Christmas Eve

We had a nice Christmas Eve with the Murdocks.

Jack got this sled a year ago from his Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, and we had no snow. This is the first time he has used it.

We just zipped down G&G Murdock's front yard. One day we may go to Stoddard Creek.

Brian on Adam's Zipfy.

Brooklyn was out and throwing snowballs without gloves.

Grandpa had some fireworks to shoot off.

Roman candles, and Christmas lights.

Stubby Pringle made a stop, and reminded us of the Christmas spirit. Well done, pardner.

Wiggly Tree

I've never been satisfied with photographs of Christmas trees, because they don't show the magic. So I tried an experiment. You kind of have to blow them up to see..

Snow Ball 2012

Sam and his little Nattie Pie.

Grandma's 80th Birthday

Jeannette, Brice, Jeff, Karyn and I decided to surprise Grandma on her 80th birthday. Karyn and Jeff flew in on Monday, 18 December, and Brice and I flew in on Tuesday. Grandpa said Grandma was surprised three times. Once when Karyn showed up. Once when Jeff showed up. And once when she realized that the rest of us were coming too.

We spent the 19th at the temple, and at a small party with some of her friends. Some pictures of the day.

The wind was blowing pretty hard, so hair was flying.

Grandma and Grandpa and all their lovely children.

Grandma sporting a never-before-seen photographic pose. She must have been very happy.

Beautiful old lady.

Daniel and Samantha were with us at the temple too. We still haven't figured out whose fault it was, but Jeannette and Daniel and Samantha arrived too late at the temple to make it in to our session. So they did sealings, and met us in the Celestial room.

Still happy, after all this year.

Karyn, looking very handsome.

Grandpa, Jeff, and René conspired to give Grandma an alpaca sweater. She looked stunning.

And all the kids pitched in to get her a topaz birthstone pendant.

The visit was too short. Hope we can to it again in another 10 years.

Trees Again

Boy it seems that Christmas comes around faster every year. We went with the grandparents, and the Jeffs and the Bretts. We took the Smiths again (no accidents this time).

Sam, trying to hide the tree so we can't see it.

Pete has been home for Thanksgiving, and loves his camel hair hat. Adam enjoying some hot beverage.

Some of us went on a little hike to a little creek that Jack is standing on. Some of the smiths went with us.

Contemplating arbicide.

Jann, contemplating rescuing the tree. She eventually decided against it.

The hunting guide.

Brett brought a shotgun, and the kids took turns flinging skeets for shooters.

Adam models in front of the tree.

Fish

Grandpa and Brett and Jeff and Jann went fishing at Palisades dam yesterday.

They had to have some old lady tell them how to catch them, and they caught a gazillion.

Giving Thanks

We had a splendid Thanksgiving dinner at the grandparents. Jann's experimental sweet potato rolls turned out to be spectacular. The whole meal was very fine. And there was pie. And home movies to end the night.

Big Jack on the pee wee bike.

Big boys helping Grandpa with the lights.

Everybody helping. We helped take them back down, reverse them end for end, and put them back up again too.

Pete is a professional light installer.

Sam is learning by watching.

Utah, From Top to Bottom

We drove to Provo, and then to St. George, to see our kids, and to see Brett and Tori Schill go to the temple for the first time. The projector broke, so we got to just listen to the endowment ceremony. It must have been a little interesting for them. It was good to see them, and see the good things they are doing.

And we got to visit some with Pete and the O'Connors. Madelyn is so cute.

Baby Madelyn with new Grandma clothes. She especially liked the hat.

More Grandma clothes. Plaid, baby, plaid.

Flying through the treetops. 

Em and Rory's new bed.

Fake Halloween

We didn't get any Halloween pictures done this year, because the ward put on a dinner party. They did a trunk or treat so no one would actually trick or treat later, and then had dinner. After dinner, the kids split up before I could think of taking pics. So, I made Jack dress up just a little, and took a picture of him.

Jack with his Lucha Libre mask on, and real wooden scythe. Of all the scythes we saw on Halloween night, Jack's was the best.

Thor saying "You come home" to Loki.

Sam's Pumpkin

This is a wonderful display of Sam's natural pumpkin carving talent. He calls it, "The Amazing Spiderman Logo on a Pumkin." We are so proud of our Super Sam; He is so great, and we love him!

Autumn Dances

Tori and her Adam, and Sam and his Jay went to balls yesterday.

Tori had some red shoes that made her really tall.

Ready to go to the masquerade.

See the creepy head over Adam's left shoulder?

Merida, from Brave, and random suitor, off to the fancy dress ball.