Flake Foursome

I keep checking the blog hoping that there will be a YouTube link from the Ts with an awesome gender reveal video (or something like that). I fully expect it to be quite the announcement!

This has been a strange week. Scott was summoned for Federal jury duty so he headed to Phoenix on Sunday afternoon. Luckily he was not chosen for the jury so he was able to come back on Monday evening.

The weather is still being temperamental and it keeps us guessing daily on what the day will be like.

I got a humorous phone call the other day from a friend/co-worker.  "Hi Jenn.  I don't know if you are still getting your emails but I need your effort report for last quarter."  Hmmm. Nope, haven't checked my emails since I quit!!

Rand and Robin have both come down with colds so no one is sleeping very well at our house.  I think that it is also exacerbated by teething.  I am still assuming that they are both teething even though there is no visible evidence other than excessive amounts of drool.

Scott helped a neighbor put up some house trusses yesterday which renewed his desire to build a house.  So that could be our next big project.  Speaking of, can't wait to see the Nilsson kitchen progress!!!

I hope that you all have a great week. Oh! I'm planning a trip to Smithfield Feb 10-14. I'll keep you updated as it gets closer. 

Smithfield Scoop

Well, I must agree with Ruth - those Flake babies are pretty darling! And the Nilsson's are magical in what they attempt and what they accomplish! We can't wait to see the end result...

We had a delightful time reading all of the December blog posts a few days ago, since we had not even been on the blog since Thanksgiving. It is a new year and time to repent and do better! So, here we are.

The news of the month so far is a very fun trip that Dad and Emma took to Houston to visit the T's. I was supposed to go, but... yes, I was waiting for a baby. They flew out from Las Vegas at 4:30 p.m. on Dec 31st, and the baby decided to get on his way here at midnight. He was born at 2:43 a.m. and was actually the first baby born in Cache Valley in 2020! (See the link below to read the Herald Journal report of the New Year's Baby) The fun thing about this baby is that he is baby #6 in this family, and the first boy! Can you imagine having 5 older sisters?! Not to mention, the mom was a good friend of Jennifer and Joseph from marching band days...

https://www.hjnews.com/news/local/cache-county-s-new-year-s-baby-just-wanted-to/article_59b13a4d-396c-571e-8efa-e6c2bbdec2e4.html

But I missed going to Houston... The highlights of the trip were going to NASA, an aquarium, Galveston on the seashore, Barry's where Thomas works, and seeing the new house where Thomas and Tori live. They enjoyed playing games and watching movies in the evenings. It was warmer than here by a long shot, even when it rained. The Bellistons are great hosts and took Dad and Em to some of the neatest places to eat. It was interesting to drive on some crazy roads and to go to some "Texas-sized gas stations named Buc-ee's." Dad was quite intrigued by the restrooms and grocery stores in those gas stations!

I enjoyed going to Idaho Falls after the baby came, on New Year's Day. It was nice to not be home alone to start the new year. Harts and Nilssons were very welcoming and we enjoyed some book shopping and kitchen demolition. After returning home, I realized I was not feeling well and went to bed with a stomach virus and stayed there for the next two days. It was a most unpleasant bug, but I was very grateful for a miracle associated with that sickness. Even though they returned home very late on Saturday night, Dad got up when he heard me being so sick with some excrutiating stomach pains that I had been suffering with most of the night. I was able to lean on the bathroom counter long enough for him to give me a blessing and as soon as he finished the blessing, the pains stopped and I was able to walk to bed and lie down comfortably and rest. It was truly a miracle for me, a direct result of the priesthood. I hope all of my grandchildren will know and remember this story.

We are loving our Book of Mormon study and hope to post some of our insights and impressions from time to time - and really hope all of you will, too! We can learn so much from each other! We sure love you all and hope you are looking forward to the April Gathering. It will be very fun! The countdown has started....

Flake Foursome

I am officially done with work!!! Since I didn't walk out of the office on Friday for the last time it is still a bit surreal but I am really looking forward to not pulling out the computer tomorrow.

The weather decided to get really cold again this past week and we even woke up to snow once!

Robin and Rand are getting quite proficient at sitting up and this week Rand rolled from his back to his tummy.  I am having a hard time believing that they will be 6 months this week!

Nilsson News

Flakes win the prize for the most consistant bolg posts and the cutest baby pictures ever!
Dust, dust, dust everywhere!  That is what we have been dealing with.  Yesterday, Garrett and I tore out the soffits above the kitchen cabinets.  Something we realize the more remodeling we do is just how well built our house is.  Nails, chicken wire and plaster, oh my!  We can't believe how many layers there are.  We got the demo pretty much all done and now we have some electrical re-routing that needs to be done.  Addy became a little hysterical when we first started doing the demo and declared, "What have you done to my kitchen!"  We promised that we would fix it but it would be a bit of a process.  We also promised that she would LOVE it when it was all finished but we still don't know if she believes us.
The weather is cold, snowy and bitterly windy.  The roads were quite trecherous going to church and coming home, I nearly crashed into the side of our house while trying to plunge through a large snowdrift blockading our garage.
A couple of days ago, I heard a loud crash on our back kitchen door.  We are always getting little house finches flying into that window/door so I went to see what unfortunate bird had succumed to that fate.  When I looked out, sitting in our stairs was a peregrine falcon!  As soon as it saw me, it flew off unscathed.  The kids were pretty thrilled when I told them and only wished that I had gotten a picture.
Life is going pretty well and everyone is currently healthy (hip-hip hooray!).  Stay warm, stay well, stay true.  Love you all!
These pictures aren't nearly as cute or delightful as the Flake babies!

 Now you see it...

Now you don't!!! (all you can see now is layers upon layers of dust)

Flake Fun

The sun has been playing hide and seek this week but today it is shining brightly but there is a bitter cold wind.   A majority of our snow has melted but it stuck around longer than Scott remembered ever seeing. 
Robin and Rand are getting better at sitting up each day.  They are still a bit wobbly but they seem to really enjoy their new ability. 

I was so excited that our church schedule moved to 10:30 because I was sure that we could get there on time.  I was wrong!  Hopefully next week we'll do better.

Not too much to report.  We hope that Mom and Elise are feeling better, that Emma and Dad had a good time in Texas and that T&T enjoyed having them. (And that Tori is feeling terrific)

Flake Fun

Things are snowy and white in Snowflake right now - and bitter cold! It snowed most of Saturday which was so fun.

We had a good Christmas, the best so far according to Scott.  Randy and Dona rented a cabin in a little town called Pine and that was fun.  We woke up Christmas morning to snow which I loved.  Robin and Rand got spoiled. 

Since then we have been hunkering down trying to keep a fire in the stove so we don't turn into popcicles!

I am looking forward to 2020.  The first big event being on Jan 10th when I "retire". I can't wait!!

We hope that this year brings lots of Utah and Idaho visits since the twins did so well on the Thanksgiving trip.  If there are big family events, please let us know so we can try to be there!

Now for some pictures:

Christmas outfits from Grandma Flake

If you look closely you can see a baby in all the checkers!

This is how I felt too after all of the festivities

Hart Happenings

Happy holidays everyone!
  The Christmas part was full of family time, concerts, parties, and some good down time.  I'm with Lauren and Ruth about excitement for new beginnings and fresh starts that new years always stir up in me.  And I really like the look of the year 2020 on paper. Here's to our visions, thoughts, and dreams of the brand new year!!!  Huzzah!
  A highlight of the holiday was Thomas and Victoria's announcement about their baby.  We are so excited for them!
  It was a treat to host Emma for Christmas!  She is a super fun person to have around and made the week seem that much more special.  We got some good girl time in watching the new Little Women movie and breaking it down afterward.  It actually inspired me to pull out the book and have another go at it.  I'm almost done and it is just as wonderful as I remember.  Speaking of books, I'm so glad that you like The Happiness Paradox book, Lauren.  I can't wait to colloquialize with you about it!
  Jenn, my boys wanted nothing more than to jump in your epic pile of muddy buddies when they saw the picture.  So tasty!  And I think yours is the only picture I've ever seen of babies on Santa's lap NOT crying!  Well done.
  I have been inspired by Ruth's simplifying push.  Emma and I hauled some boxes out of the basement and felt much accomplished.  Ruth's energy and drive never fails to impress and motivate me!  On to my kitchen drawers!
  Peter and I took a turn with a foul stomach bug the past couple of days and luckily are feeling better today.  Ruth brought a bag of lovely tomato soup, bread, berries, and other delicious items.  Thanks mucho!
  Hope all is well with you and that the New Year brings lots of opportunities to see all you lovely people!