This and That in December, Part 2!

Always fun and festive at the Ward Christmas dinner!

Darryl and Amanda made a trip to Seattle as a 50th birthday gift for Darryl,

and they both enjoyed it immensely!

Shafers took Kathryn and Hannah to see the lights on Temple Square.

Bethany singing in her choir concert.

She's in the middle of the yellow circle.

Aubrey playing the clarinet in the band.  

She's easy to spot as she is wearing a Santa hat!

Fun family dinner with Harrisons, Harrisons, Shafers, Kathryn and Hannah!

This is a fun picture with Bethany and Aubrey as twins!

Dog cousins!?

It looks like Caleb had a fun Christmas!

This is a picture Heidi received from Camille's teacher:

they had to decorate their house based on the book they read.

Jacob and Lily turned 11!!

Everyone in this family got a new duffle bag for Christmas.

When I asked if this meant they were going on a trip soon, I got this reply:

We were tired of hearing "this zipper is broken or this bag is torn."

Just got these from Amanda: 

Our missionaries serving in December!

On the 21st Joshua got to do his first long drive by himself after getting his license.

He and David went to the temple and then came to our house for lunch!

Penny turned 15 on the 29th.

Also on the 29th Grandpa sealed a couple in the Sacramento Temple.  That night we attended their wedding reception along with some of the Melanchuk family. The three boys stayed at our house and we were amazed at this structure that Michael built following his own made up pattern!

Taught our Primary class for the last time.  

They performed some songs for the Primary today.

We love each one!

And here is how we will be celebrating New Year's Eve!

Caleb says: Happy New Year everyone!!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

We were happy to hear of some of the families Christmas Eve celebrations.

The Melanchuks tried to go to a Christmas Eve mass at this church but it was standing room only, so they weren't able to stay.

Later after a Light Ride, all the kids got snuggly.

The McClellans made a list of all the things they wanted to do on Christmas Eve!

Here are the girls with their clarinet duet.

And here is the whole family playing the chimes.

We were able to spend the late afternoon and evening at the Perrys with Lily as our hostess!

We enjoyed a Shepherd's Supper:

And we acted out the Nativity. 

(Not pictured: Hannah was the narrator and I was the photographer)

Later we had a program which included:

Lily playing Away in a Manger on the Recorder

Brian reading an excerpt from "A Christmas Carol."

Hannah showing us how she can sing while doing lip trills...

...and she also sang for us.

Jacob shared some of his artwork.  

He did this drawing of the Mismatched Nativity

 using different techniques for each of the areas.

Joshua shared a scripture and testimony.

MaryAnn shared about her love of making lists, and shared what the participants in the Nativity story might have had on their lists.

Wisemen: Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh
Shepherds: Bring a few of the cutest lambs for their aesthetic quality when people paint the picture in the future
Joseph: Donkey, Money
Mary: Maternity outfits, Post baby outfits, pajamas, stress ball to squeeze, blanket,

 extra blankets, Baby’s first outfit, Other baby clothes,
Baby bath necessities, Diapers
Hair fixing stuff, journal, food, hostess gifts, blanket for donkey,
Blanket for Joseph
Swaddling clothes for baby
Burp cloths
Snacks, Etc….

It was very clever and then she had us listen to the song: "He Brought Love" which tells about what Jesus brought to us including: Right, Light, Faith in the Lord, Hope and Love.

Grandpa shared some Christmas jokes including:

What do gingerbread men use when they break their legs?

Candy canes.

What did one snowman say to the other?

Do you smell carrots?

What does the gingerbread man put on his bed?

Cookie sheets.

What did the teacher say to Rudolph when he failed his test on the Civil War?

You’ll go down in history.

What’s the weather report every Christmas Eve?

There’s a 100% chance of reindeer.

We also played Christmas Family Feud and Chimes:

One of my favorite things was watching "The Christ Child" video.

It is so beautiful and felt very accurate.

On Christmas Day we went to Chico in the afternoon to be with the Melanchuks.

We saw some of their gifts including this T-shirt Kathryn gave to Amelia on which all of the members of Vocal Point signed it for her!

The ones born in Seattle got these sweatshirts. Nathaniel got a big box of racing tracks and Daniel got tickets to an Edmonton Oilers Hockey game against the San Jose Sharks.

We got to see the gingerbread houses they each made:

And we got to listen in when a friend of Kathryn's received their mission call!

After our delicious ham dinner, a Christmas Family Feud game and 

Who Is Most Like Santa game,

each person shared a talent:

Kathryn played a medley of Christmas songs:

Amelia showed us she has learned to juggle!

Michael played a surprise song that I was able to guess:

 It was the Light the World theme song!

Darryl showed us the beautiful Christmas program he made for their ward...

and this very yummy Bûche de Noël, a Yule Log cake.

Daniel showed us how he used some new computer

 items to be able to make their Christmas lights

 into a light show!  It was amazing!!

Nathaniel played and then sang: Joy to the World!

Amanda recited from memory the entire

 "The Living Christ"

It was beautiful and filled with the Spirit.

"As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ  two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth."  (first paragraph of thirteen!)

We appreciated so much spending time with family on these fun, special and sacred days! 

(photo bomb by MaryAnn!)