2014 December Family Actitivities

 Jason, Ethan, and Julie

Ethan's growth 

 Ethan's not too impressed with Santa, but at least he isn't crying. 

Amelia and Lillian play with the Fisher-Price Nativity set.

Grant, Lilian Amelia, and James take pollution out of the ship using dominoes and wrapping paper tubes.

Little John 

Grant, Mark holding Amelia, James in back, John in from, Kristilyn, and Lillian. 

Kristilyn as a shepherd with her cuddly little lamb, John

 Christmas Eve Nativity Story:  Take 1
Lillian-angel, Grant- wise man, James - Joseph, Keith - donkey, Kira-Mary, Kristilyn- shepherd, Talisa - wise man, Amelia - camel, and John - lamb.

  Keith - donkey with Kira - Mary

Take 2:  Grant - Joseph, Kira - donkey, Talisa - Mary,  Amelia - Baby Jesus

Take Three:  Lillian - donkey, Kristilyn - Mary,  Kira - Baby Jesus, Amelia - donkey, and Mark

Kristilyn and Mark in his new rugby shirt

Grant and James put John's new Christmas car ramp together.

Special Christmas gifts from older grandchildren: 
Talisa--recitation of Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, piano pieces
Grant and James--piano duets with Kristilyn of Christmas carols
Daniel--original song with lyrics and notes written out
Emily and Mordecai--piano recital videos

Grandchildren playing pipe chimes--Talisa, Grant, Kira, John, Grant, Amelia, Kristilyn, and Amelia

Pipe Chimes 

 Daniel playing with the Eliasons.  After Grant and James' baptisms most of the cousins were able to play together. 

Daniel, Talisa, and Kira with Daniel's new train set.  

 

 Neal and Katrina did 39 family sealings in the Jordan River Temple of Neal's family from Germany. 

 We're grateful when Anna can sleep peacefully. 

 Below:  Talisa, Keith, Kira, and Talisa

Kira at her Grandparent's Day program

 

 Mordecai, Emily, Mike holding Ruby and Desi holding Ivy.--Christmas photo

 Mordecai, Emily, Ruby, and Ivy

Mordecai with his "real" man tie.

Kate giving Melody kisses

 Kate,

Charlotte, almost 1 year.  

 Charlotte and Kate

Timothy Smith died early in the morning of December 31, 2014, of a disease similar to ALS. 

2014 Christmastime on Temple Square

Temple Square is beautiful in December.  This is the tree in the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  

This year the lights on the trees were on in the morning as we arrived for service.  This morning there was a beautiful sunrise.

We were able to attend Music and the Spoken Word and  the special Muppets Concerts. It was amazing.  I'm eager to buy the DVD next Christmas. 

View from the top floor atrium.  

Snow finally came on Christmas

 John

Views from the Training Zone window on the Third Floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.