Click here to receive email updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Barnwood Christmas

This year's 'homemade' Christmas became 'barnmade'. 
The old barn at the ranch has been a project lately.  The hundred year old roof was sagging and caving in.  It needed to be replaced.  


The workers were pleased to remove and replace the roof.  Others were eager to have some other projects tackled.  Tina had the bathroom redone.

There was still a stack of leftover barn wood.  I knew that Rob was claiming most of it for a project at his house so I piped up.  I would like some please.  Most of it was too rough for use indoors as wall, or shelves.. or wainscotting but I had an idea.  


I simply wanted the nativity barn wood to be used to create nativities.  Now each home has a piece of the nativity barn to remind them of the spirit of the nativity year round.  

Feeding Ground Fun

Elk Feeding..


Sam the guide and feeder, set down the rules.  
Sam was hilarious

1.  Don't fall off the sled
2.  Don't lose any strings
3.  Don't break the bales
4.  Don't lose any points

(but wait... points?)  How do you get points.  Sam distributes the points...  arbitrarily.
He giveth and he taketh away.


Beautiful sights



Gettin' the job done


After feeding, it's time to enjoy the long drive back... 

in style! 




After a few miles, it's time to close the gate to the feeding grounds.... 
If you take too long... the ride  may begin to pull away.. then...



The video stopped just before Duncan hit a patch of ice and met the ground in a sudden gust of gravity.  He didn't run quite so much after that... but he did get back in the sled.  He also took a little ribbing from the older, cruder set!

Such a lot of fuss

Christmas bells, Ice rinks, Friends visiting and goodies couldn't top this Christmas surprise.

It was 'given', jointly to Caleb and Elowen.  However neither of them took it home with them.  Neither of them installed it... but ...

both of them were ecstatic to receive it and to use it while they were here!


It was the most sought after installation after Christmas.  
Patrick wasted no time and read the instructions and went straight to work...


... installing the lock on the bathroom door. 

Dec. 26, 2019

Week 9 -- Feliz Navidad

This week has been crazy.
Christmas as a missionary is a little strange all are days are focused on Christ so when there is a day dedicated to him it's not much different then any other day. But it was fun to spend time with members and party with my zone. 
As for the rest of the week... Where do I start the last three days of the week (not including Sunday) I had blitz's in three different places all day we went to so many houses looking for people to teach and we found a lot mainly for the English sisters but every one matters. It has been an exhausting week it has been really hard to come home from a long day of blitzing and then stay up and help my companion with his district leader duties but it has been fun.
I can't talk about the people I am teaching specifically but they are making great progress and we have one on date to be baptized. 
Speaking of baptism the ASL elders had one this week and we attended. It was such a spiritual experience to seen some one get baptized it always is and it is really cool to watch the ceremony in ASL we had are zone leader translate for us.

Élder Noble


Just a funny trick of the light... a flashlight only... but perhaps the force is stong in this one.


A Christmas gathering



Some p-day silliness on Christmas day.



We had a fun visit on Christmas day.  He called a few times through out the day.  We were able to put on a fun show of ringing our bells for him and his companion.  We even took him out on the sleds for a quick romp in the snow.  







Christmas Day

Christmas Bells...

...were ringing.  This was a hit Christmas morning.  We kept it a fairly sensible and simple Christmas.  We had decided on one fairly large family gift... I had had a few ideas but none that truly included everyone... Then while up late one night I stumbled across Merry Bells..  I was intrigued.  I watched a few videos and hmmed and hawed... I finally caved and made the purchase at over 50% off.  I had almost forgotten about them until the package arrived.  
Who knew they would take over Christmas!  They were played almost exclusively from dawn to dusk and even later... and they were played almost daily for the next two weeks.  


They became proficient in next to no time!

They mastered all the songs in single note and moved on to harmonized ringing!
Then they decided to increase the difficulty... the sped up the songs!

Ring a ling .. ding dong..


Partway through the day the Walkers arrived to join our festivities and Whittaker had requested we play a game.  A ridiculous hat wearing, oven mitt wearing, fork wielding, unwrap a chocolate bar that has been wrapped 50 times kind of game.

While all of this was going on, some of us worked on the 1000 piece nativity puzzle and enjoyed a video chat with Miles.  We even paused the game and played some bells for him and his companion.


No holiday is exempt from chores... especially when chores mean keeping us warm!

The exhausted but happy sledders had used up every bit of daylight careening around on the sleds and finally called it a night.  The sled made one last trip across the yard filled with firewood.


After a long winters day of sledding and ringing bells, a warm winter's evening of fun and games was enjoyed.  It had been a day of fun and lots of nibbling on goodies and treats.  We had left over soup from the Ranch nativity and all the extra cookies plus martinelli's juice.  Walkers, Caleb and the girls and of course us, filled our little house with fun all day.



Bell ringing really happened all day long and included all.

Christmas Angels

Christmas Eve has become the highlight of the season... as it should be.

It was made even more special this year because of our special guests.  Caleb and Esther and Elowen arrived on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.  We were eager for their arrival and to begin enjoyng their visit.

We began with the bonfire and the Nativity at the ranch.


This year 230 people enjoyed the camaraderie and the unseasonable winter warmth.  


Shepherds, Angels, townsfolk, census takers, wise men and the holy family.  
The warbling tones of the violin streaming Silent Night, Holy Night
Mary singing a lullaby to her newborn infant.
Testimonies born of a Saviour born to redeem the world.


Afterwards... a bit of silliness... Cookies and cocoa and some clandestine rearranging of ornaments on the Christmas tree.



Then back to the main house to enjoy soups and visits... with some amazing masseuses.


We tried to get a photo of the lanterns that lined the driveway from the bonfire to the barn.

A spectacular first evening of a visit!
Dec. 24, 2019

The Wonders of the Season


Lights
Snowflakes


Live Nativity Animals
Hot Cocoa and Cookies


Olives eaten off your fingers is a delight...
A personal can of olives from your Christmas stocking shared with others off your fingers is gross bliss!


Reconnecting with Cousins


Frigid outdoor adventures with speed!


Receiving a photo from the distant son. 


Slowing the pace to allow nature to seep into our souls.


Christmas Morning Mayhem


Making new friends

Christmas Summary


There were kitties!!


The "Oh, why did they wake up at 4:20am" Christmas morning excitement.


There was the later in the day visits from Jim and Channa and crew with more fun, gifts and food.


There was the traditional dancing with the bird.


AND
There was this guy on the screen for an hour!!! 





and then we all slept for the 3 straight days because we all had the flu.... except Sarah who just kept making us tea for our aches.

12 Days of Christmas

For the second week of December....  I forgot to take photos... most of the time.


Sarah got a job.  She works just down the street at the school... cleaning!


Patrick's Sterling Singers performance.  Sarah had her first training for work and couldn't go.  I had to stay with Whittaker and Emerson.  So the Bishop took Miles and Duncan so they could watch the performance.  Then they went for ice cream.


Christmas cookies with the Scouts.  We were learning about primary and secondary colours.  What better way than with balls of different colours of cookie dough.   Although it looked like play dough and as leaders we were tempted to snitch the dough but the colour made us leery.  The swirly dough looked pretty cool in the end.


Relief Society Dinner.  This evening was for Caleb... and all the other missionaries from our ward.  We enjoyed a meal and shared stories of the missionaries.  The ward all put together packages for each of them.  What a great feeling of sweet kindness and such generosity, from our friends and neighbours.


Baby Sybil Avery  Rose was born to Bailey on 12-12 at 12:21.  My children's official relationship is 1st cousin once removed.  BUT.. I am sweet Sybil's great-grand auntie!


Ward Christmas breakfast and play.  Sarah and James Peck were the stage crew for Sister Moulton.  Duncan was a member of the main cast family and played a very spoiled and materialistic boy.  (So didn't fit.  He's my boy literally asking for socks and a nailbrush for Christmas.)  Cooper was a singer in the choir.  The play was cute and a lot of fun, to participate in and to watch.  They did a cute version of the 12 days of Christmas about service to others.


Duncan had Family Home Evening this week and he taught us about the meaning behind the song, 12 Days of Christmas.  It was fun to learn.

On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me (Our Heavenly Father) a partridge in a pear tree (The Savior, and his atonement)

On the 2nd day, 2 turtle doves (2 books of Scripture)

On the 3rd day, 3 french hens (3 wise men and gifts)

On the 4th day, 4 calling birds (4 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John who testify of Christs life and teachings)

On the 5th day, 5 golden rings (The Torah or the 1st 5 books of the Old Testament, regarded as more valuable than gold)

On the 6th day, 6 geese a laying (6 days to create the earth)

On the 7th day, 7 swans a swimming (7 gifts of the spirit mentioned in Romans 12; Prophecy, Ministering/Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Charity, Leadership, Mercy... Although it could just as easily be the gifts of Prophecy, tongues, wisdom and knowledge, testimony, faith, miracles and healing)

On the 8th day, 8 maids a milking (The 8 Beattitudes; 
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst afterrighteousness: for they shall be filled.
 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called thechildren of God.
 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.)
On the 9th day, 9 ladies dancing, (9 fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law".)

On the 10th day, 10 lords a leaping (The 10 commandments, Exodus 20:3-17;
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of thefathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in itthou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thystranger that is within thy gates:
 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lordblessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
 12 ¶Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be longupon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
 13 Thou shalt not kill.
 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
 15 Thou shalt not steal.
 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.)
On the 11th day, 11 pipers piping (The 11 apostles who remained faithful to Christ)

On the 12th day, 12 drummers drumming (12 Latter day apostles who still testify of Christ/ originally it was the 12 points of the Apostles Creed)

In connection with him, we hung our new ornament on the Christmas tree.  They were from the song... Snow globes with a depiction of one of the 12 days of Christmas.

Egg Nog, aka Christmas milk, and other general lounging about... I often find this scene..... (I'd like to say they're watching Christmas movies or uplifting things but generally it's just Curious George.)

First Week of December

 By request from Caleb last week.... He said, "Are you going to do that countdown to Christmas again?  It was fun."

Count down... count down.... what was he referring to!??

OH... you mean two years ago when all I did was blog about our month of December... every day because there were soo many things to do....

Well... this year is different... WAY different.  We have hardly anywhere to go.  (still home bound so Whittaker won't get sick)  Anything to do! (Barely involved in anything currently)  hmmm... how to still create a countdown....

So here's our first week of December in review.


With a complete lack of snow... The boys made reindeer!


We tested a few hot cocoa recipes.
(Emerson does not normally have his in the bath but just as the hot cocoa was ready he had an accident and wouldn't leave his cocoa.  It's really a win/win... any further mess, instantly cleaned up)
Cooper...ever the photo bomber!


MATH....
The bane of our existence.  Every spare waking... and in Miles case sometimes half asleep, is spent with Daddy doing math.  Even via skype when he is out of town.  Finals are in just 10 days... And a 2 week break has never been so desired!  (by everyone!)


We made some props for the upcoming Ward Christmas Breakfast Play.  This is the fire, we already made a giant fireplace and mantle but we're not storing them.  The fire is difficult enough to store.. We've already had to make paper marshmallows with sticks for the little boys to roast!


After two weeks of sponge bathing, Whittaker had a much anticipated and NEEDED bath.  His ear was well covered and protected.  Emerson only has a sympathy ear bandage.


Miles was ecstatic to receive the matching top to his favourite pants from Paige!


And to end the week properly, we all nestled in to reverently watch the LDS First Presidency Christmas Devotional on TV.  Perhaps the eggnog (or as Whittaker calls it Christmas milk) was not the best choice to instill reverence.

(Not photographed.  The annual OA party Miles attended, the District Christmas Auction (I spent a lot of time preparing my donations), and Sarah's x-rays to prepare for her wisdom teeth extraction.)

That's our first week.  Next week doesn't have nearly as much excitement on the schedule!!