Happy 13th & 19th Birthdays!

We really enjoy reading Tanner's extensive weekly emails.  It helps us feel a part of what's going on in the Pittsburg, PA mission.  This past week he shared how surprised he was to open the local paper and find a picture of himself (with his full name) next to an article about the Veteran's Place where he and his companion served during the Thanksgiving season.  Tanner also happened to be in a youtube video about this B.O.B Veteran's Place Tiny House project and Aaron found another photo-op picture on FB recently.  Obviously, it's not about Tanner but it's neat to see how the Lord uses many avenues for getting the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints into the media.

And while I personally don't use FB, Aaron is good to post tidbits about his missionary son since he has many non-member friends that follow him.  Here's a screen shot of Aaron's birthday wishes for Tanner (even though Tanner can't view FB).  It's all about sharing the gospel!

Yesterday morning I woke up to a text message from a member family in the Penn Hills area that had Tanner and his companion over to make gingerbread houses and "celebrate" Tanner's birthday with dairy-free egg nog on Friday night - December 16th.  I felt so grateful that there are such wonderful people in the Pittsburgh, PA area looking out for our now 19 year old son!  Wow - we watched home videos of his 3rd birthday today...time flies.  Happy 19th Elder!  You'll read this in 20 months....

Saturday morning - Anna was up earlier than usual for a weekend.  She's been pretty darn excited about her birthday this year.  Elsie was sweet and wanted to surprise Anna and make 'white' pancakes for her breakfast.  Afterwards, Anna selected one gift to open and waited until later in the day to open the others.

 The traditional breakfast with Dad turned into lunch with Dad this year.  Subway was it!

Payton, Aubrey, Anna 

It's a no party year but Anna did have two friends over to 'celebrate' in a typical teenage sort of way.  When Jantzen returned from playing in two basketball games, Aaron had to take him to clean the HCP office.  These girls decided to tag along so they could stop at the store to buy fake nails (of course!).  They spent time creating masterpieces with these nails, eating yummy food, having a hot cocoa bar, singing happy birthday, eating cake and ice cream and watching the movie "Miracles from Heaven" before the night was over.  Anna enjoyed her special day immensely.  And now we have another teenager in the house!

Sunday clothes, shoes/boots, backpack, dry erase and fine-tip sharpies.
Thanks to both sets of G-parents for extra cash!

Birthday dinner - ravioli!

We love Anna and her enthusiasm for life.  She is a spark of sunshine and her love is infectious!

Quinn - indoor soccer team

The elementary school hosted a "Festival of Trees" on Thursday evening.  The children decorated individual paper trees and each class selected a theme for which they also decorated a real tree.  The students learned various Christmas songs which were recorded earlier in the week so we could view them from a big-screen TV in the foyer.  There were cookies and punch in the gym along with Santa.  We didn't stick around for long because Brinley was also playing in the MHS Music Department's Christmas Concert.  It's my favorite one of the year with the band, choirs and orchestras combined.  The finale always brings me to tears because the music is SO incredible.  I may not be able to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas program but I sure treasure what I can attend.  Well done Brinley! Somehow she and her friends also managed to get tickets for the newly released Star Wars movie later that night.

It was a dress-up like Rudolph day and Elsie's nose shows remnants of that.

Here's the waterfall near the entrance of our neighborhood.  Poor Aaron has spent a lot of time plowing our driveway this past week.  I shoveled the front walks at least four times on Friday.  We received over a foot of snow.  And the high temperature yesterday was -2 degrees!?!  With all the snow, our mudroom area has been wet and cluttered with snow gear.  As the kids were getting ready to deliver our 12 Days of Christmas gift on Wednesday evening, Elsie slipped and hit her head on our granite top bench.  Aaron walked in the door from picking up Jantzen from basketball try-outs just in time to drive Elsie back into town.  Fortunately, the Community Care was still open at 8:45pm and Elsie got a staple in her forehead rather than stitches for less scarring.  She was a trooper!

Jantzen - center front row with black knee pads

Jantzen's basketball journey with Coach Merrill has been three years in the making.  It's been an interesting experience.  After a full week of try-outs, we found out Friday night that Jantzen made the 8th grade basketball team for MJH and will now transition to Coach Wilson.  This will be a very different experience for these boys.  Most of them have been playing together for several years and Jantzen's entire team is now the 8th grade team plus 3 additional players.  We find out more in a parent meeting tomorrow...