Almost too late

After Christmas Day, all of the decorations start to get on my nerves. The house starts to feel so cluttered. But we never seem to take them down until New Year's Day. But - I remembered that I haven't taken a photo of the ornaments we collected on our various trips in 2010. We have had this tradition since the first year were married. We now set up the tree with all of our "trip ornaments" in the kitchen every year. It really is fun to reminisce as we decorate the tree each year.

Christmas 2010

Christmas morning:

Alex gave Dave and I this card. He is going to take us both to a Jazz game for his Christmas present to us.

It was so fun to have Steph and Jared here.

Then we drove over to Ash and Jud's to see what the boys got from Santa.

Logan and James were wearing the matching shirts I had given them.

Next we headed over to see what the Stowers kids got. Pillow pets were a hit with Lily and Jack.

Olivia was her usual sweet self.

Christmas Eve

The best part of Christmas Eve was when Andrew called us from Korea. His mission president told him he could speak as long as he wanted to. He had bought a calling card for $10 and we got to talk to him for nearly two hours. He sounded great. We started the call at our house. He called my cell phone, so we called Ash and Holls on our house phone and Dave's cell and put all of the phones on speaker phone. It was crazy, but it worked. Then, since the call was going on for so long, we drove out to Clinton, still talking to him.

We went out to my parents house for the Niederhauser family party with all of my siblings and their families. Andrew got to talk on the phone to nearly everyone there. He loved it.

Christmas Eve Eve

We had our annual family Christmas Party on the 23rd. We had the usual spread of food. We had all of our family there (including my parents and Dave's dad) except for Andrew, of course.

Olivia's jacket hood had ears.

The three oldest kids were fairly cooperative as we read the Nativity story in Luke.

Logan, not so much.

We also had a little musical program.

Then we exchanged our gifts.

Our married children are able to go to their in-law's for Christmas Eve if we have our get-together on the 23rd. I just want everyone to be happy, so it works out fine. Plus, we still have Christmas Eve with my parents and siblings.

Girls Baking Day

We waited until Steph could come to do our Girls Baking Day. Sadly, Holly couldn't come at the last minute because Lily got the stomach flu. She made her treats at home and we exchanged them all later.

Santa

Some don't care for the fellow. And others think he an alright guy.

Faves of 2010 - People

There are/were some very inspiring people in 2010. All are female. I was so touched by the following:

Elizabeth Edwards. Although I never met her, she is one of those women I would want for a friend. She suffered so much in her life - she lost a son, went through very difficult cancer treatments, had her husband cheat on her during those cancer treatments, found out her husband had fathered another child, had to endure the public spotlight of all this. And she seems to have done it all with such grace and dignity right up to the end of her life.
Elizabeth Smart. Again, I don't know her personally, but admire her very much. After the trial of her perpetrator, Brian Mitchell, she said this: ". . .justice can be served in America and that it is possible to move on after something terrible has happened." Wow. If she can move on after what happened to her, can't we all?

Olivia Maureen Stowers. My newest grandchild was born this year. We all agree she has a very special spirit about her. She hardly ever fusses or cries. Even though she has terrible eczema and stratches herself until she bleeds, the little lamb is just so sweet. I just can't get enough of her.

Global warming?

So . . it's the middle of December and we live in climate zone 5 or 6 (according to the gardening magazines). Yes, it's true we have had a couple of snow storms and have even used our snowblower a few weeks ago. But, yesterday and today it has been in the 50's and I have been out doing yardwork. I was blown away when I saw my "everbearing raspberries" still producing ripe, sweet berries. And I found this blooming primrose in the front yard.

The leaves are finally about off of the trees and I raked piles and piles in the last two days . (Notice how green the grass is.) I even got out the lawn mower this afternoon and gave the grass one last good mowing.

Maybe Al Gore does know something.

The lights

Ever since I was a little girl it has been a tradition to "go see the lights" in downtown Ogden. Dave, Alex and I went to see them on Saturday night. Christmas Village has all these little shacks/houses with cute window displays - Santa, elves, toys, etc. The weather was mild and the lights were as pretty as they ever were. Fun.

Finally - photos from Elder Roo

These are a few of the photos we got from Andrew. His camera broke a few weeks ago and he just sent it to us. There are many more photos, along with his e-mails so far at the blog I created for his mission http://roosmission.blogspot.com If anyone is sending him a letter, Christmas card or package please note his new address on my sidebar or on his blog sidebar. He leaves in the morning for Busan Korea.

Andrew got to see one of his best buddies, Dallin, who is in our ward. Dallin was called about 6 months ago to Mexico but his Visa didn't come until this past month. So he was serving in Idaho and came back to the MTC for a few days before heading out to Mexico.

Faves of 2010 - Travel photos

I have always thought "big city" photos look best in black and white. Ice Skating in Chicago was a blast. The wind off of Lake Michigan was a "blast" as well. haha The Nauvoo Temple is so beautiful.

Here we are in a cave at Zion National Park.

The Tower Bridge in London is a classic place for a photo.

I love this photo of Dave's dad with all of his living children - Cornwall, England.

Paddling the canoe at Washington Lake.

Bald Mountain - 12,000 feet above sea level. We could see over 30 lakes from up there.

This ginormous haystack was in Idaho, near Walcott Lake.

Jud and the kids went on a bike ride at Trial Lake.

Andrew and Dave on their backpacking trip in the Uintas.

Palm trees kill me. I love them so. Sunset at Oceanside, CA.

Grand Canyon overlook.