Happy New Year! We enjoyed celebrating Christmas with the family in Utah. I feel like so much has happened the last few weeks. Before school got out I went one afternoon to help Caleb’s class make gingerbread houses. The kids were cute about decorating and also well behavied. They are a good class. Caleb was so careful how he did his house and I enjoyed being with them.
We had seen some signs around the neighborhood about a missing cat. One day Andrew was out riding his bike in the open space and came in to me and said “I think I found the missing cat.” He found a dead cat close to our fence. He went and wrote down the phone number off the sign and we called them. It ended up being their cat. They were able to identify the cat and the collar that was near by. It looked like a bob cat killed it, probably as a show of territory. Neal and Andrew helped the family bury the cat. After wards the kids were talking about it and I think it was a good experience for them because they realized how important pets are to people. It was sad that it ended out sad.
The kids got out of school on Friday the 16th. They were happy to have a break. That evening Ruth was babysitting for a family near by and Neal and I decided to give Andrew an opportunity to babysit and earn some money. He has been wanting to earn money for his train things. Neal and I went out to eat dinner and left Andrew in charge. He did a great job. It was nice to have a date night too. Early that day Neal and I had gone to the temple together, so it was a nice day spending time together.
Saturday the 17th Andrew went to a birthday party for his friend Zayne. They were at a bowling alley and he had fun bowling. That evening we had our friends over for dinner. Shannon gave me a hug when they first came and thanked me for inviting them. They have six children and she said they don’t get invited over to people homes very often. We had a wonderful evening with them. We ate dinner and played a charade game with them. They have been a great family to get to know in our ward. They have twin daughters who are Ruth’s age, a son Andrew’s age and Marie and Caleb are good friends too and have been in the same school class for two years. It is fun to have friends over.
Sunday the 18th the ward choir sang in church. We had worked hard, even had extra practice time, and sang four beautiful Christmas hymns. It was nice to participate with them. I also taught a Relief Society lesson that day. I am thankful for kind people. I was feeling a bit light headed before teaching and wishing I could eat something. Sometimes my blood sugar dips and I just need something. I asked someone with young children if she happened to have any crackers, she didn’t, but she found someone who did. It helped a lot to eat a little before teaching. I felt that the lesson went well. I was teaching about how we all can give service and sometimes it isn’t displayed what we do, but we are all working to build God’s kingdom on earth. I felt that the sister that gave me the animal crackers gave a great service.
On Wednesday we drove to Utah. We had a later start since Neal needed to go into work for a meeting that morning. It made our drive late, but we were avoiding the storms expected later in the week. We arrived at the Hubbard’s home about 10:00 that evening. It was great to see them and have some hot cocoa waiting for us. We got some rest and enjoyed visiting on Thursday with them. I also drove over to my sister Rachel’s new place and visited with her. It is so good to see family.
Friday morning we drove to Orem. Grandma Hubbard came with us. We picked up my mom and went to BYU with the Grandma’s. We enjoyed seeing some art at the art museum. We walked around the WILK and I bought a couple of things at the book store. After BYU we stopped at the Orem Cemetery to see my Dad’s grave. It was a peaceful place. We were able to see the grave marker that was placed a few weeks ago. I am glad we got there before the snow hit the next day. We went back to my mom’s house for lunch. It was a nice visit. That evening we had many of the Hubbard family together for a nice dinner.
Walking between the art museum and the WILK
The kids by trees in the WILK
Me and my mom
at the Orem Cemetery
Saturday morning the kids helped set up a tree in the Hubbard’s back yard. They had a real tree that they had cut and brought home, then found out MayBo was allergic to it. (my sister in law) The kids helped set it up on the back porch and put lights on it. They felt like it needed more. So they gathered pine cones from around the yard and put strings on them and peanut butter and bird seed. I understand the birds are enjoying the tree. It was pretty in the evening to turn the lights on and see the tree through the window. It worked well because the house got so full of people that we didn’t have space for a tree. Neal’s siblings from Texas, Andrea and David, drove up together and arrived Saturday evening. His sister from Arizona, Holly, arrived Saturday afternoon. And also Dallin who lives in Salt Lake City was there. It was fun to have everyone together. We missed seeing Neal’s youngest brother, Tom, who wasn’t able to come.
Helping with the tree decorating
Saturday afternoon we went to Orem and were with the Hancock’s. Mom, Susan, Mandy, Rachel and I were together. It was a nice evening. We had dinner and read the scriptures and the kids acted out the Nativity story. My kids thought it was great that Grandma Hancock has the tradition to open gifts from her on Christmas eve. They enjoyed opening things early.
Singing time, Ruth had her cheerful hat with her
Susan and her daughter Jessica
Rachel playing the piano for us
Andrew and Grace as Joseph and Mary
Spencer was our shepherd
George and Caleb were the wise men
The kids all posed for us, Ruth was the angel
I read a story to the family
Sunday, Christmas morning, we were with my mom and Rachel. We opened gifts and had a nice breakfast together. Then my family drove back to West Jordan to go to the church with the Hubbard’s. Neal’s parents and five of their six children were together, and all 22 grandchildren. We filled up three pews in the chapel. It was nice to be together. We took some family pictures after church. We were at the Hubbard’s house together all afternoon. It was a busy place with all the kids. We did some music time and enjoyed listening to Holly and Corrine play the flute, Ruth played her clarinet, Andrew played his trombone and Peter played the piano. It was nice to hear them share their talents. We had a little Nativity play the kids did that was put together by May Bo. It was nice to sing Christmas hymns together. All in all it was a wonderful Christmas day.
Caleb was excited to open gifts
Andrew liked getting train things
Spencer was cheerful all day
Ruth was happy
Andrew and Spencer looking at a gift
Caleb was excited to get building blocks
Rachel and Mom
We had a White Christmas
Caleb was nice to share his blocks with the Hubbard cousins
Dallin
Holly
Ruth and her cousin Corinne
John and Caleb
Ruth and Corinne
Andrew on his trombone, yes, we brought it with us so he could play for his grandparents
Monday we spent with the Hancock’s. Jeanie drove down from Logan. So it was mom and all four of my sisters with us. We missed having my brother Doug’s family with us and some of the older cousins and spouses who we didn’t see. We made gingerbread houses and visited. The kids enjoyed playing with some of their new games and toys. It wasn’t as busy as the Hubbard’s family gathering since we had less people there. I enjoyed some visiting time with my sisters.
Jessica and Ruth
Andrew and George, Mandy in the back ground
Grace and Caleb, Rachel and Mandy in the back ground
Neal made his house into a two story one
Mom and Jeanie
The completed house collection
Jeanie showed us her cute elf she had made
Ruth with her new mp3 player
Rachel
Mom
Tuesday Neal took the kids to West Jordan and met the Hubbard family to go sledding. I don’t like cold activities. They enjoyed snow play and time with cousins more. I stayed home with my Mom. We had a quiet day with just the two of us. We went out to eat lunch together. I enjoyed having time with her to visit and just have a break from the craziness of all the family gatherings.
Andrew
Ruth
Andrew and Spencer
Wednesday we spent with the Hubbard family. We went to Salt Lake City and visited Temple Square. We went to the church history museum and enjoyed seeing the new display on church history. When it was getting dark about 5:00 we went out on the Square and enjoyed seeing the lights and the Nativities from around the world. It was a pretty evening. We returned to the Hubbard’s home for dinner and then farewells.
Ruth had fun with cousin Emily
Caleb and Becky
Thursday we drove home. But the party continued at our house. We had Andrea and her family of 10 and David and his family of 3 at our house that night. We had dinner together and visited and then got to bed. The Texas families left early the next morning for their second day of travel. I am thankful that everyone was able to travel safely and we were able to gather. It was a special time. Neal’s dad is going through treatments for cancer and I think it meant a lot to him to have the family together for Christmas.
We came home with colds. I hope others haven’t been sick. But it is going through our family. It isn’t too bad but the boys and I have had been sick. Neal worked hard to install a new storm door at the front door. It looks real nice. Saturday, New Years Eve, we went to bed early, we were all tired. We enjoyed a beautiful Sunday New Years Day. I cooked up a ham and it has been tasty this week as we keep eating from it.
Monday I took the kids to the Explora museum. They enjoyed playing there in the morning. Tuesday I got the kids to help me and in just a little over an hour we had all the Christmas things put away. It was great to have their help. Tuesday afternoon I took Caleb and Spencer out on a little “date” time. We went to a family fun center and I let them play games in the arcade, this was their choice of activity. We had a fun time of it.
Wednesday the kids went back to school. Everyone did okay getting going and said the day went well. We enjoyed church activities in the evening. Ruth had a youth activity, Andrew had boy scouts, Spencer had cub scouts and I had Activity Days with the girls. Today we got everyone moving again and out the door to school. It is hard to get back into the school routine after a fun vacation.
The boys have really enjoyed the new blocks and want me to take pictures of their creations
I wish everyone a happy and well New Years.
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