It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas.....

I love the preparations for Christmas.  The gift buying and making, the music, the parties and the time to reflect on the Savior and what a blessing to know that He did come to this Earth as a baby and live to give   us the opportunity to repent and live as families with Him again.  

Our Ward Christmas program was so good this year.  They did the Christmas story and involved all of the  young women as Angels.  Erin told me a few days before the program that she needed a horn so that she could be an Angel for the program. She said, "Cause I am already an Angel."  Is that not the truth....we are so blessed to have our very own "Erin Angel."  

We got a beautiful 5 inch snow storm 4 days before Christmas so we had a white one.  It was so pretty.  Nothing gets you in the spirit more than those big white fluffy flakes.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

 There is our "Erin Angel".

 I love our ward girls....they are the cutest!

FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!

It's the season of miracles.....and we just witnessed one.  We finally got everyone together for an official family photo!  We are so blessed with the best family ever.  I am so grateful for each one of them.  Josh said it perfectly the other, "the best part of Christmas is having all our family together."  That is the best part for me.....I am so excited to be together for Christmas!  FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!

 Everyone together and smiling....a true miracle.

 The best kids in the world....I love them so much!

 And here comes the icing on the cake....Kira and Kalli....beautiful granddaughters.

 Like mother, like daughter....Kira and Kirstin....beauitful!

 Cutest couple ever....Whitney and Griffin.

 Where's the mistletoe?????

Love this cute family.....Caitlin, Ryan and Kalli.....

 This picture shows Austin's personality perfectly!

 Beautiful girl.....Erin.

 The cabooses....the two amigos.....the best saved for last......Jordan and Josh.

All because two people fell in love.....we love each one so so much....and are so so blessed!

Christmas Spirit

Christmas always brings a feeling of love.  It is a wonderful thing when your children internalizes the importance of serving and loving others.  It would be nice as parents to be able to take the credit for teaching our children to be that way......but sometimes, and I think most times, they just come programed that way.  Let me explain....

Last night Brother Bell, a high councilor in our stake and assigned to our ward, called and said that he just wanted to share an experience with us.  He said that on Sunday as he was in our Sacrament meeting on the stand, Jordan passed the Sacrament to him.   He said that he had a pretty bad cut on his hand.  When Sacrament Meeting was over, Jordan came up to him and without saying a word, gave him a band aid and pointed to Brother Bell's cut.  Brother Bell expressed the love and compassion he felt as Jordan offered the band aid to him.  He also said, "How many 12-13 year old boys would see that and take the initiative to go get a band aid and give it to someone who needed it."

That's our Jordan.....in fact, we are blessed with 7 children that are kind hearted.....we are so grateful.

Our Little Georgia Peach....Miss Kalli

Miss Kalli has become a Georgia Peach and we are sad! Ryan, Caitlin and Kalli moved to Atlanta, Georgia this week.  Ryan got a job with AT&T.  He will be in Atlanta training for 5 months and then they will move to a more permanent location for his job.  We are praying that it is closer to Idaho.

It was hard telling them goodbye.  We have been blessed to have them in Pocatello the past 2 1/2 years.  They come over to do their laundry, have Sunday dinner and just to hang out with us.  Caitlin has been my errand buddy.  We are excited for the opportunity for Ryan and that he has such a good job opportunity when it is so hard to get a job right now.  And how we will miss Miss Kalli!  We are so grateful for Skyp and local cell phones!

Caitlin left on Friday and I flew out Saturday to help them move in.  It has been fun to be here and see where they are living.  It is a beautiful city.  They have a nice apartment and their ward was really welcoming yesterday.  There were quite a few young couples in it. 

Nikki Bybee lives about 45 minutes from here.  Vicki, her mom, and her aunt, Tammy, were here visiting Nikki this weekend.  So they invited us to dinner on Sunday.  It was fun to be with them.  We have been blessed with such wonderful friends.

Ryan's first day of work was today.  He came home so happy.  He loves it! And he came home with the best news.....they get to come home for Christmas!  He gets from the 23rd to the 2nd off.  I was worried that there wouldn't be any flights on our miles this late.  But a tender mercy from Heavenly Father happened....there was one flight out and one flight back that fit perfectly!  All our family will be together for Christmas.....the best present I could ever ask for!

 I love my Kalli girl...

 It is so hard to say goodbye.....

 The girls....Kira, Kirstin, Caitlin, Me and Kalli.

 One of the first things they put up....the Christmas Tree.

 This is how happy Ryan was when he came home from work.

 Kalli is teething...the cold plate felt so good!

 Kalli's first ride on her bike.....she is as happy as her daddy.

So fun to be with the Bybee's......Vicki, Caitlin, Kalli, Dana, Nikki, Tammy and Ryan.

RAM POWER 2011

Who said, "All good things must come to an end"? That's how I feel right now.  We have had a lot of fun watching Griff and Aust play high school football. Austin is our last high school player.  The football banquet

is always reality that it has come to an end.  Austin had so many good friends on the team.  We enjoyed everyone of them.  Chess Carbol came to quite a few Utah games with us and he is such a good friend to Aust. 

The coaches each talked about the players that they were responsible for. Travis Bell was Austin's position coach.  He is such a good man.  He is a member of the church will great values and such a kind heart....just like Austin.  He said, when he was introducing Austin, "Austin if your parents wouldn't have adopted you, I would have."  "I love you!"  He said that Austin was a lot of fun.  Chris Frost, the defensive coordinator said that Austin reminded them everyday in practice that football was suppose to be fun.  What a great kid! We are so grateful for his kind heart, his happy nature and his obedient spirit.

 Austin's buddies.....Taison Manu, Chess Carbol, and Vinny Gwinn....the DB brothers....

 I think Austin is going to cry!

Austin loved Coach Bell and Coach Bell loved Austin!