Christmas Morning

Ella checking out her stocking..

 Jader Bugs...

 Naia Paia

Rolling backpacks for school and trips to Grandma and Grandpa's -"the ones in Shumway..." (quote from Ellie Paige....)

 Just the originals for Grandpa...Ties &

 socks (but, he did make a haul on work pants....from Great-grandma&pa and Grandma)

Sunday was such a nice day - Christmas is special on Sunday...It was fun to have company during the week before and after....thanks to all for coming....this big old house is really quiet....

I found this on the other computer....Jared created this from videos taken after the girls went inside and things got real serious...(competition, you know...hee hee) Thanks Jared!

WHOOOO hoooooo!!!

Sorry that video was a little short...When we went around the corner of the house that north wind was bitter cold....as you can see from the little face Haylee is pulling.  "Grandma, I want to go back inside!"

 Cousins opening some little gifts:  Haylee

 Giving Aunt Tonya a hug...

 Trinley

 Ellie

 Talya

 Ella

 Naia

 Jade

 Tyanne

 Tarrik

 Tucker

What was in Tucker's package?  A few bottles of Diet Coke, some Mentos and some kind of contraption that empies the Mentos into the Coke all at once resulting in the following reaction:

Ho, Ho, Ho and Merry Christmas!!!

Surprise, Surprise!!!

These little nuggets are called "Brown Bobbies."  The original recipe is from 1935 when Great-Aunt Mima bought the "Brown Bobbie" Machine.  She paid extra for the recipe rather than purchase a mix

from the company.  She kept the recipe secret for years and years, but as her eye sight failed, she asked Aunt Mary to copy it in larger print for her.  After Aunt Mary went home she wrote down the formula, and it's a good thing because after Aunt Mima died the original recipe was never found.  The original machine made triangular shaped cakes, but these new donut machines work quite well baking them in the "round."  Thanks for the donut machine Natalie and Jared.....

Family Christmas Home Evening

Luke's little boy, Keven's daughter, Sam's grandaughter, Jenny C.'s little boy.  

 Hannah, Jordan, Luke's little boy, Keven's daughter, Sam's grandaughter and angels: Jessica, Peanut, Emily (Keven's older daughter)

 Sam's daughter and grand, Hannah, Jordan, little "wise women", Mary and Joseph, Sam's grand, Jessica, Peanut, and Emily.  (I was busy at the piano, and Grandpa was reading..)  

One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.  He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty.  Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.  He never had a family or owned a home.  He never set foot inside a big city.  He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born.  He never wrote a book, or held an office.  He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness.  While He was still a young man, the tide of the popular opinion turned against Him.  His friends deserted Him, He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial.  He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.  While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had--His coat.  When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave.  Two thousand years have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race.  All the armies that ever marched and all the navies that ever sailed and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this
"One Solitary Life."
(The Living Nativity - Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular-2009-Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ. )

A little "somthin' somthin'" for the workers on our shift at the Temple.  Sister Willis made some really cute cards to go with them that we attached to the back...

 Dip a spoon in chocolate, add some sprinkles, wrap with plastic wrap and ribbon - attach to a package of hot chocolate mix.

 Finally, something done...thanks to Natalie for helping to tie this little Picnic Quilt.

 Some of the snow is melting---it's mostly just ugly now...and very muddy...

 Nestled in the branches of the Christmas tree...

It's so COLD...This "white stuff" isn't going anywhere!

 The grape vines..

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but, the fire is so delightful!!!"

Yes, it's very true.  

About 6:30 a.m. this morning.  The electricity went off about 1:15 a.m. and just barely came back on.  

Grandpa measured about 17" of snow on the lawns.  

Grandpa with snow up to his knees - battery for tractor so he can move some of the "white stuff. "

The Little Boy and Little Girl are up to their necks in snow....

Power went off again..

Power came on again...

Power went off again...

It's on again now..better publish this post fast....