Christmas fun

This year was so great in that we had the whole family in town. That hasn't happened for years and years. So, it was a busy, happy, fun time. We did the Nativity but we had so many children that we didn't have parts for everyone. Many of the older boys and the babies were happy to sit it out
The angels
 The wise girls
Mary, Joseph and the donkey

Shepherds
The whole cast--complete with Trey & Zack as the sheep




Our 3 little wise guys:


Family pictures under the tree
 Reed & Allyson
Tom & Kristy
Christie & Darren
Trav & Allison (where's "Waldo-John")
Jer & Liz
Kim & Daniel
John & Laura
It is a wonderful memory now. We loved having everyone here!

Highlights

Just a few more highlights of 2011.
Kristy sent me this picture of Isaac and TJ doing an early morning baptism for the dead excursion. I love this
We got to tend while Kim & Daniel took a couple of  days for their anniversary. Allyson took the baby and we had the other four. It was fun  to have them here. I took them to the water feature in Highland for one day but James was bored and Kylie spent her time trying to help him have fun
but Tyler and Ben had a great time.
To make up for this lack of real water for these swimmers, grandpa and I took them to the pool the next day where they all had fun.
Justyn is following in his grandpa's footsteps and is taking a college credit class this year in home construction. They are building a house--top to bottom--and  Justyn loves it.
They are doing the drywall  now. He, like grandpa, isn't particularly fond of the plumbing part. This experience will be a great benefit to him we think.
I took our two oldest granddaughters to experience one of my loves--that of musical theater. Jenna and Lucy and I went to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I thought that would be one that would keep their interest and it did.
We had a great time. Jenna and Lucy kept laughing all the way home about different parts. They said "Grandma, this is the  best play I have ever been too!" It was so fun
We had a great trip to Yuma for Tyler's baptism. One of things we discovered there was how much Averie is a natural teacher.
She loved teaching Ben and he loved it  too. After we got to go to Fred and Megan's pool and had fun in the Yuma sun.

 There were other highlights, like band concerts, but alas, Yuma was where I left the camera. Looking forward to 2012