Wrapping it up with a bow

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We flew home from Mexico on December 1st and launched right into all the fun of December.  We spent our first weekend home decorating for Christmas and attending the Nativity Festival.  




Then suddenly, Kenna was celebrating her 14th birthday!


Man, we love this girl.  She sparkles.  She always has projects in mind and plans for an event or a story or an activity.


Kenna was so patient about her birthday - she wanted a party - that wasn't able to happen.  But I think she ended up very happy in the end.  Finally mid-January we were able to snag her her very own guitar and she has been SO thrilled and playing it all the live-long day since she got it.



We may have left the sunshine of Mexico, but we found some pretty awesome ways to keep cozy by the fire.  Books galore, yes please!



Because December is - you know - such a slow month, I decided to repaint Brynne's room before she came home for Christmas.



Faith met with the Bishop for her baptismal interview!  She was well-prepped by her mama and knew how to spell Albuquerque - always the last question this Bishop asks the kids when he interviews them.



Christmas was lovely.  Ours was quiet and peaceful with just four of the girls home.  But Santa brought us snow that evening....so we sort of kinda had a white Christmas.

















Did you know Josh had eye surgeries in December?  He had a lens replacement done in each eye (each a week apart) and now no longer wears glasses.  It took us a few days to get used to his face being slightly underdressed.  But we definitely liked the pirate look while he had it!



A few days after Christmas we had a one day Templeman reunion and in spite of a few sick people (and then all of us getting sick the next week or two), it was really delightful to be all together.  
We opened some gifts, ate lunch together, and hung out chatting all day.  It was the best!













The finale of the year was Faith's baptism on December 31, 2021
She was able to have Brynne, Hannah, Keaton, Nova and Milo all there, along with the normal fam.  Only Logan was unable to attend in person - but thank goodness for covid-zoom calls.  That is seriously one of the silver linings of covid!   Faith's grandparents and cousins from all across the world were there to support her and that meant so much to her. 











Also - do you know how much joy I get from these four faces?  My three adult children are so amazing - and I'm loving the extra people they are bringing into my life.  Group video calls make my heart happy.  



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