Highlights of 2021

 Highlights of 2021

• We started “One on One” time with our kids. Each kid gets one night a week where they stay up for 30 minutes after bedtime to spend time with Mom and Dad. We’ve made a lot of special memories drawing pictures, playing games, watching shows, doing trivia, and just talking and laughing together. 

• In January, my mom came to visit me for a whole week for my birthday!

• In February, we had two weeks of snow days, which was a bummer (for me) since my kids had just gone back to school in person!

• March was Spring Break where we played with friends and went to the zoo!

• I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism in the Spring.

• In April, Jalene and Val came out for a visit over Easter weekend. We spent time coloring eggs, hiking, and watching General Conference.

• Ezra played flag football for the first time and loved it! He’s actually pretty good!

• In May, we started the month by visiting the dinosaur exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo.

• Then, over Memorial Day weekend we flew to Las Vegas for the first time in too many years as a whole family. We celebrated JoceLyn’s third birthday in Vegas with 54 close family members. It was also the first time all six of us Elton siblings were together in many many years. I was also able to see my friends: Jessica, Brenna, Rachel, Rebecca, and Adina while we were out there. It was a wonderful trip.

• When we returned to STL in June, we started our summer of many trips to the pool with our summer pool pass!

• RoxaBelle and Ezra performed in their dance recital and did an amazing job!

• Liam and Ezra did summer sports camps through Orchard Farm: track, baseball, soccer, and football. Ezra won an award at football camp for being the best listener.

• My best friend from college, Ashley, came to visit. We had not seen each other in 12 years!

• 4th of July in our neighborhood was the BEST as usual. 

• We took the family to Meramec Caverns with our friends.

• I painted the kids' bedrooms FINALLY!

• Liam turned TEN and celebrated with his friends at the pool’s dive-in movie.

• In August, Ezra turned 8 and celebrated with a birthday at the park, plus another visit to the dinosaurs at the zoo. We gave him a pet fish for his birthday which made him SO happy!

• ALL of the kids started school this year which was a big deal.

• RoxaBelle turned 6 and wanted to celebrate with a trip to the mall. She adores Kindergarten and I’m pretty sure all of Kindergarten adores her, too.

• In September, Ezra was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. All of his grandparents came out to celebrate and we got to go to a Cardinals vs Dodgers baseball game, too!

• I went to Nauvoo for a leadership training with Sister Bingham and Sister Johnson. The next day, Sister Johnson attended my ward and came to my primary. She complimented me and it was honestly one of the best days ever!

• Also in September, we lost our minds and bought a puppy, a mini aussiedoodle named Tucker Pupperson. He’s pretty great.

• In October, I finally went on the St Charles Ghost Tour with my besties. 

• The kids had a multitude of Halloween celebrations and activities.

• In November, my friend Natascha, who I had not seen in several years came through St Louis and I was able to meet her family. 

• I passed my final test to become a certified Secondary English Language Arts Teacher.

• Thanksgiving was spent with our Missouri family and was loud, chaotic, and everything a Thanksgiving should be.

• In December I started a job working as a substitute teacher. I work on the days that JoceLyn goes to school and it has been so much fun.

• Christmas with just us and our kids was happy, happy, happy. We are counting our blessings and singing praises to our God for sending the gift of His son.