ANOTHER ROYAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 2020
Can 2020 end soon enough? When we were initially advised of a COVID “shutdown” in mid-March (i.e. “two weeks to flatten the curve”), we had no idea that we would still be living under various stages of the COVID-19 world (including significant restrictions in religious assembly) in December.
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| Royal Family Reunion - July 2020 |
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| BYU v. Houston, Oct. 2020 |
(Thank goodness the United States Supreme Court spoke up recently in favor of protecting religious freedom - even if only by 5-4.) So, what good came from 2020? Well, COVID could not stop our 11th grandchild, Mila, from coming into the world, nor did it prevent the Royal Family Reunion in July, where we got to meet Mila for the first time. Also, COVID motivated us to do some home renovating (which we had been putting off for years because “we’ll never get our money out of it”, but after 27 years in our home, we figured it was time to step up). Sure, it was a total nightmare - but at least it took our minds off COVID. Although the virus ruined our BYU home football season (tickets were canceled - and we did not make any home games), we managed to fly out to Houston to both watch BYU play and defeat the Houston Cougars and spend some time with family residing there (Colin and Jen Kelly). We got to Utah thrice in 2020 (July family reunion, September for Mila’s blessing, and a surprise trip for Royal this month to see his cousins) and drove to California twice (with Craig and Kelli’s family, February (Legoland) and September (Beachland)). We also became proficient in Zoom related stuff.
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Seal watching, La Jolla, CA, Feb. 2020
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Something we came to appreciate more deeply in 2020 is the value of the freedom we have so long enjoyed in the United States of America and what life could be like without it. It is a most precious and rare commodity. Through all of the challenges of 2020, we are filled with gratitude to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves us and continues to bless us in so many ways. Even in brief periods of darkness and despair, His hand is extended, ever offering His saving embrace and light to show us the way. We love the celebration of Christmas where the world recognizes that He lives, He loves, He comforts, He blesses, He heals, He saves, and He exalts all who seek, love, serve and faithfully follow Him. The year 2020 has been like no other we have experienced - unique in so many ways. While we are glad to see it come to an end, we are grateful for lessons learned and blessings received. We have a heightened appreciation for family. Below are a few family tidbits on how our posterity managed their COVID days of 2020.
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| Royal’s baptism, March 7, 2020 (Look at all that family!!!!) |
Brad, Whitney, Beckham, Zoe, Kai and Mila
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| Mila's blessing day, September 2020 |
Brad and Whitney welcomed their new family addition in 2020, Mila, in early summer. Mila seemed to have a difficult time settling into earth life for the first 3-4 months, but is now happy all the time (which means everyone else in their home is a little happier, too). The highlight excursion of the year for the kids was a pre-COVID trip to Florida in January to visit Harry Potter World. (Okay, let’s be honest - that trip was also probably the highlight for Brad and Whitney, too. Who doesn’t love Harry Potter World?) The family spent their spring COVID quarantine re-landscaping their Utah home, while reportedly almost losing their minds with everyone home all day - every day (ha). Their family spent the summer COVID quarantine finishing their basement so the kids can now go downstairs without the fear of massively huge and scary spiders milling about.
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| Beckham & Zoe - X Gamers |
Beckham (9) and Zoe (7) are thrilled to be back in school (even with having to wear masks). Brad introduced Beckham and Zoe to snowboarding and they love taking on the slopes of Utah together. Kai is totally in love with his Harry Potter train set traveling in a magical circle around the family Christmas tree and Mila just smiles a lot. Quotables: As the kitchen timer went off on one occasion, Zoe asked of her parents: “Does that timer mean it's time for me to go out on my own to discover my destiny?” (Isn’t that kind of what Harry Potter did?) Whitney sent the following text to Brad: "I'm pretty sure the heater in my car is broken." Brad later checked the car to discover that the air temp was turned all the way to low (ha) - crisis averted. |
| The Fearsome Foursome |
Craig, Kelli, Royal, Finley and Monroe
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| San Diego Temple, Jan 2020 |
One of the highlights of 2020 for the Friedel family occurred in March when Royal was baptized. (It occurred the weekend immediately preceding the COVID shutdown, where there was no restricted attendance and no masks required in the church.) The entire family (Royals and Friedels) was together for that grand occasion, which was pretty amazing. Craig continues his lawyer life at Solomon Dwiggins and Freer, although working more from home in 2020. Craig loves being the family handyman, which this year included redoing the kitchen (and by “family” we include Maralea, who calls on Craig to serve as Mr. Fix-it whenever she can). Kelli is still doing her hair thing, but has had to cut back to keep up with their three children. She loves music and plans to learn to play guitar in 2021. (Wasn’t that guitar thing supposed to begin in 2020?)
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| A COVID Beach Day |
Royal (8) (3rd grade) loves all things sports (recently introduced to lacrosse and loves it, also got into street hockey during COVID), likes being the big brother, watching and quoting movies (and song lyrics), likes real school more than the online thing and enjoys card games. Before discovering he actually likes real school, as Royal returned to school in January 2020 at the conclusion of Christmas break, just before walking out the front door, Royal said: “Bye Mom. See you in seven cruel hours.” Finley (4) started pre-school and loves it, loves Blippy and helping fix things with his daddy. He runs 100 MPH all day long, but loves to smile, snuggle and give kisses. Finley learned how to ride a big boy bike during quarantine and loves playing at the park and being outside. When told he had to wear a mask to accompany his mommy to the store, Finley came running downstairs with a Star Wars stormtrooper mask (covering his entire head) and said: “I’m ready!” Monroe (18 months) learned to walk during COVID days. She loves to smile, blow kisses, and gives the best hugs. Monroe loves all animals (stuffed and real - including sharks, mostly of the puppet variety), and FaceTime calls on her mommy’s phone.
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| Legoland!! |
David, Kambria, Aubrey Macie and Benson
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| Little Cottonwood Canyon hike, June 2020 |
David and Kambria are enjoying every opportunity to spruce up their new home in Riverton, UT. David is growing into his role of handyman and loves working on projects around the house, playing guitar for the girls, working for nCino, beating all-comers at cornhole, actually learned how to do a backflip from the ground (not the trampoline), makes the best cinnamon rolls, and coached Aubrey's soccer team in the fall. Kambria stays busy keeping up with Benson, enjoys cooking, is learning to cut boy's hair (ha - poor Benson), loves pickleball, yard work (she planted her first garden ever in 2020), and loves having David work from home.
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| Tiny Dancers - recital, June 2020 |
Aubrey (7) (2nd grade), loves playing piano, soccer, drawing, mastered the cartwheel, enjoys school and all learning, and is excited to relay that she has a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Aubrey eats up books (literally). When asked about why pages of her books were missing, Aubrey said: “I keep eating the pages because they smell so good. Whoever made the books made the pages smell good and that’s why I eat them.” Macie (5) (preschool), loves dancing, gives the best snuggles, played soccer for the first time in 2020, loves playing with Benson, loves changing outfits (multiple times a day), and enjoys helping her mother in the kitchen. Macie does not let anyone push her around. During one particular swimming lesson, Macie’s teacher threw some diving toys in the pool for Macie to retrieve them from the bottom. Macie looked at her teacher and said: “No, you go get them! You threw them.” Benson (1+) is literally into everything (ha), loves jumping on the tramp, eating, sleeping, snuggling with his mommy, following his dad around with tools, and loves dogs (which he calls “Nanas”). Jordan, Ashlee and Reese |
| Halloween Shepherding |
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| Vegas swim day |
ls. She's been doing a lot of projects to keep busy, like redoing the kitchen this year by adding laminate countertops, backsplash, and other things. Ashlee also refinished dressers and painted furniture. And, they planted a garden for the first time and actually grew a lot of tomatoes that were delicious! Reese turned one in January 2020. She has grown up incredibly fast this year and loves spending time with Mommy and Daddy (mostly Mommy, per Jordan). Her best friends are Blue and Conner (her grandparent's dog and cat) and she pretends to talk to "Boo" and "Conya" on her phone all the time. Reese knows the Daniel Tiger and Caillou theme songs by heart and is constantly singing them. Her new hobby is watching football with Daddy and cheering on the BYU Cougars, with her favorite chant: "Gooooo Cougars!"
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| Pre-COVID swim day |
Merry Christmas and Happy 2021
The year 2020 was memorable for LOTS of reasons - from COVID shutdowns and related stuff to a crazy Presidential election. But, we love the best memories of 2020, which surround our wonderful family and beloved friends. We look forward to the best of times to come. There is ALWAYS hope in Christ!
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| All our grandchildren, July 2020 (ha, and this pic was the best one we got) |
2020 BONUS FAMILY PICS
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| Papa found his HS jacket |
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| Finley, proud nursery grad (Jan 2020) |
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| Monroe's first beach day, Feb. 2020 |
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| Royal, flag football (Go Ducks!), Jan. 2020 |
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| Reese enjoying Sunday School, Jan. 2020 |
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| Benson sandwich |
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| Happy Pre-COVID New Year (ha, we had no idea what was coming) |
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| Kai leaps high |
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| Soccer Sisters |
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| Beckham chillin' |
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| Kai takes a lunch break |
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| Zoe pooling around |
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| Sunday lunch bunch |
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| Princess Macie |
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| Royal & Great Grandpa Royal |
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| Guys trip |
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| Easter family pic |
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| Beatlemania |
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| Maralea loves to see the temple |
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| Mike can still jump for joy, too |
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| Cousins summer party day |
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| Monroe sharing Papa's awesome smoothie (sure, it looks gross, but it's sooo good) |
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| Finley's favorite witch |
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| Fun when Monroe turned one |
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| Ladies at "the Rock" in Pine Valley |
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| The COVID Gray Beard was weird |
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| Avatar Mar |
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| Non-Avatar Mar - hanging out and about |
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| With the boys playing with toys |
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| Last day of COVID beard (ha, couldn't wait to shave it off) |
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| Happy birthday Jordan |
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| Winner, winner, family dinner! |
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| Parking lot kite flying fun in Utah (lost it in a tree) |
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| Riverton backyard lunch bunch (Nana and Papa, always reppin') |
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| Pretty women! |
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| Easter weekend fun |
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| Nana like's the funny pics, too |
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| Little Cottonwood Canyon |
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| Mother, son, and son's son |
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| The whole group in the hiking loop |
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| Macie takes center stage |
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| Aubrey tiny dancer |
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| Pre-Mila arrival COVID break |
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| Macie shows appreciation to her adoring fans |
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| Zoe has a great smile |
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| Finley likes flying his kite |
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| Always love a visit with Dad |
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| Jordan, Ashlee and Reese enjoy a family summer walk |
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| Swimming at Great Grandpa Royal's house |
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| Monroe loves dogs |
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| Fourth of July cabin visit |
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| Monroe approves of the fireworks show |
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| Father/son Independence Day salute |
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| Patriotically dressed on Independence Day |
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| It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing |
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| Benson and Monroe dig the playground sawdust |
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| The lineup, one through ten (couldn't get no. 11 in) |
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| Cousin twinsees |
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| David sets up cousin Nintendo time |
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| Kai likes da "Y" |
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| Cousin buds on a blanket that looks like suds |
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| Nana meets Mila |
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| Still got muscle to show on the big six-oh |
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| Mike's 60th surprise shared with all these guys |
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| A sunny Utah day, celebrated the slip & slide way |
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| Grandkids one through four played video games some more |
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| Kai got a "happy birthday to you" at age two |
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| 9-Square Volleyball enjoyed by all |
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| Sand box fun 'til the day's near done |
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| Aubrey zeroes in on a cornhole win |
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| Half time break for Nana's sake |
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| Nana did just fine, celebrating fifty-nine |
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| Papa surprised Nana with some birthday bling |
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| A Monroe bad hair day is still okay |
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| Vegas summer day the Grandpa pool way |
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| Reese plays it cool as a rule |
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| Jordan and Ashlee visit the Vegas Strip during a summer "Boo COVID!" trip |
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| Jordan, Ashlee and Reese came to stay for a little more than just a day |
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| Reese celebrates "Shark Week" with this Great White kiss on the cheek |
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| Reese and Roe share some doughnuts to go |
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| We got "photo bombed" by somebody's crazy mom |
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| We found a place to rally not far from Pine Valley |
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| Give hitchhiking Blimpy a lift |
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| Aubrey is set for her first day of school |
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| Reese gets away on a family beach day |
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| It was 106 degrees in San Diego, CA - Sept. 2020 |
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| Royal's first day smile, wide as a mile |
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| Grandpa Benson would like a word |
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| More Nintendo, with Uncle David running the show |
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| Reese pre-three glee |
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| Aubrey and Zoe eliminate all bore by drawing on the floor |
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| Beckham and Royal love pictures and pancakes |
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| Beckham and Zoe play on the sidewalk all day |
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| Kai is in a breakfast food mood |
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| Happy birthday, Brad |
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| Kai is also a sidewalk scooter guy |
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| Cousin trampoline scene |
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| Meeting Mila |
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| Zoe displays her skateboard ways |
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| Aubrey looks a tad big for that two-wheeled rig |
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| Sister and brother visit their mother |
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| View from our hospital room - Kelli's in person Zoom |
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| Hospital room view of our four - hmmm, probably should have taken a few more |
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| Mace is ready to race |
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| Papa, Look who's at the door to hang out some more |
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| Aubrey gives Nana a snug hug |
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| BYU/Houston game which the Cougars won was awesome fun |
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| This Texas Trump display made our day |
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| Took this batch to a pumpkin patch |
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| Peter Pan thinks Tinkerbell is swell |
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| Pumpkin carving is fun - especially when it's done |
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| Peter Pan is Wendy's man |
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| Halloween night done right |
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| Ammon guarding the sheep, severed arms left in a heap |
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| A Royal cutie . . . no, wait - a beauty |
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| Great smile, no less, wearing her mommy's toddler dress |
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| Pizza pre-swim, something we did on a whim |
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| Benson is glad to sample pizza from his dad |
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| Jacuzzi party on a mid-November night |
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| Aubrey's game was sunk after the Macie slam dunk |
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| Benson, happy and alert outside in his flannel shirt |
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| David and Kam successfully made it through the Fire Swamp |
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| Finley does just fine with the Batman climb |
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| Pre-Thanksgiving Weekend, the official kids table |
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| Pre-Thanksgiving Weekend dinner with part of our crew (we were missing a few) |
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| Macie likes this swing thing |
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| Ready, steady, GO! |
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| Need more s'mores |
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| Nana pushes grandkids at the park |
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| Monroe on the go |
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| Zoe helps her dad keep the mixer from flying away |
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| David and the girls perform a number before they slumber |
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| This turkey was deep fried . . . and no one died (ha) |
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| Pre-Thanksgiving normal |
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| Pre-Thanksgiving . . . less than normal |
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| Kelli with the Photo Boomerang Bomber Thang |
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| Macie had to go and said goodbye to Roe |
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| Reese plays a sweet keyboard tune sometime after June |
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| Lights went up in late November to help remember . . . |
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| . . . our Savior's birth in the month of December . . . |
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| . . . Maralea's beautiful Christmas tree set up just right . . . |
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| . . . to feel the Savior's warmth by the light - and with that - to all a good night. |
