Christmas

Thursday

 After three very busy Christmas preparation days, we went back up to South Jordan to have Christmas with the Prince family.  We arrived on the evening of the 22nd.  After a delicious stew dinner, the boys all went to the Jazz game together.

Because Jaron and Kenny play in the Jr. Jazz basketball program, they get free tickets for themselves and their family to one game.  They invited Grandpa to come with them.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Michelle, Gabbi, William and I had a girls spa night.

This reminded me of this poem by Shel Silverstein:

Crowded Tub

There are too many kids in this tub
There are too many elbows to scrub
I just washed a behind that I'm sure wasn't mine
There are too many kids in this tub.

In fact, we quoted it while we soaked.

Fred wasn't sure what to make of all of this.

Michelle had several different kinds of facial masks people had given her.  She even brought down cucumbers for our eyes.  William kept calling them onions.

Not sure if those onions are going to help your toes, William.

Gabbi's beautiful pedicure.

Friday

I made Cinnamon Pull-Aparts for Friday morning breakfast.  They were yummy.  I will post the recipe on Hungry Hintons.

Friday was a fun day.  We relaxed, read lots of stories,

Built towers,

And did lots of baking and cooking in preparation for upcoming festivities.

That evening, we took everyone to Chili's for dinner.  Michelle's yummy dinner:

After dinner, we drove around to look at lights.  We sat at two houses for a long time as they were synchronized with music on a radio station.  It was amazing what they had done.  In fact, it was so amazing that Ken walked over there the next day and talked to the owner to ask how they did it, etc.  He was so pleased to have someone like it so much.

Gabbi loves to play the piano and has really practiced a lot.  We loved sitting in the living room, listening to her play.  She is really good.

Fred loves to play tug of war with Jaron.

Saturday, Christmas eve

Brian made delicious breakfast burritos on Christmas eve.

All morning, the kids (especially William) made gingerbread men and a gingerbread house.

The others made cute gingerbread men and moved on to do other things.  But William worked and worked on his.  

I had to try to play some of Gabbi's beautiful songs.

Then William sat and ate all of the candy off!  What a great day for a little boy!

We spent a lot of the afternoon preparing food for tomorrow's Christmas dinner.

That evening, we went to Matthew (Brian's brother) and Aubrey's house to join the Prince family for Christmas eve activities and dinner.  First, was the enactment of the nativity.

Mary and Joseph

A wise man

Cutest angels.  Is that a photo bomber?

Yep, sure is!

Shepherds

Another cute wise man

A mighty fine donkey (Matthew)

The angels visiting the shepherds.

It was a very nice nativity play, including lots of music and a sacred feeling for our Savior.

After getting back home, everyone opened their Christmas jammies.

Even Fred got some!

Sunday, Christmas Day

Lining up to go into the family room

Reading letters from Santa

The kids then opened their gifts from Santa.

Santa even left overflowing stockings for Grandpa and Grandma.

After Santa gifts were opened, Brian made us the traditional Prince family Christmas breakfast: scones and eggs.

After a lovely sacrament meeting at church where Brian and Michelle participated in an amazing ward choir, we gathered back downstairs to open presents.

Gabbi loved her lava lamp from us.

Ken gave me a fitbit watch.  I am loving it.

Thank you hugs.

Kenny gave William his toy from hid kids meal.

Gabbi knit a hat for Kenny that matches his coat.

Each member of the family got a special gift from grandpa: Grandpa's Stories book.

LED basketball

New XBox games.

BYU shirts

Joan's gift to me.

A chocolate cake I made for Christmas dessert.

Gabbi got a new book of piano music and immediately went to work learning them.

Our Christmas ham dinner.

We got up Monday morning, packed up, and left for home.  

It was such a wonderful Christmas.  We are so grateful to the Prince family for inviting us and treating us like royalty.  Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Oranges

 We enjoyed this sweet Christmas movie on BYUtv.  It is one the whole family can enjoy. 

The Brilliant Life of Eurdora Honeysett

 

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my kind of book. I loved it. Eighty-five-year-old Eudora thinks she is through with life until she meets Rose, her ten-year-old neighbor who claims Eudora is her BFF. The book is all about forgiveness, relationships, friendship, old age, and the blessing we can be to one another through the ups and downs of life. The audio version is superb!

View all my reviews

Studying General Conference Talks

 I am a conference junkie.  I love to read and study the General Conference Addresses.  The last few years, Deseret Book has published General Conference Addresses Journals.  Included in these journals are all of the talks in that conference, printed with large, lined margins in which to write notes.  This journal has increased my joy in studying the general conference addresses.

Studying General Conference talks is truly fun for me.

Mustaches for Maddie

 

Mustaches for Maddie by Chad Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Based on a true story, this funny, heartwarming book was recommended to me by my granddaughter. It is well-written and is so true to the world of a middle-school student. I loved the emphasis on family and love and community support. I loved the afterword that tells the “real” story of Maddie and her mustaches.

View all my reviews

Such As I Have Give I Thee

 We had a little pre-Christmas Christmas with the Camerons where we exchanged gifts.  Six-year-old Gabe was SO excited to give us his gift.  When Ken opened it we were touched beyond words.  He gave us a stack of his beloved scratch paper.  His daddy had given him waste paper from work.  On the other side were pictures of people's mouths and explanations.  But the other side was blank and was  this little boy's treasure.  After opening it, he proceeded to show us and tell us all the marvelous things you could do with scratch paper: color, make snowflakes, make airplanes, etc.

"Such as I have, give I thee."  Acts 3:6 

I cried at the generous sacrifice he made for his grandparents.