Lloyd Family

M eet Suki!  She's our English Cream Golden Retriever puppy.  Kory has wanted a golden for years, and his dream finally came true!    Isn't she beautiful?  This picture was taken right when we got her, at 7-months old. She's 8-months old now and even bigger. We found her on KSL, and took a family trip to Utah to retrieve her (ha ha). She rode by Zane a lot of the way home.  Suki is a good girl, but she is surely still a (huge) puppy- energetic, playful and wants attention. We are all learning a lot about having, and loving, a dog!

Okay, this one's obviously not a selfie, but it's cute.  When Zane went to bed the other night he found a little surprise.

C hristmas is over and we are starting to think about the new year!  H ere is a quick glance into our December. . . F amily parties!   B owling with the homeschool group- Ez and Joz's first time. They loved it!   S everal band performances for Hanna. She amazes us. B ig school projects due for Sara and Zac. Z ane showing off our Christmas tree! W e are grateful this time of year for the new heat pump we installed this summer,  as well as the fireplace Kory put in early in the year.  Although everyone probably did not get all they wished for Christmas,  we were able to spend lots of time together as a family  and travel around to visit extended family.  We feel very blessed! 

C oming into the holiday season, Hanna is starting to have concerts with her high school Jazz Band. She is one of 9 members and they are pretty good!  She played in Barnes & Noble this weekend and I stalked her with the camera. Y ep, we got snow. And ice, freezing rain, and a school snow day. S everal of the children have "kitten" on their Christmas lists.  Santa must be working early this year, because last week six kittens showed up on our deck.  They're pretty wild, but cute. Who knows how long they'll stick around? H ere is Kory after he slid off the road in a car he had bought just 15 minutes before.  Funny story, but you can hear it in person one day. H ere are Ez and Joz helping with cookies, and last a selfie Joziah took.  These brothers are best friends who pretend they're either super heroes or animals  nearly every waking moment. I am so blessed to share every day with them!    F unny st...

I am not a big fan of fall. To me it only means winter is coming.  And then there's Halloween, my least favorite holiday. I know, I'm no fun.  Yet we've had a really nice autumn this year with lots of  beautiful weather, so I can't complain.  W e enjoyed a visit from the Halls during October, during which Sara and Lily had their Beanie Boo's get married. They created total wedding outfits for the animals. It was totally precious! I feel like I finally grew up this fall; I canned by myself for the first time, and I succeeded!  I did applesauce and apples for baking. Ez and Joz love to eat all the peels as they come off the apples. (Which is kind of gross to me, but I guess fairly healthy...) C arving pumpkins was fun this year. Kory cut the tops off, the kids scooped out the guts and designed their faces, then I did the carving. Zane put himself in charge of harvesting the pumpkin seeds, which he later roasted (and they are delicious!) ...

The Beast has turned 13 ! I've felt like he's been a teenager for a long time now- the good kind of teen. He doesn't give us much trouble, is a great big brother, and is living and breathing football these days. Speaking of football: A football players has to look tough when his picture is taken! Zane is out on the field, closest player to the camera. Two of Zane's biggest fans, in the "jerseys" I made them! Z ane's is a new team with a brand new coach this year, so they are still figuring it all out, and are 0 for 3 at this time. Proud moment: in their third game Zane scored his team's only touchdown!! Zane plays wide receiver for offense, is on two special teams (sorry I can't elaborate. This is a total educational process for me, as I knew next to nothing about football before this August.), and often plays corner back on defense. B ack to the birthday, the menu was bakery doughnuts for breakfast, then meat rolls and bean dip for...