December is the Fall season in our part of Arizona. I love it. We have leaves on our lawn, leaves to rake and leaves to play in...not to mention leaves to track through the house and leaves floating in the pool!
One of the signs of Autumn is the abundance of lady bugs!
These are picture of sunrises. One by Thomas over El Charro. He goes to work before dawn every morning so he catches the sunrise. The other one is from Rachel's house. Aren't they dramatic? I usually think of sunsets as dramatic and colorful, and sunrises as soft and pastel. These show me how wrong I can be and that I probably don't go out and see sunrises often enough :-)
December is the month of celebrating the birth of the baby born in Bethlehem, our Savior. It is also the month we celebrate the birth of our own special Christmas babies.
Alex Russel Richins was born December 8th. He was tiny, at 5lb. 7oz., but perfect in every way.
DeWitt turned 21 in Argentina on the 10th.
Rachel celebrated her big four-oh on the 17th. I only put that in because she still looks like she's 12!
Thomas turned 9 on the 19th
And Hyrum turned 7 on the 30th
I spent a lot of time this month working on ornaments for everyone.
On the first of December, I had a decorating party, and I only had to bribe everyone a little bit with pizza. Thomas, Thomas and Brynlie had already helped put up the outside lights in November, so we only had the inside decorating to do.
Setting up the train was the little boys' (and Maya's) favorite part.
On the 4th, we went to Brianna's school program, then immediately left to go to Mesa for Harrison's band concert. When we got there, we had lunch at the Chinese buffet with Jeremy.
Here we are, waiting for Harrison's concert to begin. We couldn't get a good picture of him on the stage, but he's in there somewhere!
Harrison's school (also Docker's school BTW) has an amazing music program. That band did not sound like a high school band. It was as good as any professional group I've heard.
The next day, the 5th, we went to see Grandma and Grandpa, and just basically relaxed at the condo. We had lunch with Steph and the boys at El Charro and dinner with Erika and her kids at Culver's.
The next day, the 6th, we ate dinner with Esther and Shad and their family at Chick fil-A. We asked if they would rather go somewhere else, but Esther said that was their favorite place, and would remain so, I guess, as long as they had little kids :->
Then went to Ellie's ballet. She was a candy cane in The Nutcracker. Of course, she was the cutest candy cane I had ever seen! Here we are, all eagerly awaiting her performance.
While all this was going on, Joel and Stetson, Jeremy and their crew were in Hawaii for their annual Pearl Harbor Parade and memorial celebration. Jeremy left the day after we had lunch with him. It was an amazing event. We watched live streaming on the computer. Jeremy was doing the live streaming, so I don't have a picture of him, but he took one of Stetson photographing the memorial event. I took pictures of the TV while we were watching it.
A veteran survivor of Pearl Harbor; Joel with a big-shot newscaster celebrity in Hawaii; and then giving his welcome/honoring the vets speech.
Also, while we were in Mesa, Rebecca came and picked up a bunch of my Presepios (Nativities) to put in the Nativity display in Thatcher. Between the two of us, we had a pretty good number to add to the display.
We got home early Sunday morning so we could teach our Sunday School class, and Mary and Tyson went to Mesa that same day so they would be there for her doctor's appointment on Monday. After checking the baby and seeing that he was low on fluid, they decided to deliver him on Monday instead of waiting until Friday when he was scheduled to be delivered. He was just fine, perfect in every way, although he only weighed 5lb, 7oz. Mary jokingly remarked that now she has had a 7lb baby (Brianna), a 6lb baby (Carson), a 5lb baby (Alex), a 4lb baby(Jared) and a 3lb baby (Lindsay).
We kept the other kids the first night and then Melody came and took them to their house for one night. Mary also had help from Tyson's siblings and from her siblings. The kids were all very excited for their new baby brother, except for Jared who didn't like the baby's name. He still wanted Olaf.
That week I made some Nativity masks for Esther to use in her pre-school Christmas program. My favorites are the sheep and the donkey.
On the 9th, we went to the Community Children's Theater play, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus." Kirtlyn and Thomas were participating in it. They both had lines to say, so it was fun to watch them.
Rachel and the twins also came to watch.
Mary and Tyson and Baby Alex came home on the 10th (DeWitt's 21st birthday).
On the 11th, we went to Hyrum and Lindsay's and Carson's school program. It was in the big auditorium at EAC and even though we were right in front, we couldn't get good pictures of them. Luckily, Hyrum and Lindsay were close enough together that we could get them in the same shot. Carson had a speaking part, so we got one of him at the mic. Mary was home with her new baby, so we took a lot of pictures and videos for her.
That night was Luke's orchestra concert. He is learning to play the violin and loving it.
On the 14th, we went to Mesa again, after church, so that we would be there for Joel's company Christmas party. We all went to see Scrooge at Hale Theater. It was actually one of the best productions I've seen there. I enjoyed every minute. Before the show, we went with Joel and Stephanie and their boys to a taco place by the theater. It seemed to be a very popular place, and it was very good.
We went home the following morning and made it just in time for a sister's birthday lunch with Rachel. We celebrated a day early as she had plans with Tony to go to Tucson the next day. Sara, Dallin's wife was there and was able to join us. They are in town until the 2nd week in January. And, of course, Dad is always an honorary sister.
Jared took this picture. He's getting pretty good with the camera!
That afternoon, we were able to attend one of Polly's basketball games. She is a starter, as a sophomore, on the varsity team and they are a winning team. They beat Thatcher while we were there. Since then they won the Thatcher invitational Christmas tournament.
On the 18th, we went to Thomas Wyatt's school program. He had the leading roll, with lots of parts to say. He was "star shine," and he really did shine. His Grandma Anna came from Mesa, and we all sat on the front row. Since it was in the cafeteria, I was able to get some better pictures than when the programs are in the auditorium.
That evening was Isabel's choir concert. She had a small solo part in Mary's Lullaby and did it very well. The whole program was good, even the band and orchestra part.
The next day, Friday, we went to Mesa again, to attend Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas party on Saturday. It was wild and crazy, as usual, but fun and good to see everyone. Of our family, we had Joel and Stephanie and their boys, Jeremy and Erika and their kids, and Esther and Shad and their kids. Luke also rode down with us. Including Luke, we only had 5 kids young enough for the piñata, Santa Claus, and the nativity program...Luke, Bridger, Ellie, Soren and Brody.
Every year for the past few years, we have considered that it could be Grandma and Grandpa's last Christmas party, or their last reunion. That's a natural thought as they approached 90. But this year, I feel fairly certain that this will be Grandpa's last Christmas party. He opened his eyes once in a while, and smiled, but mostly he slept. He hardly knew who was hugging or kissing him or posing with him. He didn't leave his chair. Grandma went outside and enjoyed the party, but Grandpa was oblivious. Last year, with my help, he even read the Christmas story from the scriptures. This year, I read it. It broke my heart.
The piñata crew...Harrison, Tayte and Docker, along with some Cutchen cousins. Soren made the first break.
Luke was Joseph and Bridger, Soren and Brody were wise men.
Posing with the grandparents. I have whole-family pictures that I am putting in their individual sections.
We left for home after the party, and Esther and her family came too. Hayden joined them. They were coming to participate in Dad's Polar Express party on Monday. They all joined with us in Rebecca and Scott's ward on Sunday. Her ward put on the Christmas program that I wrote for Rachel's ward party a few years ago and Lillian read the part of Mary. I have to say that she looked just the way you would imagine Mary to look...so sweet and pure and yet strong enough to be the mother of the Savior.
I was also impressed with a song that Kelly Van Shaar wrote and sang especially for this program. It was about Joseph and was so touching and beautiful.
That evening, Esther, Thomas, and Mary gathered at our house to grate cheese. Thomas gets an amazing price on the huge blocks that they use for the restaurant, so he shares it with us. It's worth the work to grate and bag it.
While they were working on cheese, we, and Jenn, snuck over to Rebecca's to see Allison and Taylor. They had come through on their way to spend Christmas with Taylor's family in Texas. He had just come from a dream vacation to Estonia, Russia and Finland, and brought some Finnish food home for the family, knowing, of course, that Scott would appreciate it.
The cousins all had a good time, playing together while Esther and Shad were here. The moms even took them to the park to give Dad and me a little breather before the Polar Express party on Monday night. Notice Soren's toothlessness. He said it was a good thing he brought his tooth pillow.
That night was our Polar Express party, complete with pizza, popcorn and hot chocolate. All the kids in town came, even Dallin and Sara. We even had Hayden representing the Mesa kids. I think they had fun, playing with their cousins, but most of them didn't watch the movie. Maybe next year we ought to think about a new movie.
Maya found Hayden and wouldn't leave his side for anything.
Esther and Shad's family, and Hayden, left the next morning, Tuesday. That gave us most of the day to get ready for the next night's Christmas Eve pork chop supper and Christmas party. It was a great party. Even Rebecca and Scott and their family came, though they were delaying their own Christmas celebration until DeWitt got home on the 31st. We loved having us all together. I wonder how many more years before all of you start asking if this will be our last Christmas Eve party? Many years, I hope.
Poor Isabel! For some reason, she got on the subject of not ever getting what she wants for Christmas and she played it for all it was worth. I know she was sincerely sad...I mean her tears were real...but it was so funny that we all just stood around laughing at her, and of course, that just added fuel to the fire.
The men did the cooking...some of it, anyway.
Getting ready for the Nativity program
The highlight of the whole night, in my opinion, is the Nativity program. Lindsay was Mary, Hyrum was Joseph and Luke was the donkey. Baby Alex played his part of Baby Jesus just perfectly. We even had a manger filled with straw for him. It was a copper basket that was filled with fruits, nuts and cheeses that Joel and Stephanie sent just in time :-) In fact, it arrived that very day!
The captive audience.
Notice that Isabel is smiling.
Then came Santa, who brought his own special elf!
Later, we just hung out and visited and enjoyed being together. Rebecca was trying to see if Dad could tell the twins apart. At first he couldn't, but then he figured it out and called them by their right names instead of "Brynlie-Camille."
Christmas Day was very easy and relaxed for Dad and me. We woke early but realized we didn't have to get up, so we went back to bed! Then, after a leisurely breakfast, we went to visit the kids to see what Santa brought. We didn't visit Rebecca, of course, because Santa isn't coming to their house until the 31st! While we were out, we had a turkey roasting in the oven. The kids all came over later to eat and just hang out.
Rachel's
Thomas'
Mary's
We received wonderful gifts from the kids, although I don't like to mention each one here because I don't want to foster competition in that department, but I do want to say that we appreciate everyone's thoughtfulness. One gift I will mention, however, is from Daniel. And I only do that because I think you will all be interested in it. It is a wooden puzzle of the rock house in Superior. He got one for himself too, and here it is, all put together. So if any of you want to come by and help us put ours together, we would love it. It's really a hard one and when I look at it I just get dizzy!
I thought you might be interested to see what Karl and his family did for Christmas. I only saw this because Brea posted it on Facebook.
This is one family they helped. I remember seeing many many shacks like the top one as we drove around Rocky Point. What a difference a secure house will make in their lives.
The 26th was just lazy and relaxing. I worked on the blog and on an afghan, and Thomas and his family came over and shared one of their family Christmas gifts, The Box Trolls. Later, Dad and I ordered out from El Charro for dinner.
Some really cute box trolls!
We hired Dallin to do some painting for us. He's really a hard worker...and brave...look at the ladder balanced on the saw horse. Dad ordered a new ladder.
On the 27th, we attended the funeral for our good friend, Adina Birdno. She was released from the bondage of her ancient 100-year-old body on the 17th. I know she was eager to go, and I'm sure she celebrated her passage into the next life. I didn't know about it, though, until a few days later, when I got a text from Jeremy asking me when her funeral was going to be. I called her daughter, Gay, and was told that it was going to be on the 27th. There weren't many people there, as she had outlived most of the people she knew and didn't really have very many descendants. But I saw Jesse and Karen Nevin. Jesse had been her home teacher for about 3 years, and Karen was related to her. I also saw Darlene Alder, who was Gay's visiting teacher. Although there were few there, everyone who knew Adina loved her and had been touched in many ways by her sweet, generous spirit.
This picture was taken when we visited her on her 100th birthday.
This is a picture of most of our Sunday School class. Last Sunday was our final Sunday with these kids, so I wanted a picture even though they were not all there. Dad taught the lesson that day even though he had a bad cold. What a trooper.
Dad has been down with a bad cold since Christmas! As sorry as I am to see him sick, I've enjoyed having him stay in the house and hang out with me :->
After church, in spite of Dad's cold, Rebecca invited us over to eat dinner and visit with her kids. It was fun to see the married kids. Rebecca is so happy to have them all together and will be even happier when DeWitt gets here on the 30th.
We just found out that Brad Biggs, Uncle Bob's son, was severely injured in a motorcycle accident on the night of the 29th. Along with multiple broken bones, his spinal cord was severed and the doctor says he will never walk again. We have called upon our family to fast and pray for him. We know that the Lord works miracles and have faith that whatever is best for Brad will happen.
This is Brad's daughter, Kylee, whose birthday it is the 30th, the day of her dad's surgery. She is dedicating all her birthday wishes to her dad.
This is the 31st, after his surgery. Jill and her husband, Hal, were there with love and support.
It is also Hyrum's birthday on the 30th. The 30th is a big day because...
It is also the day DeWitt got home from Argentina! He was met at the airport by lots of loving family on both sides, including, in our family, Joel and Steph and boys, Jeremy and Erika and kids, and Esther and Shad and kids. They face-timed us so we got to be a part of the action.
Then, on New Year's Eve morning, we went to Rebecca's to welcome him home ourselves.
They had a special open house and invited everyone who wanted to see him. And it was so good to see him.
Working on the Rock House Liberty puzzle Daniel gave us.
It was so cold, that Dad agreed to make a fire. It was such a warm, comforting fire. He asked if he should bring in the last piñon log that he had brought with us from St. Johns. It has been in our wood pile over 26 years! After consulting with the boys, who had all gone with him on numerous wood cutting trips, he actually put it on the fire.
He is not kissing the log, but smelling the pitch.
We all stood by while he burned the last log.
A good way to end 2014.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY
NATHAN AND SHAUNA
Nathan and Shauna and Josh went to Idaho to attend Hannah's Christmas choir concert at BYU I.
Hannah didn't go home with them afterwards, though, because she still had to finish up and take finals. She made some good friends at school, and saying "goodbye" was hard, I'm sure. She will be home now for a couple of months until spring, I think.
Josh has taken pictures of so many beautiful buildings in Omaha, that I decided I would only save the ones I really, really like. The problem is that I like them all. Here is a sampling. Aren't they gorgeous?
Nathan and Shauna took their family to DC for Christmas and then to NYC for New Year. What a cool vacation. They all got to go, and I can see by their pictures that they had a wonderful time.
I got this picture of Josh from Instagram and just had to keep his comment. When they went to DC, he, of course, had to go to the National Building Museum.
This picture was taken in the National Archives Building, I think.
Here are some of Josh's favorites in DC...Dc's old post office-now a Trump hotel, the Atlantic Building and Ford's Theater.
Then, of course, there's everyone's favorite, the Washington DC Temple.
When they got to NY, one of the first things they saw was this billboard on Times Square.
Some of their favorite buildings in NYC. They actually attended church in the Manhatan Temple chapel.
I think they're on the ferry going out to Liberty Island.
Then Ellis Island
Although as far as I know there were no family members on either side who went through Ellis Island (they all came earlier) if there's one thing Ellis Island represented to those millions of immigrants, it was hope.
Nathan said it was just too crazy on Times' Square on New Year's Eve, so they decided to watch the ball drop from their room. This is the view from their hotel room.
JOEL AND STEPHANIE
Joel's big event in December was the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. He and Jeremy and Stetson and their crew spent a week in Honolulu putting on the big event.
Here, he is receiving an award from the commander of the military order of the Purple Hearts; and also a proclamation about this event from the mayor of Honolulu.
It's so good to see a young person treating these veterans with loving respect.
Arizona's Governor Brewer was in Honolulu too.
Stetson found a Hawaiin food truck
The family with Grandpa at the Hiatt Christmas party. This was at the beginning of the party.
Temple Christmas lights.
Their traditional Christmas Eve golf tournament.
The Biggs Christmas Elves...or Santas.
I loved this post from Docker...Notice his comment.
Levi's Christmas dinner.
A great way to say "Good-bye" to 2014 and start off 2015! Congratulations, Stetson.
DANIEL AND CONNIE
Emma's picture was chosen to be a page on their school calendar for 2015.
Shadrach went with his drama club to a workshop. I see that he and his friend weren't embarrassed to show the world who they are and what they stand for.
The Hospital Christmas skating party, including the real Santa.
Parker recovered quickly from his surgery and was eager to get back to the mission field. After he got clearance from his doctors, he went back on the 19th. Five hours after he left from Denver, Porter flew in. He is home, also on a medical release, and five hours after he arrived, Devynne and Brock flew in. Daniel and Connie had to practically live at the airport that whole day.
Calvin and Hobbs Snowmen scene.
A family of board snowmen.
Opening presents Christmas morning, and Emma inserting the last piece of the rock house puzzle.
Devynne and Brock in their Christmas hammock, and getting baby-hopeful things, including a
D-Backs baby bib...but no, they're not pregnant...yet.
Porter setting up the train, and family playing games.
The girls got cupcake bakers...much better than an EZ bake oven.
REBECCA AND SCOTT
The Christmas tree season is finally over...
...making it possible for Taylor to take a dream vacation with his dad to Estonia, Russia and Finland. They attended church in Estonia.
I don't know...but I loved the pictures. An Estonian skyline.
He had a panoramic shot of Moscow, but it wouldn't fit, even in the horizontal slot below, so I broke it into two shots. The Kremlin on the left and Red Square across the river on the right. While they were shopping, they met an American woman who, believe it or not, is a Mormon.
Polly with her championship team. Lillian is the team's stat taker, so she gets to go with her sister whenever she travels.
This great shot of Polly was taken by the EACourier photographer. Isn't it great?
While Rebecca and Scott were in Round Valley for a basketball tournament, they took time between games to visit St. Johns. The picture on the top left is of our old bank house. I didn't even recgonize it because it's been fixed up. Then Wilbur's, El Camino and Rebecca in her SJHS shirt.
Rebecca's almost complete family all together.
They went up to play in the snow on the 26th, and who do you think they saw?
Right! The Alders.
DEWITT! How wonderful to have him home.
With Stetson, who served in the very same mission, and with Patrick Eady, his friend who served in Russia and went to Mesa just to welcome him home.
They went to Nancy's to visit Grandpa and Grandma, who were both so happy to see them. Grandpa kept saying he was proud to have a missionary grandson.
They had a really nice open house for anyone who wanted to go by and welcome DeWitt home. Of course, we did, as did Rachel's family, Thomas' family and Mary's family, lots of Evanses and friends. Notice the Christmas tree piled high with presents for January 1st!
DeWitt brought this darling Argentinian presepio for his mom.
Their New Year's Eve (I mean Christmas Eve)
JEREMY AND ERIKA
Jeremy took this beautiful picture of the USS Arizona Monument in Honolulu.
Miss Candy Cane
Jeremy and Erika sent cookies to Daynen's whole district,
And milkshakes.
Erika and Reygan and her friend, enjoyed a hot chocolate breakfast.
Erika has been doing her surgery rotation in Phoenix, getting up in the middle of the night every night in order to get to the hospital in time to make rounds. She enjoyed it, but I think she's glad it's finally over.
They took their friend, Brittany, and her daughter, to see the Temple lights.
The family with Grandpa at the Hiatt Christmas party. This was toward the end of the party.
Christmas morning...presents and talking to Daynen.
New Year's Eve
RACHEL AND TONY
A beautiful family
We had some rainy weather this month. This is Luke with some of his Alder cousins, playing in the rain.
Luke's basketball game.
They, and Lillian and Polly, saw Due West.
The twins with their favorite teacher, Susie Hughs.
Rachel at her birthday lunch with her favorite, strawberry shortcake, made by Mary.
Her birthday collage. Tony brought her breakfast of guess what? Yes, strawberry shortcake, birthday lunch, cozy toes with a fuzzy blanket, watching Andy, and the girls made a birthday cake.
They went to the Safford light parade and then to El Charro afterwards.
Visiting Santa at the Ward party.
Making Christmas cookies.
The Wisetwinks.
Christmas Eve pj's
They went to play in the snow on the mountain and ran into the Evans family with the same idea. Camille, using Brynlie as a sled!
Welcoming home DeWitt
ESTHER AND SHAD
Brody, riding his bike without training wheels
Esther's preschool Christmas party and Nativity play, using the masks I sent her.
Their Christmas lights. All the neighborhood had those lighted lollipops.
One of their Christmas trees.
Harrison at his piano recital. His teacher has decided that he has moved beyond her.
Bridger's band concert. He plays the trumpet like his older brother.
The family with Grandma at the Hiatt Christmas party.
Perfect for a cold day.
Bridger got sick just in time for Christmas.
Santa's been here and all is ready...not a creature is stirring, except for the person taking the picture.
Christmas morning. They got a trampoline.
THOMAS AND JENN
Jenn got busy and sent everyone an e-card.
The light parade coming down the street in front of El Charro.
Kirtlyn practicing basketball with her coach.
Jenn's first attempt to make Grandma Hiatt's Christmas fudge. It was really good.
Yes, Virginia, They're Really is a Santa Claus.
Henry patiently waiting for Thomas' performance as Star shine in his school program.
Thomas' 9th birthday
Playing with their new basketball game.
Christmas day, getting their ornaments from Grandma and Grandpa.
Hyrum's 7th birthday
Welcoming home DeWitt
MARY AND TYSON
Mary's family stockings. No initial on the last one because they still hadn't decided for sure that the baby's name wouldn't be Olaf until the last minute.
Mary's family stockings. No initial on the last one because they still hadn't decided for sure that the baby's name wouldn't be Olaf until the last minute.
December 8th
Alex it is, and he is the star of the month of Mary and Tyson's family section.
He was been welcomed and loved by Mary's siblings as well as Alex's...and Tyson's too, of course, though I don't have pictures of them.
Coming-home-from-the-hospital day.
Making friends with the boss of the house.
First day home...exhausted!
Trying to find a hat small enough.
He played the starring role in the Christmas Nativity program.
A very photogenic Christmas baby.
Welcoming home DeWitt
Welcome 2015!
OUR MISSIONARIES
Each of our missionaries got to Skype their families for Christmas, except Daynen. They wouldn't allow it from the MTC in Brazil, but they got to talk to him on the phone.
SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT
On the left is Soren's Christmas list. Notice number 4 and 12. On the right a post from Rachel.
Mary sent me this picture under the caption, "Nothing says 'Christmas' like the next day's garbage can!"
For some time, now, I have been haunted by thoughts of the Atonement...especially during the Christmas season. While I cook, bathe, even read, I find myself thinking about the magnitude of the Atonement in our lives. I can see why many churches don't consider us as Christian because we quote the scripture in the Book of Mormon that says we are saved by Grace after all we can do, without realizing the multiple levels of meaning in that scripture. It almost sounds as if we believe that the Grace of Christ, through the Atonement, is secondary in importance to our efforts. But we don't believe that. We believe that not only is it the most important thing, it is everything. We know that it is only through the Atonement that we are enabled to do all that we can do. We also know that no matter how much we do, no matter all we can do, it is not enough to save us. Only Christ, through the Atonement, which is another word for Christ's Grace, can save us no matter how much we do. Without the Atonement there would be no purpose to our lives; there would be nothing because it is only through the Grace of Christ that we have the ability to choose, to repent, to live, to love. I feel that we need to give more attention to the meaning behind the two greatest events that have ever taken place in the history of the world, the universe, all God's creations...the birth of the Savior and His Atoning sacrifice in our behalf. Without His birth there would have been no Atonement, and without His sacrifice, His birth would have no special meaning at all.
We love you all so much and we are thankful to Heavenly Father and to His Son, our Savior, that the sacrifice was made and that we have a way back to their presence as an eternal family. Let us turn our hearts to our Savior and love Him with all our hearts, might, mind and strength and thereby make 2015 the very best year of all our lives.
4 comments:
love it! thanks mom
Wow, you have one busy family! I loved seeing everybody's lives. Thanks for doing this mom!!!
Love this family and all the goings on. And Daniel, I really want one of those puzzles!!!
Sorry I haven't commented until well into January. But this is a beautiful blog. Thank you Grandma! Welcome home DeWitt!
- Devynne Marie
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