random/tornado

 This was the fun Relief Society Presidency I got to serve in for a few months before the ward changes. L: Hollie Miles, Torrie Denny, Monica Valdez, and me. Love those ladies!!!
So yesterday was really humid and warm, and rainy overcast all day until around 6:30 and then it started to get worse. My phone kept sending alarms for flash flooding and tornado warnings. Joe and Brigham were up the road at Walmart getting food for Winter camp. Then the city sirens starting going off, so the kids and I took cover. We don't have a lot of great places to cram in this house but we got in my closet even though it's on the 2nd floor. Probably dumb but it was the only place without windows that we could all fit in. We Face Timed Aunt Shan to keep our minds off of what was going on. Somehow it missed us and just dropped debris from Garland all over the place. Then it picked back up and hit our softball friend's home out in Lavon. They were crammed in the bathroom and it was the only part left standing when it was over. They were all safe but lost their home.  There is tons of damage in Garland, Rowlett, and Lavon/Nevada. 11 dead so far. Tons of animals misplaced or missing. Really really sad and crazy to have it so close. So many willing to help though. We live in an awesome place.

 The Williams home above last night as they left.

 This is out front of our neighbors house, there are boards, insulation, shingles, weird random things all over the place.

 This is Rowlett, parts of this town got leveled. So horrible.

 These 2 pictures are from today at the Williams'. Not much left. Somehow the house right to the right looks pretty okay.

 So extremely grateful we are okay, so sad for those who aren't. Today has been a weird day for sure. Oh and now it is cold and in the 40's.

Merry Christmas!!!

 We had a very merry and busy week leading up to Christmas. We had the Cooks over for lunch on the 23rd. We had Teresa Bell, Linda Madsen and the Rigbys over for breakfast on the 24th. Whitworths were going to come too but they had family come in. Joe took them some food. We did all our sibling shopping and/or building. It was a crazy week. Christmas day felt so long, we didn't know what to do after about 11. We were done with all the chaos. We ended up having the Seversons come over and eat dinner with us. Joe cooked a lot this week! It was ALL fabulous!  For Christmas Eve we still did fried fish and french fries but this time we didn't do catfish. We did the pre-made stuff and threw it in the fryer. And clam chowder and coleslaw too. Christmas day we had turkey and yummy stuffing, cream corn, rolls. I made dill dip and my mom's deviled ham ball. Spencer made us oreo truffles. They were so yummy!

 We all have colds, but Heber's was the worst over Christmas, but he was a trooper!

Weird brother.

 This is Christmas Eve, my mom really hit it off with the pj's and matching ones for their dolls.

Blurry but the boys looked cute too!

 Lots of fun Christmas cards and I got 7 more yesterday that are not on the door!

 I think they were the most excited about sibling gifts again. I should let them help "Santa" with shopping!  To Marjorie from Sarah.

 Lucy and Mary got a video camera to share. Brigham stole it from them countless times that day. They made so many videos. :)

 I made the boys a calendar and Lucy and Mary a calendar.  Oh and my parents.

 Brig got a 22, because he just got his Eagle Scout rank today!!! His Court of Honor is coming up!

 Bluetooth speaker for his phone.

 Love that she is so excited about Sharpie's!!! My kind of girl!

 His long awaited sweater!!! Yay!

 Marjorie gave Spencer magazines for his gun.

 Heber gave Sarah a scooter.

 Brigham made this awesome shelf for Lucy.

 Spencer etched this mirror and made the frame for it! So awesome, good job Joe and boys!

 Mary made Heber building blocks from old 2x4s and painted some of them. Didn't get a picture. Boo.

 I gave Joe a picture of the the LaVell Edwards stadium. He loves it!  Joe gave me a mat cutter and 5 canvases of all sizes that he made for me to paint!!! Wahoo!  Thank you to Mom and Dad too for all the gifts, they are so kind to us.

 I love this cute pet station for Sarah and Marjorie. It is so cute and has darling little features.

 It was 70 something and perfect on Christmas, except that we are used to snow making it feel like Christmas. Oh well! We had an enjoyable day. We missed our family though. So grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. We are so BLESSED!

The next day was nuts....see next post

Pic with Santa

Winter parties last Friday, I am Mary's room mom this year so I was too busy to get many pictures. This was our gift to her this year, made it from the whole class. These are the words they said about her, the bigger ones they said the most.

 Marshmellow toss

 Santa visited the school--YAY!

 I had Pre-school here a couple weeks ago.

 Heber had a weird rash for a few days.  Now the girls have a new cold that is awful.

 Sarah at Baylee Tran's bday party above.

 Another hilarious face that will have to go in my house somewhere! (above)  Below is Mary and her selfie.

 Makayla, Sarah, Emma at Christmas party right before the ward split. We aren't in their ward now.

 Went to Noboa's--another neighbor, one day last week and decorated graham cracker houses.

 Marjorie and Sarah getting into the chalk while I was doing art class. It was pretty colors. ugh...

Above: Spencer painted this of Jimmer. He brought home several other projects I still need to take pictures of.  Below Brigham has been drawing shoes since he can't buy all the ones he likes.

 We got our pictures back so late so I did a lot of fast Christmas cards above because they printed in an hour but the ones below I only did a few of. I actually made one other that was really similar to the one below with gold writing instead of white. They were all cute. I am going to start in November next year for all the Christmas preparations!

 Mary had to do a recycle project so she made a huge house for her koala bears. It was cute.

It was a crazy Sabbath day today with lots of different meetings but we like our new ward, we will miss lots of friends but we met some new ones today. I get to serve in the Primary again (surprise surprise--but I love it) as 1st counselor to Ellyse Baty with Melanee Bates as 2nd counselor. A new friend Kassandra Braithwaite is the secretary. They just moved here from Las Vegas. Joe gets to stay the YM president.