Merry Christmas 2011

Santa was kind to Madee and Courtney.

Christmas clean up.

BINGO
We started a new tradition this year.
Thanks Aunt Kathleen!
It was really fun.
It must have been fun it
looks like we played a long time
in some pictures it is light outside
and others it is dark!

Julie made some fun Christmas BINGO cards and
the missionaries even joined us.

 We had a great Christmas.  We are very blessed.  We had our Christmas "breakfast at our house around 2:30 (because of everyones various church times).  I was so glad to have Jordan home with us.  Everything he got were things he needs for his mission.  (Except for the "HEAT" shersey.
I thought he should get at least ONE thing that was kind of fun.  Whitney got her PINK sweats that she REALLY wanted.  Mark got an Iphone he had been wanting and I got a Cuinsenart.  Everyone was happy.  The best thing about Christmas Eve and Christmas day was just being with family.  It was also nice to go to church on Christmas day.

Christmas Eve 2011

Whit and Court going to Grandmas and Grandpa's for Christmas Eve!

Whit and Me at the Christmas Eve Program.

Courtney and Dad

Madee singing "Away In A Manger."

Courtney playing a Christmas medley.

Christmas PJ's

Best gift of Christmas Eve.
We always open all our presents from
Grandma and Grandpa and David and Julie
on Christmas Eve.  This was the best gift, it was from
David and Julie and Family.(Julie is always so thoughtful and creative.)
 We each had our own box
wrapped and they told us to open them all together.
So we ripped through them all at the same time.
They were boxes of candy with movie tickets taped to
one side and each box had a word taped to the other
side.  You can't read them in this picture.  But we had to
figure out how to put the words together to make
a sentence.  It said..."Make a memory with your missionary."

Whitney, Jordan and Dahlin.



Our Nativity

Farewell Sunday

Whit and her friends.  Many of whom have brothers Jordan's age who are
on missions or getting ready to go.

The girls of the class of 2011.
Jordan has been friends with these girls since middle school.

Dave arranged a piano piece for Jordan.
He combined Call To Serve, Army of Helaman, and
I Hope They Call Me On A Mission.  He played
the piece for us all Sunday night.

The boys of the class of 2011.
One of them is going to Chile and one to Mexico.
And Zack who Jordan baptized a year and half ago is going to England!

I had to have a picture of all the desserts. 
This is not even all of them!!!

Jordan gave his "farewell" talk on Sunday.  I could not have been more proud of him.  It was such a great meeting.  His friend Chelsea spoke, then he spoke, then our neighbor the Stake Patriarch spoke.   The musical number was a piano and flute number, O Holy Night.  Jordan did such a great job on his talk.  He spoke about waiting upon the Lord and accepting things on the Lord's time.  He spoke of waiting SOO long to leave for his mission and the things he has learned.  He spoke to each of his sister and his dad and me.  He said he felt like Nephi because he knows he was "born of goodly parents".  It was a TOTAL mom pay day!!!  It was also VERY emotional.  He is a great boy and his sisters and him love each other so much.  It will be SOOOO hard to have him gone for so long but I know he will be blessed and protected and I know he will do a great work!  The chapel, overflow, and gym were full.  Mark said he couldn't help but think of Clarence and It's A Wonderful Life.  Jordan is certainly NOT a failure.  He has so many good friends.  We fed 90-100 people at the house after the meeting.  I could not have done it without help from good people and my family!  We were also so excited to have Spencer here with us!  Kate and Matt and kids also came out for the day too.  We have such a great extended family. 

FAMILY... Hold on to the things that last

Who could ask for better kids?!?!

I love this boy soooo much!!!

AND I love this boy soooo much too!

We had a family photo shoot back in October.

I guess it will be our last one for about 2 years.

Mark and I are so blessed to have such great children.  

My Elder

So Jordan leaves one month from TODAY.  Think about what  you were doing 1 month ago...
Me, I was preparing to take Jordan to the temple.  We went on Saturday, Nov. 5th.  So ya, 1 month goes by in the blink of an eye.  I guess I better not blink for a while.  :0 ) 

My favorite one.  The one I will put next to my plaque.
"A missionary leaves his family for 2 years
so that another family can be
together for eternity."

Jordan's favorite.  This one will be on the plaque that
hangs in the Church by the Bishop's office. 

I am sooooo proud of Jordan.  He will be such a great missionary.  Those people in Honduras are so lucky!!!!!!

It's A Wonderful Life

Mark gathered the family together on Sunday night and we all watched the classic movie.  It reminds me of my grandparents and just makes me feel good.  I loved being able to watch it with my entire family.  We watch it each year as a family as a kind of "kick off" to the Christmas season.  I really love the thing that Clarence wrote to George.

"Remember no man is a failure who has friends."  

Isn't it so true? Thank you to all who read this blog and keep up with our little family!!!!