have had a lot going on around her birthday for this all to be so spread out! We got her up on the saddle so everyone could make a big deal out of her. 

She laughed so hard. 

We all, of course, at way too many rolls and left the restaurant feeling stuffed and happy. 

On January 20, Brian and I took Rachel out for her biannual birthday date. We gave her an early present

Her phone is so massive that we thought she might need a bag for it. 

Our first order of business: pedicures. Funny enough, I think these two enjoy pedicures much more than I do! Brian still refuses to have his toes painted though. 

The birthday girl got a mani-pedi. 

After pedicures, it was time for dinner, and where else would we go but to a Mexican restaurant? This girl loves Mexican food, especially enchiladas. 

After dinner, we headed to Color Me Mine in Provo. Rachel picked out a fox

and Brian and I picked out vases. 

We had a lot of fun sitting, painting, and talking. 

After we finished painting, we headed across the street/parking lot to Provo Beach Resort for some ice cream. We had to take advantage of these photo spots. 

Brian is a swell guy who bought his girl a cone. 

The next day was the last time we would ever have a 10-year-old daughter. Here's the last photos of 10-year-old Rachel. 

The next morning, it was FINALLY the big day. We let her open up a present before school (because it was clothes, and I wanted her to be able to wear them on her big day). 

Due to the craziness of Rachel's dance schedule, we picked up Costa Vida and ate dinner as soon as the kids got home from school. 

Then she opened the rest of her presents. 

She was so excited about this gel nail kit. Can you tell?

(Foot tub and epson salts too!)

And we had ice cream and cake. 

Her friend Brooklynn had stopped by to give her a present, and so we had her join us. She was a little shocked by our Saville Style singing! 

Then, at 5 pm, it was off to dance for the rest of the night! 

 We love our Rachel. We are so grateful for her. She has a kind heart. She always tries to do the right thing. She is strong and determined, and she has an incredible gift to see the long term picture. She knows where she wants to be in the next several years, and that motivates her to work hard, even on days that she would rather sit around and do nothing. She has so many interests, and she is so talented in so many things. And while she is taking her time getting taller, we can't believe how quickly she is turning from a girl into a young woman.