Irelands Here and There: December 2018

December 17 - As I catch up on my blog today, I am thinking about it being Ryan and Tani's anniversary and Tani's birthday.

It is also the middle of the Christmas season. We are enjoying getting Christmas greetings in the mail from friends and family. We like seeing the Christmas lights and decorations, including those inside and outside our home; and the Christmas music and special shows add to the festivities. And, of course, we appreciate remembering Christmas traditions and times shared with loved ones in years gone by. We do love this time of the year.

Sharing Special Nativity Displays

This is a favorite.

Sam's father made this stable from old barn wood,

and Scott and Kristine gave us the Nativity figurines one year for Christmas.

Our church stake had a Nativity Exhibition for two days

in the cultural hall of our church building,

and this is one of the two we took of our nativities to share.

We also shared our Russian nativity at the church exhibit.

The accompanying sign points out that among the several animals

included there is not a traditional camel.

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Festival of Lights

Shared a FHE activity with Hal and Christy Smith enjoying

the Festival of Lights

and driving to look at some pretty yard displays

after eating at Zupa's.

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Enjoyed seeing the production of

"The Scarlet Pimpernel"

in Salt Lake City with the Smiths.

It was a musical adapted from the story of one of my favorite books.

Our granddaughter Anna singing in a Christmas concert

(center, brown hair wearing glasses).

Relief Society activity with opportunity to

assemble 72-hour emergency preparedness kits.

I also made a "Thankful" banner for above our fireplace.

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Looking Back to Thanksgiving

Welcome to our home.

The pumpkins and ornamental gourds came from our garden.

We are thankful for family and friends.

Fun in our sport court on Thanksgiving day.

(Ethan, Jacob, Megan's friend, Trevor, Joshua, Amanda's friend, and Isaac)

Jared, Mason, Jacob, (Megan's friend), Ethan)

Super easy "pumpkins" to make. The photo does not

do justice to the fabric used and color coordinated.

Thanksgiving day is now a pleasant memory, but we continue to

appreciate our many blessings.

In my next blog, the theme will be changed from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Please know you have a personal invitation to come see us and share

our love and Christmas spirit.

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P.S. If you are interested in seeing my blog entries with photos of our trip to Russia in August, here are the links:

(Our cruise was between Moscow and St. Petersburg with visits to villages along the way.)

Volga River Cruise - Moscow Visit

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/10/volga-river-cruise-part-1.html

Volga River Cruise, Part 2

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/10/volga-river-cruise-part-2.html

Volga River Cruise, Part 3

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/11/volga-river-cruise-part-3.html

Volga River Cruise, Part 4

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/11/volga-river-cruise-part-4.html

Volga River Cruise, Part 5

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/11/volga-river-cruise-part-5.html

Volga River Cruise, Part 6

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/11/volga-river-cruise-part-6.html

Volga River Cruise, Part 7

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/11/volga-river-cruise-part-7.html

Volga River Cruise, Part 8

https://irelandshereandthere.blogspot.com/2018/11/volga-river-cruise-part-8.html

It has been challenging moving files from a Mac computer that died to our new Mac mini, so I have been slow in getting caught up on my blog. Plus, after upgrading our Internet, my priority was completing my Shutterfly Year in Review album where I had included these photos and didn't realize until now I had not put them on my blog.