Farewell to Family and Welcoming the New Year

We made it back from Bryce Canyon a few hours ahead of a big snowstorm--just in time to shovel.  Corner lots are a lot of work!

Being December 31st, it was still our month to shovel the church walks as well.

At least the snow is fun for play.

First order of business was undecorating the tree.  By this point it had turned into a tinderbox.

At least the tip was cute on the back porch.

We tried to take the kids for a ride on Trax downtown, but apparently the trains weren't running for the holiday.  At least we got to enjoy City Creek and a Crumbl cookie at Deseret Book.

Naturally we enjoyed all of our Zoe snuggles at home...

...and even brought a new pup into the mix!  We'd been petsitting this adorable dog Rosie at her house but decided she looked chilly so we brought her to our place to warm up.

Zoe and Rosie promptly got to work marking their territory on our living room rug.  After they both did their business within an impressive five seconds of each other, we declared it a tie (and Rosie got to go back to her place.)

New Year's Eve!  Let the celebrations begin.

To celebrate, we invited our friends Zizheng and Melanie over to share 3 different soups and some spider cake.  Yum!

Truth to be told, this picture makes me cringe a little bit.   A few days after this photo was taken Zizheng tested positive for Covid and my Dad followed shortly after.  (Callie too.)  Thankfully all had been vaccinated and were okay, although no one would say it was fun.  

Back to happier thoughts--fondue!

A rousing round of What Do You Meme.

Turning 2021 right on its head!

Cuddling together to watch the New Year's ball drop.  Covid-wise, Omicron in 2022 certainly wasn't the improvement we hoped for yet.  Let's hope the rest of the year is a bit more promising!

Come New Year's Day, NomiAnn and Papa Kay had to get back on the road to Omaha, but not before pulling out the Potato Canyon.  Boys will be boys! 

Securing ammunition.

Ramrodding the tater.

Turns out aerosol hairspray truly is flammable.  Just a flick of the igniter and boom!  Dry Creek canyon gets introduced to Tater Tots.  If ten years from now Utah is dealing with potatoes as an invasive species, you'll know we are to blame.

Ready, Aim, Fire!

Success!  The look of pure joy says it all.

Sadly, NomiAnn and Papa Kay were on their way within half an hour of potato launch.  There was only one way to drown our sorrow--copious quantities of sugar.  Gingerbread houses and gingersnaps to the rescue!

Tasty as tic tacs. 

Eila, Anders, Adam, Callie, NomiAnn, and Papa Kay--thank you all so much for spending your Christmas with us!  We were so very happy to have this special time together.  Next time we'll even try to keep the coronovirus to ourselves instead of sending it along as a souvenir.