White Christmas

 Photos are in chronological order.

We had a lovely Christmas. Corey, Eileen, and Aunt Rhonda came to celebrate Christmas Eve with us. This year the yule log turned out well. I feel like I am improving every year!
After dinner we read the nativity story and sang the corresponding songs. Then sent the children off to bed. We woke up to 6 inches of beautiful snow! We opened gifts and had a breakfast casserole and played with the new stuff. In the afternoon we went to Marks house for a big meal with the Anderson.   We came back to the biggest fun mess we have ever had at our house. I would do it all again with pleasure.

Lots and Lots of Things For Us To Do

1. In our niche we set out our three humble nativity sets.
2. The ward party tables reflected in an ornament.
3. My Christmas list.
4. Ophelia's purple shoes are darling while she sits on Santa's lap.
5. Margaret testing the lights
6. Cookies from Lois, our neighbor across the street.
7. John standing on Clara to reach the perfect place for his ornament.
8. Dad's Lionel train.
9. Uncle James showing the cousins how he swam with whale sharks.
10. The cross stitch my Grandma Dorothy.
11. Margaret playing I spy with Grandpa.

Time to Kill

Margaret and I had 20 minutes to kill before a visiting teaching appointment. We decided to take a little walk up a nearby trail. The fresh air and a different vantage point offered a new perspective on two things I look at every day, the mountains and Margaret. 

Cookie

John Reading Again

I went through the blog to gather all of the photos of John reading. Here they are:
 Leather Chair, Book of Mormon Stories, Junie B and Go Dog Go, Babies, Camp Chair, Clara, Surprise Visit, Dennings Visit , Quite Reading, The Childrens Hour, Making Houses, On John, Valentines Day, and Mo Willams.
A lot! I wasn't expecting that many. I think it is so fun to see how he has grown. He goes from being read to, to reading to others. I am sure there will be more to come.

Christmas Violin Recital

 Clara did a great job at her Christmas recital this year. She had great dynamics and fingering. She played Friendly Beasts, Rocking Carol, Ding Dong Merrily on High, and Good King Wenceslas.

Afternoon on a Hill

I will be the gladdest thing
   Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
   And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds
   With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
   And the grass rise.

And when lights begin to show
   Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
   And then start down!                          

By Edna St. Vincent Millay  

Inside Outside

Hand Lines

Thanksgiving Day

 We were so glad to be able to spend Thanksgiving with the Andersons this year. It is always so welcoming and comfortable. I made creamed cauliflower per request and we loved Eileen's banana cream pie. I can see why it is a tradition. We hung out and the children had a great time with the new batch of kittens. I have never seen Margaret with such big smiles.

Jumping on the Bed

Family Dinner

It's all I Have to Bring Today

 It’s all I have to bring today—

This, and my heart beside—
This, and my heart, and all the fields—
And all the meadows wide—
Be sure you count—should I forget
Some one the sum could tell—
This, and my heart, and all the Bees
Which in the Clover dwell

 

By Emily Dickinson