2009 Family Pictures

Isn’t it always a relief once family pictures are done? We did pretty good this year and got them all done in the middle of November.  My sister Cindy has a nice camera that she was wanting to learn how to use, so we dragged her out to Freestone park to help her get some practice. :)  I thought she did a really great job!  Thanks Cindy!

 

 

 

My 3 cutie pies

 

Cassie-14 years old

 

Parker-11 years old

 

Dallin-5 years old

What a December!!

What a December it has been…busy, busy, busy!  Rarely have we had a night where we had no where to go.  I haven’t had any time to blog, so you’re going to get it all in one post! :)  Here are some of our December highlights.

 

Parker’s Orchestra Concert

 

 

Church Christmas party

 

 

 

 

Garage Sale

I had a garage sale at our last house many years ago, and I swore that I would never do again.  Although it’s a lot of work (I’m not one to just bring things straight from the attic to the table.  I clean everything, and make sure it looks presentable), I’m glad that we did.  In the process we were able to clean out closets, cupboards, and the attic…and that’s not a bad thing! The weather was freezing, but we made about $175, so we were happy. 

 

Christmas Duets/Solos

My Dad insisted that each of his kids play Chrismas songs on the piano after our Sunday family dinner.  Growing up, there was always a sibling to play a duet with.  We have many fond memories of playing duets together. 

Melody and Merilana-Sometimes we just can’t help but laugh and laugh through the whole duet. :)

 

Star and I playing “Sleigh Ride”, a family favorite!

 

 

My brothers are fantastic pianists!

Nathan

 

Jared

 

The Master Pianist-I’ve always thought that my Dad was the best piano player in the whole world…and I still do! He amazes me every time he sits down to play.  All my Dad needs is the melody note of a song, and he goes to town! He has played the organ in church ever since I can remember.  Some members of the congregation are known to come early to church just to listen to my Dad play prelude each Sunday.  One of my favorite childhood memories is going to sleep at night to the sound of my Dad playing the piano or organ.  It was simply heaven! My Dad taught all 10 of us kids piano…no easy feat!!!

 

Decorating our Gingerbread House!!

 

 

Organ Stop Pizza

It’s a tradition to go to Organ Stop Pizza every Christmas.  We love listening to the Christmas music.

 

Cassie’s Orchestra and Choir concert (I guess we didn’t get any pictures of her choir concert)

 

Elly’s Baptism

My sweet niece Elly turned 8 and was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

 

Elly and her family (my sister Melody’s family)

 

Ferrin Christmas Party

Every year we have a fun Christmas party with the Ferrins (my Mom’s side of the family).  When we were young, we would have the party down in my parents’ basement, but we all grew up and had kids of our own which makes for a lot of people, so we now have it in my parents backyard.

 

Stan the balloon man! 

 

My nephew created this train all by himself.  The kids loved it!

 

Yummy Cotton Candy!!

 

Talent Show!

RaShel and Alicia Ferrin

 

Parker was a good sport to laugh about his mistakes.

 

I was so happy to see my sweet friend Shelly at the Ferrin party.  She moved to Utah several years ago, so I don’t see her very often. Shelly and I go way back.  We became the best of friends in college.  We had so much fun at MCC and ASU institute dances, serving together as officers in Lambda Delta Sigma, going on some really great double and group dates together, and staying out way too late on the weekends (we really had our parents worried a couple of times…oops).  We both met our future husbands around the same time and ended up getting married a month apart.  Lucky for me, Shelly’s mom ended up marrying my Uncle, so we became “step-cousins”.  I love my sweet friend!!

 

Fun bounce house

 

Dallin gets ready to go down the zip line…one of the highlights of Grammy and Papa’s house.

 

Woohoo!!!

 

Parker

 

Christmas Ceramics

I have an uncle who makes amazing ceramic pieces.  For Christmas he invited my whole family…ya, that’s a lot of people, over to his house to do ceramics.  We went over one Saturday to prepare the pieces for firing.  After my uncle fired them, we came back the next Saturday to paint them.  My uncle is such a good sport to have us all over.  He even fed us a fantastic dinner both Saturdays! What a guy!!

Here’s a picture of the ceramics he made for us. Wow!

The painting begins

 

 

 

All finished!

 

Parker’s 5th Grade Play

 

Our own little family Candlelight Christmas Dinner

 

The Mesa Temple Lights-one of our favorite Christmas Traditions

 

 

 

Phelps Christmas Party

 

One of the highlights of Christmas is when my sister Tara and her husband and 2 boys come down from Ohio.  She is my only sibling who lives out of state and we miss them horribly!

 

I just had to include this picture.  Lyneah and Bridger-You would think these two were brother and sister, but they are cousins.  So adorable!

 

Santa and Mrs. Claus payed us a visit. 

 

 

 

Roberts Christmas party

Aunt Donna (Stan’s sister) playing nephew Andrew a game of checkers…I won’t mention who won…hee hee  :)

 

Our 2 cute great-nieces were the hit of the talent show.  So cute!!

 

Cassie playing a piano solo

 

Dallin singing “Oh boy, I got joy”.

 

Joseph and his brother Mason told some really funny jokes.

 

 

The Hatch singers

 

Whew!! So there you have it…our December.  And Christmas isn’t even here yet! It’s been a busy but fun December.  I really need to start wrapping now!!!

Merry Christmas to each one of you!!!