Christmas Letter 2022

 2022

We have had a happy, silly, and busy year here at the Homer house, this is what we have been up to…..

Asher (7)

“CrAsh” as he is still being called (and still totally owning) is currently in the 2nd grade, speaks French, plays baseball and aspires to be in hospitality services or a Chef. He likes vacations, Pokemon, Legos, riding bikes, art, playing with friends, cooking, camping in the new trailer, and playing as much ipad as he can get away with. He dislikes sweeping the floor, sitting still, cleaning his room, and handwriting. Crash is fascinated by these small ear plugs, he can put them in many of his facial orifices. Luckily nothing has 

gotten stuck, like that Lego he stuck up his nose years ago. Apparently this is an inherited fascination, most agree from his maternal genealogy.

MayLee (9)

We tried so hard to give her a nick-name but nothing but “May” stuck. So she is also, a month of the year. I thought maybe “Master-Ma’am-Your Majesty” had a nice ring, but it’s quite the mouthful. She is in the 4th grade, also speaks French, broke her arm (don’t worry it healed), started playing the piano, and is a skilled and future licensed hugger. She likes tiny toys, American Girl dolls, little common things, and trips to the library, gas station or Fiiz…. She dislikes math, realizing she finished watching all the episodes in her show, sweet pickles (I support this) and cleaning up dog poop. May is an avid Taki eater, she participated in the family hot chip challenge and enjoys dressing up in 100 year old person’s attire. These are just a few of the funny things May does. 

Eden (12)

SmEeee or Schmeedles/Positive Poppy,  is going to be ticked that I told everyone her nickname, and will probably give you the evil eye if you try to call her that. Isn’t it totally great though? As a 6th grader she has mastered the evil eye. It’s taken her years to perfect it. She is very proficient at parle Francais, is a bookworm, plays piano, loves going to the temple and to Young Women activities, plays volleyball and soccer and is becoming quite the room designer and makeup artist. She likes long walks on the beach (or anywhere really) with Milo, hanging out with friends, goofy challenges, going to girlies camp, and reading graphic novels. She dislikes carrots, spending her hard earned money from working at Dad’s shop, drama/confrontation, and being teased about her art supply collection. Eden laughs at her inability to see sometimes obvious things and often needs help at stores and at home, to locate certain items. She is just sure somebody stole it, and then finds it's sitting right by her. Except babies…..she knows every baby that is in the room. She meets each mommy and finds out if she can hold them. She would love to babysit or hold your baby.

Alex (15) 

Gator, Gator-man, Gator-boy….. 9th grade…. He is doing life. He rides mountain bikes on the high school team, is heart healthy, worked a summer job at Lagoon (where he was constantly confused for a much younger person, because clearly; Lagoon would hire a 10-12 year old, although it does come in handy for youth shoe size prices and kids menu items) got his driving permit, and has purchased an Oculus with his summer job money. He likes food, hanging out with his friends, trying new food, cute girls, snacks and beverages, going to get food with his friends, getting food with cute girls, going to stake dances (especially if there will be a treat and cute girls) helping advocate for the hospital and serving on Youth Advisory Counsel at Primary Children’s (AKA YAC) with Ry and sleeping and dreaming about food…… and cute girls. He dislikes when his yummy food it gone, when nobody laughs at his dumb jokes, flat bike tires, and green food like lettuce or salads. The funniest thing that happened to Gator this year was being told he stood like a duck at the rehearsal at Eccles theater. He told his story at this formal event where big names like Governor Leavit, Carol Mikita, Sister Browning, Brother Lund, Katie Welkie, Rachel Plattan and Idina Menzel were also on the program. He stood perfectly for his part on the event night. No ducks after all.

Ryleigh (18)

Ry Ry… So much going on with this Senior!!!! She is in a medical assisting class at JATC, gets to be with the Special needs Seminary class and P.A.L.S class and club officer, does president-y type things for Youth Advisory Council at Primary Children’s Hospital, will apply for the seal of biliteracy for her French, is a cookie baker at Twisted Sugar, does everyone’s nails, takes the sibs to do fun little things, also worked really hard for Copper Canyon over the summer. She likes online shopping, gold jewelry, true crime podcasts, plants (but she can’t keep them alive in her basement bedroom, plus also, she sort of forgets to water them) hanging out with friends, naps, Fiiz drinks, and grabbing food (something her and Gator, both like). She dislikes being unorganized, car accidents, not getting enough sleep, a dirty car, Milo’s dog breath and not being invited to go get a Fiiz.. Ry is the best, she is so funny because she is thinking of laying under the Christmas tree to remind us all of what a gift she is. 

 

Brynn (do the math guys) In preschool still, and loves every minute of it. Does hair, is doing PTA, 6th grade Room Mom, Mountain bike Pitzone boss, baseball/volleyball/soccer/MTB biggest fan (hear the loud whistle, yup, that’s me), Homer family personal Uber driver, figuring out RS presidency calling, cleaning crew. I like Gardening, reading, crafting, organizing, hanging with my homies, remodeling our bathroom to include a two person shower, electric bikes, visiting London and France and geocaching (I am so obsessed). I dislike anything I can control that is messy, and the 20 extra lbs that I always seem to find after losing them for a little while (better stay lost this time). I don’t need to be funny because I just laugh at all the funny things everyone else does. .

Jeff- is out of school and really would like to go back sometime for business or to do something medical. But…… as long as he owns his own thriving business and is serving the Stake, it seems like there won’t be time. Maybe he could go back to school in 14 months when his 9 years are up in the stake Presidency?  GUYS!!!! What if he messes up my mojo if he sits by me in church? It's been like 14 years that he has been sitting on the stand. Don’t worry everyone, I am confident we will figure it out. Maybe I will get to hold his hand. We also have to factor in his bike rides. 50 states to ride a century in, once seemed like a lofty goal. It’s coming a lot faster than I thought, considering he did Az, Wa, Id, Ut, Wy, and Or just this year. That didn’t include the other organized rides and MTB coaching he does. School might be on his long term goals for a while, good thing he is constantly trying and learning new things. Jeff likes bikes of all kinds, cookies of all kinds, Sunday naps, doing projects on the house, going on vacations, coke zero (or maybe it’s diet DP, it changes all the time. Just brown Diet/Zero drinks as long as they aren't Pepsi) and cozy blankets. He dislikes a messy garage, water spurting up from unknown sources, raw tomatoes, and stinky laundry (you know the kind I am talking about, when it gets left in the washer for too long.....sorry babe). Jeff is the funniest of us all, he couldn’t nail down one funny thing, because he is hilarious daily.

  Milo (2 years old but 24 in Dog years)

he never went to puppy school, cause he homeschooled with me. He has learned all kinds of commands, I wish I could teach him to clean up after himself. He has toys all over the place. He loves snuggles, carbs and cheese, his ball gun, tennis balls, stolen balls from the neighbor, going on walks, and going for rides in the car. He dislikes when I blow dry around his ears, Jeff’s cane that he uses when he hurts his back, when he clearly puts his ball in your lap to play and you won’t play with him, every Halloween costume we have ever put on him, and when he gets an upset stomach from eating something he probably shouldn’t have. The funniest thing that happened to Milo this year, is the montage of pictures of him bringing us things when we return home. He has brought out undies (some clean, some not so clean) towels, toys, and loads of clothes and balls. He is just so darn excited you came home to him. 

 

As you can see we are immensely blessed, we have learned that the funny and happy things are the best. We are thankful for the Savior and his Birth. We are thankful for all of you and wish you the MERRIEST (even at our expense) Christmas and a Happy and Joyful New Year.

Love,

Jeff. Brynn, Ryleigh, Alex, Eden, MayLee, Asher, and Milo Homer

AKA The 7 Homies + 1 doggie