Family Time

A few days after Natali came home McClain got home from his mission in North Dakota.  He and his fam hopped in their van and drove up to freezing cold Idaho to welcome Natali home and hear her homecoming talk.  Nani and Randy came too arriving Saturday around lunchtime.

Nani and Randy stayed at an Airbnb in town but our house still felt plenty full with all the Eastons at our place.  They arrived late Saturday night and enjoyed the World Cup Final with us Sunday morning before church.

After church my parents and the Wilfords joined the party.  It was fun to have everyone together laughing at Natali’s word choice and Spanish mix ups and just enjoying time together.

 

Sunday night the kids built gingerbread houses – my frosting totally failed for the first time in years so most of them had to use the glue gun to get the house to stay upright, but they still had a lot of fun.  Grandma and Papa were the judges, so the boys built one half to please Papa and one half to please Grandma.  McClain, like usual had us all in tears of laughter.

Nani and Papa left early Monday morning and the littles went to school, but we let Andrew skip and join us for a very cold tour of Woodgrain followed by Idaho Pizza.  Then we picked up Lily and went to the Salvation Army to help get gifts ready for Christmas.  We were there for two hours picking out gifts and helping organize everything.  Lily had so much fun she asked if we could come back and do it again.

 

We came home for a quick dinner then headed out for fun.  The girls, san Ari and Neelie, went to the escape room.  Sadly, we suffocated in the mine.  I’d like to say that Natali and died graciously but we did not – we whined about it on and off for the next hour.  Even as I write the bad feelings come back.  I guess I’m too proud and don’t like losing.  

 

The boys (plus Ari and Neelie) went next door and did ax throwing.  They had a blast and did pretty well from the stories they were telling.

Neelie grabbed a box of Krispy Kreme on the way home and McClain insisted on hats for everyone- the kids were thrilled.  

They weren’t so thrilled by Natali’s mate.  She pulled it out and taught us how to drink it – one sip of the grass like flavor and most of us took off running except Emily who “kinda liked it.”  How can you dislike all fruits and veggies but like drinking hot grass water?  Strange I say.

The boys and Natali had spent most evenings playing pool and/or versions of ping pong.  Their last night was no different.  They stayed up late laughing playing and talking.  Too bad my littles had school the next morning. 😂😬😩🤪

It was a busy but wonderful weekend.  We had so much fun with the Eastons!

World Cup

World Cup prep started early with Greg getting our predictions for the Christmas letter, Andrew forcing my to put the World Cup songs in order best to worst, and all of us filling out brackets.  

I decided that we needed some World Cup traditions so each time the US played I made a dish from our opponents country.  Wales - Welsh Cakes (1st pic)

England - Bread and Butter Pudding with Custard Sauce

Iran - Oops I forgot becuase it was a school day

Netherlands - Banketstaaf (almond filled pastry log- 2nd pic)

I had lots of fun with the food but I don't think anyone else really cared - they just wanted to watch soccer.  And boy did we watch a lot of soccer.

We invited Andrew's friends over for some of the US games and had a lot of food to tempt them to come back rather than have Andrew go watch at their houses.  The girls were sucked in as well and by the end of Thanksgiving break we were all hooked...and we had our favorite teams.  

Natali watched Argentina win their semi final game in the Buenos Aires airport, an experience never to be forgotten and a lovley farewell to the country.

And that meant that she was home for the final - Aregentina v France.  The Easton cousins were over as well as Grandma Nani and Papa.  The game started at 9:00 and Natali was speaking in church at 11:30.  Natali came out with her jersey over her dress.  

Most of the crowd was cheering for Arentina and Messi but there were some French fans.  Kate picked France early and stuck with her team.  Mack was for France and Lily, as Mack's biggest fan, was a follower.  

Argentina took an early lead and it looked like it wasn't going to be close but then Mbappe pulled off some amazing moves and the game was tied.  Mack's sweatshirt came off at that point and the teasing began.  

It was an awesome game, so exciting and coming down to penalty kicks.  Argentina came off victorious as we all sprinted out the door to make it to church on time.  The World Cup was such a blast.  Can't wait to do it again in 4 years.  I'm hoping we get to attend some in person this time😉.

She's HOME!!

Natali came home on December 14th.  With talking every Monday for 18 months the time flew by for me, but we were so excited to get her back home for Christmas.

She said goodbye to all of her missionary friends and mission president.  There was a big batch of missionaries that had all arrive to Argentina about the same time because of Covid so they all headed home together too.  

The girls worked hard on their signs to welcome her home.  Some of us may have been watching the semifinal France vs. Morocco game while we waited for her to walk off the plane.

Grandma was in town and made it to the airport to welcome Natali home.

Natali couldn't beleive that Andrew was a full 2 inches taller than her!

Mack didn't make it home in time for the airport but we were so thrilled to have everyone together that weekend!

Her shoes were worn to bits but they got her home and then into the trash.

For the three weeks she was home she spent a lot of time one on one with the kids.  Kate painted her nails like the Argentina flag...

she also tried to help save Emmy's attempt at macarons.  

Her English was a bit weird now and then and we aren't sure we share her passion for latino music but we are so happy to have her home!

Winter Randoms

The ward Christmas party on December 1st jumped us right into the season.  Emily made a lovley snowman.

Lily wore Natali's ugly llama christmas sweater for her 4th grade music program.

Ditten started eating and drinking from the sink on a regular basis 🤦🏽‍♀️.

Andrew got a job at the new McDonalds in Star - looking good buddy!

Emmy got her braces off!!!

We actually got enough snow to get a snow day!  Emmy was sick throwing up so Lily had to find someone else to play in the snow with her - luckily James and Libby let her join them for hours of fun outside.

Thanksgiving

Well the best part of Thanksgiving break was all the time together - especially with Mack.  The World Cup started that week so we spent a lot of time on the couch cheering for our favorites.  More to come in future posts.

In between games Mack earned a little cash by sawing the hot tub into pieces - saved us the $350 removal fee.  Who knew that was what a hot tub looked like cut in half?!

For Thanksgiving dinner we were on our own so we invited Jessica and Etta over and enjoyed the feast with them.  Etta loved my rolls and we all enjoyed her lemon meringue pie.  

Fernando, the exchange student from Spain came and cooked dinner for us.  When he started frying the potatoes in a huge pot of olive oil I was worried but the Tortilla de Patatas he made us was quite delicious.  And he made Andrew help every step of the way.

Lily loved her Mack time and we were all sad to see him head back to school. 

For a last party, and a reward for the kids watching their word choice for two weeks, we went to an escape room.  It was Alice and Wonderland themed and it was such a blast.  

Somehow we managed to accidentally hijack the system and open a door early, so they gave us a $100 gift card so we could come back.

It was a great week off from school, but hard to go back knowing the World Cup was still going on and we couldn't enjoy all the games together.

Grandma Lula

Grandma Lula almost hit 100, but at 99 and 7 months she was finally able to her return to be with her husband whom she had been away from for nearly 50 years.  

It was a wonderful celebration to remember her life and to see all my cousins and aunts and uncles.  It was amazing how quickly my heart filled with love for these people that I hadn't seen in years.  Family is incredible.