Extended Family Photos

Family Photos done by PhotosnStyle. Danika did a good job managing so many people and children in a fairly short and orderly fashion.  We took indoor photos (since it was November) at the Fifth Floor--a venue on downtown Ogden.

These are a sample of the photos---

Scarlett, Scott, Chantel, James

Jessica and Elessia
Alex, Carter Ezri in front
Liam and Zander in the middle

Tosha and Austen
Cooper, Ava, and Niki

Ben

Jena

Our "nuclear" family---

Ben with the grandsons

Jena with the granddaughers

Grandparent pictures.....

The whole family

Us...

Jena wanted Ben to twirl her like Austen had done with Ava earlier....

a good way to end an extended family photo session!  Until next time.  Thanks for the photos!!!

Christmas At Home

I saw the title of remarks given by Emily Belle Freeman (General Young Women President of the Church) at the MTC in Provo on Christmas Eve-- it was "Some Christmases Are Different".  That related, of course, to the young and senior missionaries on their missions and away from home on Christmas, but is also a reference to her own personal life where her husband had been battling cancer and having chemo over the past 12 months.  He finished his last round right before Christmas day, but she had said that it would be a quiet Christmas for them while he dealt with the side effects of the chemo over the next week or so.  It is true, some Christmases are different and that is okay.  That is like life and we can manage with the highs and the lows as long as we keep focused on the reason for the season--our Savior Jesus Christ and His Great Atonement for us. All the rest is just "ribbons and bows."

With that said, there were sweet moments being at home for this Christmas--to hang four stockings on our hooks where all seven of our stockings hung for many Christmases together.  A quieter day that started at 9 instead of 6 am (and we went to bed much before 1:00 am the night before)....but sweet in its own way.

These stockings are the ones I bought the last year we were in Salt Lake.  Still haven't pulled out the Christmas stuff packed in the back of our stuffed storage room.

Coming down the stairs Christmas morning---the youngest to the elders....

Jena passed out presents again this year--one for each of us.

My "best" present!

Jena had asked for a picture of Christ for her room.  There were so many that I finally took her with me one day and asked which one she liked.  This was her choice.  Not one that I would picked--since I was worried about things like matching her room and being the size I wanted, etc...but this celebrates the Risen Lord who Lives! She loves it and we will find the right spot in her room when we finally "move in" for real.

I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (well, me and Mrs. Rhoades).  Jena said it made it smell like Christmas. 

And the bonus of the day was having Jessica, Elessia, and their kids come for some more present opening and Christmas dinner.

Zander wasn't too excited when he first opened his book until he opened it up and then his face lit up and he said, "It is a math book."  Actually it is a collection of games and activities which involve logic and some of them are number problems.  It was so fun to watch him grab a pencil and start to work on some of the problems.  Not everyone's cup of tea, but I like logic problems and it was fun to watch him try them out as well.

Merry Christmas, my dear family and friends!  Have a great wonderful holiday and a good new year!

Work Moves Forward On The House

 Getting ready for the new stuff to start going in the master bedroom....

Even Gary is pounding some nails to help Gary Kerr with the library wall.  I seriously teared up on Monday when I stepped into the living room and saw the work they had done.  It took me back to my Grandparents' home when I was little that had a front Parlor room with bookshelves filled with books on three walls of the room.  I loved that room long before I could read books and I have wanted my own version for a long time.  Not really practical for it to fill three walls in our house, but I hope that this room will be a special spot for our grandkids to read a book or be read to.  When I mentioned that to Gary, he pointed out that half of our grandchildren live out of state and won't spend much time at our house.  I too didn't live near my grandparents and we usually only visited once a year in the summer.  My grandfather died when I was four and my grandmother moved from that home when I was 9 or 10.  I don't actually remember seeing either of my grandparents reading in that room.  When we came, we spent our time in a large room/dining room near the kitchen at the back of their home (which was actually the ground floor of home with others living upstairs.  However, I didn't not understand that as a child, they took care of the yard with its many roses and to me, it was their house.) Anyway, I just remember the feeling of the room that books brought to me then and still do.  I am glad to have this small token of connection to my grandparents in our home.

The tile for the master bath is already piled up in the master bedroom, but I am struggling with the kitchen selections.  After I settled on the kitchen counter, I had to change my first choice for the backsplash tile because it wasn't quite the right colors of white.  At the tile store on Friday, I found something similar that had the right colors and tones that I wanted, but then the salesperson told me that I didn't need to worry about them having enough stock because "this is one of our most popular tiles so we keep it well stocked."  Yuck....I don't want the "most popular" tile. Now I haven't personally seen this white tile in anyone's kitchen.  Of course, I haven't been inside many people's homes in the past few years, so what do I know? But it is causing me to rethink my idea and wondering if I wanted to change it completely. Decisions....so many factors play into them when you are designing your living space.  Gary says I shouldn't worry and get what I want---but what I want is not "the most popular tile".  Does that matter to you?  Should I go ahead and get that tile or choose something different?  Stay tuned!

More Christmas Fun in Salt Lake

Last Monday, we attended the Nathan Pacheco concert down at Abravanel Hall. We first had some yummy curry/rice dishes at the City Creek Food court, before heading to the concert.

These are the SLC Light of the World Giving Venting machines.  The lines were too long to make a stop tonight (and too wet when we returned to Salt Lake on Friday night for another event.)

Waiting for the show to start.  Just walking into the hall reminded me of the great Voice Male concerts we have attended here as well as other great performances.  We are lucky to live near enough to Salt Lake to enjoy these types of events from time to time.

The story about this concert is that when I was creating my "Christmas list" for Gary this year, I thought that one concert that I would like to see is one by Nathan Pacheco.  I decided to google and see where he might be performing in 2025 so that I could suggest Gary plan a weekend trip to attend a concert, thinking maybe La Vegas or Denver.  The first one that popped up was his Salt Lake City concert on Dec. 23--so I promptly bought three tickets for us and LATER told Gary about "his" Christmas present for me.  (And actually going to Salt Lake was much cheaper that heading to Denver)

It was a good concert and I was so glad to be there.  The first half mostly centered on some of musical music that he is known for, plus he shared some songs he was written.  The second half was focused on Christmas music and all of the hymns/carols except for one centered on Jesus Christ.  (He sang "I am dreaming of a white Christmas" as the lone non-religious song.)  Near the end, he sang, "I Believe in Christ." which was amazing and so powerful.  The audience gave him a standing ovation.  It was perfect for his voice.  You can google him and the hymn title and hear him sing it yourself but it won't be as amazing as sitting in the audience and seeing him and hearing him in person.  If you ever have a chance to hear him in concert, do it!!

One carol he sang was "Come All You Unfaithful"--I loved it as well.  Here are the lyrics-

O come, all you unfaithful
Come, weak and unstable
Come, know you are not alone
O come, barren and waiting ones
Weary of praying, come
See what your God has done

Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you

O come, bitter and broken
Come with fears unspoken
Come, taste of His perfect love
O come, guilty and hiding ones
There is no need to run
See what your God has done

Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you

He's the Lamb who was given
Slain for our pardon
His promise is peace
For those who believe
He's the Lamb who was given
Slain for our pardon
His promise is peace
For those who believe

So come, though you have nothing
Come, He is the offering
Come, see what your God has done

Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you

Isn't that great!  Truly, God and His Son call to us constantly and unceasingly TO COME!

Then Friday night, the three of us headed down for one last performance of the 2024 Christmas season.  We saw Shrek the Musical at the Eccles Theatre.  It was fun.  I don't know how people can sing with such intensity for basically two hours almost straight.  It had funny lines like the show but also had its own flavor. the actors who played Shrek and the Donkey were especially good.

I have mentioned this before, but how blessed we are that people are willingly to work hard and develop their talents to share with us--whether singing, dancing, acting, or however!  They delight and move us in many different ways.  They add a richness to my life that I am grateful for (and I am so glad that I have a spouse who supports us in these things. Thanks, Gary.)
 

Another Christmas Concert

This time, Jena was not performing, but in the audience with us.  We attended the Shaw Family Christmas Show at the Echols Theatre in Salt Lake last Friday night....unfortunately on the same night as one of the performances by the Tabernacle Choir so downtown was packed with cars and people.  We were able to slip into City Creek Parking and get a good parking spot.  Getting out was a bit of a mess, but Gary managed to get us out and on our way. 

 

Christmas Tree

Our first full sized Christmas tree since 2020!  It is our narrow "formal" tree which I usually put in the living room, but this year, it will work in the family room and is one of our few Christmas decorations.

Next year. things will be back to our new normal....
 

Happy Birthday, Ezri!

...a few days late.  She was very sick on her birthday and for the days afterwards.  Today, we headed over this afternoon to celebrate with her Baby Sharks cake.

She blew the candles out as Jessica was putting the cake on the table so we had to relite them so we could get the traditional "blowing out the candles" photo.

These are the baby shark family which had been on her cake.

She was excited to finally celebrate her birthday and loved her presents as well. It is fun to finally have your birthday when you are the "last" in the year to celebrate.
 

Jena's December

Jena is involved in two different performing groups--a dance class and a theatre class and December is the time for Christmas performances which includes extra practices and dress rehearsals.  If you know Jena, you know she lives for this stuff--the costumes, the practices, and performing and the wonderful friends and teachers she works with. We and (Jena) are blessed because of their service.

First it was a performance of her dance class on the first Saturday of December.  They danced at a retirement home in Bountiful....

Her group plus her teacher Mya

They danced to a number from The Grinch.  It was darling.

She then attended a dress rehearsal for her theatre group in Centerpointe and then we headed south to Sandy to their performance at the Festival of Trees (a famous fundraiser for Primary Children's Hospital).

As usual, the Christmas trees on display are incredible.  We took a picture of this Snoopy tree for our friend, Sister Jones, who is a big fan.

So many trees.......

Then the following Friday evening, Saturday morning, and tomorrow night, Jena is performing with her Friend to Friend group at Centerpointe Theatre.

posing by their tree before her first performance

The show was called "Light of Christmas" and feature many songs from Siamese Street.  It was a fun performance which made you laugh (and also cry those happy tears).

Jena was an angel in the Nativity scene.

They did a darling act from the 12 days of Christmas.  Jena's friend Maddie was the partridge in the pear tree.  She did awesome.

Jena also had a line during a section where they were talking about kindness.  Her line was:  Kindness is magic.  She did it perfectly--right on time.

This was the cutest song about the broken bell on Santa's sleigh that went 'Bong" instead of ding a ling.  The junior class did just a cute job of making silly poses to represent the "bong."  Loved it.

After the Saturday performance, we headed to the Christmas/cast party at a local church.

And from that party, Jena changed clothes and we headed to Davis Lanes for the first day of Special Olympics bowling.  This was the first time that she has seen most of her Comet Team members and she loved it.  Parents and friends were coming over and telling her how much they had missed her.  She told me about half way through "It is just like old times."  She loves this sweet Special Olympic family as we do, too.

And she did pretty good for her first day back and with three games of bowling which she hasn't done since 2019.  She got an 88, 115, and 90.

Despite the craziness of not being settled into our house, Jena has done great and she finds great joy in these activities and the people she interacts with. And tomorrow, she will have their last performance and then head back for her YSA Christmas Party.  So more fun times ahead.