January 2025

January 2025 Recap 

Chris and Ang were called as mission leaders in November but didn't find out where they were going until December. They could only share the news with immediate family until it was posted the 2nd week of January in the Church News. That was a long wait! 

We had lots of guessing and discussions on Sunday nights and Wednesday lunches. It was clear they were bursting to share the news. Drum roll....

They will be serving in the Cote d'Ivoire Mission and speaking French.

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Well Parker's ACL/meniscus surgery was actually on December 31st, but January brought the first month of recovery right in the middle of the living room. All of his friends headed back to school. His social life consisted of physical therapy, Taco Villa lunches, visiting with whoever might be home, and playing Xbox with Tanner & Braxton.  He's a trooper. 

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Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday is alive and well.  This was a gathering at Chic Fil A.

Park, Chris, Grandpa Vore

It was really so nice for Parker to have something to do and someone to talk to besides me, Brian, and Aubrey.

Char, Gracie, Lincoln, Noah, Christian & a friend.

I didn't get a picture that Britney, Braddock, Megan, Angelique and I were sitting at, but I do love these traditions tra"vore"tions that keep us close.

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It is tricky for all the stars to align in order for my mom to leave the house. (her disposition, med schedule, weather, meal/snack times, etc.) Well, they aligned one day, and I took her to the mall. She seemed enthralled.  There was music blasting on the overhead speakers, lights and sounds, and people all around   

After a while she was jabbering disjointedly and very loudly. I was concerned she was feeling overstimulated and ready to leave. I stopped pushing her wheelchair, bent down closer (because that volume of the music was no joke), and asked how she was doing. She got a huge smile on her face and teased, "Can I live here?" It was the cutest response and so unexpected. 

It's a blessing getting to be with her all day each Tuesday and Friday.

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Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday at Texas Burger.

We all arrived about about the same time, but somehow Bri and I ended up at our own booth. It was pretty cute observing the different tables together. We were cracking up while watching the kid table, Kaide didn't want anyone next to him. He is an only child and is used to his own way and own space.  Notice the Bird and Vore families happily stacked up four in a row on the other side. That is the life they are used to as well. Hudson eventually was able to convince Kaide to let him sit next to him at the kid's table.  

Aren't these little cousins the cutest? Also, notice Kaide's mittens. He wears them everywhere, and it is hilarious and adorable.

The young adult table

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Throwback picture. I probably repost this every year. Brian is a silly dad and knows just how to connect with the kids. He keeps us laughing.

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Aub Daub turned 18! Erin and Tanner are very thoughtful and generous gift givers. They bought Aubrey a Kindle, and she was euphoric. She and Erin have enjoyed sharing favorite books in the past, and Erin knew Aubrey a Kindle would be something Aubrey would love. 

I kept a journal for each of the kiddos from birth to about five years. One of our birthday traditions is to gather together while I read out loud some of the cute and funny things the b-day child said or did. This year, Maci and Parker were over. I read several entries, and we were all cracking up. It was really cute to see Parker and Maci continue to read it, and I think it made Aubrey feel loved.

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I think this might have been when they found out TikTok got shut down in the U.S. We heard the loudest screams coming from the front yard and then these four burst in. They were freaking out and on their phones trying to uncover any details they could.
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Parker's injury came in clutch because we got the code to watch Stake Conference at home! Woot! The unofficial stake center, where we meet, is 30 minutes away. If you don't arrive at least 45 minutes early to get a seat towards the front, it's much too loud and chaotic to get much out of the meeting.

Tanner and Erin joined us, and we had a nice morning together. Kaide pulled up his little chair and was all in for several minutes.  Also, if you look closely, you can see that he is wearing his mittens.😍

And that's a little glimpse into our January!

February 2025 Recap

February Recap:

Parker has been a trooper with his knee surgery, which repaired his meniscus and ACL. He has been nonweight-bearing and in a brace that keeps his leg completely straight. He has basically spent 6 solid weeks sitting on our living room couch. He has always been happier when he was busier. He likes people, new places, fun activities and adventure.  

None of that occurred on this brown couch, but he hasn't complained. He has worked on his BYUI online classes, gone to therapy and faithfully done therapy at home. He has patiently waited for someone to bring him breakfast or lunch or a drink of water. He has started and stopped lots of Netflix series and started and finished lots of others. He has Facetimed roommates and counted the days he could get the heck out of Dodge.

Halfway through February his hard work and patience paid off, and he was able to go back to Rexburg. This picture makes my momma heart so happy! He was able to fly with a friend who has his pilot's license. I can just feel Parker's joy.  FREEDOM!

The same week Parker flew back to school, Brian and I headed to Austin for a catheter oblation procedure he needed for his heart. (PVC issues)  Everything went well and the best part of the trip was going out to dinner with Linda Vore. She is a ball of energy, light, and positivity, and we don't get to see each other enough. The three of us talked for two hours straight, and it was awesome to catch up on life.

I tried to get Brian to call our Austin trip 'good' for my birthday, and I thought I succeeded, but I did not. He surprised me with a Ninja blender I had been eyeing but just couldn't pull the trigger on. I love it! It has a 32 oz single-serve cup that attaches to the blender and makes it super convenient to make one or two servings of protein shakes or fruit smoothies. With only three of us at home, individual portions are becoming more and more of a thing.

I also woke up to this cute setup from Aub Daub along with a really sweet homemade card. In addition to mentioning some attributes she admired, she had coupons good for playing games and going on walks: two things I love but she does not. I am definitely going to be cashing those in.

Brinley and Derek worked through Aubrey to have a gift waiting for me when I got home from work: a pretty candle and yummy TruFru (frozen chocolate covered strawberries). Parker called to wish me a happy birthday, and when he didn't reach me on my birthday, he followed up the next day. We had a great phone chat. Tanner stopped by my parents and gave me a sweet card from his fam with a thoughtful gift: several massage gift cards! Ang, my dad, and Brit helped me celebrate with thoughtful gifts, and lots of friends texted or dropped a little something by the house. Overall, I felt very loved by family and friends.

Not one, not two, but FIVE gift cards for a massage--can't wait!

In February I added a lot of extra work hours. My dad took a trip with Chris and Ang on a ten day European river cruise. I'm glad he had the chance to have a little break from the day-to-day of life. 

In addition to my 8-5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I volunteered to cover the 8 pm to midnight time. I think I worked almost 70 hours in the first seven days. The crazy days were Tuesdays and Fridays when I worked from 8 am to midnight. Brian was really good at relieving me for a few hours some evenings so I could leave my parents house. (I felt a little like Parker...stuck on the brown couch!) I would go outside for a brisk walk, run errands, wander around my own home and have time to visit with Aubrey. It was blessing to be with my mom so much and also to have the extra income for our family.  

She usually can't express her feelings, and for the most part, she seemed pretty good while my dad was gone. She just is living in her own world/mind for a lot of each day. She did ask me one day when I was getting her ready for bed where her husband was. That was pretty sweet because every evening he tucks her in, and they have scriptures and prayer together. They sing a hymn, and he reads to her for a while.  I loved that she was thinking of him and able to express it.

Another time, when he Facetimed, at the end of the call she was able to say, "Come back."  When he did in fact come home, she gave him the cold shoulder for a couple of hours!  She was not happy that he left her. He had to wiggle his way back into her good graces. They love each other, and I am very grateful to get to see some of their sweet interactions in this phase of their lives.

Well, a monthly post would not be complete if it didn't include our favorite grandchild. I love this picture of Kaide. He is thrilled watching this video I sent of me warming up a can of soup. Lately when he comes over, he wants to check out the pantry. He points to each can of food and talks about what is inside. He mixes his own little language with a few words I actually understand, and it's so cute. 

So when I had a bit of the stomach bug and was resorting to soup and crackers and missing this little guy, I sent a video greeting. I walked into the pantry and pointed/described all of his favorite cans of food.  "Oh, look over here. I see the red beans. And here are the oranges.  Ooh, some peaches. Hmm, what sounds good today?" Then I grabbed some soup and videoed myself opening it and pouring it into a bowl.  Then I warmed it up and showed him how much I was enjoying eating it. I was glad Erin captured his reaction and sent me this picture. Pure joy.

When he comes over, in addition to the pantry, he likes to shuffle through the list of fun things to do at GiGi and Papa's: walking down the street to see the monster house, playing catch with the football, bowling, ping pong, visiting Buttercup in the backyard and occasionally things like painting or coloring.  

Brian and I thought it would be fun to take him to the family dance, but Kaide didn't think it was very fun.  The music was blaring, and lots of our friends were approaching us and asking him questions. He wanted nothing to do with it. We grabbed a cookie and retreated to the nursery for the rest of the evening.  We loved that the Bird cousins and a few little kids joined us in there as well.

Hard to tell he is wearing his mittens, but he is! He eats with them, sleeps with them...and goes to family dances with them. Gotta love two year olds!

February also brought a very hard goodbye. My sweet friend, Alma, moved to Pennsylvania to be with her son and daughter-in-law. We started walking at UTPB when she first moved here and a few months later, she began caring for my mom a few days a week. Alma has loved my mom fiercely over the past couple of years and served our family in so many ways. I think she and my mom must have been friends in the preexistence.  They have a beautiful bond.

I made Alma a Shutterfly book filled mostly with pictures of her and my mom with a few others from missionary dinners or Vore family gatherings she attended. I will miss our walks and talks, family dinners (sometimes at her house and sometimes at mine), temple trips, breakfast dates, family history gatherings, RS activities, and of course just visiting when I stop by my parents and she is caring for my mom.

One of the sisters in our ward organized a small going away luncheon which was very thoughtful and a lot of fun. 

Gena, first on the right, went all out in making this luncheon special.

Shari Martin, Melanie Ormsby, Britney Bird, Alma Merriman, Kimberla Payan, Gena Davis, Julie Proctor, Olena Sanders, and me

I don't have any pictures from the newlyweds to share, but Brinley and I call or "Marco Polo" back and forth 4 or 5 days a week, and it's so much fun. She is thriving in the second semester of her Master's degree program, which is nice because she was drowning somewhat during her first semester. Derek is super busy with school, work, and student teaching (practicum) this semester. They moved from a studio apartment in Provo to a two-bedroom apartment in Orem and are so grateful to have more space. They both recently received callings in their new ward. Derek is the executive secretary in Young Men's. I think he is functioning like an additional leader as well as helping keep the Bishop organized when it comes to the youth. Brinley is very excited to serve as the Primary chorister. 

I have been making a lot of shirts this month (150+) to support a loved one fighting cancer for the second time. My dad had a big banner made too and friends and family signed it. She lives several hours away so we can't help much in the day-to-day fight, but we wanted her to know she is loved.

Sunday night gathering at the Birds

Christian

Char, Ella, Braddock

Quetta

Wrapping up February with something that I never would have seen coming: Tanner participating in a fashion show. This is my kid who glares in family pictures. When we saw his middle school picture, Brian whispered to me, "he looks like a kid who would shoot up the school."  

Somehow, someone at UTPB decided he would make the perfect addition to a "what to wear" fashion show. He is a handsome guy-but they just don't know about the no smiling bit when it comes to pictures. He needed to find a place for Kaide for a few hours. Erin had class, and we were going to be out of town. Tanner was interested in participating for the free lunch and the clothes he would get to keep. I still couldn't believe he was so casually mentioning "this modeling thing they want me to do."  Is this my son Tanner? We let Aub skip school to watch Kaide, and luckily a friend from my PTA days was the MC so we even got picture proof. (and look at that handsome mug!)

Tatum Fulbright, Tanner and a sponsor

Tanner did mention that the lady running the show kept telling him to smile. I can just imagine his steely glare when he was on the runway. He was somewhat annoyed that he and the other participants didn't get to eat.  The University cleaned it up before they were released from their duties. However, he has been wearing his new suit combo to church, getting lots of compliments and looking so sharp!

Mom Brag

March 1, 2025

I remember when I was blogging during Parker's senior year and so many posts were about him. I kind of felt badly for my other three children at times but then realized that's just how senior year rolls.

Well, Aubrey is a Senior.  She just turned 18, and I'm going to do some mom bragging. 

She took picts w/ a digital camera. She loves them, and I feel like they are a throwback to 1999.

Not the digital camera...Back: Milan, Aub, Maiya, Nathan Front: Nisi, Parker, Maci

She has always been a dedicated, reliable student, and it's fun for me (and I'm sure her) that others are noticing. I'm glad because with so many other deserving students, that doesn't always happen.

In November, she was recognized for making the 2nd Team All State in Academics.  WOW!  To qualify she had to maintain a GPA of 92 or higher all four years of high school, have good moral character and be an asset to the team.

In January, Aubrey was invited to the Joby Flores 33 Lead Foundation foundation banquet which honors volleyball and football athletes in West Texas. She was the lone student representative from Permian High and received an award for being an outstanding athlete in West Texas and a $500 scholarship. I’m so proud of Aubrey and her dedication to academics during her high school years, especially while balancing an intense volleyball schedule and a daily 6:30am seminary (scripture study class.) I'm grateful for this foundation and how they are honoring hard working students.

I love how the plaque makes it seem as if she was THE athlete of the year! We'll take it.

w/ her principal Mrs. Styles and coach, Jillian Herrera

Her daddy teasing her...I'm pretty sure she was gritting her teeth and begging him to "just take it."

Aubrey w/ her biggest fans!

Her team with the judges. She is third from the end.)

Maiya, Parker, Aubrey & Ms. Orosco

Lastly, Aubrey has been involved in Students in Philanthropy for two years. They do a lot of volunteering in the community and fundraising.  This year she has been serving as treasurer.

The biggest thing she has done this year in SIP is a huge presentation/competition.  The short version is Aubrey, Maiya M. and Parker H. worked their tails off in envisioning and creating a detailed project to provide comfort kits for trauma victims to the Crisis Center of West Texas.  They advanced to Regionals where they presented their project idea to board members from Chevron and the Dallas Cowboys, and their team won a $10,000 grant to actually make it happen this spring!

ALL of these recognitions came after she had applied to the one and only school she applied to, BYU. That caused a little bit of stress and frustration on her part.  However, she found out mid February that she was accepted! Whew.  She is so relieved and excited.

Senioritis has kicked in, but I think she has it in her to finish these next few months strong...enough. Congrats Aubrey Joyce.

Some Christmas Break Highlights

Our Christmases keep changing.  We have navigated the mission era over the past few years, and now we are getting deeper into the young adult and newly married phase. I was so excited that we were all going to be together for the week Brinley and Derek were coming home, but the reality was sometimes my people had other plans. We still managed to hang out all together a lot of the time.

Parker made last minute plans during that week to go to the ranch with his buddies on the same day Brinley and Derek were flying in. What? I was a frustrated momma, but I also knew Parker would not be happy staying home. He had a fun couple of days at the ranch and was thoughtful enough to catch a ride home a day early.  He was able to be a part of our Christmas church service, cousin gift exchange and Sunday night gathering and that made me better overall.

Parker, Cole, Reese, Ashton, Cade, Kendyn, Harper, Austin, Luke (front)

While he was at the ranch, we went to a hockey game on Friday night, played pickleball with the Birds Saturday morning and went to Wicked at the theaters that afternoon. Fun times! 

Back to young adult kids, Aubrey missed the hockey game and a couple of other activities due to her job. Tanner and fam joined when they could, but it all worked out. It's our current stage of life, and I realize it's only going to get trickier to be all together. We will just make memories along the way.

Over the week we played some games, looked at Christmas lights and handed out awards, went bowling, worked in the yard, watched The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, did an escape room, played volleyball, played lots of ping pong, and hung out with extended family.

Here are some picts and a few more details about the happenings.

Most of our Christmas decorating happened in a whirlwind the weekend before Thanksgiving due to Aubrey's encouragement and help. Then it came to a grounding halt. Decorating isn't my forte, and it's a lot of work. Plus, I have recently started working 2-3 days a week helping care for my mom, and I'm treading water a bit keeping up with everything else. 

Luckily a few weeks later with a few days to spare, Kaide's interest in the box of ornaments still sitting by the tree gave me the push to actually put them on the tree.  Otherwise, we were going all natural this year.

We fit in a few Taco Villa Mondays on Wednesdays with Grandpa and family.

Font left: Courtney w/ Olivia, me (Erin Gwilliam), Brian, Parker, Adam Front right: Kerry, Aubrey, Britney, Braddock, Grandpa, Ang & Chris

Kerry had a finger accident at his ranch and had to get stitches on several fingers. They had empathy pains for each other.

Lots of games card/board were played: Speed, Skull King, Dominion, Ransom Notes, and Tapple 

Kaide was pretty sure he needed to play Speed as well. He always won, of course.

Ransom notes was Hilarious. You just never knew what crazy lines people were going to put on their magnet plate.

I purchased an escape room off of Etsy and one night these three spent a good 45 minutes deciphering the clues.  It was fun to watch them working together.  

Just for the record, the escape room game file cost about $15 on Etsy and then I spent about $17 printing-ugh-because our color printer wasn't working. I wish I would have printed at my parents' house instead.

Lots of ping pong was played at home and at the Birds.

We found a deal at the bowling alley and took advantage.  If we bowled between 11-2 and spent $10 per person at the snack bar, then we were given a free game of bowling and free shoes. Woot woot!  

A couple of days before Christmas, we worked in the yard for an hour or two raking up leaves. (Minus Aubrey who spent the night with Lauron and then had work...she was very happy to miss out.)

Derek and Brinley really enjoyed the Carlsbad Caverns National Park outing.  It's a couple of hours away.  I was planning on going, but after the business of all things Christmas, it was nice to just stay home.

Erin's birthday is December 24th.  She is the sweetest, and always makes us feel special on our birthdays. She is a very thoughtful gift giver. We didn't want her big day to get lost amidst all of the Christmas Eve events, so we surprised her that morning before all of the family gatherings happened.  

On the 23rd, we had our sibling gift exchange with my siblings and Dad, and the cousins got together for volleyball at the church.

Our sibling gathering was pretty chill.  Britney put in so much work with dinner and fun games, and I think she was a little disappointed with how it turned out.  Beck and Brian don't come down for Christmas, Quetta had to work and Nate and Beth had some last minute medical concerns and stayed in Dallas.  It was a small group, but I think it was still a lot of fun.

Sunday night gathering...I love seeing all of these young adult cousins together.

We were disappointed that Parker couldn't get his ACL/Meniscus surgery before Christmas.  We were hoping it would be on the 23rd but all of the openings were filled.  Also, the doctor knew his ACL was fully torn and his MCL and LCL were partially torn. However, he did not know his meniscus was fully torn so the recovery is longer. He can't put any weight on his leg for six weeks. Parker is bummed but taking it like a champ. He changed his classes to online and won't be headed up to BYUI until mid February.

We wrapped up our holidays with a dinner and a fun game night with the Vores.  Aubrey and I were the two representatives for the Gwilliams. Bri stayed home with Park, and Tanner and EFG had plans with friends.  

The Vores moved the party to Gram and Grandpa Vore's so Grandpa could participate while Gram slept. Ang's parents came as well. Jeff, who served his mission in Taiwan, made delicious, authentic Chinese food. He did Americanize it some so we would enjoy it more. I loved it, and I am a somewhat picky eater.

Erin Vore Freeman, not to be confused with Erin Flores Gwilliam or Erin Vore Gwilliam, planned the games.  It was set up in a game show style with prizes for each round.  She was so cute in her excitement and energy, and she even had game show music playing as she announced each round.

I will just mention the final round with the biggest prize because I won it! Woot woot! We had to hold our arms out to the side without letting them fall. There were three previous winners who couldn't win this challenge because they had already won gifts in other rounds, but they could participate if they wanted.  We had to hold our arms out to the side for as long as possible and the winner got $100.  

I just kept channeling my inner Survivor TV show strength: mind over body.  Ang had already won something but competed anyway.  After 10 minutes, we were the only two standing and called it good.  My niece Lauron was the 3rd runner up and pretty disappointed so I actually just gave her the $100.

I'm grateful for extended breaks that allow for lots of family time. We had a nice Christmas vacation.