Esther was home during the break. For the first week she worked for UPS. After Christmas they didn't need her, but she was glad for the $700 she earned. She enjoyed her week. She would get to the loading area in Thayne about 10 a.m. to help load the trucks. After that she was assigned as driver assistant each day with Justin Andrews. They developed an alternating system where one of them would run the package to the door while the other scanned the upcoming package. Monday, they had several adventures in their 100 or so stops. Justin's route was most of Star Valley Ranch. Someone needed help getting unstuck. At certain points Justin would have to put chains on the truck and then take them off again. One of the homes Justin knew well had an ambulance at it. He and Esther found out that a young woman home from college at BYU-I had passed away due to a seizure. Justin gave a blessing in that home. I think it was on Tuesday they had 120 stops which they did in a shorter time than a single driver did 80 stops. One home at the ranch received packages every day of the week one day eight, the next day 24 where Esther and Justin had to make several trips. Each day Esther dressed very warm, but the coldest weather of the holiday break (-7) thankfully happened on her days off. She brought home several treats. It seems to be a route where everyone wants to treat the UPS man.
John and Heather arrived Saturday afternoon. John, James and Dad helped Grandpa with some snow removal or firewood that day, I think. Later in the afternoon we had the missionaries and Grandma and Grandpa over for a turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, pie and the works.
We enjoyed playing several games. Heather and John taught us Qwirkle and Bamboozle. We played Set, Monopoly Deal, and Dutch Blitz. We worked on a 1000 piece puzzle of San Francisco skyline. Heather and Esther were the most diligent. After John and Heather left, Esther finished it.
It is now April 1st. I saw this incomplete draft and will now add some photos and videos. We did enjoy a FHE at Grandpa's and Grandma's and shared some talents with them on Christmas night.
Our holiday felt more celebratory with John and Heather joining us. We loved having them.
It is now April 1st. I saw this incomplete draft and will now add some photos and videos. We did enjoy a FHE at Grandpa's and Grandma's and shared some talents with them on Christmas night.
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| We each had some old fashioned root beer in our stockings |
Esther on the ukulele
John's mouth playing - can you name that tune?
James' quite skilled on the nose flute
Heather and Esther Guitar and Ukulele
All in all we had a very joyous Christmas.
