Reid and Stefani Adopt

 Isaac participated in the Brevard Phoenix Cup this weekend.  He only plays on Saturdays so we can attend church on the Sabbath and keep the Sabbath Day the Lord's Day.  Isaac has always been very responsive to this--never complaining that he doesn't get to play on Sunday.  His team has gone on to win a couple of tournaments with him helping them on Saturday and not going on Sunday.  I hope they continue to be understanding of our religious views.   Reid took a video of the one of the games they played on Saturday.  Isaac makes a sweet goal at 61:47 on the video, if you are ever interested.  He is player 10 in blue.  This was their second game on Saturday, Jan. 20th, 2024.  I was hoping against hope that someone from our team would score against this team--because our boys were playing up against the 13 year olds, and our team is all 12 year olds and under.  I was super excited when our boys scored, and even more excited that it hap...

 And the adventure begins!  Reid took a big leap of faith and took the kids on a ski trip by himself this year.  I stayed home to work and cough my lungs out.  They went to Pocatello, ID, and stayed with Reid's parents.  It was very quiet at home with them gone! Reid and the boys on the airplane. Esther on the plane...as she sees snow for the first time in a year. Geared up and snotty. Geared up and rosy. Geared up and sleepy.   Up, up and away! Lava Hot Springs break. With animal poses.  And icicles. Issac gets to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead for the first time.  Grandpa Archibald was happy to escort him. Reid with Isaac at the Pocatello Temple. And I'm happy to report that after a red-eye fight, my little ones are back!  What a whirlwind trip they had!  Now to catch up with school work!  ... And sleep.

  Christmas was low-key this year...except, see those ski bags in the background?

 Jaydon was baptized November 19th, 2023 at the church.  Isaac and Esther were his witnesses.  Both sets of grandparents came, as did some uncles and aunts from both sides of the family.  A big shout out to Grandpa Archibald for the talk and Charley Carroll for playing the piano, and Costco for the pumpkin pie we served everybody afterwards! The Archibalds from L-R: Esther, Stefani, Jaydon, Reid, & Isaac Jaydon and Dad in baptismal whites. The witnesses.  Isaac and Esther are serving in an official capacity as witnesses and their names are on Jaydon's baptismal record. Mom loving on the newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  

This year for Esther's birthday we didn't do a great job of getting pictures.  We had family for Thanksgiving, for Jaydon's baptism, and also Esther's birthday all rolled into one.  I have been super busy trying to figure out how to manage a new career with all the old duties still going on in the background.  So for Esther's birthday we just had presents.  She opted not to do a cake for her birthday this year.  Her birthday party was a trip to the zoo with her friend, Aspen.  New pjs for her birthday. Isaac feeds the birds at the zoo. Esther gets another fan favorite:  a stuffed Iguana. Aspen, Esther, and Jaydon at the zoo. Esther's present stash. Esther feeding the birds. Esther and Aspen feeding the birds.