CHRISTMAS 2013

Sunday our ward choir sang 7 songs in church.  We did rather well.  It was a very inspiring Sabbath.  Erik’s family came over that evening and we had an enjoyable time.  The kids absolutely love to be together

Monday we ran errands and did our final shopping for the big day.  When we got home there were letters in the mail for Baylie and Jalen from Santa.  They went bonkers over them.  It was so special of Santa to wrlte to them and get them so excited.  The adults went to a matinee showing of Catching Fire, while Parker (13) tended the 5 younger kids.  The movie was very well done and followed the book.  We loved it.  We stopped at Cost co on the way home and bought pizza for dinner.  The kids loved it and so did we.

We worked all morning Tuesday on our assignments for Christmas dinner at Erik and Shanelle’s.  I did 2 homemade  banana cream pies from scratch and Kristin made 2 sweet potato pies.  I also took 3 dozen rolls from the Lion House in SLC.  We can buy them here at the Deseret Book Stores.  I bought the turkey but Erik cooked it.  He bakes the best turkey.  He brines it first and then bakes it with fresh oranges inside.  It is so moist and yummy.  I have never eaten better.  He did the dressing, yams and pecan pie also. Shanelle made fresh string beans with a yummy sauce over them.  The entire dinner was so good. 

Erik's family where we had dinner

Kolton

 Dad told Clint, Deb and kids that the dinner was at 4 so they were late but so was the dinner so it was perfect.  Scott and family came late also because he had to work in SLC.  We all ate all we could hold and then some.  Scott’s family had to go to the Olsens' for more Christmas time but those who stayed played some seriously fun games that Shanelle had planned. 

Clint trying to put candy cane in toilet paper roll

  

Shanelle showing us how

We did our annual Nativity but it was needing much reverence.

When we got home we lit the luminaries George, Kristin and the kids had put together and lined along our porch, lawn and brick wall. 

 They were so beautiful.  We decided to invite our Mexican friends to come over and see them.  It’s an old tradition in Mexico but they didn't know what they were. 
When the kids woke up we had prayer and started opening presents.  They were so excited it was contagious.  Jalen never stopped talking.  It was a fun morning. 

Christmas Eve

Jalen looking at tree

opening

I love my doll

As soon as they were finished we had a breakfast of French toast left Kristin's bunch and then headed for Scott’s and learn what their Christmas was like.  They were hyper as they should be about their treasures. 

Elsa Ava

happy Nixon

We gave Nixon a birthday present from Kristin and Tifffani that I had forgotten to give him on his birthday.  It was an electric guitar that he loved jammin on.  It’s really loud.  Should drive the family crazy. 

 They had a wonderful Christmas and there was a special Spirit in their home.

We headed on over to Erik’s and his family to see their family.  They were as the others and so happy to be home and a family also.  They also have such a peaceful and strong Spirit in their home. They got one of those basketball cages that you shoot real baskets.  I never won one game;  they scobbed me.  They had a wonderful Christmas and were excited about all their things. Left my camera in the car.  Why?
 We ended the visits by going to Kamas to see Clark’s family.  They had a house full with Mel’s children (Mel is Dianne’s sister with 5 children under 6) There was a very good Spirit and we had a lovely time.  We found that Hailey sleeps in the play house at night all by herself.  She loves it.

Forgot my camera again.  We went home to eat tamales made by our neighbor’s mother.  They are the best ever.  She also sent over some Mexican rice.  She is an amazing cook.  We watched Planes with Baylie; Jalen fell asleep.

We ended the day by watching  “Christmas for a Dollar”. Many tears.
We got up the next morning, did laundry, cleaned the house and loaded Kristin's family in the truck and headed for Vegas.  We got there at around 6 to find Dave was very ill.
At 5:30 AM Tiff, Dave, Dad and I headed for the airport and the Hunger Game Bowl Game.  We got into San Francisco at 9AM, checked into our hotel and then went to China Town.

loved that they hang their laundry out

We then went to the pier to see the seals and sites.

Alcatraz

Lombard Street

Fisherman's Wharf

seals on Pier 39

We ate at the San Francisco soup Company and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the game.  I don't think I have ever walked that much in one day. (5 straight hours) We rested and then walked to the AT&T Stadium.  Great day buy lousy game. We walked back  to the hotel hoping to find something to eat.  We had hot dogs at the game but were hungry.  Dad wanted a pizza and Dave wanted hot chocolate at the Starbucks in the hotel.  Well we never found a pizza place and when we got to the hotel the Starbucks was closed.  We passed many on the way back but o pizza.  When we woke up the next morning we found a Pizzeria on the corner from our window.  Oh well. Lost game, lost food.

views froom our room

We got up the next morning and headed out again.  We had taken the cable car so we decided to take the trolley. We did a great amount of walking again.  My legs were crying every step but I was loving everything.  He headed to the wharf for sourdough bread bowls and clam chowder.  I had a bun.  The others loved their sea food.  We went to Ghirardelli's and to the pier looking at the Golden Gate Bridge.  Everywhere we looked was beautiful.

We knew Bethany would be sad to miss eating some of these

Golden Gate

sailing vessel

We stood in a line to ride home forever and finally got one only to have it stop and everyone had to get out and walk to where ever they were going.  We got to our hotel in time to catch a cab to the airport.
Our  flight took us to the Ontario airport but the flight was delayed and when we landed found out that flight was delayed also.  After waiting some time we found that the planes could not fly after 10 PM because of a city ordinance.  Our flight coming in with the crew was also late.  It ended up we had 20 min. for the landing plane to deplane and the crew to get us on.  They called for a 10 min. extension and we took off with 2 min. to spare.  What a flight.  We got to Vegas at midnight.  At least we got there.

4 hungry cousins

The next morning we got up, went to church at 9:00 and headed back to Provo with Kristin's family. We were excited to see Elder Jack DeLaMar who had served with us in North Carolina.  He was a good elder.  What a short but fun trip.  Home is always a good place to be.  Six people in a truck can be a bit crowded.