It Was A Holly Jolly Christmas...

Just before everyone was to arrive,
Laura, Bethany, Dominic & I took one last trip to the Mall...
We had lunch...

And saw the beautiful Mall Decorations...

And even threw in a few pennies in the fountain...

Of course Bethany drove a few cars, boats...
and even a School Bus!


And before we knew it...
the time came for all of the family to come to town...
and for the cousins to begin to meet and get to know one another!
Dominic & Rylee became great buddies!

They got along great with Grandpa too...
and loved the Santa Train as well!


We all went swimming that first Monday night...
Bethany loved splashing us all!
She also lined all of her Aunts & Uncles up on the edge of the pool...
then count and tell them when it was their turn to jump in...
she had a blast being in charge!
It was really fun evening for everyone!

Laura got a pretty good picture of everyone here...
a good time was had by all!


Grandpa & Grandma had to get a shot with all 3 of the Grandchildren...
Rylee, Dominic and Bethany!


Then Granny Great got in the action too...
not too many kids get to spend Christmas with their
Great Grandma!

Of course we had to get a four generation picture...
Granny Great, Grandma (me), Heather & Laura and of course...
their children!
What a fun time!


Christmas day we spent making gingerbread houses and gingerbread men...
Here's Amy & Nick getting started!


Bill with a gingerbread man in the making...

Bethany helping out...


And of course Granny Great got in on the decorating too...


Working on the windows...

Bryan, Allison & Heather,
Concentrating on lots of fun decorating...


Nearly finished products...
there were a few more things done to them but...
These are the mostly finished houses, men & trees!
We had SO much FUN!

We baked and cooked all week...
Here's Bill with some of Christmas dinner!


And everyone (minus Amy, who took the picture) ready to eat it all...
Oh so YUMMY!
Dominic & Rylee were also napping!


Christmas Eve, after delivering a few cookies to neighbors...
A Shepherd welcomed us back at the door...


He was there to remind us of what Christmas is really all about.
As always...we had the Christmas story from Luke in the Bible.
We also learned of the people in The Book of Mormon...
who saw the Star and had looked forward to the Saviors birth.

Afterwards...It was time to set out treats for Santa!
And off to B-E-D!!!

Then came Christmas Morning...


And the race was on...


Rylee loved her gifts...
but the paper was just as much fun!


This ball that Dominic got would roll all by itself...
push a picture, music starts...and the ball begins to roll!
How fun is that?!?!


A Cinderella keyboard was just the thing to make Bethany's day!


Amy loved her new apron...
Heather made one for each of her sisters!

Bryan was especially happy with his new Rock Band 2...
I bet he will be Rockin' in the New Year!


Heather was sure excited about the new attachment for her Kitchen Aid!


After all was said and done...
we got a cute shot of our little reindeer!

Sunday, we all went to Church together...
and the rivalry continues!!!!
Utah...or BYU...
That is the question?!?


When Church was over...
Of course Bethany hit the slide...
and there was SNOW!


Not much...but enough to make a small snowman!


Then bring him inside!


The next day would bring our fun visit to an end...
but all week Amy had been talking about getting her hair cut...
with family pictures being made,
she really didn't want to do that earlier...
so...Laura had a gal that she really liked...
and everyone wanted to see it before they left...
so they got up early and off they went...
her hair turned out really great!
Allison got her's trimmed too!

Afterwards...we all went to Hometown Pizza...
where each of the girls have worked at one time or another...
we had a great lunch...

Bill & I enjoying our last lunch
with the whole bunch before they leave...


Here's the whole gang enjoying lunch before time to take-off!

Then it was off to the airport for our good-byes!

There was much more fun and silly moments...
this is just a sampling of the great times during our time together...
I hope you had a fun time with your family & friends this year too!
What a wonderful Christmas we had!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Things have been so busy lately...
but part of being busy this time of year...
is getting things ready for Christmas...
That is part of the fun!
So here is a little of the fun from around our house!

This year we decided to move our tree to the living room again...
We think we like it!

Although I don't have all of my Village out this year...
I do have a few new items...I really like them too!

I have a table that is a little longer downstairs than usual...
so can have a few more houses on one table...
even if I don't have them all...
here's one end of it...

...the middle...
...the kids making snow angels really move...
and the popcorn man's popcorn really light's up & pops!

...now the other end...

Here's a close up of one of my houses with a working fountain!

A close up of the ice rink where the skater's really skate!

The lower level is now for the kiddo's...
a Fisher-Price Nativity play set...
it's a great teaching tool...
as well as helping to keep little hands out of the upper level!

That's about it for now...that's some of what I have been doing...
to get ready for Christmas!
I hope you are having fun getting ready too!

Winter Wonderland Wedding....

One of our good friends had their youngest & last daughter
get married this past weekend...
and what a beautiful bride she was...

and what a beautiful reception they had...

With LOTS of yummy food!

The happy couple dancing....

Although my pictures may not be the best...
the reception was wonderful!
Congratulations Jayme & Nathan!

Breakfast for Champions...Kids That Is!

This morning my friend Annie & I started downtown
to a breakfast to celebrate Children...
very special children...
We went to one of the Galt House Ball Room's
to celebrate & honor the "Kid's Center"...
one of our friend's would be speaking.
She would be telling about the special miracle of her son Brian...
and of how much the Kids Center has helped he & their family...

The Galt House was beautifully Decorated!

The room was full...

Angie's sister Britney & niece Brooklyn were there...

Annie, Heather & Beatrice were there...


Ben came with his Mom...
He was just as excited to see me as I was him...
he's in the nursery with me on Sunday mornings!
I was sure excited to see him there!

Cinda (Ben's Mom) was there with Angie...
And of course Angie did a most excellent job
of letting everyone know what a
wonderful place the Kids Center is!
If you are looking for a place to help out with a charitable donation...
Or to volunteer...
This is a good place to share...
What wonderful work they do!

Laura and Bill Share Their Birthdays...

So...Sunday December 6th was Bill's Birthday...
Laura's was on the 2nd so they decided to share dinner on Sunday!


When they arrived....Bethany discovered the Santa Express...
so exploring had to take place before dinner could!

Dominic had his first experience with the train too!


Finding Pooh & Friends was exciting again too!


After having dinner...
Laura and her Dad got to each enjoy their favorite...
Their very own...Pineapple pie!


They each blew out all of their candles...
I guess they get their wish come true!

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town...

My first clue that Santa was on his way was that I received something I have wanted since I was about 9 years old...
My Mom and I took a ceramics class way back then and I wanted to make a beautiful Christmas Tree...
but it was a little pricey for my 9 year old taste....
so I made a small tree minus the lights...
My hubby has heard me talk about this over the years and he found one this year and surprised me with this...
What a wonderful surprise it was too!
Merry Christmas To Me! I LOVE it!

Next came the Relief Society Christmas Dinner...
We found "Joy in Our Journey" together...

Visiting at the Relief Society Dinner....


Then Friday night we were invited to attend dinner at our old Ward...
Bill was to be the "Honored Guest"...he had a GREAT time!
The children were wonderful!


Babies were the last in line....they were so cute!


Our friends Ashley & Ben were there and brought their new son...
How fun that we got to be a part of his visit to Santa!


Time to leave...

Merry Christmas to all....
and to all a Good Night!

Thanksgiving...A Family Celebration...

We took off for Charleston WV on Wednesday
to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family...
on the way we watched Cinderella...
Bethany's new favorite!


We stopped in at Bill's Dad & Ethel's on the way in town...
It was a good visit...with a nice four generation snapshot!


We stayed at my Mom's & Next morning we got
A four generation snapshot with her too!

Bethany & Grandpa playing "The Parade of Ants"
on the computer!

Bill playing with the camera and getting me Upside down!

Laura taking time to read "Winnie the Pooh" to the children.

Bethany discovering the world of the floor furnace!

Dominic entertaining himself...

My Mom..."Granny Great" getting dinner ready...

Granny Great putting the food on the table...

Great Grandpa & Dominic becoming quick buddies!

Bethany finding fun things to do...

Dominic having his dinner...

Great Grandma Ethel & Great Grandpa enjoying their roles!


Ethel's daughter Judy chatting with Bill before they had to leave.

On Friday, we took a stroll down memory lane...
My Childhood...this is a little church I use to attend from
the time I was 6 until I was 12...note the little outhouse in the back!
I loved going early to help get the two wood potbellied stoves going to heat the place!

This tells a little of the history of the Church.


Here I am next to the cemetery where we would have Easter Egg hunts.
I remember having a lot of fun each year in there!


This is where I attended some of first Grade...
Ravenswood North Elementary...
They have changed it's name now for some reason?!?


We stopped in to see my Dad's brother...
I always love to visit my Uncle Carl!
Bethany & Dominic seemed to enjoy it too!


On our way out of town we dropped in on one of Bill's cousin's...
Betty June...She seemed to enjoy having the kiddos visit too!


When we left to come home,
we gave Bethany the option of sitting in the middle...
or in the back next to Dominic...
She chose the back with Dominic...
she was able to be with him in case he needed her...
and a few times he did! What a good big sister she is!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had...
...And how Grateful we are for the many blessings we have in our lives!