Marie's Halloween

Marie's outfit this year. 

Little did we know Jeff's and Loren's family were dressing to the same theme.

See their blogs.

For some reason this post was never published. I will do it now even though it is out of sequence.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is such a magical time as we open the gifts that became a tradition due to the gifts that were given to the baby Jesus when he was almost two years old by the Wise Men.

One of our traditions is to have breakfast before we open gifts.

Breakfast is hidden until everyone is ready.

Alex was having a hard time waiting for everyone else to get ready.

 Kate and Kyle were just chillin and smillin.

 Scott and Jeff got sneak peaks into the family room where the stockings were waiting. 

They both had good excuses for having gone in but we caught them anyway.

 The first family through the curtain was Loren's

Followed by Brittany's 

 And Then Tia and Scott sneaked through before Grandpa was ready to photograph them.

The following a some of the images as they opened presents.

 Scott, Tia and Jeff had gifts that were hidden in the shed due to size. 

It was cold out there.

Annie (Tia) got her gun.

 Loud popping was not really appreciated by Alex or Kade 

when Scott popped some of the packing bubbles.

 Grandpa got a call from Kasia and Kinsey while opening one of his gifts from 

Brooklyn, Kade and Kyle.

 A couple of screen shots taken while visiting with Jeff's family in Colorado.

Hayden's family also sent us short video's from Arizona on our telephones.

(wish I knew how to put them on here too.)

Ben's family were here with us in the afternoon so we were able to spend Christmas with each of our children's family in one way or another.

I am so thankful for such wonderful children. I am thankful for their spouses and grandchildren.

I am also so Thankful for a Heavenly Father who sent his Son to earth (for which we celebrate His birth at Christmastime) and who gave His life so that we might live again with them if we will strive to do our best to keep their commandments and live the gospel that They gave to us. I know it is true and so wonderful. My heart is full of love for them because of the greatest of all gifts ever given to us the Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Atonement, and families.

Christmas Time Traditions and Family

Christmas brings with it traditions that are fun and sometimes brand new.

For several years now we have had a tradition of everyone gathering for a picture before we go 

to the kitchen to have breakfast and then to the family room for opening presents.

This was our picture for 2013.

Later in the day we were joined by Ben's family and in-laws. 

It was fun having them here for the second time and getting to share 

some of our activities with them. 

Our new activity this year, which will become a tradition of the future was to 

make candy sleds and race them.

 Tom and Kathy's sled

 Gabe and Ben's

 Sam and Cat's

 Loren and Kade's

Brooklyn and Rachelle's

 My sled

 Elaine's sled

Tia and Scott's

 Racing down the steep slopes of a card table. 

I tried it out on a snowbank but it was way to cold to do it there. 

Thanks to the Averett's for telling us of one of their traditions 

that was so much fun that it will happen again.