Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was so nice to all be together.

Opening stockings.

 Waiting to open presents.  They can open their stockings when ever they get up. (Which this year wasn't early.)  We wait to open presents until after breakfast and a spiritual thought. 

 Enjoying the day.

 Friends

Sam, Jarod, and Caleb

The Three Musketeers.

 Sam trying out Jamie's ukulele.

 Jamie

 The tree.

 The closest thing we have to a family picture this year.

Christmas Eve

It has been our traditon for many years now to get together with Scott and Heidi (Scott's sister) and family.  This year was a little different because Grandma wasn't here.  She spent the holidays in California.  Over the years we have simplified the menu and for the past serveral years we have had pizza.  This year Scott made all the pizza. 

Cousins playing Apples to Apples

Andrew, Jamie, Molly, Devyn, Derek, Dallin, Damon

Damon

Jamie & Andrew
opening gifts from Grandma

Sam and Lori

Christmas traditions

Scott grew up with the tradition of his mom making Hungarian Butterhorns.  Even now his mom usually makes them every year.  This year since his mom was in California for Christmas Scott decided to try them.  They turned out great.

A Party

Friday, the 17th was Cole's birthday so he had a party.  They made a stop at our house for Scott's pizza.  It was like old times having them all here. 

Andrew, Sam, ,Chade,Caleb, Cole, Jarod, Ryan

Chris, Craig, Brett

They are a great group of boys.

Concert

Voice Male

"Put a lawyer, an accountant, a graphic designer, a marketer, a commercial real estate agent, and a computer specialist together and what do you get... Voice Male, a six-man contemporary acappella group that has been delighting audiences across the Mountain West since 1994 with shows that can only be described as pure, spontaneous fun!"

Tuesday night we got to go to the Voice Male concert.  It was so fun.  I haven't laughed that much for a long time.  It also helped me get the spirit of Christmas.

We invited the whole family; Delaine, Susan, and Amy took us up on the offer.  Andrew didn't want to go but he went and even enjoyed it.  Jamie took MIchael.

The Holiday Season

I am really trying this year to enjoy the season.  In years past I haven't even wanted Christmas to come because it just meant more to do.  This year I started feeling this way and decided I needed a change of attitude.  I needed to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas and not stress over all the things I think need to get done. So far I think I am doing okay.  We just got our Christmas tree decorated last night, and that's okay.  The rest of the decorations may or may not get put up this year.

I even took a few minutes this morning while I was doing dishes to enjoy the sunrise.  I got Andrew to take some pictures.

The simple pleasures of life.

Together again!

Caleb, Chade, Cole, Sam,

Jarod,

Brett

After four years, they are all together again.

Goal accomplished!

We did it!!

Saturday, we went to the Mount Timpanogos temple. 

We made it to all the temples in Utah in 2010. 

It has been a wonderful journey. 

Thank-you Jamie for motivating us to do this.

Thank-you Johnsons for all the good times,

 and thank-you Teri Sue for making the arrangements and for all the pictures!!