Christmas Eve and Christmas day--were very delightful

The whole season of rejoicing--for the Saviors /Birth and mission seems complete to us (dad and I) when we've read from the bible and taken our selves back in time(and our family) in our minds and hearts to Bethlehem. the, plains of Judea and to a humble manger--How grateful we are for the Saviors Plan for us.













We never know just how its all going to play out--even though we are steeped in some traditions
they dynamics and family talents--are ever changing --we got such a chuckle out of doing the 'chicken dance' with the grand kids--but tweakin' it up some--with some Christmas lyrics--after Abbie and Adrianna taught us a new version. --then other Grand kids--showed their piano songs and back bends and sommersaults. There was much caroling of songs, and grandma read a part of a favorite poem "Touch the tiny Jesus gently now--lay him in the bed.
*oh Holy night on the accordian was a must
* Later we exchanged some in-expensive gifts and 'grandpa gifts' out of the 'grandpa bag' and went to the culture hall at the Church to play basketball, and Megan gave kids rides around the gym on her big -fast wheel chair.
The ending of the gathering was eating again then --a FHE of reading the nativity, dressed in authentic, ancient costumes of days of yore , looking like the most handsome Joseph, and shepherds and the sweetest mary and angels and wise men and wise -women ever to be found !
*at the conclusion of the reading of Luke and in 3Nephi--(and it came to pass--a day & a night and a day account in the Americas) Grand bore a testimony of how we look to a signs and a great day when our Savior will come to earth again.
The night ended with the singing of one more Christmas Carol --then the ever popular opening of PJ's.
Then everyone sang their way home(I think I heard them singing more Christmas songs) --as we chased them down waving good-bye and
Merry Christmas.

days activities leading up to ... CHRISTmas day

wrapping presents for the grandkids, such as books and stuffed animals, and going to Hunter's pre-school program and last minute baking of sugar cookies were the order of the week leading up to Christmas...we enjoy the aniticipation and oh how we love to hear the sweet children perform and sing songs this time of year.. The pre-school program was absolutely so great --and Hunter --did so great.

Christmas shopping fun

It doesn't get much more fun --when it comes to shopping than to find a bargain at guys---be prepared --and know that most of what we purchased this year--has a guys sticker on it-(and not just your white elephant gift LOL)
-and how fun is that? There are treasures there!!!!! (: Hayley found some great gifts for her extended family--Jacob party and I never am disappointed in what I find there--it is full of surprises --every time I go back

Christmas tree fun

Christmas trees have needles that point upward-reminding us to look up to Heaven for help and love and to Thank for our blessings


another good thing about Christmas trees is a place to dance around--to Christmas MUSIC
we danced and danced the other night--just for fun...

Fresh air...and skiing

Seems like when the inversion hits SLC , it motivates me to head up to alta and ski and see sunshine. The lines were short..(probably cause the air was so cold) but the powder and snow were GREAT--no wonder that Ut is known for the best snow on earth--*at least that is what we claim.

a "New take" on gingerbread houses

I got such a kick out of a phone call last week--Kaci called to tell me that they had gotten the gingerbread house in the mail and had decorated it--she said to look at my email for the pic and I laughed out loud when I saw an "RV-gingerbread House"

* very cute--so appropriate since your home of 2011 for a bit of time was an RV--what will you all think of next--you never cease to amaze dad and I with your creative juices and we love it and we love you....

Dinner date

When we got to the Hunters home the other night for our annual Stake Pres Christmas dinner, one of Pres Hunters daughters Anestasia asked me if I was excited for the dinner to which I replied yes
It is a dinner we always look forward to--good company and good food and we stay like 3 hours and eat appetizers and soups and rolls and salads and dessert and just visit and be social -its fun
and we enjoy our association and friendship and working along side the Hunters, Mchenry, Hall and Hankin families. Our lives our richer because of the shared experiences with each of them

Ballet

how I love to watch any of my grandkids in any of their activities--I had the chance to watch anna in ballet class --oh how I enjoy that--almost or equal to watching them perform on stage--they are so disciplined and word so hard stretching and leaping and learning the combinations-of positions and they don't talk much --they just 'do' (what the teacher says) and they are so graceful --(arms and legs)
they learn the french words--and terminology of dance positions. Anywho with all that said
I just admire them for what they do--I myself and not that disciplined to exercise for 1 1/2 hours at a whack once a week (with a five min break). watching this class was really a treat.

Performances of the Christmas Season

the first performances of the year started with Hunters Program--oh how that set our spirits in the mood for a joyful holiday--I'm tellin' ya this group of singers were absolutely darling &sweet




Abbie is the fifth on in on from the left
bottom row

during this Christmas season one performance we were able to attend and enjoy was listening to two gifted pianist named Joshua and Lindsey Wright --they played a duet then Joshua played
they happen to sit at our table for desert and we got to visit --they are such nice folks
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other performances the Holiday Season has brought- opportunities
for many wonderful Musical performances that touch the heart--our list has included:
1)abbie in her Nutcracker dance
2)Kennedee in her Nutcracker dance
3) Abbie and Anna playing recital songs at their home (we missed the actual recital)
4)Sterling singers (300 member choir) at the libby gardner hall-wow magnificent
5)Abbie singing with her classmates at a school
6)mom performed for the neighbors at a cookie party--Oh Holy Night on the accordian-We also heard from other neighborhood singers--perform that day including Alisa Murray on a winter's night. and Jackson smith sang too and Sarah Davidson and Hannah murray each on the violin.
7) heard the murray high school madrigals at the ward Christmas Party-
8)but the best will be Family home Evening --the performance of grandaughters dancing and the family singing (performing ) Christmas together.
during this Christmas season one performance we were able to attend and enjoy was listening to two gifted pianist named Joshua and Lindsey Wright --they played a duet then Joshua played
they happen to sit at our table for desert and we got to visit --they are such nice folks




in this picture Joshua is talking to a young boy--who is very gifted at piano too--he is a concert pianist at age 9--he and Joshua are friends and that is how the 22 ward came to have Joshua come...google on youtube Joshua wright http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNxbHFmPY8Q
when you paste that--it brings up choices--click on amazing man plays two pianos
and you'll see what I mean about his talents, or go to his web site www.joshwrightpianotv.com

hunter's Christmas performance

hunter with his teacher after the performance--she gave him a cute coloring /sticker book
we're all here to cheer you on Hunter

a shot through all the heads-- Hunter on stage performer at his best at a school with crafts. musical numbers and other treats of food and such
soming onto the stage our happy hunter
all set to sing his little heart out--all set to smile--wearing his preschool tee-shirt and looking
as cute as could be
that's our boy
even Hogan was thrilled to be there. the numbers included--rudoph the red nose reindeer and jingle bells and a few other darling songs --complete with actions and oh it was sweet