Recapping 2008, My Favorite Photos

I had this idea a week or so ago that I wanted to do a year in review of pictures. These are some of my favorite pictures of 2008. I took very few of these myself so I am glad that you were all willing to share pictures on blogs, etc. These pictures bring back good memories of the past year of being together for vacations, holidays, the wedding, the blessing, or just any old day. You have seen them all before but they are just so good I wanted to share them again and the reasons why they caught my eye.This one, I did take and laughed hysterically when I looked at it up close. Definately top 10 material.

I just love seeing the kids together.

A cute picture of Les.

Just a good one of the kids at Thanksgiving Point.

Morgan trying to handle 2 kids and doing it well.
Arden looking innocent.

Essise loves the water as we found out this summer. Notice her toes.

I just like this one even though Banner looks a little troubled.

It is so rare that these boys get together that I thought a picture of the 2 of them was pretty special.

Shelley took this one. Salmon poppies are one of my favorite flowers and I just loved this photo when I saw it. Notice the water droplets.

Quite artsy I thought.

Just the boys loving being together. Jonas has some food on his face. Oh well, it is still very cute and very indicative of their close relationship.

I think the story behind this one was hilarious. She just looks so upset that you can't help but laugh.

Thrilled kids doing the dishes. I thought it was just fun because they were all together.

What a view!

His look of determination caught my eye.

A great action shot.

I love this face.

Having the best time ever. I love all the blues in this picture.

I think this is a great shot of Miranda and Brooks but the dramatic background is what really caught my eye.

That little face. SOOO cute.

2 more beautiful faces.

I loved this picture from the moment I saw it. Alan took it while Shelley was trying to comfort little Essie on the morning of her blessing.

Just a cool picture. Taken by Madi

This little face always makes me smile. Check out those lips.

I love the colors in this one. The white, gray and pink are very striking to me.

Pink, gray and white again. I love it.

I like Hannah's half smile in this picture. She looks so cute.

Shelley was on a roll that day at Thanksgiving Point. I loved the coloring in this one. Her little peaches and cream complection. I love the dimple.

That little smile says it all.

Cute little cheeks. Essie is always good for a smile.

Christmas Doings

It sounds like you all had a great Christmas. I did too. I wanted to share a few things that made it so fun. We had a nice Christmas Eve Party at Josh and Stacy's. Stacy's tradition is Mexican food on Christmas Eve. She did Cafe Rio recipes and it was really yummy. The question of the night, "Black or Pinto".

Essie in the cupboard. Do you recognize that line? For you Silas Marner fans, it was actually "Eppie in the cupboard'

Enjoying the delicious chips and salsa. That is always a favorite with the kids.

Later we had a wonderful Nativity program. Samuel the Lamanite is pictured above. We did not have arrows but we had some socks that we threw at her.

We sang songs throughout the program, which made it even more special. Gabe took his role as Joseph very seriously. He held onto Mary's shoulder throughout the presentation.

Essie was supposed to play baby Jesus but she was a little too active. Here she looks like a little shepherd perhaps admiring the new baby. Actually she ripped the baby out of his manger.

The wise man "Kelsie" gave the gift of gold in the likes of a lovely gold comb that she placed in Jesus' hair. And then a lovely badge was given to the Babe.

It was most appropriate, don't you think.

We had only one animal present in our stable. Jonas made a lovely sheep.

Shelley and Alan had my name for Christmas and they gave me these lovely diamond and sapphire earrings and a few other things. I tried to take a picture with them in but it did not turn out very well. I really like them and have worn them for 2 days straight. Maybe I will give them a rest today.
Hannah and I worked hard on setting a lovely Christmas table. We even got on line and learned to fold the napkins in the crown shape. Notice the lovely centerpeice. It is still alive. Thanks Miranda.

We had a wonderful dinner. John bought the prime rib and I cooked it. With lots of instructions and help. We had lovely side dishes and lovely conversation. Actually I can't remember what we talked about but I am sure it was lovely.

It was perfection. Just the right amount of pink.

I also had a great time talking to most of you on the phone, hearing about your fun day. I was able to talk to Whitney 2 times on the phone. She has a bit of an accent. When she answered the phone the second time, she answered it in Spanish and I did not recognize her voice. I thought she was her companion. She had a good laugh. It was great to talk to her and hear her voice again. I love that girl. Hope you are all enjoying a little holiday break. At least I get a few more days off for New Years next week.

Celebrations in San Jorge

Presenting the lovely Mr. and Mrs Brooks Shurtliff
Let the shellacing begin. Miranda had Leslie and Morgan working on her. I came to see her to document the morning and her knees were just slightly shaking. I think they did a great job. She looked beautiful as usual.

Tennyson watching in amazement

Banner not so amazed

Maren after her Benadryl, induced coma

My artsy view of the temple

Sorry, these are a bit out of order. Leah was enjoying this tree. Morgan told me that she trained her not to touch Christmas trees. I guess it was just too enticing.

Look at that little face. She is so excited

This is one of my most favorite pictures of the day. I thought that this was such a fitting picture of Snow Canyon. This was the view from our dinner table.

The wedding ceremony was very nice and then we had a fun time taking pictures outside at the temple. Here is my try at being photographically creative like Madi.

Santa made an appearance at the temple. We felt very priviliged.

Little did we know that Jonas has been practicing his posing. I loved the backdrop of the temple doors for this picture. Best Friends

America's Next Top Child Model

I love this picture of all of the kids. I wish that we could have had the Bride in here.

The boys being friendly

Miranda was shivering and so cold that Santa decided to share is red cape with her. I think that it looks quite cute.

This is another one of my favorite pics of the day. Look at these cute kids. I love them all so much.

Our beautiful bride. I think that everything turned out so perfect. I am so glad that everyone could be there and I could see and spend the day with you all.

Deck the Halls

Morgan reminded me tonight that I have not blogged my house that was so kindly decorated with lots of helping hands last Monday night. This year I decided to simplify and just do 1 tree instead of 2 like I did last year. The tree is covered with not a bare branch. I really like the look. I love decorating the tree and reminiscing about each ornament. I have ornaments from many places that I have visited. I have an ornament that I got back in Primary when I was little. I have ornaments that Mom picked out for me. I have little rams that I bought last year to remind me of Dad. I have ornaments that family members have given to me and I even have ornaments with Leslie and Whitney's names on them. I suppose I will give them to the girls at some point. The tree holds many memories.

This is a project that I did last year at my ward's Super Saturday. I like the thought of the 3 wise men hanging out on top of my TV.

Morgan did a nice job with the bannister. She really got it looking cute with the added ribbon and poinsettias.

I wanted to have some fresh flowers around Christmas. I started most of these bulbs back in November. The Paper Whites seem to always bloom first. I cannot wait to see what the amaryllis bulbs do.

It has been a great weekend. I so enjoyed going to the temple with everyone. What a wonderful opportunity it was. I am so happy that I got to be there with Miranda and most all of you on her special day. We are truly blessed to have the temple in our lives which makes the plan of salvation complete.

Miranda's Bridal Shower Mad Lib

Pay attention and listen well as I tell you the love story of Brooks and Miranda
It was about 24 years ago that Brooks came across a chubby girl named Miranda. He was on his way to Spanish Fork when suddenly his lungs were drawn to a cheesy creature, too hairy for mere words. He was overcome with crabbiness and was sure that he had found the woman he was destined to share his tire with. She gazed at him with her bunion and lime green eyes and his elbow began to rollerblade lonely. Never before had he felt such Jubilation and he invited her to join him for a fortnight at the Wedge. She agreed and he Brooks regretted her off her feet. Miranda was smitten with Brooks. She loved his moldy upper lip and the way he referred to her as shnookums. Brooks was equally excited by Miranda’s disturbing ear lobe and wavy jump rope. He didn't even mind when she called him Randa. The couple dated for 40 centuries. Then, one crushing fall, twilight, Brooks bowed his tooth to the ground and asked for Miranda’s heel in marriage. Miranda was so seething, she responded immediately with “Holy Crap”! Brooks took this as an affirmative response and the couple are now preparing for their wedding day. After the wedding, they are off to Italy where they plan to spend a saucy honeymoon enjoying each other's split ends.