Christmas 2010

I spent Christmas Eve night at Josh and Stacy's.  So I got to be there in the morning to see what Santa had left.  It was very fun to experience Christmas morning through the eyes of the kids. 

Esme checking out her new dolly.  By the way she is quite attached to her already.

Hannah thrilled with her new Ipod.  It is blue her favorite color.

Essie went right to work feeding and caring for her baby.

I had Josh and Stacy's name for Christmas and so with the help of Morgan I secretly arranged for a photo shoot when she was down a few weeks back.  The pictures turned out great.  Stacy was taking all the pictures in.

Esme got some new little pets.  She thought her pockets made a good place to store them.

Maren showing us her new dress.

This gift from Tenny was a big hit with Gabe and the other kids.  They played with it for a few hours on Christmas evening.

The kids got some Legos for Christmas.  Maren, Jonas and myself had a Lego building contest.  Jonas made an airplane and Maren and I built a Temple, complete with Moroni on top.  We did not have a trumpet and had to use what was available to us.

Christmas Dinner at my house.  We had Prime Rib and all the trimmings.  It was a nice meal and we got to all sit at one table.  That does not happen too often in this family when we get together. 

Maren modeling her new dress.

We finished our second puzzle of the holiday season.  Lots of help got this 1000 piece puzzle done quite quickly.

These are cute Christmas dishes that Miranda gave me last year.

 We made cinnamon rolls and I was going to take them to my neighbors but we ended eating them all and so I had to make a cheese ball for the neighbors instead. 

Here is the picture collage that I gave to Josh and Stacy.  Morgan took the pictures and designed all of it and then I had it printed and framed it up. 

Jenny and Jim had my name for Christmas and Jenny crocheted me a beautiful afghan.  My camera battery died and so I was not able to get a picture of it yet.  Thank you all for your sweet thoughtful gifts.  I had a wonderful Christmas.  And I hope that all of you did as well.



Thinking of Christmas

I was getting ready for work this morning and I was thinking of Christmas and my heart started to ache for Dad.  I was remembering all of the many Christmas memories that I had of him and with him.  What I would not give to have those times back.  I was remembering a Christmas after Mom had died and John and I were down at the house with Dad and Madi and Arden.  He did not really have a gift for me and he did not have my name that year but I woke up Christmas morning and he had got a few gifts together for me so that I would have something.  I start to cry just thinking about it.  The world is in need of more men like Dad.  I miss his gentleness, his neverending knowledge of life and the world. I miss hearing his testimony. I miss his voice.  I miss talking to him.  I miss particularly his stories because I can never recall them like he told them.  I remember one story he told me when he was a teenager and he had to spend Christmas Eve out on Sinbad and how he rode his horse all through the night to get home for Christmas morning.  He said it was a great Christmas because his parents were actually able to give him a gift that year.  That was the year he got his black leather wallet.  Yes, the wallet that traveled through life with him and around the country with him and was lost several times but somehow always made it back to him.   How blessed we are to have grown up with the influence of such a wonderful man.  





Just a few pictures of Christmas past.  I remember those Christmas visits to the cousins homes seeing what Santa brought them and showing what he brought us. Don't I look a little like a Maren Essie mix in this picture.

Just a few pictures from 2 weekends ago when several of us were together.  Notice the 2 girlies and their princess fashion show .  Maren put on every necklace and headband she owns and was good to share with Leah. 

This past weekend we did a 550 piece puzzle.  It took us 2 days.  It was a warm-up for our next one that has 1000 pieces.  We will be starting that one tomorrow.  

I wish that I was going to be able to be with you all but at the same time I am looking forward to a quite Christmas in Salt Lake with John and Josh and their families.  Hopefully I will be able to at least talk on the phone.  I am excited to get the updates on our missionaries.  I love you all and wish you a

Merry Christmas! 

I've Been Busy

So I have been quite busy this past week getting things done and off the "To Do List".  I got all my Christmas decorations up with a little help from some big and some little elves.  It's always a good feeling to have it up and then just enjoy it.  

I finally bought a new bigger tree.  I am really pleased with it.  Now my little tree does not look so overloaded like past years.  

I have not been Christmas baking or candy making like usual.  I have been Christmas sewing.  Lizzy gave me this piece of fabric a few years back and I decided it was perfect for a runner.  

I had promised the little girls that I would make them quilts for their beds after Stacy painted their room.  It has taken me a few months to get all of this done but it is done.  All except for maybe a little window topper.  I need to still work on that.  Whitney helped out with quilting them on the long arm.

It was my first attempt at applique.  I would like to do some again and perfect that process.

I decided to make them pillows to go with the quilts.  I love using scraps.  That pleases me more than anything to really use up all the fabric.  I put some leftover minky on the back of 2 of the pillows.  It was from Lily's baby quilt.  See what I mean.  I love using scraps.

Here are the beds.  Don't they look fun and girlie.  

Hannah and I spent last Saturday doing wreaths.  She did 2 for her mom and I did one for myself.  She is good with the glue gun. 

I am hoping that all of you are having fun with your little Christmas projects.  I sure have.  Looking forward to seeing many of you on the weekend.