December 2014

Hard to believe we are at the end of another year already, but here’s a look at our busy December:

We started the month with a couple of awesome performances.  First of all, we finally got to see what Seth has been working on all semester when we went to see the Mtn Ridge Jr High’s production of “The Hobbit”.  They did something interesting with the costumes where they had the actors playing the dwarves and hobbits wear masks around their waists so they would appear shorter than the rest of the cast.  It took some getting used to, but I actually kind of liked it once I did get used to it.  Seth did such a great job playing the role of “Bilbo”! It was fun for us to see all of his hard work pay off!

Our second performance was Devin as a page in the choir’s annual Madrigal feast, which is an event we look forward to every year.  The dinner was yummy, the entertainment fun as always and the music beautiful.  Seth was pretty thrilled to win the “Shapely legs” contest for the second year running.  He wasn’t going to enter this year, but didn’t protest too much when our table voted for him to be our representative.  He now wears his “shapely legs winner” badge with pride.

Devin also won PTSA student of the week, which pretty much meant that he got an awesome parking space in front of the school for a week and a few little prizes.  Here he is showing off his angelic little self.

We had plenty of snow in December and the kids had fun playing in it – snowball fights, snow woman and snow penguin making, and lots and lots of snow shoveling.

Autumn had a great time playing chef for a day when Bernie and my mom came to our house and Bernie helped Autumn make us all dinner – no help from anyone else allowed.  The dinner was fantastic and Autumn was even more excited when Bernie let her keep the chef hat he brought for her to use. 

We had our Finch family Christmas party a couple of weekends before Christmas and had fun acting out the nativity, opening presents and playing games.  Family and Christmas are the best!! (Unfortunately for Devin, he had to miss the party because he was busy taking the ACT – bummer!)

Devin is taking an AP Human Geography class this year and his current project has him attending at least 4 churches besides the one he regularly attends and he has been having fun with that all month.  He attended a local Presbyterian church with one of his friends one week and then I took him and a friend to a Baptist church in SLC on another Sunday and then on Christmas Eve, our family attended the Christmas Carol Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeline in Salt Lake, which was awesome – the choir sounded like angels and the cathedral is beautiful!  It’s been a fun project for sure.

Our bathroom remodel project was officially finished December 23 – just in time for Christmas!  We love our new closet and bathroom!!

Outer bathroom

There isn’t actually a window in our shower – just reflected off the glass.

Inner bathroom

Christmas day was lots of fun as always, coupled with the best part of the month hands-down when we got to Skype Megan on Christmas morning.  She is doing great, looks beautiful and happy and is loving being a missionary, even though she acknowledges that it is the hardest thing she has ever done.  She is being transferred this week for the first time since she got to Houston and we look forward to finding out where she will be when we hear from her again next week.  Stay tuned to her blog to find out the latest. 

Autumn with her Christmas tree and ornaments Megan sent as her “pixie”.  I added one of the ornaments Megan sent each day throughout the month of December.  Megan also sent her a Texas necklace that Autumn has worn every day since Christmas.

Seth opening his new cell phone – he hasn’t stopped texting since Christmas.

Our family stair photo with Megan added via picture.

Playing the fun game Grandma and Grandpa Ririe sent us.

Megan with one of her favorite families in Westlake – the Schoenbecks – her family away from family.

Megan and her awesome companion, Sister Morris.

Megan with Jermaine, one of the first people she and her first companion, Sister Wahlin, found and then had to turn over to other missionaries since he lives out of their area.  He is doing great – Megan still checks in with him from time to time at his job, which is in her area.

We also had fun on Christmas spending time with Jeff and his family and look forward to them coming to our house later today for our annual New Years Day chalupa.

Happy New Year everyone and Happy 2014!