A Very Merry Christmass - 2013

Just as our Thanksgiving was different this year, so was our
Christmas.  Different, but like Thanksgiving, still wonderful.

Brinton was not going to have his children on Christmas and
Presley was going to spend time Christmas day with her
father, and so he and Allison planned a Christmas Eve
celebration at their home.

Rhonda, Steve, George and I, Trey, Jenna, Montana and
Harlee, all arrived with gifts, to join Brinton, Allison,
Brexton, Nixin, and Presley.

There was an air of excitement in the air.  Hugs, kisses,
and Merry Christmases were exchanged, we enjoyed a
festive supper of red velvet waffles with all the trimmings,
bacon, and hot chocolate.  It was a perfect Christmas Eve
repast, refreshing and very delicious.

After we ate, gifts were exchanged and opened.  It was so
much fun, and so exciting watching, the children open their
gifts.  The expressions of wonder and joy on their faces,
was incredible.  I think they all received just what they
wanted.

The adults, too, received some fantastic gifts, and there were
many oohs, aahs, and "this is great" resounding around the
room.

After the fun and excitement of opening gifts, it was time
for the children to make their traditional Gingerbread
 Houses.  It is always so much fun.  It is hard to tell
what they like best, building the house or eating the candy.  

Since Brinton and Allison would not have their children on
Christmas day, they were leaving at 10:45 to fly to New
York City to spend several days.  They reported Christmas
Day in New York City was amazing.  Allison had her "bucket
 list" of things she wanted to do and it was fun to share their
excitement through pictures posted on Instagram and
Facebook, as Allison checked them off her "bucket List".

We missed having Cote with us, but Rhonda delivered our
gifts to him and watched him open them.

Christmas morning, we went to Steve and Rhonda's for our
traditional Christmas breakfast and festivities.  Trey, Jenna,
Montana and Harlee, Scotty, Carri, Martin, Miller, Mallory
and Maxwell, Ryan, Julie, Crew, Cole, Cash and Gracie,
Brannon and Amanda were all there.  Steve and Rhonda
had a house full of grandchildren playing and having the
time of their lives.  Next Christmas, Brannon and Amanda's,
as yet unborn son, will add to the excitement.

As always, breakfast was delicious. Rhonda made baked
French Toast and Trey brought a Dutch Oven breakfast
casserole.  Guests brought trimmings for the French Toast
and fruit bread.  There was an assortment of beverages.

Because of an unexpected and unwelcome health crisis, I
was unable to do much for Christmas this year.  Rhonda
drove me to Barnes and Noble and helped me select books
for our great grandchildren.

George made the fudge this year, and it was wonderful.  I 
did sit and talk him through the directions and watched
the clock as he stirred.

Craig and Tracey had a pre-Christmas trip to Miami for
their anniversary.  They reported a wonderful time.  We
talked to them, Hannah, Josh, Cameron, and Chasity
Christmas day.  We weren't able to talk to Jared and
Christi, but we received a beautiful Christmas card
from them

We talked to Jeni and she told us about their Christmas
and Ethan and Ryann's Christmas experiences.  We sure
missed sharing their excitement with them.

We talked to Justin and he reported a white Christmas in 
Cedar City and some great snowboarding.  He also told us
about his drive to California to spend Chrismas with his
family. 

We haven't seen Miranda yet.  She has been so busy with 
work.  She sent us a card and gift and exchanged Facebook
messages.  We will see her as soon as she has a break in her
work.  We have her and Ryan's fudge waiting for them.

Saturday, Paul and Joanne came to spend the day with us.
George and I fixed lunch for them and Steve and Rhonda. 
They all said lunch was delicious and the three hours we
sat around the table reminiscing and talking, was really
special. They gave us a fun report on Ethan and Ryann
and their respone to the fun and excitement of Christmas.
We gave them their fudge and sent Chris,  Jeni, Ethan
and Ryann's home with them.  We gave Rhonda and
Joanne baggies and let them take as much of the left
over fudge as they wanted.

On Monday, December 30th, some of our family members
went to see the beauty of the thousands of Christmas lights
and images at ZooLight at the Phoenix Zoo.  They have the
most amazing light display each year, and each year they
add more.  Besides the Polar Slide, they installed a zip line
this year.  I really missed seeing them. It is so much fun
watching the children's response to them.

The festivities are not over yet.  Steve, Rhonda, George
and I recieved a Christmas present from Trey, Jenna,
Montana, Harlee and Spur, to go to their home for a
Dutch Oven Classic dinner on Thursday, January 2nd.
We love visiting their farm.  It will be fun.

Trey and Jenna spent hours of their Christmas vacation
installing a new Gymnastics Bounce Floor at their gym,
Define Yourself Tumbling and Cheer.  They installed 40
boards (I think that is the number) and 2,000, or more,
springs on the boards.  What a task, but now the students
will have an even better bouncing and flipping, good time.

It has been  a beautiful and busy Christmas season.  George
and I are blessed with the most amazing, supportive, loving,
family we could have ever dreamed of having, and it just
gets better every year.

There is no one we would rather be surrounded by as we
celebrate the birth of our elder brother and Savior, Jesus
Christ, than each of you, who make our life so beautiful.

Even our little ones realize that Christmas is more than
the Christmas Tree, presents, ZooLights, and decorating
cookies and making Gingerbread Houses

G-Mama (Rhonda) asked Montana, Trey and Jenna's
little Princess who will be three in February, if she was
having fun at Christmas.  She threw her arms up in
the air, way over her head, and yelled, "Yay,
Christmas, Jesus's birthday!"

Brinton and Allison's little Princess Nixin, who turned
five in Ocober, was asked by Allison,  "So, do you
have a favorite Christmas you remember, or a favorite
gift you recieved?"  And Nixin said,  "The thing I like
most about Christmas is that it is Jesus' birthday. 
Jesus was born and he destroyed all of the bad guys,
and then we all sang, "I Am A Child of God"

What would we do without our children.  Yes, they
make Christmas exciting and beautiful, but as young
as they are, in their innocence, they help us remember
what the true meaning of Christmas really is.

Remember, in St. Luke 18:16, it says, But, Jesus
called them unto him and said, "Suffer little children
to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such
is the Kingdom of God."

Thank you to our family for loving us, we love you