Christmas & New Years

I always think "this year was just the best ever!" ...but then the next one is better still. Our 2011 Christmas and 2012 New Year's Day had us all together, which is the best part of any holiday! Lindee got to hold her ONLY little niece, we got to see Chris and Lisa's tiny one blessed the day after Christmas by a family full of loving worthy Priesthood holders, everyone got to see that Britney actually DOES have a bit of a "baby (boy) bump" and we got to participate in another of Michael & Anita's mystery dinners. What fun! We even had Lisa's mom join us for Christmas Eve and Christmas. I think she brought much more than her share of goodies!

I have to say that, although we ALWAYS have fun when we get together with ANY of our children & grandchildren, it is such a precious thing to have ALL of them enjoying one another. Lon and I feel like our "cup runneth over" at those cherished moments. Thanks to all of our family for making the holidays so special.

Lon and his band got to play twice for New Years...once for "First Night" at CBC for the community and again for the Single Adults in our stake. Tami & Joe's little family and Chris & Lisa went to the "First Night" with encouraging shouts of "Go Papa!!" for his "Wipe Out" rendition, and Landon & Britney, Michael & Angie, & I went to the Singles performance. Michael & Landon went in Lon's Hawaiian shirts to match the band and rocked out on their cardboard guitars. Those singles will probably never see THAT much life in any other dance they go to!!

Thanksgiving

What a great family we have! We were all able to be together this Thanksgiving...except Chris, Lisa & baby Hannah (whom we missed a LOT, but Lisa's entire family was with them in St. Louis). And what excitement we had! We even had a neighborhood fire during the morning cooking hours. The next-door family had a fire from their dryer. A priceless part was Tami's children trying to figure out how we could help (moving the dryer out, taking the little grandma tea, etc.) and, when the firemen arrived, little Drew going up to one and saying, simply, "I LOVE you!!"

I am so thankful for a family who LIKES each other and HELPS. We had Tami , the girls and Mason making rolls, Landon peeling PILES of apples for pie, Britney and Angie making the crusts, Joe doing his absolutely scrumptious turkey, Anita making delightful 3-D pumpkin name cards and doing the fresh string beans, everyone helping in cleanup (little Mason was constantly sweeping, recycling or mopping something). Michael and Dad were always helping with dishes or whatever needed to be done, in spite of the need for Michael to study for his rotations and upcoming interviews. I am always amazed at the new and fun dishes Tami comes up with for such a crowd, but we always eat til we can't hold another bite and it always tastes divine.
We had a great time in crazy games, watching ballgames and just having a good time talking.

Baby "Darwin," Michael & Anita's tiny one, just turned one the week before, so he is now actually WALKING! Hurray...and "help!!!" at the same time, right?! What a cutie!

This Christmas season is going by so quickly! I'm hoping to get things a little under control by the time our special family gets here...but no promises. I am especially excited about a Relief Society presentation the week before Christmas called a "silent lesson." No talking...just thinking, music and visuals. One thought I especially liked was one our mutual had for a YW night long ago..."What is MY gift to Christ?" God gave us His SON...and all we have in this life. Christ has given us (through His atoning sacrifice) the opportunity for progression and exaltation. But what do I give back, especially during this season, as MY gift to them?

I have to wait for the pictures (Lon has the camera in Seattle), but we had a great week. Michael, Anita & "Darwin" were here since Wednesday, since Michael has a "vacation" from rotations for a while, and Angie made it for Saturday and Sunday. "Darwin" has found his toes lately and can play and talk for hours...well, maybe not THAT long. We ate much more than we should have, but it was really good! And, of course, Mr. Easter Bunny left a treasure hunt (Mrs. Bunny was making dinner!). We have all decided that Mr. Bunny has exceptional "creativity" when it comes to poetry and clues! Michael & Anita's bunny even left a special little hunt for Mom. It was great fun! We are so excited to go see Chris this week. What a sweet birthday present from Lisa! Can't wait to see all Tami's clan, too. I promise to get some pictures on here real soon.

We got to be with the kids this last weekend. I've decided that Lon and I truly need a "shot in the arm" every so often by being with those we love. We watched Tami and Anita running a 5-mile Tulip Run, even though Tami has never run 5 miles in her life, with Lindee and Mason cheering them on with their hand-printed signs and uninhibited enthusiasm. We played with baby "Darwin" and got lots of smiles and listened to his own kind of "talking," noticing that his best smiles were always ready for his Daddy. We saw little Drew dragging his cast as he crawled or scooted on his little bottom so he could do everything all the rest of us were doing--all with a big smile on his face. Lindee picked a bouquet of flowers just before we left and ran waving after our car for several blocks...and I thought of her all the way home. Sweet Mason announced he "needed another hug" before we left and completely warmed our hearts. Yes, we love to be with our family. Every single one lifts us every time we "rub shoulders" or just hear their voices. I guess that's what it's all about, isn't it?!

Mason's Birthday Song