LONDON! Day 1

Since I'm now on a 10 hour flight back home and I have nothing better to do, let's recap our most magical time in England! 

This was our every other year 360 Landscapes trip, something I always look forward to. The company is always amazing- we travel so well together & have a ton of laughs, adventures, and the best conversations. I'm filled with awe at how amazing the world is out there and that I get to see it.

We had a direct flight from SLC that left at 5 PM and put is into London about 3 AM our time, 10 AM theirs. Thanks to a little ambien, we all got a little sleep on the flight and we wanted to use our time wisely, so we just hit the ground running when we got there. We did a Hop on Hop off Bus and got the lay of the land. We said several times how amazing it was. We stopped at a local pub for lunch, saw the London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace (plus the changing of the Guards!) and all the sites. We went straight from there to a Crystal Palace soccer game (when in Rome, right?) that night. The atmosphere was electric and it was so much fun. We learned some new ways to call others names at the game, some of which i wont say here. But we did learn "sausages!!" Is a good one when your team is performing poorly and you want to call them out. Haha. It was so late by the time we got done that we went straight to bed in our little flat right by the London Tower. 

Favorites of the day: top of the tour bus, front row, looking out the big glass windows at the entire city around us. Amazing. And, fearful he would be cold, Landon's 7 layers he wore to the soccer game, when two would have sufficed. :)  

 

Jan 2026

Since I made a goal to be off social media for the entirety of 2026, I am going to try to update the blog once a month with happenings, unless something big happens, then it may get it's own post. Who knows. I never posted about Portugal or Christmas, but whatever, we are moving on. 

Basketball:

Hallie has games twice a week for Clearfield. This has taken a big chunk of our month. She is doing great and her best game came against her former team, Northridge. Wahoo. We have enjoyed watching her play and develop and so glad for the new year at the new school. 

We also went down and watched our nephew Grady play basketball. It was a fun game and great to see him!

Flor's Birthday! 

Flor turned 21 on Jan 6. Can you believe it?! 21!!! We had a party at the Kaysville theater and rented it out so we could watch the live action Lilo and Stitch. We had about 50 friends come and had a great time. We had cake and ice cream at home, even though she is not a fan of either. Her favorite gift is a Lilo sweater from my friend Brenda. She hauled that around for days. Happy 21, Florinda! Wow- she is so old!!!

the only picture we took at the movie- and it wasn't actually me. Paris's mom took it. She is good at remembering to take pictures!

Lizzie misc: 

Cutest cousins in the hot tub

She is always making some sort of face. This was at activity days.

Sleepover with cousin Audrey. Do you think they have enough stuffies?

Family Date Nights:

Our plan is to have at least 2 family date nights per month! This month we had milkshake taste test (Dairy Queen was the winner, in case you wonder!) And the Utah Jazz game- Jace did not get to come because he was flu b +, but Lizzie's friend Nora got to come instead! We had a great time. 

Kim/Devin misc:

ICU shout out board- :) 

Hikes all the time, of course. This one in a blizzard- it was lovely

My friend Jeremy "retired" from ORMC. He is a pharmacist and a good friend. I miss him a lot.

Overnighter with Mel and Annette. We ate great food, had pedicures, watched Song Sung Blue, went to the outlets, and had lunch. Best time with the best friends. 

Hockey game in the Pineview suite. Devin was there too- why is he not in this picture?

Sometimes he hikes with me too

Finished my Portugal puzzle Jana gave me for Christmas. It was HARD!

hockey game, round 2 with Trent and Brandi

Big highlight of the month right here for me! Beautiful Noise with the women in the family. It was amazing, just like the first time we saw it on Broadway!

Stellar group of women

Dinner with Kim and Meg, who I had not seen for 18 months. Love them dearly.

I have taken up running (2026 goals ya know?) I hate it and made Devin go with me once. He hated it too.

Hockey Round 3. Apparently we like hockey! Devin nd Jace got to go to a game with Landon and Hudson and had a great time.

Phew, that's that! February here we come!

Fall Misc!

I am almost caught up on the blog! Wahoo! Fall Misc here and then we just have our Portugal trip (which I will do later). Here we go!

Start of School:

The kids started school in August. Hallie in 11th grade at a new school (Clearfield- and spoiler alert, it has been amazing!!), Jace in 9th at the brand new Sunset Jr High, and Lizzie in 4th. Mishell is in her 3rd year as a paraprofessional in the elementary school's special ed class and Flor is in her 3rd year of post high! 

Hallie's birthday:

Well, these are out of order, but oh well. Hallie turned 17 on Nov 4! 17!!! She wanted Olive Garden for her birthday dinner and ice cream cake (surprise!) What was an actual suprise was that she wanted friends to come over after. She typically does not have friends at our house cause I think she is embarrassed by us? I know, I know, ridiculous. We would never be embarrassing. Anyway, she had friends over and they watched Cars on the blow up screen in the backyard.
 

Halloween: 

We only had one kid who wanted to dress up and trick or treat this year! So sad. Lizzie was of course a K Pop Demon Hunter, like every other little girl out there. But I think she and her friends did the theme pretty well, don't you!

Misc: 

Lizzie has been taking art classes and is learning a lot! She drew this for her teacher at school.

Lauren, Krystal, and I got to go to the courthouse in SLC to see our dear friend Derek Williams be sworn in as a judge! We have known him for years in the adoption world and worked many a case togehter. It will be sad to not have him as an adoption attorney out there in the world, but we are thrilled he is now a judge!

Carlie had a sweet baby boy, Mo, on Devin's birthday- Oct 4!

We love to support our YW in whatever they do! Alyvia's orchestra concert here

And Mollie's soccer game here

Truly miscellaneous--haha, but totally worth saving. I gave Trent his flu shot at work and you can tell, he loved it!

Jace was one of the math department's students of the month, nominated by his math teacher! His teacher talked a little bit about his academics, but focused on the content of his character, which was a really wonderful thing to hear as a parent.

Worth documenting because sometimes we get the kids out hiking with us!

Jace as the Sun Devil Mascot! He is the only one tall enough to wear the costume! 

                                                    

Devin's birthday:

Devin turned 40 on Oct 4! We were supposed to be hiking Mt Nebo, but the weather was horrendous that day. We pivoted and stayed overnight in SLC just the two of us, went to Top Golf with Shane and Marcene, and then had dinner and cupcakes with the kids at home. Jana and kids joined us for that! There are no words to say how much I love this man. I am so grateful he was born 40 years ago!

My 40th birthday: 

Devin threw me a birthday party and I was so thrilled to see SO many people I love, many who came from far, far away. It was an amazing day I will not soon forget. If I have to be 40, I am glad it is alongside all of the amazing people I have it my life.

Mishell's birthday:

The day before mine, Mishell had a birthday and turned 21! She requested Texas Roadhouse and a play, We went to the Desert Star Playhouse, which is a riot. She wanted ice cream sundaes for her dessert, and luckily they served them there! Mishell is a full-fledged adult now.  Yikes.

More Misc:

Hallie went to homecoming with her friend Jacob and had a blast!

Lizzie dressed as a 100 year old woman for a theme day at school. She rocked it!

We have seen Paris and family several times in the last few months and it is always a blast to see them!

One of my YW advisors, Lynette (in the orange jacket in the back), was released! We love her and were so grateful to have her while we did!