New Year's Eve party

Jonathan practicing Kempo on Eldon

Janeil and Sheryl preparing food

Sheryl suggested I add a few recipes that we tried. The casserole she made for brunch on new year's day was outstanding--potatoes, sausage, bacon, and scrambled eggs, all prepared and cooked ahead of time, mixed together with chopped onions, sweet peppers, cheese, and then just heated up before serving.

Candy:
Melt 1 pkg. white chocolate chips in the microwave.
Stir in 1 c. coconut and 1 c. chopped walnuts, form in balls and refrigerate.

Roquefort Grapes:
Make a mixture of 1 pkg. cream cheese and 1/2 c. blue cheese dressing.
Coat individual grapes with it and then roll in finely chopped nuts of your choice. Refrigerate.

Mini pizzas:
Split 2 pkgs. of Thomas' multi grain muffins.
Spoon Butternut squash pasta sauce (Costo's) on each one.
Layer chopped onions and peppers
Top with grated cheese
Bake until cheese melts

Resting after the food is prepared

Michael and Jason singing Kareoke

Jessica playing with Annabelle

Playing a game

Grandpa and Curtis playing chess

Jessica playing with the little kids

Jonathan, Stephanie and Gma working a puzzle

David and Erik

We toasted in the new year at midnight with a little sparkling cider. 2012 will hopefully bring some good jobs to those unemployed, and missions for Jason Dodge and Gpa and Gma. It may bring a move to New Hampshire for the Dodges if Jonathan accepts that job offer.

Our Christmas gifts

We got some marvelous gifts for Christmas. They seemed to have a theme. An inspiring and uplifting theme. Our thanks and love to all the thoughtful givers.

Eldon gave me the MoTab choir's latest tape. The highlight is Gounod's "O Divine Redeemer" and it ends with a stirring rendition of "I Believe in Christ."

Ken gave us a unique photo he took of the Nauvoo Temple. We are looking forward to serving there.

Sheryl gave us this beautiful puzzle.

The Andrei gave us this photo Mike took on Emily's wedding day. At first I thought it was an abstract watercolor. But it's a photo of the temple taken into the reflecting pool. It's an amazing photograph and beautifully framed.

Carl and Velvet gave us this well-written, easily understood book. I quote from it about the translation:

 "During the time Joseph had the plates, several people watched him translate. They said that rather than looking at the record itself, he looked into the interpreters or another seer stone, blocking out external light, such as by placing the interpreters in his hat and putting his face down into it. Joseph himself, however, refused to elaborate on a process he considered sacred. He said that 'it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.' He said simply that he translated 'by the gift and power of God.'

"In short, the translation came by revelation. Joseph could not read the language on the golden plates by himself. He needed God's help. With that help, he could translate, even if he wasn't looking directly at the record."

This agrees with what we learned on the trip. Now I wish he'd write a book on how we got the Pearl of Great Price.

Gail gave me this beautiful volume to ponder over.

Christmas in Utah

We flew on Southwest, arriving on Dec. 21st, Grace's 9th birthday!

The happy birthday girl.

We spent most of our time with the girls, as Carl was working evenings. He likes his job and was glad of the overtime.

Harold seemed to like Grandpa.

Friday morning we went to brunch at Aunt Gail's. Good time for a family portrait.

And of course, the obligatory picture of the three sisters.

Gail really put on a spread--baked oatmeal and ham.

She used her best china.

There was a comparison of the latest I-phones.

Making a gingerbread house which later capsized in an earthquake.

Singing Christmas songs.

All ready for Santa to come.

The person who makes it all happen!

Christmas morning in new dresses all ready for church.

Showing off their favorite gifts--I-pods (which kept them well behaved in Church).

Velvet has adopted a stray cat they named Bella who likes to play with it's shadow.

No end of entertainment.

On Christmas evening there was a party. Lots of good food and a gift exchange. Carl is blessed in having a loving set of in-laws. Jim and Laura Cobb are moving to Hillsboro, Oregon for his work. Ashlin and Jesse with their new baby, Ezra, live just a mile away.

A touch of the Tropics

I came home from Relief Society visits to find we had been flocked by the CV cheerleaders.  Our front yard looked pretty silly.

We went to the dance (and singing) recital of Sydney and Maia. They were having a great time. It had a Hawaian theme.  Here are some scenes from it:

Maia and her friend Hannah sang a song they made up in Hawaii.

The Hawaian "Twelve Days of Christmas" was clever

With their teacher, Miss Heidi (who is also the Primary president)

A mother and son Christmas duet

Nativity Festival

Brenda brought her girls down to see the Nativity Festival. The hosts were in costume.

Ken and his girls joined us. There was a puppet show.

Brenda was the photographer. This was her favorite made of rolled up newspaper.

The theme was the Streets of Bethlehem.

Then we all went to the house for bean soup and blackberry cobbler.

On Sunday and Monday I played background music for an hour. On Monday night they had a Messiah sing-in. We all had copies of the music and sang along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! It was inspiring. I'm sure that will become part of the tradition. A good way to usher in the Christmas season.

Their Highnesses

We were invited to a feast by the Shakespeare class. It was a very nice feast.

High Queen Robin

Rachel's friend made their dresses

Little sister fit right in with the court

Their teacher, Deon Merten

Deon crowning Queen Rachel