I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Family, Food, and FUN!

 

While I love Christmas, I'm always in a hurry to take it down, which I did on Monday, the day after Christmas.

When the Family Gets Together.....

 

We don't often have three of our kid together, but here they are....

And here we are with them.  

THIRD generation of guitar players plus one friend.  Oh, it was JOYFUL!

What could be cuter than baby BRI!

Missing Kristi and Jordan!  Why do they have to live so far away????!?!??!?!?!

Gotta Love Family and Friends

Yearly Sing-ALong.  I forgot to take the picture when we were actually singing, so I asked them to go O, like we were actually singing O Holy Night.  It looks pretty silly, but it was fun.  Such good, good people and friends.

I asked people to bring healthy food; and there was a lot of healthy food, and some goodies too.

 Jenni and Brent came to hear us talk at our ward on December 11; don't they look so sharp...having them live near by is the greatest blessing.  

Singing Time with Gigi

 Gigi, whose husband died recently, came over to bring us a Christmas present.  While she was here, RAH suggested that we sing a few Christmas carols.

This totally surprised me because he rarely plays his guitar any more.  It was so LOVELY to hear him play.  

In the bottom picture, Gigi is looking at the words in German as she sings along.  What a pleasant evening to spend with a dear friend.

DONATION TIME

 

I made these probably a year ago.  They've just been sitting on my shelf.  SoI donated them to the Catholic charity.  Why not DI...it wasn't open and the Catholic Thrift store was very near by.

I hope someone will find them and use then and love then.  No, I didn't make the bracelet, but I did donate it for the cause.  

I love to crochet.

His Name....

popped up out of the blue.

A friend from our college days.

RAH said he heard he had dropped out of the church.  So i Facebooked him. 

While his last post on FB was in 2012, I did find him when I googled him.  He is associated with a Unitarian church in Boise.

It made me feel so sad.  what is happening?  Friends and family....so heartbreaking....but, so far, I am holding strong.  

Because I love the Gospel of Christ.

Just a Few Things....

My new favorite picture.  When you don't want to look at a scary part in the movie, but you also don't want to miss anything.  Olivia watching, FROZEN II.

Jenni in Portland with her little granddaughter, Scottie Pacific.  If this isn't just the cutest picture ever!

Finder's Keepers....just look what I found in my cedar chest this morning.  And, my sweet mom had sewed them all on.  I was so blessed and didn't even realize it.  I had the best mother ever.  Oh, what a stupid person I was!

 Travis Baker came to stay with us for Thanksgiving.  He's such a great, dear, wonderful person.  It was a delight to have him.  Come again anytime, dear Travis.

LOOK WHAT HAPPENED AT OUR HOME!

New shelves....

 Allen bought a new shed.  Then he said, it needs shelves.

And, on a portion of the shelves, I got all my tubs organized into holidays by the year; winter, Valentine's day, Easter, etc.  

It's so awesome and so very easily accessible.  I'm as giddy as a child on Christmas Day!

Thanks, RAH!

A Sunday in November

In the evening.....

In the morning......

A wonderful day, indeed.
 

Let's Hear it For Calder!

 

Calder entered a competition in break dancing.  He came in 8th of 13.  So FUN...

Go, Calder!

A Christmas Wish

 

Let's Hear it for Technology

 

The black and whites are original pictures.

Then I learned how MyHeritage.com will change black and white to color.  In about 30 seconds.

I'm not sure why black and white pictures even need coloring; they are unique and reminiscent of when they were taken.

But, it was fun to learn how and to learn about this amazing new feature in regards to ever-advancing technology.

But, whatever, the way it is taken, PICTURES are wonderful.

A Few Days Ago.....

 Our son, Justin, was featured in a show on BYUTV called ARTFUL.  It showcases talented people in the field of arts.

Justin was honored to be asked to do this segment, which only lasted about 12 minutes.  But, it was so heartwarming and poignant.  We all were so proud of him.

Among the pictures that were when was this picture from 1996....it is of my mother and me.  It's so lovely and bring back so many fond memories of my dear mother.  

Thanks, Justin, for this reminder of how blessed I am to have had such marvelous parents.

Seeing my mother sit in her home surrounded by so many of her precious items, makes me just want to talk to her, ask her where the items came from, how did she come to have them???!?!?

It also makes me so grateful for the Plan of Salvation because I KNOW that I will my mother again.

Oh, the Fun of Halloween

 

A Week in Las Vegas

 

Blue Diamond, Nevada....very interesting little town.

One of the classiest spots on Vegas; the Wynn.

The buffet at the Wynn; very overpriced....wouldn't do it again.  I couldn't eat enough to justify the price.

I DID SOMETHIng BRAVE;  rode the Insanity ride at the stratosphere.  I was not really scared.  I spoke to God on the entire ride.

It's always a blessing to go to the temple with Janessa.

It was a fun week; saw a couple of shows, not real famous ones, but fun, nevertheless less.  Spent a couple of days with Janessa.  Went to a little town in Utah that Allen always wanted to visit.  Saw the fountains at the Bellagio.  went to the temple with Janessa.  

Baby Blessing for BRI

 Windy, but beautiful....

A Perfect Afternoon as Baby BRI was blessed.  

Stockton gave Bri the most beautiful blessing.  One line I loved was that he blessed her to have JOY!

Golf Time with Holly and Caleb and Family

 Good grief, I'm so FAT!  And, they are all so TINY!

I need less chocolate and they need MORE.  But, they are a wonderful family...just good, good people.

Thanks, Kaden, for taking the picture.  You moved out, but we hope you are still part of our lives.

Some Happenings in October

 Jeremy flew in for a short visit; so great to see him.

A quick visit to Las Vegas....

Conference Sunday when the kids come over to relax....

Thanks to the Allans for the tickets to Tuacahn.  It was FABULOUS!

My heart is filled with gratitude for the life I have right now!