Speaking of a White Christmas, Dale and I went and saw the Four Seasons Theater Company put on White Christmas at Sky view High School. It’s one of my favorite shows and they didn’t disappoint.
We started off the month by celebrating Andrew and Lindsay’s gal, Nora’s 2nd birthday with the family. They waited to celebrate a day so that Andrew could join in on the party. He gets a Christmas break from work.
Awesome for him, huh?
She has the prettiest big, bright eyes that light up when she smiles her big smile. We’re so glad we have Nora in our family. Happy Birthday Nora!!
Speaking of parties, I got to go to quite a few this month! I went to the Hyde Park 4th Wards Christmas Party, where I realized I no longer know everyone in our home ward anymore. With all of the new growth that’s been
going on to the Southeast of us we’ve added quite a few families to our ward. They sponsored a Giving Tree that helped five families this Christmas season because of health issues, loss of job, or just to help fulfill needs.
You could take paper ornaments from the tree to buy the items. I was glad we could help out with this worthwhile project.
I also went to the School Boards Christmas Social with Dale at Mike and Kathy Christensen’s home. We have a fun board and it was good to have some time to just relax and visit with everyone.
Dale and I also went to a Stake Leadership Christmas Social with all of those serving in the Stake Presidency, on the High Council, or as Bishops, along with their wives to a nice dinner and program at the Birch Creek Golf Courses Clubhouse.
Later that week, Dale and I helped pull off the Logan Married Student 2nd Stakes 17th Ward Christmas Party by planning and serving the food for our dinner that went along with an ugly sweater and a gingerbread house
building contest. It was a fun evening full of creativity, good food, and great company. The Greenwoods won the Gingerbread House contest and the Ganowskys won the ugly sweater contest. We feel blessed to be serving with these great kids.
Dale and I also hosted a Christmas Social here for all those that participated in the 17th Married Student Wards Christmas Program. Dale and I were able to sing with the choir and be part of our ward program that way. We had finger foods,
a vegetable tray, cheese ball & crackers, and desserts and just visited and enjoyed the company of others. It gave Dale and I a chance to get to know some of the couples better as well.
Our last official Christmas party was when we met with Dale’s side of the family at Maple Springs, where his folks are living and had dinner and had a visit from Santa. All the kids had the chance to sit on his lap, as you can see some were more willing to sit on his lap than others to get their picture taken with him, but all the kids went to him to receive a little treat bag. It was fun to see how the kids reacted to Santa. Mazin was content to just sit on my lap and view him from a distance.
I was delighted to have our WHOLE family there!
Those that could, headed over to the Mallory's house after our Hansen Party to celebrated Mazin's 3rd Birthday a day early. We played games and ate his Lightning McQueen cake and ice cream. Happy Birthday Mazin!!
I started DIBELS testing, which has had the name changed to Acadience testing in the schools. We still do the same tests, so I’m not real sure what the new name signifies, other than sounds a bit better. I also test with the same group of wonderful
ladies and it’s always great to get together with them. We kind of did our own little party when someone would bring treats to share with the group. We had quite a variety of treats too.
Time spent with family is always a treat and we took advantage of that as much as we could this month. We met up with Andrew, Lindsay and the kids at Pizza Pie Café for dinner and then took advantage of a local event; A Live Nativity
at Morgan Farms in Nibley, and went to that. It was bitter cold, but we went and got a glimpse at what it might have been like that night that Christ was born. We walked into a barnyard area and saw the cattle and sheep feeding in their stalls and then the
scene of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, with a shepherd and wise men looking on. The music of angels was heard singing in the background. As we walked out we saw a camel. We walked around the area a bit and then went on a horse drawn wagon ride and sang
Christmas carols. They had fires in barrels around to help warm you up as well. This gave me a glimpse of what it might have been like in Bethlehem on that special night.
Wise Men (and women) still seek Him!!
I spent a night out with Dale by going to a Christmas Celebration Buffett and the American Festival Chorus' Christmas Concert, with Lexy Walker as the guest artist. We were invited to it by Cache Valley Bank. It was a delightful evening because this was the first time Dale was able to see and hear the AMF Christmas Concert in the audience. In the past he’d been a member of the choir. It was a great way to truly kick-off the Christmas season and a wonderful night out.
Dale and I also got to attend the Logan Temple a couple of times. Once with the LMS 17th Ward, to go through an endowment session, and once with Matt and Amie to do some sealings for some family names I had gotten. With it being December, the month where we give gifts, I’d like to think that we gave some “heavenly gifts” to family and others this month. When we got to the car someone had left us a note under our windshield with a paper Christmas ornament. That topped off our delightful evening even more.
I fit in some me time to usher at the Eccles to enjoy some of the holiday shows they had at the theater. I helped with the Davis Academy Christmas Show (a group tied in with Pickleville Playhouse), Voice Male
(an A cappella male vocal
group), and Juanito Bandito’s Christmas Carol. Fun times!!
Nate fit in time to spend the holidays with us this Christmas. He drove from Seattle in his racked up “Camper Van” and braved a few storms to get here, but we were glad we had him here. He spent some nights at Andrew and Lindsay’s and
had Lindsay mentor him while he cut our and sewed some thermal shades to use in his van to help keep the heat in and block out the light. He's well-rounded in his skills I'd say.
He was able to go to the Hansen Christmas Party, spent Christmas Eve day skiing at Beaver Mountain with Dale and Andrew (He got into the Christmas spirit by wearing his Santa beard). I'm sure it helped to keep his face warm too.
Then he spent the evening with us and the Mallory’s where we made candy candles, decorated paper bags for luminarias for dad and mom’s grave, ate our traditional soup, cheeseball and crackers,
vegetable tray, and dessert, had our little program with the kids participating by playing a carol on the piano, or singing a song. Dale shared how we can make our light shine all the time (tied in with the candy candles) and we sang some songs. Then we all
went to the cemetery and put out our luminarias and sang carols. It was a delightful evening.
On Christmas morning with just adults in the house we got to sleep in and it was a bit quieter, but we still stuck with tradition and read from Luke 2 and put baby Jesus in the manger filled with hay from doing acts of love before opening
our gifts. Santa didn’t forget us and we all were treated well.
We had our traditional butterscotch balls with bananas and oranges from our stockings and hot chocolate for breakfast.
The WHOLE family gathered together for a family picture and then Christmas dinner. Plates of New York Steak Roasted Meat, garlic mashed potatoes, whipped sweet potatoes, garden freezer corn, a vegetable tray, a whipped jello
salad, rolls, and pies for dessert were on the menu. It was a delightfully tasteful meal.
.Dale, Jason and some of the kids went out and did a little sledding, and built a snowman while we cleaned up dinner.
Andrew and Lindsay left to go spend some time with her family in Paradise, and Garrett and Zandra spent the night at Andrew and Lindsay's. Jason and Danica left to go watch the Utah JAZZ play at home. The first time they’ve had a home game on Christmas for a long time. I guess Santa enjoys a good game of basketball as a way to unwind after a busy day sometimes too.
The next day, Jason and Danica headed back over the hill and jumped in with us to meet up with the Mallory’s before we headed through Logan Canyon. It was a delightful ride up the canyon.
We met Nate, Andrew's gamily and Garrett's family at Beaver Mountain for a day on the slopes. The parking lot was full, but there wasn’t much of a wait in the lines and the sun came out for a while to help us feel like it was warm even though it was still
really cold. I stayed in the lodge and watched the little ones, while all that wanted to ski hit the slopes. Garrett and Zandra had Luke and Jorie on skis, and Amie and Matt had Mazin on skis. It was a fun day on the slopes.
We all stopped at Fredrico’s Pizza for a bite to eat, and a kiss under the mistletoe? Andrew and Lindsay went home, Nate left and met up with a friend, and Garrett and Zandra got the kids to bed at our house.
Then Garrett, the Hassell’s, Mallory’s, and Nate met up with us at Cedar Ridge Elementary and we played Laser Tag. It was a fun way to end the day. I learned I want Matt and Kennlyn on my team next time. Matt is a sharp shooter and Kennlyn is a great decoy. (The Hassell's left for home after a bit, and Nate left early to meet up with another friend, so we missed them in the picture)
Nate and Andrew went up Logan Canyon and used their skins on their skis to hike up to the top of a mountain in the Wood Camp area. On the way up, they saw a moose with her calf.
Once they got to the top it was fresh powder all the way down. Both said it was great skiing, even if it snowed a bit and was overcast, it worth the climb.
Nate also headed to Salt Lake and met up with friends Jon Bennion and Spencer Weiler. He did some back country skiing with Spencer up Little Pine Couloir and climbed the Great White Icicle up Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Salt Lake area.
Then he slept over at Jason and Danica’s and went skiing with them at Snow Basin before heading back to Seattle.
I’d say he got in quite a bit of time on his skis while he was here. He broke his ride home up and ended up driving for a bit in a storm, but his van pulled through and he made it back okay. It was a delight having him around for the week.
The Mallory’s fit in more basketball before Christmas. Dale I got to go to see Kennlyn and Langston play in a few games.
The Mallory’s fit in more basketball before Christmas. Dale I got to go to see Kennlyn and Langston play in a few games.
Matt kept to tradition and ended up handing out around 1,500 cups of hot chocolate to the kids at Cedar Ridge and Heritage Elementary during recess when it was really cold outside, as part of his Operation Kindness program. That’s going above
and beyond in my eyes. No wonder the kids love him, he practices what he preaches.
With Andrew home for Christmas he and Lindsay have been burning daylight trying to get the finish work, painting and carpet in before Christmas. Lindsay got the tile laid in the downstairs bathroom so they can get that finished up as well. This was their first Christmas in their new home and their goal was to have it all finished by Christmas.
They also headed to Garrett and Zandra’s and spent the day. Zandra made her yummy curry for them and then they went to Layton and saw the Christmas lights with them for a delightfully fun evening.
They did it, and got the basement finished, and were able to enjoy it during the holidays with family and friends. Nate, Garrett and Zandra stayed there a night or two to break it in for them.
To get into the Christmas spirit even more they decorated gingerbread houses with the kids as well. So, I guess it wasn’t all work and no play. They found a good balance and needed those breaks to stay sane I'm sure.
Speaking of all work and no play, Garrett and Zandra got to celebrate Christmas in their new house as well.
Zandra’s been able to be home with the kids and with her not working they’ve been able to have more family time. They took the kids skiing a couple of times and got Luke on his own skis. To their delight, he loved it! They've also had some fun in the snow.
They braved the cold and went to see the lights with their friends Anthony and Melissa Harvey.
Garrett’s been staying plenty busy and is learning better how to manage his time with work and play as well. He took advantage of Danica’s skills and gave his top realtors that he works with some of her drawings. They were a hit. Here's a couple she did.....
Seven years ago, this month Garrett and Zandra were married and sealed to each other for time and all eternity in the Logan Temple. To celebrate, the kids stayed over-night with Andrew and Lindsay while Garrett and Zandra stayed at the
Anniversary Inn and then went skiing at Beaver Mountain. Happy Anniversary to you!
Speaking of skiing, Jason and Danica have been making the most of the snow that they’ve had in their area. They are getting the most out of their season’s passes at Snow Basin.
They also spent some time with the Hassell clan at a cabin at Bear Lake as well as took a ride on the Polar Express.
Jason got in some Jazz games with his dad or friends and Danica frantically drew pictures to fill her Christmas orders. She ended up drawing 33 pictures. I'm sure you put a smile of the recipients faces.
The month ended on a sadder note however, when we got the news that my nephew, Shane Petersen’s daughter, Jordin, and her husband, Devin Seamons, along with their 2yr. old daughter Lyla were in a bad accident south of Logan. They were
heading to Salt Lake to meet up with family and go see the lights at Temple Square heading south on the highway towards Wellsville and were hit by a drowsy driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel and crossed over into their lane. Devin passed away at the scene shortly after help had arrived. Angels were watching over Jordin who was conscious through it all and came away with some bruises and Lyla wasn't hurt at all. We were told she didn't even cry during the whole ordeal. A heartbreaking experience for a lot of people.
My heart goes out to them. So, sad! A Go Fund Me event was created to help them with funeral expenses. They were well loved in the community and other fundraisers were created as well to show their love and to help them out. We attended the viewing and funeral and
I can only imagine the hurt, but the strength that Jordin has. She and Lyla have a lot of support. The knowledge we have from the gospel gives us strength to carry on in times like this. Jordin spoke at her husband’s funeral and knows that the Plan of Salvation
is real and that God has been carrying her and will carry her. We will be praying for them.
Our New Year celebrations were a bit smaller and quieter, but still fun. We had the Mallory's and our friends, Floyd and Alison Griffiths join us for dinner and games. It was WAY COLD out so we didn't do any fireworks or sparklers at midnight, but some of our brave neighbors did, so we enjoyed theirs from inside looking out the windows. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! The Mallory's slept over at our house so the young ones could go to sleep while we played games for awhile longer. Good-bye 2018, for the most part, it's been a very delightful year to celebrate.
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