We enjoyed having family come to share Thanksgiving and Christmas with us, and I have included these final days of 2014 in a "Year In Review" Shutterfly book I have just completed.
SAM'S BIRTHDAY, NOVEMBER 9th:
Grampa Sam reading one of the birthday cards
made by the grandchildren.
(Sam, Mason, and Rebecca)
Watching Grampa open his presents.
(Sam, Rebecca, Isaac, and Brynlee)
Great-grampa and Anna
Grampa with part of Ryan and Tani's family.
(Carson, Maria, Marisa, Grampa, and Brady)
With Doug and Shannon's family.
(Sam, Jacob, Mason, Isaac, Doug, Brynlee, Shannon, and Corban)
With Todd and Beth's family.
(back: Todd, Beth, Sam, and Jared;
front: Ethan, Joshua, Amanda, Rebecca, and Megan)
Representing Scott and Kristine's family.
(Judd, Amy, Sam, and Trent)
With Curtis and Marla's married children.
(Derek and Sarah with Anna;
Sam and Narene,
Trevor and Megan)
THANKSGIVING:
A table set upstairs and another one downstairs.
(Marisa, Maria, Carson, Brady, Koryn, and Kyle)
Grampa Sam and Rebecca
with the turkey wishbone.
Whose wish will be granted?
Koryn and Kyle
Maria and Carson
Sam with Ryan, Kyle, and Koryn at a
Jazz vs. Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game
at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
Jazz vs. Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game
at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES:
Rebecca's dance recital.
(Rebecca was in the center of the lineup.)
Haley sang a solo at "Up With Show,"
Mitchell High School's show choir event in December.
We wish we could have been there.
Nativity Pageant at the church.
Sam and I were asked to be in charge of the
Christmas dinner and party for our ward
and appreciated the good help we received from the committee.
Our collection of nativity costumes were
supplemented by three animal costumes,
the manger was built by our neighbor,
and the stable was built by a member of our committee.
The stage and hall were decorated, and
the applewood ham (from Costco) was delicious
along with rolls, salads, and a variety of desserts
including BYU brownies.
As part of the entertainment following the dinner,
Sam had volunteered me to read "The Cobbler and His Guest,"
which has become part of our Christmas tradition.
December 22nd
Our toilets downstairs would not flush!
Monty Bingham came to help Sam.
After digging down to the pump,
it was determined we had a short in our electrical line.
(Jared is on top by the ladder, Monty is in the backhoe,
and Sam is down in the pit.)
Fortunately, they were able to fix it
before more family came for Christmas.
Doug and Shannon's family were here,
and their kids thought it was fun to have
to use the toilet in the pool shed.
(Isaac and Brynlee)
Decorating Inside and Out:
Jared on top of the house replacing some of the
red bulbs that had lost their color.
(Jared and Sam)
Welcome to our home.
Our entry way decorated for the season.
We had snow for Christmas!
The table is ready.
Christmas Eve with Family:
Our Nativity Pageant on Christmas Eve.
Jared, the narrator; Haley and Anna as shepherds; Joshua, a sheep;
Rebecca and Ethan as Mary and Joseph;
Amanda, an angel;
and Megan, Curtis, and Maren as the three wise men.
Amanda, Maren, and Megan
Rebecca's hair got a fancy look for Christmas Eve
by Amanda, who has posted on Instagram numerous of
the hairdos she has created.
We opened our gift on Christmas Eve
from Curtis and Marla, Todd and Beth, and Doug and Shannon.
It is a pickleball set for the sport court.
Opening the gift from Amanda and Megan.
They made three aprons for the
grandchildren to wear when playing with Play-Doh.
Enjoying family on Christmas Eve.
It was nice having Curtis and Marla, Haley, and Maren
here from South Dakota joining some of our Utah family members.
(Anna, Ethan, Rebecca, Megan, Joshua, Derek, Sarah,
Maren, Marla, Haley, Curtis,
Amanda, Todd, Jared, Narene, and Sam)
Christmas Eve by the tree.
(Sam and Narene)
Todd and Beth's family
(Todd, Beth, Jared, Amanda, Megan;
in front: Joshua, Rebecca, and Ethan)
Christmas Morning at the Grahams:
A Kindle from Sam
(Narene and Sam)
More Christmas Family Pictures
We missed those family members who were not here,
and enjoyed those who were.
Curtis and Marla's family
(front: Sarah with Anna, Haley, Maren, Marla and Curtis;
back: Derek, Megan and Trevor)
Ryan, Marisa, Brady, and Tani
Judd and Amy
Megan and Trevor
Derek and Sarah with Anna
Anna
Playing pickleball in the sport court.
(Joshua and Amanda)
Resting and visiting after eating:
Sam, Marla, Ryan, Marisa, Brady, Tani, and Narene.
Sam, Marla, Ryan, Marisa, Brady, Tani, and Narene.
Barefoot in the Snow Challenge:
Amanda, Haley, Megan Smith, Megan Graham, Maren, Trevor;
front - Joshua and Ethan were the winners!
Amanda, Haley, Megan Smith, Megan Graham, Maren, Trevor;
front - Joshua and Ethan were the winners!
Monty, Matt, Brittney, and Joseph
at a church Christmas party in Phoenix
before being in Denver for Christmas
with Scott and Kristine's family.
Lighted tree we saw on a drive
in Hobble Creek Canyon
with Hal and Christy Smith.
We wish all our friends and family a
HAPPY NEW YEAR
and look forward to sharing more memories in 2015.
