Talent Show Flashback

January 2026

I was looking through some old videos and found this gem from our 2014 Christmas Eve talent show. We did a silly version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The kids are so cute!

 *Our talent*

Wrapping up the Holidays

December 27, 2025-January 6, 2026

We enjoyed having our big kids home for several days after Christmas. Planned family activities petered off, and we settled into normal, everyday life. Parker and Tanner golfed some and hung out in the evenings, and Aubrey spent more time with Charlotte, "girl" Parker (Huse), and Maci. We also enjoyed some Taco Villa lunches, Sunday nights, and celebrating Aubrey's 19th birthday.

Aubrey and Parker 

I'm going to miss all of the family time when the kids leave. I'm glad Parker will only be a couple of hours away at an internship in Carlsbad, NM. He's hoping to come home on weekends. Also, I'm looking forward to a little weekend trip to Lubbock to go to the temple, shop, and got to the BYU/Tech basketball game.

We played some football and watched some football.

BYU Pop-Tarts Bowl 

BYU 25 Georgia Tech 21

Brian had to work, but I watched it. I thought these three college students would be more into it, but I guess sleep won out.

Aubrey, Charlotte & Parker

That evening, when Bri got home from work, Aubrey and Parker did a crazy workout together during one of the bowl games. I think they called it "Murph" and it included a one mile run, 300 squats, 200 pushups, 100 shoulder presses, and then another one mile run. It was impressive. (Brit and I work out together three times a week, and we are very proud that we have worked our way up to 10-20 pushups spread throughout our 30 minute workout. Also, I'm pretty sure running a mile would kill me off.)

We were so glad Benja joined us one Sunday for dinner and FHE before he headed back to BYU.

Me, Tan, Kaide, Erin Noel, Benja, Park, Aubrey

And of course we played some crazy games of Duck, Duck, Goose for the activity.

We also enjoyed playing my new card game, Survivor.

Sunday nights over the holidays are fun because the big cousins are home. It changes things up. Lauron and her boyfriend were in town before Christmas, and the Sunday after Christmas, Jake and Charity stopped by. It was fun to hear about all of the new happenings in their lives. (Charity and Jake are buying a house. Charity's adventures as a nurse. Lauron's plans for cosmetology, etc.)

Hud and Aub were happy to be back together. They are good friends even though they are over three years apart.

Aub 19, Hud 15 1/2

The older cousins started showing off their strength by doing squats while holding the younger cousins, and it reminded me of this Sunday night picture from 2017! Benja and Parker were pressing Tanner and Hudson.

The cousins then moved to the garage to see how much they could max on bench press. A lot of nights, we all just kind of hang out and talk. I love it when there is a little more action.

In preparation for his move to New Mexico, Parker cooked one billion eggs and made breakfast burritos.

He also stopped by to say goodbye to Gram and Grandpa.

It was fun to celebrate Aubrey's birthday before she headed back to school. I always double-shop for her at Christmas, and it's ready to go when her birthday rolls around on January 9th.

We took her b-day fruit pizza 8 houses over so we could share in the fun with Grandpa Vore.

The next night, we headed to Mamacitas for a dinner celebration.

Then everybody was off to school...including Erin to nursing school at Texas Tech, and Kaide to his first day Pre-K!

FHE-Bring on the Good Times

January 2026

A couple of times this month, out of the blue, Kaide will look around at everyone hanging out in the living room and say, "So, do you want to have Family Home Evening?" 

It is the sweetest thing. And of course, I say "Yes! Let's do it." (There may be a side eye or two from Parker and Tanner...)

I remember when our kids were young and would ask to do FHE during the middle of the day, and I would do it with them. (Bri was at work.)  It still makes my momma heart happy remembering.

This is what Family Home Evening currently looks like. Kaide usually says at least one of the prayers and picks one of the songs. The lesson portion last 3-5 minutes max. One of us will share a short story from the Friend magazine or do an activity lesson like fishing. 

Our fancy ruler fishing pole...

Lastly, Kaide gets to choose the activity.  That is a definite bonus of being the only child. This month his activity of choice has been either Duck, Duck, Goose or Hide and Seek. 

It's a party. The best kind of family party, and it makes me so happy that he wants to do it. 

Picture from December FHE. Tanner (hat), Benjamin, Parker, Kaide, Erin Noel, & Aubrey

Christmas Day 2025

Christmas Day 2025

We had a very relaxed Christmas Day. It didn't start until about 10:00 am because we were working around Tanner and Erin's schedule. First, they started by opening gifts at their house and then went to Erin's parents' house. Park and Aubrey were happy to sleep in, and after opening stockings, we enjoyed a delicious Christmas breakfast that Brian made for the family.

I found snackle boxes and filled them with sour candies, goldfish, chocolates, and a cheese and caramel popcorn mix. Parker's stocking included knives and a Carhart beanie. Tanner's had Mexican Coke, slippers for Erin, and a gift card, and Aubrey's had an Owala water bottle and a sweater.

I asked the kids to send me their wish list ideas with the link to the items included. LIFESAVER! I thought of my mom and my mother-in-law going from one store to the next-for years- to try to make everyone's Christmas magical. Bless them. I'm so grateful for the internet.

In addition to lots of regular gifts, I did a little bit of Thriftmas shopping this year. I found some books for Kaide, Erin, and my dad, and brand new golf shirts of Facebook Marketplace for the boys. 

Tanner with his new golf shoes. He had a golf Christmas this year and received lots of golf accessories from the Flores family, his family, and us. 

Erin showing off her cute pink Owala. (And their Christmas jammies are the best!) We also gave her some clothes,  puzzles, a travel hair dryer, etc.

Parker got this cute weighted bunny for Kaide. His big gifts were a rifle bag and a Carhart jacket.

I wasn't great at taking pictures this year...but Aub was in her usual spot on the recliner. She received lots of clothes and fun accessories like socks, earrings, and hair clips. 

We sure missed Brinley and Derek on Christmas Day. It was fun to see the kids exchange gifts with each other over Thanksgiving when they were in town.  They were also very thoughtful in the gifts they chose for Brian and me. (I want to have a record of some of what we exchanged because I think it's fun to look back on.) The kids gave some woodworking items. We all chuckled because nobody was exactly sure what they were giving him....so I'm just going to leave that there.

Here are some kind gifts they gave me. Aubrey: Bath and Body soap and a mascara she loves. Tanner and Erin: a soft sweater, pretty layered necklaces, a candle, and lip balm. Parker: the new Survivor game (He knows I love games and that show.) Brinley and Derek: several pretty gold bracelets and new cookie sheets.

For several years, Brian and I have decided on a budget and buy and wrap our own gifts. It has worked well for us and helped simplify such a busy time of year. We also know just the gifts to give-hee hee.  

I think giving and receiving thoughtful gifts is one of the many ways Christmas brings us closer together.

Bri, me (Erin), Tanner, Erin, Aubrey, Parker & Kaide

It's a bit blurry...but I sure loved chatting with Brinley and hearing about her Christmas day with the Atkinsons.

Kaide LOVED his 49ers helmet and new football. He also loved his new soccer jersey from his other grandparents.

Also...it's very clear "who wore it better!" (Sorry Parker...) Also, Park is very lucky that a certain 3 year old boy did not see him wearing the new helmet. I think there would have been tears.

Tanner and Erin were moving on to their next family gathering (!), and we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Vore's to say hello. It was so fun to end up there at the same time as the Birds.

Brit, Hudson, Adam, Grandpa, Gram

Bri, Parker, Braddock, Ella & Aub

I sure love these two. They are the best parents a girl could ask for. We got my mom some matching green pajamas, and of course, made a Shutterfly photo calendar for them. We also gave my dad a little Jeopardy calendar that has daily questions and the book, "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom.  Someone shared part of that book in their talk, and my dad had never heard of it. Now he is reading it to my mom each day. 

They, of course, spoiled me and Brian with a fun stocking filled with chocolate, treats, and stuffers like flashlights and lip balm. They also gifted us and the kids with envelopes filled with money so we can shop for something fun for ourselves. It's a much looked forward to and appreciated gift. (I am planning on using some of my Christmas money this year for a new Kindle and a massage! Thanks Mom and Dad!!!)

It's so weird to come home to a quiet, bare house for Christmas afternoon. We rested, read, and Park and I went on a long neighborhood walk.

Brian and I made dinner together. (I mentioned next year maybe we should just do a simple breakfast so he had more downtime on Christmas day. I hope he will consider it.) For our second year in a row, we loaded everything up and headed over to enjoy the meal with Grandpa. My mom goes to bed at 5:00, and so he is pretty homebound each evening. It was fun to be together. 

We finished our relatively quiet Christmas day by trying out the new Survivor game from Parker. He was so sneaky and deceptive in his game play, and if I am remembering correctly, he was the sole Survivor.