January Gets a Bad Rap

We have our extended Fox family, our extended Cannon family, and our book club family.  This book club family has been a joyous part of our lives for over 20 years.  The Schramm's daughter Sariah got married at the start of January.  It was wonderful to be at the temple together to celebrate

It was fun to help out at the reception along with Corrine and Landon.

Camille is my dear friend and walking partner.  We've helped each other through some periods of serious parental growth!  The best advice I can give to other moms in any stage of mothering is to get a good walking partner who is in a similar stage of life.  And pray that, like Camille, she is dependable and funny and open and trustworthy and willing to bear your burdens with you

And along with working through the hard times, you can thoroughly celebrate the good times together as well.  

And then someday, you too, can get matching winter-walking hats.

We had a really memorable moment on January 11th-- George was ordained to be a Priest and then he joined Abe, Cannon, and Hunter in ordaining Peter to the office of deacon.  

Of course I love these boys--- but I sure like them as well:)  I feel very loved by them and blessed to be their mom.

We recently learned to play a fun game-- The Fox Experiment-- in which you get to breed baby foxes.  Obviously, Abe and I are experts:)

Tons of pieces, but very fun to name your baby foxes

Taking Peter to the temple for the first time

These three little dudes passed the Sacrament for the first time together.

We had a lovely evening of games over at Landen's family's house.  

Faith has mastered the art of the sourdough bread.  It is  A LOT of time and effort to make a delicious loaf of sourdough.  

When she finishes a loaf we all descend on her and beg for a slice. She also makes her own .honey butter--- mmmm, yummy!

We had a few scary days last months when my dad suffered a minor stroke.  Well, it seemed minor, in that, he suffered no lasting ill-effects.  But he did end up in the neurocritical unit of the University of Utah because a clot was lodged in a precarious place near his brain.  Abe and Steve went up to visit and give him a Priesthood blessing.  We are very grateful he is home again and doing well.

We were excited to go see A Beautiful Noise with Andrea and friends.  It is a musical about the music  and life of Neil Diamond.

We were, and still are, big fans of the music of Neil Diamond.  Maybe not so much the life of Neil Diamond.  But who am I to judge? 

I love to see how much our kiddos love our grandkiddos.  

Daniel's newest trick is playing dead.  He is such a funny little guy and he's basically a rock star when he come to the house.