Celebrating the birth of the Savior is always a very special and meaningful time. We love sharing traditions with loved ones and friends, and we were blessed to have 32 of our family come to our home the day before Christmas to celebrate with us: the Nativity Pageant, a ham dinner with other favorite dishes, and the visit from Santa Claus who was accompanied by Mrs. Claus this year.
We also enjoyed other festivities of the season, and we appreciated receiving cards and letters from friends.
Displaying Christmas cards received
on the "tree" Shannon made for us
several years ago.
Jessica and Trent came for a visit
prior to their flying to Ireland
to celebrate Christmas with Jessica's family.
Again this year, we enjoyed Beth inviting
us to see the "Festival of Lights" in
Spanish Fork with her, Rebecca, and Joshua.
It is impressive and enjoyable.
Enjoyed being with friends at our ward's Christmas party,
December 13. We shared a table with
Bob and Jolene McCarthy and their daughter Michelle.
Christmas Eve
The tables are ready for guests to arrive.
More tables ready downstairs.
Spanish Fork with her, Rebecca, and Joshua.
It is impressive and enjoyable.
December 13. We shared a table with
Bob and Jolene McCarthy and their daughter Michelle.
Christmas Eve
The tables are ready for guests to arrive.
and Liz Lemon Swindle's pictures of Jesus Christ.
Some Christmas attention has been given to each room
in readiness for the special occasion,
but the following figurines are some of my favorites.
Ken Memoli's Legend of Santa Claus. I have had them
for many years and had added one to the set each year.
The Santa in the middle in this view
is checking his list, and one of the names
identified as being on the good list is a boy named "Jeff."
The special reindeer in front of the vase
were made by Jared and are our Christmas gift from him.
This one was given to us years ago by Scott and Kristine.
Always a favorite is this creche made by Grampa Harold
out of old barn wood
with the nativity figurines given to us by Scott and Kristine.
(The old steamer chest is a special family keepsake
brought to America by Bertha Sutter and her mother
when they came to America from Switzerland.)
one of several nativities I enjoy putting up each year.
we bought when we were serving as missionaries in Russia.
The one on top is somewhat unique having a horse and goats
but no camels for the wise men.
Our Family Nativity Pageant
As the record of the Savior's birth was read from
Luke and Matthew by Ethan,
the participants entered on cue.
Singing Happy Birthday, dear Jesus followed by
singing Silent Night.
The pageant ended with a group photo.
Each one had chosen whose role they wanted to portray
and selected their attire from the collection of costume choices.
Wise men (Jacob, Brynlee), Joseph (Paul), Mary (Anna),
Angel (Rebecca), Shepherd (Corban), Sheep (Mason, Isaac),
and Baby Jesus.
Eating Downstairs and Upstairs
We scheduled the ham dinner at 5:00 p.m.,
following the family Nativity Pageant
and before Santa's visit.
(Sam, Shannon, Doug, Marla, Ryan, and Tani)
Ho, Ho, Ho, Here Comes Santa Claus
(Corban, Anna, Paul, Brynlee, Rebecca, Megan, and Gabe)
including Megan and others who are in college.
He wanted Sarah, his mom.
