NEW YEARS EVE

We stayed all the way till new years eve.

Nate went home way earlier.

He got really sick.

We were getting things squared away on the car.

It was working perfectly before we left. We were grateful.

We had a fun New Years.

My parents have a tradition of eating shrimp and steak.

I didn't mind getting in on the action.

YUMMY.



SUNDAY

I had to snap a picture of Madison in her Christmas dress with her Uncle Benji.

They matched so well.

Maybe because he helped pick out her dress and shoes.

Good taste.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

 Christmas morning was amazing.

Especially with twelve cousins and seven siblings and their spouses.

Grandma and grandpa and Nate and I.

Our tradition is to open one present at a time.

It took till the afternoon.

The kids loved every minute of it.

They were so anxious to see their cousins open their presents you couldn't get a good picture.

I just put the camera away and enjoyed the moment.

The two gifts that got the most attention were definitely the Madison's Marble Run and Tessie's Strawberry shortcake Radio controlled Car. If you are look to buy a gift for a five year old next year, definitely my recommendation.

 

Madison received a new dress and shoes, a marble run, a baby doll, a doctor's kit, and a basket ball.

Sierra received new shirts, a remote control helicopter, a drawing projector, art supplies, and a basket ball.

They were both spoiled.

 

PAJAMAS

Then we hurried back to my parents house.

My mother made all the grandchildren matching pajamas, just like the ones she made us when we were little.

I remember putting my nightgown over the heater vent and watching it pillow up. 

I loved my princess pajamas.

My children loved theirs.



CHRISTMAS EVE

We went over to the Nate's parents home for Christmas Eve.

We ate a delicious dinner.

The children participate in the nativity.

They had a lot of fun.

Then we did a musical number.



BACK TO GRANDMA'S

Christmas was at my family's house this year.

The suspension went out on the truck.

It bounced all the way there.

It was quite the ride.

We arrived their safe and sound.

It was fun to see my children with there cousins.

SNOWGLOBE

She looked so Madison at church.

She picked out her own outfit.

I had to snap a picture.

Getting her to just smile.... is a joke.

 

Her teacher made her the cutest Christmas gift.

She loved it.

It is a snow globe with a picture of her in it.

Too cute.

 

Sunday was so beautiful.

It always is the week before Christmas.

The music and the spirit was so peaceful.

I was happy to be at church.

I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I taught Relief Society, the women's organization of the church.

We talked about covenants.

A lot of my remarks were based on Elder Todd Christofferson's talk, "The Power of Covenants."

What a beautiful treasure.

I don't even recall having heard it. It makes me sad because his words are inspiring.

He, this apostle of Jesus Christ, taught me so much about my covenants.

He made me realize how important these covenants are to me and how much they have blessed my life.

 

One of many quotes that I love from his talk.

We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can lift others by their example and their compassion, and who can consistently overcome temptations. We need strong Christians who can make important things happen by their faith and who can defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism.

What is the source of such moral and spiritual power, and how do we obtain it? The source is God. Our access to that power is through our covenants with Him.

 

To listen to the whole thing, click here.

SNOWMAN

They built a snowman.

They begged me to come out and take a picture.

Sierra said to Madison, "Come on lay down by the snowman with me!"

She gave her a look that said, "You are crazy."

Then she said quickly, "No."

I noticed Sierra convinced her to come and build a snowman with socks on her hands, not sure how that was going to help keep her hands warm.
 

HE IS WALKING!

He is my busy boy.

Last week he decided he wanted to walk.

Go James!

(Forgive the James voice. Look at that cuteness it is hard not to talk silly.)

WENDY 1

  

James's church hall friend Wendy turned 1 this month.

Her mother wanted to take pictures of her devouring a cake.

I will have to do the same thing for James.

The lighting wasn't amazing which made me have to up my ISO, but this girl is the cutest thing.

James wanted to join in the fun.

Wendy it let him.

He loved it.

CAROLING @ CIRCLE PARK

Sierra goes caroling with her classmates every Christmas.
This year it was outside at Circle Park.
She as excited to sing especially Christmas Bells.
(I was going to record her favorite song but the batteries in my camera ran out. Pooh.)

Side Note:
My friend Natalie was there to see her son Ace sing too.
Lucy is Madison's favorite friend to play with pictured above.
Inn is James's favorite person to play with, seen below.
Funny, they have a daughter Sierra's age too.
I giggle at how we patterned each other exactly.
Brother White is a Rock Scientist. Sierra thinks he is the coolest.
He found a spot where there are fossils of shark teeth in the dessert.
Sierra wants to go desperately.
We need to make the time to go.

Back to Caroling:
Sierra was afraid it would be below zero or there would be a blizzard.
She kept asking her teacher if they were still going to go if it was too cold.
Her teacher said they were going no matter what.
Sierra thought that was a bit aggressive.
It wasn't below zero or a blizzard.

CURRY LUNCH

 My friends got together for a curry lunch as one last hooray before the holidays.

Barbara said I tricked her into making us lunch.

I may have.

She said I called her on Sunday and said, "It has been a long time since we have done lunch."

She said, "Yeah."

I said, "We should get together for lunch."

She said yes without realizing I was implying she make us all lunch.

I offered my house and to cook it, but.....

Barbara said it was treacherous to get to my house.

I insisted I had salted the walks and scrapped them.

She offered her house.

Then I suggested Curry.

We all know I can't compete with Barbara's curry, so yeah she may have been swindled into it.

It was really yummy and it is always fun conversing with these beautiful ladies.

 Brother and Sister Whitehead came downstairs today and knocked on my door.

My house was a little messy.

I had been doing a luncheon all day.

I was a little embarrassed.

They brought Christmas presents for my girls.

It was so sweet of them.

Frozen blankets and plates.

And an art set.

The girls were so happy.

Madison went to sleep all cuddled in her blanket and said in her prayers, "Heavenly Father, thank you that Sister Whitehead gave us snuggly blankets.

My girls love blankets and art.