As we begin 2017, we wish our family and friends a "Happy New Year." We appreciate the good memories we have from times we have shared and look forward to enjoying more happy times this new year.
As I look out our window this Thursday morning at the snow-covered scenery, I am glad I can enjoy the view from inside our warm home. The current temperature is 10 degrees at 10:00 a.m., and we have high piles of snow in our front yard where Sam has moved the snow each day this week to clear our driveway. The clear blue sky with sun shining on the white world does make for a pretty landscape, however.
It is nice to think about the Christmas season we have recently enjoyed, so here are some photos from those happy occasions.
[after] Annual Family Nativity Pageant
Maggie (narrator); Corban (Joseph); Mason, Isaac, Paul, and Anna (shepherds);
Haley (Mary); Ethan, and Joshua (sheep);
Rebecca and Brynlee (angels);
Maren, Megan, and Amanda (wise men); and Jacob (star).
Sarah and Derek's Paul (turning 2 in February) seems to have been anxious to
get rid of his costume seen lying to the left in the photo.
There is usually something unique each year in these family pageants.
I am remembering the year Ryan and Tani's Carson was Paul's age.
He was happy in his costume, which was to be a shepherd;
and when it was time for him to enter the scene,
here he came riding his cane using it for his "horse."
[before] Getting Ready
A highlight of our Christmas celebrations with family
is the Nativity Pageant with family members sorting through the
costume bins to choose who they want to be each year.
Since we had a newborn baby joining our family,
Trevor and Megan's Sadie Lu,
we thought it would be wonderful to have her be our "Baby Jesus" this year.
Thus, Haley, a college student, was chosen as one responsible
with the honor of holding a newborn for this event.
Haley, then, was chosen to be "Mary."
However, the timing in Sadie's schedule did not work out for her to be our "Baby Jesus."
With the nativity participants all lined up ready for the pageant to begin,
it was noticed that none of the children had opted to be "Joseph."
Usually, the roles of Mary and Joseph are the first ones to be picked by the younger
children; and it is the other nativity participants who take longer to
decide who they want be and how they want to be dressed.
As Corban was still not in costume,
he was hurriedly designated as "Joseph" this year.
So as the saying goes, "that's the long and the short" of it!
A visit from Santa is another tradition we enjoy.
This is Sadie's first Christmas,
and Santa held her quietly for this special photo.
(born 12/12/16 • 7 lbs. 7 oz. • 19 inches)
Haley was the oldest grandchild to have the honor of sitting on Santa's lap,
and she was a good sport about it as
evidenced by her cute smile.
Each of the children had their turn sitting on Santa's lap
and receiving a gift.
Here they are lined up for the traditional group photo.
(front: Amanda, Paul on Santa's knee, Rebecca, Anna, Mason, Corban, Isaac, Megan;
back: Maren holding Sadie, Ethan, Jared, Brynlee, Santa, Haley, Jacob, and Joshua)
Santa had nice things to say to each child as they
sat on his lap and received their gift.
Here he is shown also talking to them before the gifts were given,
and he later had some nice thoughts shared before he left with his jolly farewell.
Such a fun time and another nice memory.
(Marla helping Santa by reading the names on each gift from Santa's bag.)
(In my Shutterfly Year in Review - 2016 book, I have included all the
individual photos of each child sitting on Santa's lap;
but here I have included only the youngest and oldest.
However, Santa did think Haley was in high school instead of in college.
(Haley, you will love being considered younger than your age when
you get to be a grandma!)
Let's see what Santa brought!
"Thank you," Santa.
Ready for family to arrive for our "Christmas Eve dinner"
that was actually held on December 23rd
to avoid conflicts with family who could not come on the 24th.
We still were missing some on the 23rd,
but they were in our thoughts.
The blessing has been said, plates are being filled,
and family are sitting down to enjoy the food and the company.
(Ryan, Tani, Narene, Sam, and Marisa)
Tables were also set downstairs where those with plates filled
were soon joined by others still going through the line.
(Maren, Taylor, Maggie, Anna, and Haley)
Jacob, Ethan, and Joshua found their spot.
Relaxing and enjoying visiting.
(Trevor, Kyle, Doug, Shannon, Koryn, Marisa, and Tani)
Sadie, the center of attention.
(Sam, Megan holding Sadie, and Trevor)
After-dinner conversations.
(Maggie, Haley, Maren, and Taylor have an
interesting discussion underway;
Doug, Todd, Derek, and Jared
in the background.)
Tani is always a loving (great) aunt
(Tani and Sadie)
Grampa and Grandma (Curtis and Marla)
with Paul, Anna, and Sadie.
Four-generation photo
Sam, Marla, Trevor, Sadie, and Narene
Proud great-grandparents
Curtis and Marla's family
(Curtis holding Paul; Marla holding Anna;
Trevor, Megan holding Sadie, Maggie, Taylor, Derek;
back: Maren, Haley, and Sarah)
Remake of a cute photo from the past.
(Curtis and Trevor - holding
Maren, Maggie, and Haley)
Next are some traditional photos taken by the Christmas tree
that started as a tradition with Sam's parents, Grampa Harold and Gramma Mabel:
Megan and Trevor, happy parents
with Sadie
Maggie and Taylor Kuta
Tyler Staten and Haley Smith
Marisa with Ryan and Tani
Kyle and Koryn
Todd and Beth's family
Rebecca (front); Todd, Beth, and Jared (back)
(middle) Megan, Amanda, Ethan, and Joshua
Doug and Shannon's family
(back) Shannon holding Corban, Jacob;
(front) Mason, Isaac, Doug, and Brynlee)
We appreciate the gifts from family and friends.
We like adding this cute wooden Santa
(nesting in three parts for storage)
to greet people coming to our home.
It is a gift from Curtis and Marla's family.
The time has come now for the Christmas lights to be turned off
and all the decorations to be put away for another year,
but we are left with happy memories
and thankful hearts for family and friends.
We always appreciate the phone calls from family who are not here
and for the cards and letters received from friends.
Thank you to each one for making our Christmas special again this year.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Joshua and Beth petting "Carl,"
who has suddenly turned out to not be the wild cat we thought it was.
Last summer, we watched this black cat stalk and catch a vole in our lawn,
which encouraged Sam to start setting out cat food for it
when we started seeing it hanging around this winter.
At first the food was placed in the playground and then
gradually brought closer and closer to the back patio.
Sam fixed up a sheltered place and we have kept food available.
Each night, the cat would show up and eat the food
but be gone in the morning.
One evening, the cat was on our front porch and meowing loudly
when Sam went out to check on our TV dish and
discovered it was snowing. Marisa, our granddaughter, who
has been staying with us this school year, also heard the cat
and came out to check on it.
The cat responded first to Marisa's voice and came over to get petted,
and then went back and forth between Sam and Marisa
rubbing on their legs and wanting to be petted.
Apparently, the cat had been someone's at one time but abandoned.
"Carl" likes to be petted;
and, surprisingly, Sam has been good about obliging.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Our grandson, Brady, married Kortney Mander
January 5, 2017
in the Salt Lake Temple.
In this photo Kortney is opening presents at her bridal shower.
Beth and I gave her a set of cookie sheets and silicone liners
and a copy of the Ireland cookbook.
(Kortney opening gifts; Marisa watching at the right)
At Kortney's bridal shower - December 3rd
(Narene, Amanda, Haley, Maggie, and Megan)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
We loved having Anastasia Strate and her little son, James,
come for a visit on December 28th
before moving to Austin, Texas, with Jordan, her husband.
In Russia we used Anastasia's nickname, Nastya, when
she was our interpreter. Sure do love her!
(Narene, James, and Anastasia)
James and Ethan
It snowed on Christmas day,
and we had a white Christmas.
(The New Year brought a lot more snow to Spanish Fork,
and it has piled up everywhere. Pictures in the next blog.)
Sam took the following pictures after Christmas
of snow scenes in our yard.
Our new 2017 SUV.
Sunset seen from our front yard.
However, another beautiful sunset we like to enjoy.
