Christmas 2008

Our grandchildren performed their usual Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve. Alena is Mary and Kayla is the angel (she owns a pair of wings). Brandon is Jospeh and Connor is a shepherd; notice Connor's cool shepherd's crook. Spencer is the wise man. Calton is a little gray kitty. I know, the Bible doesn't mention little gray kitties, but Calton's into being a kitty and wanted nothing to do with being a shepherd or a sheep. And Jayden? Jayden is just Jayden. He didn't want to wear a costume.

Spencer has a really authentic Arab costume, his Uncle Rich brought back from Kuwait a few years ago. He didn't appreciate any wise cracks about wearing a dress.

Brandon planted himself atop a Christmas package to explain the shepherd's story.

On Christmas day we all got a huge Christmas surprise--like about twenty inches of snow. We were glad we had our family Christmas dinner and gift exchange on Christmas Eve and didn't have to go out in the snow that day. Actually Steve had to go out in the snow and Boyd went with him to pick up a prescription for McKayla who woke up way too early with a horrible tootheache and swollen jaw. It will be a trip to the dentist for her Monday morning.

The best part of Christmas was all being together on Christmas Eve. Chris read the Christmas story and we all did a little reflecting on the miracle of our Saviour's birth and our love and appreciation for each other.

Preschool Christmas program with Santa

Brandon (center in green) participated in his preschool's Christmas concert. Here they're singing Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. The children are four and were really cute and exuberant.

The boys were a little nervous about visiting Santa after the program, but McKayla showed them how it's done.

Brandon bravely sat on Santa's lap, but ne never cracked a smile. I think he figured that sitting on Santa's lap was the only way to get a present.

Conner was fine with talking to the old gent, but Jayden said "No way." He finally sat on Mrs. Claus's lap.

Ramses

Ramses is excited for his first Christmas. Rob is excited about his new Adjudicator Job, Esther is excited she has only two classes left until she graduates May 2009.

Chris gets his Eagle

Christopher received his Eagle Scout award Wednesday night along with two other young men from his ward. It was an impressive evening with both of Chris's younger brothers, Nathan and David, receiving scouting advancements and participating in the color guard. I was asked to speak about Chris for a few minutes and it wasn't hard to find good things to say about my oldest grandchild. The guest speaker brought an eagle with him. That's one ferocious looking bird. He has the eagle because it was injured and cannot fly well enough to hunt to feed itself. He does programs for the zoo and educational groups with it. All three young men were highly commended by their scoutmasters, their bishop, and their stake president. Each of the new eagle scouts spoke for a few minutes and I was really proud of how thoughtful and polished Chris's remarks were.

Mary Jo took these pictures; I left my camera sitting on my desk after making a point to charge it earlier that day. Between the low lighting and trying to keep Brandon from chasing his cousins around the room, these didn't turn out too well. Rob took pictures too, but since he had to be in some of the pictures, he didn't get shots of all he would have liked to, but I hope he'll share some of the pictures his took with us.

getting ready for Christmas

It's the Getting Ready Season

With the temple closed for cleaning for two weeks, I've been busy getting ready for Christmas, an exercise that sometimes gets a little crazy. Except for a couple of small items, my shopping is done (Thanks Esther and Lezlie for your help), the tree is up, and my house is sort of clean. I bought the stuff today to make fruitcakes and took Boyd's suits to the cleaners, shortened one of my temple dresses, and got one review written. Hopefully I'll get the fruitcakes baked tomorrow, then Saturday will again be devoted to book signings. (1700 South Redwood at 11 and West Jordan at 1) Next week I'll start on cards, then more signings and our ward party. And at some point I've got a ton of wrapping to do. I love Christmas, but sometimes I think I tend to let too much business creep in. I wrote a blog about getting into the Christmas Spirit for another blog I contribute to. You can read it here.

Vada sent me some pictures of her "winter garden." She still has roses blooming and primroses jumping the gun. We got a little snow storm this morning, but it didn't amount to much. I was hoping it would at least clean off the mud the last itty bitty storm plastered all over my windows

In other news, I got new glasses. This picture isn't too great, but it gives you the general idea.

Congratulations Trent on being commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force! What a scholarship!

If any of our extended family would like to post your Christmas letter and a few pictures on this blog send them to me and I'll post them for you. It would be so fun to share our family's year in review.

Yeah!!!! We are all moved in to our new house!!! We have the fence in the back yard and most of the unpacking done (thanks Dad, Mom and Lezlie). Now we just need everyone to feel better and all will be well.

Shopping Extravaganza

This blog has nothing to do with politics, the state of the nation, or anything controversial. It doesn't even have anything to do with my cute grandkids or my views on writing. The only bomb shell dropping is the news that there's a fantastic sale going on on E-Bay. Dozens of writers and readers have contributed books, jewelery, editing services, photo sessions, clothes, figurines, and many, many other items to be auctioned off to support the Whitney Awards program. Whitneys you ask? What is that? It's a recognition program designed to award LDS writers for outstanding achievment. Nominations are made by readers. Go here to nominate your favorite LDS novel for an award. You can nominate more than one book, but only nominate a particular book once. It takes five nominations from at least five different people to put an author in the running for an award. Sadly, like everything else the program takes money and this year's sponsors decided to hold an auction to raise funds to run the program. Click on the Whitney icon beside this blog to see what is available and to bid.A complete set of my Bracelet series is one of the offerings, along with a little bracelet featuring the jewels from the series (not real ones of course). That's four books and so far the highest bid is just $30.00.

Chuck and Vada's trip etc.

Chuck and Vada just returned from another trip to the Oregon coast and brought back some stunning pictures.

We haven't taken any trips lately, but this past week was an awfully busy one with Halloween and both Boyd's and my birthdays. We had a great party at Bob and Esther's house last night. We ate until we were stuffed then while the men watched ball in the office, everyone else played wii in the family room. I forgot to take my camera, but here are a few shots of our ward Halloween carnival and trick or trunk held last Tuesday. By the time Halloween actually rolled around I think the whole novelty of costumes and getting candy had kind of worn off. We had less than a hundred trick or treaters this year.

Mecco and Katie

MarJean and Darrell's granddaughters Mecco and Katie are spending a lot of time with their grandmother right now while their parents and Grandpa are working long hours to finish up the fall harvest and prepare the ground for spring planting. One of their favorite things to do is go to the nearby park in Buhl to play. Here they're sitting on the tank which is a favorite feature of the park.

Snowing last Saturday

Last Saturday and Sunday it snowed. This was the first real snow storm for Brandon that he can remember. Yes, it would snow in Maryland but it wasn't the fluffy cool snow we have here in Utah. As soon as we showed him that it was snowing he had to get his coat on and go outside and play. Luma wanted to go out too but she had surgery on her foot and couldn't get the bandage wet (Poor Luma).
Brushing the snow off...
He had fun catching the snow on his tongue even though we told him that the snow was dirty. I guess he thought just the snow on the ground was dirty.

video of Brandon...

video of Brandon...

Birthday Bash

Thanks Janice and Jason. The Birthday Bash was a lot of fun. The food was good too. Chris downloaded some of t he pictures taken to my computer, but I couldn't open all of them. These were good though.

Back from D.C.

We did a little sight=seeing while visiting Rich and Jo. Here are Brandon and Mary Jo on the back porch of Mount Vernon. This is Mary Jo and Brandon standing by the Pentagon memorial bench for the youngest person killed there in that cowardly terrorist attack on 9-11

Boyd took this one with me in it. You can see by the different shade of blocks where the Pentagon was struck. This is Mary Jo, Brandon, and Boyd outside the Mary Sarratt house.

It was a great trip and we had a good time. We brought Brandon back with us and he has talked to mommy and daddy every day by phone. He's gone outside to check on the pumpkins a dozen times each day since he got here. His favorite thing to do inside is swim in Grandma and Papa's big tub.

It's a happy birthday blog

Everyone is invited to my house Sep 28 for cake and ice cream! We're celebrating Nate, MJ, Calton, and my birthday. If I missed anyone I'm super sorry. I'm wracking my brain and I can't come up with anyone else. I already have some dairy/wheat free italian ice for Dad and Sharon. There will be normal icecream too. I'll bake a cake or buy one. We can watch a movie. We have a new tv. It's not as big as Mom and Dad's but the room is big enough to fit everyone!

Post a reply if you can or can't come. I'll call those of you who don't reply. I know where you live and I know your phone numbers. You can't escape. Wha ha ha ha

September so far......

Go Utes!


So many books to read, so little time......



lessons


spiders


flowers


more flowers


homework & school


Expensive!

Cross Country Meets

I love September. Okay not the, achoooo! cold, but everything else. Sharon

COLORADO

Esther, Carmen and I went to Colorado over Labor Day. We went to the Taste of Colorado, Denver Zoo, Rockies Baseball Game, and Nine Inch Nails Concert at Red Rocks. Plus another pic of Ramses and Bob.