Clara turns 17

It's hard to believe we have a seventeen-year-old.

Clara got her birthday wish--school was cancelled due to weather, so she got to sleep in. Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast!

Heavy hang over. She was excited for her new Crocs, and she also got some jaw hair clips, a heating pad, and some new film for her Instax camera. Lucky girl!

The birthday girl has the best smile.

Everyone was happy with her choice of no-bake cheesecake with raspberries on top. Yum!

We love you, Sweetpea!
 

Snow storms

 This month we have had several snows. In fact, I can't remember when we've had snow stay on the ground for this long (almost the whole month). It's the first time I can remember my kids complaining, "I wish the snow would melt." Still, we've enjoyed some fun times outside.

Clayton got to experience the snow for the first time.

He tolerated it well.

Prepping the hot tub.

Living on the edge.

I think Benjy feels tired of all the snow gear. Minimalism is the way to go.

Robbie and his friend Helaman made this sweet snow cave with a tunnel going through.

And check out these giant icicles the boys found hanging from our neighbor's porch!

6th Family Awards Dinner

 It's hard to believe this was our sixth family awards dinner.

Clara had a hard time coming this year, but I am really glad she joined us. This year we mixed things up and had dinner by Vito's, and it was lovely not feeling stressed about cooking as well as doing the awards, etc. We enjoyed some slices of delicious black mousse cake from Olive Garden as dessert.

This year, Benjy received the award for Loving--accepting his new younger brother, forgiving his older siblings when they tease him, and giving wide-open hugs.

Clara received the award for Grit--not giving up through a rainy girl's camp, a tough week at PERT, or frustrating days at school.

Robbie received the award for Helpfulness--raking leaves, helping with Clayton, serving his younger siblings, mowing the lawn, and helping his teachers.

Henry received the award for Friendship--being a good friend to his brothers, to his classmates at school, and to his neighbor friends.

I am thankful for each member of our family--for their strengths and weaknesses and for who they are as individuals. Truly, each soul is precious to us and to Heavenly Father.

Christmas 2021

 We had a lovely Christmas this year. 

We made a list as a family at the beginning of December of things we wanted to accomplish, what we valued at Christmas. Overall, we did some fun things, and I think next year we can do even better at service during the season.

This image of Benjy in his reindeer nose from school just was too funny.

I was released as the Primary music leader after nearly 4.5 years (sniff sniff!) and called as the Relief Society activity committee leader. This Christmas wreath activity took a lot of time and stress for me, but overall it went well.

It feels really good to feel that our family is complete.

Clayton's smiles just light us all up.

Basically this photo captures what any family activity is like now--not picture perfect but right in our own way.

Don't you just love this adorable outfit that my friend, Karisa, brought home from London?

This ten dollar purchase from Michael's brought a lot of fun busyness for the boys as they colored all the sides (correcting Benjy's additions that he tried to make).

Benjy was an adorable angel in the preschool play.

This year our graham cracker houses used up Halloween candy that the Switch Witch had exchanged for a gift back in early November. And thanks to hot glue, these houses were a lot less stressful than they could have been for me.

Plus Robbie really liked using the glue gun and designing it how he wanted it to be.

Henry told me how he wanted to make his base, and then he added all his sweet decorations.

Rock on.

Benjy was mostly excited about the prospect of eating the candy on his house, which he proceeded to do within a day or two.

My house :-).

A highlight of the Christmas season was having Grandma and Grandpa here from Arizona!

And they babysat the kids so that we could go up to Philadelphia to stay with Nana and Bapa who have started their mission there and go to the temple (for the first time for me since before Covid) while they watched Clayton. It was awesome having 10+ hours talking in the car about all the family things--chores, routines, family vacations, values, etc. 

It was also so great to see my parents in their new habitat as they prepare for this new adventure, serving the Lord by serving as seminary and institute missionaries for eighteen months.

We went to this really yummy restaurant, the Urban Farmer, while we were up there and just enjoyed being together.

And the temple was wonderful.

Grandpa and Clayton.

I can't remember why Daddy was showing Robbie how to saw something, but it was such a sweet image that I had to capture it.

Christmas morning, the kids were so excited to come down that Robbie got his binoculars out to try to make out the name tags.

Lining up on the stairs (with Benjy holding Clayton for one quick second!).

Merry Christmas, Grandma!

Hard to believe this is our twentieth Christmas together. !! 

Opening stockings.

Thanking Grandma and Grandpa for their fun cereal/oatmeal gifts for each of the kids.

We enjoyed our Joseph and Mary dinner on the floor on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas evening we had the missionaries over as well as the Mabunda family and the Loos family, following a more traditional Dunford Christmas buffet, complete with Christmas crackers.

The kids table, plus Grandpa who was keeping watch.

Connie Mabunda is a new treasured friend.

The family enjoyed lots of games of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, a fun and easy to learn card game, as well as Hiss (which the kids enjoyed, except when they were losing or when I was taking a picture  ;-)).

Enjoying the new foosball table that Grandpa took hours assembling for us.

Thanks again for coming, Grandma and Grandpa!

Merry Christmas!