Canadian Christmas 2009

Most of this post is thanks to my mother. I stole it from our family blog for this one. Thanks so much and it was great visiting you!

What made Christmas 2009 special? In random order...

#1 We were able to talk to Sister Annelisa High on the phone! Unfortunately, the fax line she was on created a bit of a problem getting a hold of our missionary at 9am, but at 9:18 am we were all crowded in the master bedroom kneeling around the phone listening to Sis. High's news.

#2 We were able to once again, have the missionaries over for fun and frolic. It's been tradition to have the missionaries over for Christmas for years. We also played the tradition "Presents Game" where you toll the dice and try to get 7, 11, or doubles. If you do, you get to unwrap presents--with oven mitts. Of course there's trading and stealing and bartering. It's so much fun! Jackson particularly enjoyed visiting with Elder Barber. It's most enjoyable to laugh at Christmas.


#3 As usual, the ladies of the group tried to show off their best Christmas head-wear.


And for some reason, Colby said his hands were cold all through the game, and he kept wanting to put his blue mittens on.


#4 Becca, Nana, and Bryce enjoyed getting to know a new guy that wore a mask most of the night. He seemed to fit right in.

Note: We learned an important tip for the Unwrapping Game for next year. Do not follow Grandad's rule of only wrapping the gifts 3 times in white paper because it makes for a smaller pile at the end of the night. Still, there was plenty to throw around and play in. What would the game be like without the classic arial view.


#5 We learned that important people were missing from our "wheel" this year. They were Megan, Jared, Logan, and Annelisa. Our only group picture of the whole Christmas holiday had a few gaps in it because they weren't there with us.


#6 We discovered new things about ourselves. We learned that even though some family members were in Utah, we hadn't lost our appetites. As a result, we wasted no time feasting on Christmas Day. It is safe to say that from Dec. 23rd to Jan.4th, we had enough food to go around: Mexican Christmas Eve, turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Day, special New York style corned beef sandwiches, French onion soup, Chinese food, and seafood. Nothing much went to waste, and too much went to waist. (Oh well, that's what New Year's resolutions are for!)


#7 One of the highlights of opening presents this year was opening gifts from Annelisa. She had planned ahead and started making or buying her gifts in May! She had taken pictures of herself with the gift too. We all missed her being there so that we could give her a hug and thank her personally. We did take pictures though, and sent her copies in a letter. And although you won't be able to see this blog for 17 more months we just wanted to say thanks. Thanks Annelisa from...

Mom for the excellent garden gloves...

From Colby for the Swiss Army knife. (Poor Teddy almost was beheaded, though!)

Thanks from Dani for the card making supplies. I think she got the message that you wanted her to write her!


Thanks from Nana for the beautiful pictures of dried flowers and the frame (not shown here)


Thanks from Grandad for the gift card to Michael's for art supplies.


Thanks from a very surprised Becca for the T-shirt quilt you made yourself so that she could enjoy all the T-shirts that had been up in her closet for several years!


Thanks from Bryce for the bird house decorated with flowers you had dried. It is currently outside with birdseed in it.

#8 Family pictures are fun. We look forward to new baby Gage in 2010!


#9 Jackson was adorable in his starring role as nephew, grandson, great grandson, and great great grandson.








#10 We were very happy that Grandad was looking well. He had been sick with an infection and was trying to keep well so he could have an procedure on Jan. 4th. (At posting time, Grandad is recovering nicely in the hospital, and the doctor said everything went well and he'll be just fine.)


#11 We're grateful GG is still GG - funny, spunky, shrinking, and alert. After all, the world needs more "lerts". (Groan). GG will be 92 in the year 2010. Her doctor recently said she'll live to be 100. We can hardly wait!!!! (Warning: as of posting date, GG had renewed her driver's license for not one, but TWO MORE YEARS!)


And so, as 2009 has come and gone, we are grateful for all the blessings we've been given. How blessed we all are for family, friends, health, prosperity, peace in our lives, the gospel, and the gift of the Savior Himself and His atonement and resurrection. In addition, temples are glorious, the scriptures are witnesses, and the gospel is true. What more do we need?