happy Anniversary

*(I know this pic with the girls is outdated but for some odd reason I don't have your wedding picture folder on my computer)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY -Stephen and Nancy -woo woo

what a fun day Dec 27 was 9 years ago--we love you guys and we are so proud of the powerful team that you make together--

*you are wonderful to each other and to your children

*you set your goals and reach them together

*you are the wind beneath each others wings & help each do what needs done

* you are good at including us in your lives and make your extended families more fun

*congratulations on being an example to us and to the youth in your ward that

Marriage is great--just like the proclamation outlines it to be.....love ya

all sort of fun times

lights, fondue, time together, that's what its all about...

what gets me through the year is....

What gets me through the years the the 'ups ' and 'down's of life is knowing that after all my work and my families hard work--that around Christmas time we can be together and relax and enjoy each others company--and that is a bright spot in my year--and a good note to end on

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH OF YOU MY FAMILY

(& TO ANY OTHER FRIENDS WHO HAVE SHARED IN THE BLOG-DIRECTED TO FAMILY)

I just put under my tree--a gift to ourselves (from ourselves) and from Nancy (who spent hours and hours formating the book )

tah da!!!! the gift: --Our first publication of our blog book-

-such a fun trip down memory lane from past posts and it is a fun treasure--

below is a picture of the family away from home (Hayley) and the family gathered together this holiday season--

--a sweet time together time--ginger bread houses --

some of this and that

helper on the tree

ward party-in clothes for the nativity

helping make noodles for turkey soup

just chillin

dad and i at the ward party-in clothes for the nativity

getting wagon ride at wheeler farm

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this has been a fun week--first finishing up school--having brad and kerri and kaci arrive

having a grandma / grandpa sleepover--tending grandkids--riding in wagons at wheeler farm

going to see lights at temple square--just being around the house--eating homemade turkey soup and having a fondue choc. fountain--having neighbors and friends drop by--doing visiting teaching and having others come visit us--getting a jump drive in the mail with lots of wonderful pics from hayley--hearing hunter and all the kids be so excited to go to the temple to see the lights--hearing the cute little things kids say--and how they feel about the anticipation of Christmas and just being around them--all in a a great week--

Feeling "Portugal" with our hats!

We love you Hayley!

Ward party tonight

dear family-remember last year how we had cardboard sheep for our nativity FHE.--well originally
I got the idea from these from Ester Lavoreson who made cardboard cut outs for the primary and then just got some cardboard out of the dumster and made them from scratch--so we we will have our own set now for forever...

its our ward party tonight--pretty exciting for us--as it is one of the few parties we attend in the Season--except our own family on Christmas eve- this year we are dressing up in nativity costumes (which you know I genuinely love to do) and they are using some scenery that I made for our family home evening a while back--so I was glad that It could be used somewhere else too--brighten up and make others remember this wonderful event the birth of our savior

we never posted about our Thanksgiving

although its after the fact--we had a Thanksgiving feast --dad and I and we went all out with all the trimmings--that go along with Turkey--we cooked it together then went for a walk on the parkway--played ping pong and watched a movie "forever strong" then that night Bryan's family and nancy's family--drop by for pie and fun and visiting--A good time was had by all----

we are enjoying the season of winter-really

its pretty with all the snow--I think and dad got to use his snow blower --how much more fun can it get than that? I ask you--

Christmas season-First Pres devotional and...

really enjoyed the first Presidency Christmas devotional --they gave such touching experiences and examples--I also enjoy reading Christmas stories. One very good one that was introduced to me through book club this year was a childrens book called Christmas for a dollar.

I also enjoy listening to dad (bryan) read twas the night before Christmas to the kids as well as reading from Luke the Christmas Story. its always fun to have the grandkids help put up the ornaments on the tree--