Christmas 2025

We went to the live nativity at Tuacahn this year on the 23rd. I feel like we haven't been for a few years. The kids say they want to be in the nativity again. It's been probably 8 years. We'll have to do it again but we have to get on the ball a little earlier.

On our way to finding our seats, we ran in to Merril's Uncle Dave and Aunt Lynnette. They were there with their kids and grandkids.

Then as we were leaving, we bumped into Justin and Rachel. So funny that we all picked the same night to go to Tuacahn and that we bumped into each other. On Christmas Eve, we had tacos and acted out the nativity.

I'll have to see if anyone else took pictures of Christmas day because I don't have any. The Saturday after Christmas, we went to Fiesta Fun to bowl with my family. I got of picture of Maxine and Mikayla on this giant polar bear and that's it.

There are some days that I'm wrapped up in enjoying the moment and don't take very many pictures. It's fine, I like being in the moment. Sometimes, the remembering is a little random.

December Outdoor Adventures

Merril has two friends named Dylan/Dillon with planes. Merril took the kids to ride in planes while I was working on Christmas things!

Then Maxine and Merril did a multi-pitch climb in Snow Canyon called Leopard Skin.

While they were climbing, Juliet and Mark road mountain bikes. We saved all of Juliet's mtb kits in a bag for Mark. We broke them out for the ride.

 

Zion Canyon Hot Springs

For our un-anniversary this year, we went to the new Zion Canyon Hot Springs in La Verkin. There were a ton of hot tubs! Most were piped out of the sulfur springs in the virgin river so they weren't that clean. There were several things floating in the hot tubs because they're full of river water. It's natural. They smelled like sulfur. There were salt water ones that mimicked hot springs from around the world. They were mostly salt water and magnesium. It was fun but I don't know if I need to go again. It was kind of expensive. I don't have an actual picture of us at the hot springs because I left my phone in my locker so it wouldn't get wet. I attached a stock photo.

There was a snack bar and we got a fruit smoothie and sipped it in the hot tubs. We ran into Jed and Nicole Stout and that was fun too. We stayed the night at The Dwellings, these little houses next to River Rock. They overlook the canyon and it was a good little getaway. We met 26 years ago. Dang! Wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Mikayla's Orchestra Concert

Mikayla is growing up and her orchestra playing is so fun to watch. She and Juliet threw together a video for Grandma and Grandpa. They played the Piano Guys version of Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel. With very little practice, it sounded great! It's just so fun to watch!

Happenings in Different Places

Merril flew to Nashville to be with his Dad and Mom and Mikayla went to the mall with her friends. Mark and I went to WinterFest in La Verkin. There was a light parade, my first time ever going and it was fun.

While Dad was in Nashville, he was trying to help Grandpa stand up and felt his arm snap. They called the ambulance and went to the ER. They took a bunch of X-rays and found a broken arm, a broken scapula/rib, and a broken femur at the top of his leg by the ball. They decided to do a hip replacement while Merril was there. Overall, Grandpa seems pretty beat down. He has to keep getting blood transfusions because his body isn't making red blood cells because of the chemo and cancer. So that was kind of scary but he was told by his Oncologist that his cancer numbers are down 75%. It's just going to be a long road probably.

Merril was able to sneak in some fun and played soccer with Lucas's team.

Jack and Elder Niez and rocking being office elders. They are getting stuff accomplished for the mission and Jack is driving all over in the mission car. He says that working on the computer is a little rough but he's learning a lot. He said he might even consider being an accountant some day.

 

The New Iceberg in Hurricane

Let me tell you a crazy story. Jack told me that in his apartment, there's an Elder Bucad. He said I needed to go to the new Iceberg ice cream place in Hurricane because Elder Bucad's parents just opened it. Me and the littles went and found the Bucads and we laughed that they moved here not that long ago and found out that their son on a mission is staying with an elder who is from Hurricane. They were nice and we had a fun chat and then we ordered food.

Jack was able to go to the temple and I'm happy for him. I feel like a mission is all about bringing people to the temple but the elders and sisters don't get to go as often as I think they should.

And then Maxine and Ashlyn made gingerbread houses.