Christmas in Utah - 2011

It's great to be in our own home for Christmas this year!  Last year we were in China.  It was wonderful in China, but there's nothing as good as being near all your family members and in your own home.

This year, we added lights around the garage and windows on the East side of the house.  It was quite a job, and Dave did a great job of it (with a lot of help from his faithful side-kick, Sue).

A week or so before Christmas Dave and I went up to Salt Lake to see the "Lights at Temple Square".  We took Gracie, Joe's oldest (age 6) and Leah, Julie's oldest (age 8) along for the adventure.  We went into the Church History Museum, and enjoyed a large display of Nativity Scenes from around the world.  We also took in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building with it's gorgeous Christmas decorations.  The lights around Temple Square were very impressive.  It was really fun to share the experience with Jane and Gracie.

Christmas day was on Sunday this year.  Church was at 11:00 AM.  So we had plenty of time for Julie and her kids to come open presents here at our home before church services.

Stanley, with Captain America, William with the Green Lantern, and Leah with her Sock Monkey.  Also, their "Education Fund" envelopes.

Gracie

Janie

Heather and Joe came over after church to open presents, and then Julie and Jeff's gang joined us for a nice ham dinner.  Julie brought wonderful home-made bread and Heather brought cheesy potatoes to go with my ham.  We always enjoy Christmas Yam Casserole and Holiday blueberry jello salad.  We had cheesecake for dessert.  It was a great meal together!

After our meal, we had the children dress up in our Middle East costumes, and act out the Nativity Story from Luke 2 and we sang one or two Christmas Hymns.  It was really nice.

Heather brought a set of "pipe chimes" and I believe that we've started a new family Christmas tradition!  We had so much fun!  Each person held a single pipe, and played their note, not unlike bell-ringers.  We must have played ten or twelve Christmas songs, and we were astounded at how well the little ones did.  It was really, really fun!

We're so grateful for our family!  We feel that we have tremendous blessings to be grateful for.  We thankfully acknowledge the many good things we have been given.  Life is truly good!