A Morales Minute

We got his license printed from the DOL and now just have to wait until the official one comes in the mail.  Tyler didn't want to do anything really big to celebrate his birthday. For all the others I've thrown big 16th birthday parties for them and their friends. Tyler didn't want to do anything like that. He just wanted his birthday dinner with family at home. So that's what we planned. However, he came home from school not feeling well and had a fever. So I called Bel and mom and dad and told them not to come. I didn't want anyone to get sick so close to Christmas. After Tyler slept for an hour or so he felt much better he said. He was able to eat his dinner of ground beef tacos and mini huevos rancheros. I'm glad he was able to feel better to enjoy them.  He's getting in to clothes more and more so he was happy to get some new ones.  His Lego technic car collection is still going strong! It was Tyler's day to open Koda's advent calendar. Look how...

Since mom and dad and my family will all be out of town for Christmas this year we had a Christmas dinner and opened gifts with Elizabeth and Lori's family. It was good to give and receive the gifts we had for each other and enjoy a yummy dinner together.   

We have had so much wind lately! Strong winds with gusts up to 40-50mph. Today there was finally no wind and it was sunny outside! Because of the winds we've been warmer than normal for this time of year. Today we were in the 60s! It's looking like it's going to continue to be in the 50s through all next week and should be good traveling for us when we head out of town for Christmas.  Because today was so nice I went on a walk. I saw broken fences, trampolines blown over and stuck on fences and then I walked up to this massive mountain of tumble weeds.  It was so long and tall. There was no way to go through it so I walked along the grass to go around it. I hate tumble weeds and don't envy anyone who has to clean them up. Even the Walmart parking lot had a bunch of them blown into the alcove between the two front doors outside. I saw a worker picking them up and putting them in the trash. At least the city has a burn truck so workers will come by this giant wall of tumb...

  End of football season awards dinner. The team didn't make it to state this year but they were MCC champs again and made it to the second round of playoffs. I'd say that's still a really good season! Tyler received his varsity letter and of course the scholar athlete award. He's been working to keep his grades up. Always shooting for that 4.0. Such a stud. 

Students and staff have been celebrating the 12 days of Hawkmas. (Always working to help school spirit be strong.) Today students were to dress as staff and staff was to dress as students. Jaime and Tyler pulled it off to a T. Everyone loved it. Tyler even had a keycard hanging from his belt like Jaime does. It really worked out that they wear practically the same size too so Jaime could wear Tyler's DECA sweatshirt.   

I made cookies and treats for the annual cookie exchange with Mom, Elizabeth, and Lori. These chocolate peppermint bark cookies are so good. I've definitely learned over the years the beset way to make them turn out better. This year I decided to add chocolate chips to the cookie dough. Best decision! They turned out so good.  Because I had so much going on the week of the cookie exchange I made the dough the day before then kept it in the fridge. The cold dough makes for thicker cookies and easier to dip after they're cooked. I made fudgy oat bars and maple nut goodie bars. The maple candies were a new recipe. I've had it in a cook book since mom gave it to me when I went to college. I came across the recipe when I was looking for candy ideas for the cookie exchange. I made them ahead of time for a ward activity so that I could get an idea of how hard they were to make and if all the work was worth it to make a bunch for the cookie exchange. I'm glad I did! It isn'...

Jaime's school was awarded the AWSP Culture Kickoff award! It was given for being a school that was embodying school spirit and improving the school's culture. Congratulations! They have put a lot of work into building school spirit. With the new high school opening and having 900 less students Jaime, the staff, and leadership have worked hard to really help the student body have more school spirit. It's been awesome to see the student turn out to sporting events.