Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas morning lineup

 Everyone checking out their stockings, except for James who is checking out his rifle.

Jared and Molly are over in the corner where Jared is trying to explain why Santa brought her a bicycle instead of a blue dress and blue shoes.

 I got ahead of myself here a little.  The first thing we did before lining up or looking at stockings was read Luke 2 together and have family prayer.  Because Grampa James has laringitis, Jared read Luke 2. 

Molly checking out her stocking.

 

Addy & Rowan loved their Hogwarts Lego set.

 

Trina and Addy putting Hogwarts together.

 Christmas chaos

 Rowan using his new whiteboard

Darrel with one of his new toys.  

Addy is getting ready to try and make a basket.

Molly and Ruby both love to write.

 Molly and Ruby both got Playmobile

ferris wheels.  Trina put Ruby's together

and Jared put Molly's together.

Ferris Wheel fun.

I am not sure what Lola is looking at but it is certainly

holding her interest.  That's Ruby's blanket she is laying on.

 We actually got some snow.  Jared and I called it a Christmas miracle.

 More fun.

I guess the reason I don't have any pictures of Anna or James is because they were off somewhere using their new ipad minis.

Also, Addy got a new iphone 6 and so did Sheri and Trina.

Trina's is an iphone plus.

 Still looking for presents

Emmy kickboxing

 This baby makes everyone happy!

 Molly in her new blue nightgown with a Nerf 

gun in her hand.  The kids had more Nerf gun 

wars today.

 Anna and James 

 The packages are taking over the room.

 

For dinner we had ham, rolls, cranberry celebration, green beans, yams, scalloped potatoes, stuffing and chocolate cake.

Jared got a blu-ray movie, "Guardians of the Galaxy" and since we don't have a blu-ray player he and Darrel decided to drive into Walmart and get one.  I told them I didn't think it was open but Jared said he checked online and it was.  They drove all the way into Show Low and Walmart was closed.  They did a little shopping at CVS but no blu-ray player.  

It was a very nice Christmas day but by the end of it I was feeling pretty miserable.  Not only is my arthritis bothering me, but I think I am getting bronchitis.

 

 

 

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

"My family knows that just before Christmas I will read again my Christmas treasury of books and ponder the wondrous words of the authors.  First will be the Gospel of Luke, even the Christmas story.  This will be followed by a reading of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens and, lastly, rereading The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyke."
-Thomas S. Monson

I made french toast for breakfast and afterwards I went back to bed because I wasn't feeling well.  

The kids had a great time playing with the Nerf guns.  They had a war upstairs.  Once James Hayden was in "prison", the closet and was waiting to be freed.  In the meantime the kids quit playing and didn't tell him so he sat in the closet another 15 minutes before he realized the game was over.

Jared brought his computer and we found some more family names to do temple work.  He also found some names for the Trezise's.

 Jared offered to take his kids to a movie because it is a Wallen family tradition but none of them wanted to go.  He and Trina did take them up to the pit and the swing.  The weather was sunny and quite warm.  Darrel was at work until 6.  

In the valley Sheri took her kids and a few extras on her traditional Christmas Eve hike up A mountain.  Trina and her kids usually go to but this year she had to settle for the pit.

 Evan doing a little "deep thinking" near

the top of the mountain.

Trina made chicken taquitos for dinner.  They were delicious!

We had a little program this evening with the kids, a special F.H.E. First Rowan played "Deck the Halls" on the piano.  Next Addy and Emmy played "Silent Night."  Addy was on the guitar and Emmy on the piano.  Addy played another song on the guitar and James H. played "Carol of the Bells" on the piano.  Molly & Ruby sang "Let It Go."  I told the story, "Trouble at the Inn."  

The kids all got to open their pajamas from their parents and their blankets from us.  It was a fun Christmas Eve.

 Rowan playing "Deck the Halls"

Emmy and Addy playing "Silent Night"

Addy looks so serious.

James playing "Carol of the Bells"

It was awesome!

Love those blue eyes!

Molly is quite the performer.  Ruby was a little

shy and therefore a little silly.

These two cuties love each other!

 Molly showing off her bandaged chin.

These two love each other too!

They slept together in the "loft".

Is Trina taking a selfie with her new iphone6 plus?

A picture of Anna with her new blanket,

and Rowan in his new pajamas.

Lola waving goodnight to everyone.

 

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Salt Lake temple in winter.

Laura came by the house today to drop off a gift and we had a short visit.  We talked about her health.  She has been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and is feeling the effects.  She is on oxygen at night and becomes winded if she exerts herself too much or does any stair climbing.  The doctors want to do a biopsy probably sometime in January.  If she does have pulmonary fibrosis the estimated life expectancy is three years.  Laura has a positive attitude and is determined that she is going to live because she has so much to live for. I must say I was taken aback.  I can't imagine losing Laura.  That would be devastating to so many people.  She is so well-loved and such a dear, dear friend and sister. We will do all we can to keep her here.  

I made a short visit to Cathi's house to deliver their Christmas present, a calender featuring pictures from the life of the Savior.  I gave Laura the same calender.  Colton was there and I talked with him, but he really doesn't remember me.  Terry, Brian, and Collin were in the backyard putting up a "fort" and swing for Collin who is three years old now.  

When James got home from the job we went to his mom's to visit with her and Dawn and take them their Christmas presents.  Ours seemed so meager when compared with what we received from them.  We gave Lois the movie "The 100 Foot Journey" and Dawn a calender.  Dawn gave us several boxes of steaks, etc. from Omaha Steaks and of course Lois had several beautifully wrapped gifts for each of us.  We had a delicious tamale pie for lunch.  

James went back to the job at the airport and I drove to P.F. Chang's to meet with Dennis, Denise, and Rachel.  I sat and visited with them while they ate.  They came down to look for a dress for Rachel for her wedding which is scheduled for June 13th.  After they were finished eating we walked out to Denise's car and she handed me a box of her delicious rice krispy cookies for our family.  I gave them a calender and one for them to give to Harold & Vickie.

Back at the house it was time to pack up and head for Vernon.  James drove his rental and I drove Lexy.  I went the Payson way.  I was so tired I had to stop two times to take short naps.  I stopped in Payson and got a grill burger at DQ.  It was delicious.  I also had to stop and buy some aspirin because I was in so much pain!

When I got to the cabin Trina and her kids were there waiting for Jared and his kids to arrive.  Darrel was at work.  Trina helped me carry my stuff in.  James arrived shortly after I did. 

Jared and his kids arrived around 10pm.  It was a time of great excitement especially for Molly and Ruby, and Emmy and Addy.

Lola was in great demand.

  Molly and Lola

 Lola loves Anna!

 Emmy and Lola

 James Hayden is a handsome guy!

Jared with his baby and Trina with hers.

Trina also has a new iphone 6plus!

We are so excited to have Christmas here at our home in the mountains with our boys and their families.  James built a fire in our new stove and it and the lighted tree proved a cozy setting for our visit this evening.

Monday, December 22, 2014

"Christmas is what we make of it.  Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration.  If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas."

-President Thomas S. Monson

We left at 7:38 this morning for the valley.  Our car looked like this:

 James, putting one last item in the car. 

James dropped me off at the house and then took the rental car to the job so I could unload the car.  

Thank goodness for Adam.  He finished wrapping my gifts for me so I could get my shopping done.  I went to both Sam's Club and Costco.  Costco was insane!  I got food for tonight and food for our Christmas dinner.

 Saturday Michael's friends took him to Tucson for his birthday.

The hiked Picachio Peak.  Here is Michael at the top.

Tonight we had our annual Lambson family Christmas party and white elephant gift exchange game.  For food we had appetizer's and desserts.  Stacy sang "Christmas at Our House" and I talked about remembering what Christmas is for  Joe and Michael sang and Joe played the guitar.  Stacy read the story "Trouble at the Inn."

Here are some pictures:

 Brian opened the first gift.  It was the Taylor Lautner poster that has been passed around for years.  Notice Ben's grin in the background.  I think he may have had the poster last year.

I think that is Seth bending over but I'm not sure if he's picking a present or putting a piece in Stacy's puzzle.

Evan opened a soft and cozy blanket, but he didn't get to keep it.  Joe got to choose last and Amanda wanted the blanket so he got it for her.  Funny, because Kim brought the blanket and she chould have just given it to Amanda.

 Evan held on to the blanket for awhile.

Connor, Michael's friend, got the most awesome monkey hat.  This gift definitely went to the right person!

 Trying on the new hat.

 Looks good!

Looks like Evan got a new gift and I'm not sure what 

Sheri is looking at.

 Sheri made sure her boys, Evan and Max, knew they couldn't whine or complain about the gift they got.

Seth trying to explain to Alexis what

her gift is.  Wish I would have written it down.

Joe and Amanda

You can't see him but those are Jared Ammon's hands

opening up the Quelf game that I brought.  He ended up

taking it home.  I am pretty sure Catherine ended up with the

box of weird food and miscellaneous items that Kaitlin brought.

Max opened the gun that Connor brought, but notice how Joshua

is eyeing it.  Joshua ends up with the gun, but Max was totally a good sport about it.  He ended up with the cat food Alex brought.

Adam and Kaitlin have been friends

for over 8 years.  

  Ben looks sad.  Maybe he misses the

Taylor Lautner poster.

 Stacy discussing something with Michael while

Sheri and Alexis look on.

 Alex and Seth discussing something.

Joseph in deep thought and striking a pose.

Not sure who came up with his outfit.

This is the gift that I came home with, Nemo!

I love it because Alexis made it in her ceramic class.

He looks so cute sitting on the edge of my bathtub.

James didn't play the game.  He gave his gift, a DVD containing all four of the Superman movies to Catherine who didn't bring a gift so

she could play.

Kim brought some of the best gifts, including movie tickets and a $10 Target gift card and of course the snuggly blanket Amanda went home with.