Teeth, Caroling and Pageant

I'm always so focused on getting pictures of gingerbread before people leave that I forget to take pictures of my own kids! I got a picture of Preston's today. He made a candy bank. That got robbed. He actually had a lighter to his house. The candy strips were on fire. He said something like, "I love it how no one is stopping me from doing this." He is the fourth child.

Preston

 Mike made a duck house and 3D printed two ducks

Preston didn't go to school today. He had to get four teeth pulled. He didn't complain at all. Eric was so funny when he was working on Preston's teeth. He kept telling stories of things he would do with Mike as they were growing up. One about how Mike made a magic mushroom grenade with his dad's gun powder. He thought he put a delay on it, but that didn't work. He lit it and it blew up in his hand. Eric said he thought Mike lost his arm, but it was just like a cartoon. Lots of loud noise and smoke. When it cleared Mike's hair was standing up and he was covered in black, but his arm was intact. Eric said Mike would chase him with flaming toilet paper and Lincoln logs. He remembers running up on the roof and Mike shooting the flaming Lincoln logs at him. I asked Eric why he hung out with Mike. He said because he was a ton of fun, always doing something crazy and most time it would backfire on him. Ha! The last story he told was Mike made a zip line across a gully in his yard. He had the pulley attached to his backpack. He jumped up to go and his long hair got caught in the pulley. Ouch!

Preston

Preston was a little sore the rest of the day. He didn't feel well enough to go to the Christmas pageant tonight. Maysen stayed home with him. Jorja couldn't go because she was going caroling with student government. They came over to our house for hot chocolate after. Mike and I went to the pageant. It was nice to see his family. Tage was Mary and she was adorable. Scoop was her donkey. Haha!

Scoop and Tage

I talked to Stockton for just a bit today. He didn't have too much time, but he had a hard week this week. Stockton called right as Jorja and I walked into JoAnn's Fabric. I gave the phone to Jorja and she talked to him most of the time. I think it was better that he talked to her. He needed that. Those two love each other. I am incredibly thankful that all my kids get along. It's the best.

Eric Byrnes

Jorja wanted to go to a mission farewell for one of her friends. She wanted Stockton to go with her. It was the same time as our church. Stockton was presented to the ward to get the Melchizedek Priesthood. He also blessed the sacrament today. I tried to pay special attention to him because I didn't know if this would be the last time I would ever hear him do that. As soon as the sacrament was over he took Jorja to Noah's farewell. It happened to be in Gavin's ward, so that was a bonus.

Noah & Jorja

I wanted to go see Eric at the Bees game on Monday, but I started too worry they wouldn't let my broken bat through security. Peggy texted me to let me know Eric would be in town. I thought that was nice! We found out he would be at Lumpy's tonight. Lumpy's is a bar in Sugarhouse. I decided I would go meet him at the bar. He was supposed to be there at 6:00, so we got there right at the beginning. He was running behind schedule because, well, he was on a BIKE! I guess they ended up getting eight flat tires today. Long story short, we were able to get the bat signed! I also met Morgan Mullin. She is also related to Eric. She drew out the family tree and wanted me to draw out my side. Hers is much more detailed than mine. Eric and I are second cousins. Morgan and I are second cousins once removed. Anyway, she was super nice and I enjoyed getting to know her.

Stephanie in front of Eric's van

 Eric & bat

 Eric & Stephanie

It was funny, Eric's wife Tara saw us with the broken bat. She gasped and said, "Did Eric do that?" We happily replied yes. She said, "I can get you another one, I'm sure I have one somewhere." Haha. No, he broke it a LONG time ago.