Back to Blogging-Chloe's Sleepover

After a busy week of Christmas and being sick for the last few days I am up and ready to fill everyone in on the family activities of the last week and a half or so. Chloe's sleepover was the fun activity for the week before Christmas. She planned her sleepover for a month, made invitations, planned the food, and made all sorts of signs and tags for the girls. Including Chloe, there were seven little girls here-Chloe, Rahlee, Jade, Madison, Jenna, Ruby and Sydni. Cousin Lindsay helped to keep the party going too. Things went pretty well for the whole affair, except for a few little times that Chloe got frustrated. All and all I think the kids all had fun both in the evening and the next day. The pictures show the girls sitting in their assigned spots (by Chloe) listening to her read a special story. Not all of them were thrilled to sit still and listen, but we coaxed them into making it through. I gave Rahlee, Jade and Chloe their Christmas present from me-Hanna Montanna or High School Musical, pjs and that is what you see them wearing in these pictures. The next day was very warm and they all had a good time playing outside. Now, Grammy was glad when they all began to leave, but it was fun and a special thing for Chloe to do and remember.

A Cool Christmas Gift

Michael's mother Kathy and Katie, got together and made this really cute Christmas gift for our family. All seventeen grandkids are hanging here in a row along the fireplace mantel. You cannot see the little snowmen wreaths very well, but their faces are little frames with a grandchild's picture in it. It adds a cheerful spark of color to our blue Christmas theme. It was so thoughtful and sweet of them to think of such a great idea and put it all together.
Thanks to both of you!

Gabe Gives A Primary Talk

On Sunday Gabriel gave a talk in Primary. He is quite a unique, funny and very expressive boy. He did some ad libbing and took a kind of ordinary talk and dressed it up a bit-Grammy and Poppy were amused and proud of their smart and unusual grandson. Below is the text of his talk on Christmas, minus the ad libbing. Go Gabe!

Christmas is an exciting time of the year for kids. We get excited when we see the decorations downtown come up in November, we are excited to see our family put up the Christmas tree, or our mom asks us to make a list of things we might want for presents. Families usually have Christmas activities to go to in December and we like to help make cookies or other fun treats that are our family’s tradition. I like to sit by our fireplace in the light of the Christmas tree and read a book. All of these things are an important part of Christmas for us. But when we are thinking of of all of these special things about Christmas, we sometimes forget that Christmas represents the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We have a nativity scene in our living room that my grandma had when she was a little girl. It sits in front of the window and has lights around it, so that they give a special glow to the figures of Mary and Joseph and little Jesus in the manger. I can look at this and it helps me remember that Heavenly Father sent Jesus to the earth as a little baby to live and die for all of us, and what I can do to show I am thankful.

The First Presidency of the Church message, in the Friend this month says:

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him”.

The Wise men followed the light of a star to find and worship the Savior. We worship Him by following the light of His example. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is perfectly obedient, merciful and kind. He spent His time on earth in service, and He gave His life so we could repent and live eternally. Because he came to earth, we know who we are: beloved children of Heavenly Father.

This Christmas, may we sing with joy, pray in gratitude, and carry out kind deeds. As we strive to become more like the Savior, we will have joy and happiness during this wonderful season and peace each day of the year.

President Thomas S. Monson

Prsident Henry B. Eyring

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Gatlin Celebrates His Birthday

On Sunday, Gatlin celebrated his second birthday with his family all around. We had a spaghetti dinner and of course, ice cream and cake. He is such an expressive little boy with big brown eyes and always a funny grin for the camera. These pictures are just a few of his silly faces. We love you Gatlin!

Christmas Concert-Chris

Christian plays the clarinet for the East Jr. High band. Last night he had his Christmas concert. Mr. Miller has done a great job with his students since he came last year as the band teacher. 7th, 8th and 9th grade students play separately at the concerts. These pictures show Chris and his 9th grade band group. You cannot see Chris in one of the pictures, but he is behind the girl with the clarinet in the front. They played some Christmas songs and other pieces. We all enjoyed the show until we went out to the van and it did not start-again. Chloe had a teacher from last year that she was having fun with and when she heard about our problem she volunteered to take us home. She even left her kids and parents at the school to run us all the way home. Talk about Christmas Angels!

Blue Tree?

Yes, this year we have a blue Christmas tree. Way back in the 1970's, when we lived at 66 S.Capri in Ormond Beach, Florida, blue was in for Christmas. We had blue lights all across the house and blue inside too. Since then we have never gone for blue, but now our living room is yellow with some blue willow dishes and some aqua blue trim so Mom thought that the usual pink Victorian theme might need a change. Lindsay, Kelly and Mom went out Saturday in search of a narrow tree that would not take up too much room in the corner of the room. We found one and brought it home. After the decorating with blue lights and balls and a trip to K-Mart today for some Martha Stewart blue bows, it has turned out pretty nice. We like it anyway and hope Santa will too.