Family Night Together

Thanks to my mom, and at her suggestion and invitation, we met together at their home last night for our first Family Night Together (I guess that's what we'll call it).  We wanted to keep it short and sweet, and appealing.  There were a few that were a little hesitant at first, but by the end it turned out so well.  My Dad opened with prayer, and then we watched a short video about Jesus.  Then we also watched a short video about The Good Samaritan.  Everyone really enjoyed these videos, and it sparked conversations and questions. Then my mom told some stories from my Dad's (Grandpa D) history. She touched on the time Dad fell out of the car when he was about 3 years old. Also the time he broke his leg (when one of his sisters pushed him home on his trike, and he stuck his leg in the spokes) And the time he broke his arm (and it didn't heal straight) - and then he showed everyone his crooked arm. We ended up talking about worrying....... It was interesting to hear of the different worries we experienced. Volcanos.......winning races....... and some other things (I can't remember) Dad said, that if we worry about something, we should just talk it out with someone (usually our parents), who can usually explain things, and help us not to worry. Afterwards we had yummy pumpkin pie (I made the filling, and mom made the crusts and whipped cream). She also had home made apricot ice cream !! YUMMY!!! We talked about what videos we wanted to watch the next time we meet together (February 24th is the date we picked) - and Thatcher wants something about our prophet, President Nelson, and Tagg wants something about when Jesus called his apostles to be Fishers of Men, and Treyson wants one about The Iron Rod. I need to talk with Payson and Brightyn, so that we can have a video on what they would like also. I'm hoping they can meet with us next time. It was a great night to be together, and hopefully we can keep this one a month "get together" going. LOVE OUR FAMILY !!!

We have a Gymnast

See him there...........?  2nd from the left

They each get a medal if they place in each event, and overall

The judges score each event, and 10 is a perfect score.
There are 6 events.
Pbars = Parallel bars   Hbar = High bar

Missed the ending of the Vault - they jump on a spring board, and land on some mats in

He took 4th place in this event (can't remember which one) 

He's made some good friends

At the end of each event, they face the judge, and salute
They also do this on the medal stand. 

Good job Thatcher 

It was fun to watch !

This girl had a PARTY !!

Isn't that the cutest cake !?!
Full of LOL dolls (her favorite) 

That smile says it ALL

I tell you - that girl will work at ULTA one day :)

5 years old

Love you BRIGHT !
You are truly a light in our lives

Surprise Visit

Kelly and and Michelle and kids made a surprise visit to Grandma Ben on the day after Christmas !
It's been a few years since the whole family has been able to visit.  Chase came a few days later for snowboarding, and Grandma got to see him too !

It was a wonderful surprise.  A few of us knew about it, but kept in UNDER wraps, and we arranged to have lunch up to Grandma's on the 26th at noon.  We just told her we were bringing all of our leftovers to have lunch with her on the spur of the moment..............then some "strangers" came up to the back door............and the tears started.........

It was so good to see them !!!

Kelly we get to see a few times a year, and we are so happy to be able to go to dinner with him when he's in town for work.  Michelle is as sweet (beautiful smile) as ever.
Brayden - SO GROWN UP, and so nice
EASTON - Smart as a whip !!  And such a talker !!
SHAYLIE - SO SO SWEET,  LOVE HER SMILE !!

Roger was so tickled, that she warmed right up to him, and by the time they were taking pics, she wanted to be right by his side. 

New Years Celebration

We gathered at Zac and CJ's.

Good food

We fried up some Shrimp and french fries, and even TWINKIES !!

Thanks Guys for having us

Love the Grandma GREATS !!

A Little bit of JUST DANCE

And a game of NINES

We all got in on the action !

The next year on New Year's Day - the party continued !!

We had left overs from the night before

And danced some more............

We were going to go out and sleigh in the snow........but it was TOO DANG COLD !!!

So we danced some more !!!

Be sure and click on the link at the top of the blog that says Family Videos. There are a ton of videos from tonight's party, plus a whole lot more !!

She's here.............She's gone

She's here (love love love heart heart heart) 

With Grandma Ben (seeing the great grandparents is always first on the list)..............

.....then the cousins 

We had a LOW KEY  - Not much adventure week
And let me tell you - we put her to WORK !!

MORE Cousins !!!
Oh how they love her

and a HUG from this guy !!

OH!!
And did I tell you we baked and baked and baked and baked !!

And it SNOWED..........so our Arizona girl LOVED that

Thanks for the hot cocoa Grandpa and Grandma D

I think we wore her out :)

More work - Cleaning this time :)

Little bit of BOWLING

And eating at KOBE, where they cook it right in front of you.
See Payson's face?  There was FIRE !!  Wow !!

Those two littles were pretty handy with their chopsticks

And of course we needed to get her a grasshopper shake at J's before..................

She LEFT :(........     Sure wish she lived closer
I'll come back and do another post of NEW YEARS (while she was here)