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.