How like a winter hath my absence been from thee

The more we have to report, the less we do it.

The year started off wonderfully well with cousin Kal's priesthood ordination, followed by a temple trip to the Taylorsville temple. Elisabeth, Katharine, Abdiel, and Justin accompanied while Gwyn, Elinor, and Gabriel stayed at the Bollingers playing MouseTrap and watching Spirit. Miriam was ill, so she and Lia stayed home.

Miriam is adorable. She rolls across the floor like an amusement park log ride, smiles for the camera, and generally fills our lives with sunshine. Now if she'd just go back to sleep.

For Gabriel's birthday we celebrated like it was 1995. I mean 2025. We're all getting old.

January 6th we joined the intrepid Carolee Skinner to delight the neighborhood with a stirring rendition of We Three Kings of Orient Are in search of the babe in Bethlehem. We found no babe, but did find hot cocoa and a blazing fire. A good time was had by all except Abdiel, whose bad cold left over from winter break prevented his joining and also prevented his attending the first week and a half back at school.

Our strapping boy has regained some of his strength and all of his charm. Actually, he never lost that. Note Miriam smiling for the camera.

Miriam also sometimes doubles as a dumbbell when she wakes up too early from her nap. Justin is going twenty days strong on his 90 day workout challenge. Lia would bet he's the best-looking Academic Vice President anywhere, despite the fact that most universities have provosts, not AVPs. 

We celebrated MLK, Jr. Day by going to Rush FunPlex. This was also our celebration of Gabriel's birthday, just a little late. Abdiel bowled three strikes; Katharine creamed at laser tag; and Lia astounded all with her GoKart skills. Gwyn, Elinor, and Gabriel especially loved jumping repeatedly into a huge foam pit, and Justin was happy to be the founder of the feast.

During a youth training meeting January 5th, Elinor joined Abdiel, who was viewing from his sick bed at home, and drew some portraits of the speakers, Presidents Lund and Freeman. A few weeks later at the annual J. Reuben Clark Law Society annual fireside, Elisabeth tagged along to watch Miriam and spotted Justin talking to President Lund at the reception afterward. She told him her six year old sister had just drawn a picture of him. "But don't be offended..." she warned, as she scrolled to bring it up. "Oh," he said, nodding approvingly at the image, "she drew that spot. on." He then suggested they recreate it, even untucking his shirt tails in an effort to get the mini leg effect. Good times, good times. :)

After the fireside, Lia, Justin, Miriam, and Elisabeth stopped by Beau's house to deliver some brownies and sandwiches they had smuggled out of the reception (just kidding, they were foisted upon us) and a truly remarkable Xbox Toaster for Beau's 25th birthday. He was very appreciative, as only afficionados of the twin marvels of toast and xboxes can be.

Lia and Elinor spent some quality time making mint chocolate cookies that the family took as a 90th birthday present to Colin Skinner.

Miriam turned 5 months old on January 13th!

Miriam loves Justin, often holding his chin in her little hand as he walks her to sleep at night.

She also loves to join the boys on Monday afternoons watching the highlights of the Sunday NFL games.

Speaking of boys, superheroes are beginning to reemerge to insert diversity into the pantheon of princesses that parade about around here usually.

Lia and Miriam took Gabriel to the aquarium on his birthday. He loved it!

BYU had not yet started again, so Elisabeth was able to dig for dinosaur bones in brownies with shovels with him.

And snuggle her adorable baby sister.

 

Last night Lia and Justin rejoiced to catch up with Becca and Shane Lloyd at a Philanthropies dinner and BYU Men's basketball game. Elisabeth was at the game with her roommates but stopped by to kidnap Miriam and take her to The ROC for a minute. Though a fan of the game, Miriam was not a fan of the ROC and soon came back. She made it on the jumbotron, charming baby that she is, but Lia was too busy talking hard at Becca either to smile, notice, or even move her arm out of the way of Miriam's face, for which Elisabeth took her quite to task over text.

 Today Gwyn got to feel what it's like to sing in the Tabernacle Choir, missing our own sacrament meeting to record with them and then visiting a later ward's services. She thinks Lia should not join the Tab anytime soon.

Faithful readers, stay tuned: Elisabeth submitted her mission papers last week, was able to open her missionary email this week, which means her call will be sent out next week. We're so proud of her decision to serve and excited to see where the Lord needs her!