HEY 2019

2018 was a great year. It was also was a hard year. Personally for me I seemed to struggle with turning 40. I kept feeling like I was going to die soon, and the anxiety got out of hand. I coped with this naturally by taking many extravagant vacations and making memories with my kids. We had a great year adventure wise and I can't imagine another more fun year.

I took up simple film editing as I have always wanted to make my own family movies. I love the finished products and I'm pretty proud of myself for teaching me something new. The only trouble is, it is just one more thing on my to-do lists but I'm trying to keep it fun.

Other than that I think everything is pretty much covered in the blog. Another year, flown by, just like that.

NOT SO SILENT NIGHT

For Christmas dinner we headed all the way to my parent's (really mom's) new place out in Daybreak. The main plus for me going there is that there is no cat. My parents inherited my grandpas cat and most of us are allergic to it. Me especially after being around there for about 15 mins I start to sneeze non stop and I basically feel like I have the worst cold. I hate it. So no cat at Daybreak is the best.

When we first got there my dad wanted our help hanging his new TV, which for some reason scared me to death. Dad was in crisis build mode which is always a treat for everyone. Lots of swearing and yelling and getting worked up. Classic. I was sure that thing was going to fall on my face and kill me in some freak accident. Thankfully that did not happen and we all lived to tell the tale.

Everyone else arrived after that drama and we had a pretty good night. I was in a weird mood. I cannot believe how much last Christmas seemed to affect me. I didn't want any gifts and I really didn't get any and I loved it. Normally I come home from Christmas with a box of stuff I don't know what to do with and this year, I didn't it was great.

It seemed the Evans clan was all a bit on edge this year, but I suppose we are perfect in our imperfections. But I tell you what is always perfect. My dad's turkey. Delicious.

CHRISTMAS MORNING 2018

We had a pretty magical Christmas morning. Vivi ran to her new pink bike first thing. And she was so excited. Stella was equally excited to share this  morning with Vivi. Stella finds so much joy in being a big sister it is so fun. I know she remembers all of her lonely Christmas mornings and she does not take having Vivi home for granted.

The girls started with opening their stockings and then got on with the gifts. Highlights for Stella were her scriptures, a thing to hold shoes in her room, and from Santa, her Polaroid camera. She also got really thrilled when she opened up her onesie pajamas. Vivi's highlights were her bike, Minnie food, and Cinderella Castle from Santa. When Vivi opened up her Minnie food set she exclaimed: "I WANTED THIS!!!" It was pretty cute. She still plays with that food pretty much every day three months later. Brent and I got a few practical gifts and overall it was a great little morning.

Obviously the highlight for me was throwing around paper at the end. It is my favorite tradition and I never want to stop.