January 2023

Welcome to 2023!  I can't believe it is already a new year. January was pretty grey and we got plenty of snow, which is great since we really need it, but it sure got dreary around here. We did manage to have some fun, though:

Autumn's friend, Whitney, had to come home early from her mission in Farmington, New Mexico because she is having severe stomach issues. I went over to visit with her and we had the best conversation. I love Whitney! She and Autumn have been friends since elementary school.

Grandma Ririe was still in town visiting us at the beginning of January and we took her with us to the temple one evening. Seeing her love for the temple and sharing that experience with her was wonderful. I love being in the temple! Bryce and I also went to the temple several times just the 2 of us and I love that it has become one of our weekly routines.

I had my first colonoscopy screening and was given a clean bill of health, so thankfully, don't have to repeat that for another 10 years. :)  After being on a liquid diet for a day and a half and no food for several hours before the procedure, I was hungry and happily celebrated with steak from Texas Roadhouse. :)

Like I said, it was frigid cold this month and Bryce could often be found working with his hands in his sloth hand warmer. :):) Makes me laugh every time.

Bryce and I drove to Midway through a pretty bad snowstorm to go to Ice Castles there. We enjoyed exploring this pretty cool man-made world of ice while snow fell around us.  Not a bad way to enjoy winter.

Meanwhile, in Canada, Autumn had a great month teaching YSA age people in Regina about the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  She had several highlights including a trip to Carry the Kettle, the reservation in her area where Sister missionaries are pretty much never allowed to go and the baptism of her friend, Phuong. She loves being a missionary and is doing so well!

We also added a picture of the Winnipeg, Canada temple to our temple wall in honor of Autumn's service as a missionary there.

Bryce and I had several fun date nights including Finders Seekers (New Zealand), going for ice cream at Brookers, baking a pie together with him blindfolded and creating a box to keep keepsakes from future dates in. ;)

The best part of the month came when Megan, Mitch and Evan came for a week.  The reason for their visit was because Mitch had a doctors appointment here in Utah, but they stayed for a week and Mitch worked remotely while Bryce and I got to enjoy some time with Evan (and his parents too, of course) :).  Here are some pics of our darling grandbaby this month:

Seth and Delaney came over for dinner one night while Megan and Mitch were here and we loved getting to spend time with them.  They are both back in school - Delaney is finishing her final semester with student teaching and Seth is busy working towards his degree.  

They sent these pics of Blaze being nice, and naughty. :)

We didn't get to see Devin and Levi this month but spoke with them often. They are both doing well! They made the bowties they are wearing in this picture and Devin crocheted Harry, Ron and Hermione for me for a Christmas present. Love!!

We had a group of YSAs over for FHE dinner and had such a fun time, as always!  We also had a fun RS movie night at the Dyers house and then the girls of apartment 209 (Tess, Grace, Maggie, Sophie, Marissa (with her boyfriend David) and Lillian) invited Bryce and I over for Sunday dinner. We absolutely love working with the YSAs in our ward and feel so blessed by spending time with them.

That's it for January! Stay warm out there!