What a GLORIOUS Christmas break we had! First time having all 4 of my kiddos home for the holidays in over 2 years. We made sure to fit everything in--a trip up to Pine for a cabin stay, puppies rescued, face masks, another puppy rescued, church, temple, good food, great movies, and other than everyone getting a little sick, we had a blast!
Cabin in Pine: No snow so we fit in lots of Pickleball and walked all over the town. Kids had a great time finding cool things in Antiques/Thrift shops. We took both our dogs this trip and apparently that's all I took pictures of:)
Rocco on the Pickleball Court
E & Lola
Tatum got these really cool new face masks so we all had to join in:
Then Max & Carlie decided to re-create a few photos of my younger brother & I way back in the 90s😂. Nice try but Trav & I wore them better:). And Travis had WAY more body hair😂
Christmas Eve: Spider Man "No Way Home" and then our traditional PJs, Christmas lights, & Sonic shakes. (My kids are HUGE ICarly fans so hence the ICarly Penny tees--Carlie-"Bacon & Legs", Tatum-"Gibby Fries", Ethan-"Liquid Chicken", and Max-"Noodle Booty"
Christmas Day: Presents and then we hit Harkins to watch "American Underdog." Our Elf, Buddy, really went all out this year and got the kids the FUNNIEST gifts! Tatum got a super dooper 3 in one pooper scooper--Black Friday Amazon deal and it's her job at home that she ALWAYS FORGETS to do so hopefully her new kit will help her remember. Carlie got a mug that says, "I Hate Being Sexy But I Play Oboe so I Can't Help It." And for YEARS now the boys have complained about how they have never received a KMI coat--Max steals mine every chance he gets. "KMI Growers" (KMI stands for Knoop-Meeker Inc) is the name of my dad's farm in NM. And Papa Frank is always bragging on my boys' "squash picking" abilities. I guess they're REALLY good at spotting ripe ones and also really good at cutting the stems just right. So it's been our family joke for years now. Coats were finally purchased, I created a KMI logo, AND found the best embroidery lady to complete my vision. Here's my my (I mean Buddy's) masterpiece:
The girls got this neck massager for their dad who HATES cats:)
Matching "Cranky Pants"
She LOVES her stocking stuffer!
Christmas Sunday: It's the last Sunday for a favorite family of ours (the Garretts) who have been released and will be headed back to their geographical ward. Just won't feel the same without these guys:
Jackson, Max, & Logan
Jackson, Max, Logan, & Alison
Christmas Puppies: (always seems to be one...or two... or 9...). A momma dog and her 7 pups (from the Rez) found their way to me (thru a FB post) as a Lost Our Home foster. They are currently at my friend's house (Emily). They will stay there for the next little while. Another little 3 month old pup (from the Rez) needed a place to stay as well so I have him for the next little bit. We decided to call him "Peter Parker" and we are all just in LOVE with this little guy:
Could we have fit anything else in??? Seriously heaven on earth being together again and doing our favorite things. Who's knows what life will be like a year from now but for today, I am happy and fulfilled. I LOVE MY FAMILY.
We made a BIG purchase this break--Carlie's professional Howarth Oboe!!! We've been needing to do this awhile but with her mission and everything else that has happened these past few years, it just kept getting put off.
Luckily for us, the top oboe technician/dealer lives right here in Mesa, AZ. So we made an appointment and went on Christmas Eve. Hannah (aka "The Oboe Fairy") had about 12 different oboes for her to try. It was an awesome process. Hannah was extremely knowledgeable and so helpful to us as she played on every single one of them and finally narrowed it down to one.
True story: Hannah sat in the room with us for most of the 1.5 hour appointment and listened to Carlie play. She cried TWICE and actually had to leave the room the second time. She was just so moved and impressed with Carlie's abilities. When she gathered herself the second time, she came back into the room and with tears STILL in her eyes tells me, "This girl DESERVES a good oboe!!!" It was so touching (but made me feel a little guilty as we should have done this earlier:). But it's DONE!!! She has her brand new/top of the line/crack resistant Howarth LXV oboe--new name coming soon!
(We were just cracking ourselves up with this video as Carlie has had MANY friends wedding dress shopping this year--this oboe with continue paying for her school, a husband....maybe not😂)
Well....they did it AGAIN!!! Such a fun UNDEFEATED season--first time we've done that. Not only were these girls undefeated, they also never trailed behind in a game. Probably my most favorite DQ team of all time. They had the BEST mix of girls on this team--with of course our fab 5. Could not ask for better coaches than Coach Scott & Chris.
Tatum was mostly 2nd Baseman and Catcher this season. We did actually get her to pitch one inning--which she got 3 up and 3 out so we can't figure out WHY she doesn't like pitching. But that's okay when she ROCKS every single other position.
The Heart & Soul of the team: Chloe & Tatum
The Fab Five: Rily, Marly, Maddie, Chloe, & Tatum
Tatum & Alexis BEST Cheerleader of the team--"COME ON BABE!!!"
Tatum & Megan: The two French Horn/Piano Player Catchers/2nd Basemen
Max and his beautiful date (and girlfriend) Brielle: He had a great time. The day date consisted of watching cartoons and day and eating cereal (Brielle chose this:). And then after dinner at Applebee's, the dance.
Max absolutely LOVES the Heritage school dances. He was officially dubbed the next "Hype Man" as his good friend, Cooper, is getting ready to graduate. I know Max will fulfill this responsibility to the fullest. I've said this many times before and I'll say it again: Max is a party. Wherever the most fun is, that's where he's at (and usually leading it:) and sometimes this gets him in trouble😂. He keeps our home lively and full of fun. How boring our lives will be when he leaves.
Here's a video of the mosh pit that happened in the boy's bathroom--apparently this is a thing and the girls do one in their bathroom as well...
Our family has had the privilege of serving in the Santan Branch for the past 3 years and we have LOVED IT! Families are asked to serve for a period of 3-ish years so I know our time is coming up soon. I have served in the Primary the entire time we have been there and it is going to CRUSH my heart to leave these kiddos. I guess in making this post, I'm hoping I'm somehow preparing myself for the release. I never thought I could love other kids as much as my own but here I am. I wish I could take these kiddos into my own home and protect them from everything that lies ahead of them in their teen years in Sacaton. But how grateful I am to know these people and the close associations I have with the other families and missionaries that I have served with--seriously, even the missionaries are like my own sons. These are some of my most favorite/treasured memories:
This is Leelee M. She comes to church every single week she can (which is most). There are a few Sundays a year that she spends with her other grandma out in Blackwater but does her best to be back because she says, "Sis. Meeker, I HAD to come back because I knew you would miss me way too much." How correct she is.💕
This is Hunter J. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this gentle giant. He was one of my first kiddos I met as he was in my 10 year old class. I don't see him as often as I would like but every time he does come, he ALWAYS finds me to give me a hug.
My husband was honored to baptize both Lydia & Leona M. Their grandmother, Shiela, is one of the most noble people I have ever met.
Activity Day Shenanigans:
Grace J. & Me (Sis. Critchfield Photobomb)
McKay
Tallan
Grace J.
Our Missionaries:
White, Max, Miller, & Hinckley
YM lined up: Aiden, Logan, Carter, Max, Jackson, Ashton, & Miller (who is 6'9")
This is the Meeker family residing in beautiful, sunny Chandler, AZ. Chris and I have 4 beautiful kids: Carlie (23), Ethan (21), Maxwell (18), and Tatum (16). Thanks for stopping by:)
