Christmas morning!!

Ruthie got beautiful new silverware and a WARM brown vest -- and the 'Promise' Willow Tree statue. Can you see the snow on the tree in the window? We had a white Christmas -- but then the sun came out so travel was not bad!! PERFECT!!

Wendy got a Build-a-bear named 'Maxie' - and snow clothes.

It snowed on Christmas Eve --- and was so beautiful ... but they came and plowed our street ... so they had to be creative with their sledding -- but at least they got to do some. (The kids LOVED it!!) Dennis is on his quad and below David is pulling the kids with mine.

Our Kids -- Christmas 2007

Wendy, Ryan and Alisa -- opening presents. Ry and Alisa came down from Bountiful and we were all together for a few hours. It was wonderful.

Dave, Amy and Seth -- getting ready for more presents!

Michelle and David -- where are their kids? Probably playing downstairs!!

Mike and Jodi -- Happy Birthday Jodi!!! (the best Christmas present Dennis and I ever got!!)

Snow Sculptures in Springville

There is a man in our area who creates these (and many more) ice sculptures so I thought I would share a few of the ones he has done lately. The Santa and Reindeer appeared this morning - after our snow storm last night. (He usually works on them late at night when it is the most frozen)

This darling 'grinch' appeared last week, and the Canadian Mounty was there at the same time. His house is right across from our Stake Center - we pass it at least daily. He really has an amazing talent. We are glad he shares with all of us - and that we had snow to make it happen.

A pre-Christmas Party!!

After Grandma Day we had the parents come and the Crook family also and had yummy pizza and salad.

Then we played a 'dice' game where everyone ended up with lots of fun little toys/candies to give them a pre-Christmas treat.

After round '3' they had lots to look and and even did some trading. (The pringles were a big hit!!)

Grandma Day!!

I had a day with the older grandkids -- we played games, made cookies, and wrapped presents for their parents. (Sugar cookies dough sheets are great ... they each had one and got to cut out whatever they wanted!!)

Burning in the snow at the property

Can you see the hidden Mickey? We were burning limbs at the property and look what we found in the fire!! (It's a sign ... we need to go to Disneyland!!)

Another picture showing the flames.

Look - our trailer is nice and dry -- all cozy under the awning. We were anxious to see how it was handling the snow -- we are very pleased!!

Aren't we glad we have a 4-wheel drive!!! It was about a foot deep.

The December Birthday Celebration

I had this in with the rest of the pictures (or so I thought) ... and when it was all done ... it was gone. Sooo - it gets a spot all on its own. Here's to Dallin, Talmage, and Jodi ... our December birthday's!

Family Progressive Dinner - in SNOW!!

We started our day in Lehi - at Dave and Amy's (and Seth's), where we had yummy appetizers. We had to remind the kids that we were going to be eating everywhere we went ... so don't eat tons here!! It started snowing about 30 mins. before we left Springville -- and we had lots of it along the way. Luckily most people were driving SLOW - it was icy and snowy!! (about 6-7 inches)

Dave, Amy and Seth in front of their tree. Seth loved having so many people in his house. He re-decorated the bottom of the tree regularly, but they have the 'safe' ornaments there so he can!!

We had hot cider at Jason, Janna and Claire's. (Claire just woke up here) We went to Lehi, Pleasant Grove, Provo, Springville (2 places) and then ended in Spanish Fork. LOTS OF SNOW!!!

Dave let Seth walk into Diane's -- he was admiring the snow and her cute lighted snowman.

The adventure continues ...

At Mike and Jodi's we had a yummy salad. This is her village and candy house (I forgot to get a picture of her tree - sorry!)

At Janna and Jason's in Pleasant Grove we had hot spiced cider with homemade candy treats. The kids all loved getting to be together too. (Sydney, Abby and Brenna)

Eating the main dish at Harrison's -- we had been weathering the storm all afternoon -- but all arrived at each destination safely, thankfully!!

We're almost done!!

Our little adventure took almost 7 hours (the snow storm added lots of time - but it sure made it festive!!) I am by David and Michelle's tree. We had hot chocolate at their home in Spanish Fork, where we ended.

The David & Michelle Harrison's tree in Spanish Fork. (The kids were all playing downstairs)

Diane's tree in Springville... We had dessert and celebrated the December Birthday's here (Happy Birthday Talmage, Dallin and Jodi)

Main dish was at Harrison's -- meatballs in bar-b-que sauce with rice.

Snow --- FINALLY!!

Here's the official "Harrison snow gauge" -- this was taken after it quit snowing - so the official total was nearly 7". Can you see it sparkle? It was a beautiful - wet snow. It stuck to everything.

Our decorations - with snow on them.

The pine tree really does have lights on it -- they are under the snow. It will melt soon - but it is so pretty right now!

Catching up.....

We have SOOOO many leaves in our backyard we have started hiring the grandkids to help get them taken care of. Peyton really got into it ... using the show shovel!! Sydney rakes them up.

Dallin enjoyed the job of stomping them down -- he was the human 'smasher'.

Ruth Ann was using the leaf blower/mulcher -- and having fun 'sucking' up Peyton!

Janna, Debra and Amy -- at Girl's Night Out --- it was our bread making night!

Ruth Ann and Jodi - cleaning up.

Seth was a 'monkey' for Halloween and he came to visit.

Jodi was a great Cruella -- and McKay was a handsome Mickey Mouse!

Alisa came by on her way home from school - a darling cat - and Wendy was a very classy pirate.

David and Michelle - and their cute kids -- on their way to a ward party.

Us with Tanner (a Chick Magnet - in case you didn't know), McKay, and Talmage

See - we really did carve pumpkins!!

Deer hunting - Alisa, Ryan and Ruth Ann -- we stopped to look at what the beavers had done!

A close up of a tree that beavers had chopped down -- fascinating!!

This was the actual dam they built.

The mighty hunters -- Dallin came alone opening morning.

This is the deer -- a nice 2-point. Dennis shot it about 30 minutes after heading out on opening morning. (He shot it from the quad -- it doesn't get any easier) That was the only deer they saw for the 3 days they hunted. Sometimes it happens that way. Ryan and David will try again next year.