End of Year and New Year

Tessa made such neat projects in her art class and learned many principles of art.  We enjoyed her end of semester show.

Michael and Stetson demonstrating their karate techniques at the end of the semester.

I'm not sure what this picture of Leisel is about, but it shows some of the snowflakes the kids created.  Without snow on the lawn throughout most of the winter, we hung up lots in the windows instead.  These 6 sided ones were inspired by a study about the life of Snowflake Bentley.  

Jordan dug out the gym shorts from the back of his drawer and went out in the cold to Junior Jazz practices and games throughout December and January.  He also got to go downtown to a Jazz game with Jared and Michael.  Jordan's always a great part of his team and he enjoys it too!

We made a quick trip to the cabin in January to enjoy the winter wonderland.  

The kids put on a theatrical show in the basement as well.

 
This is Tessa after one of the last snowstorms of the winter.  We stopped by Flat Iron Park to get a few turns sledding down the hill.  

The Jordan abominable snowman

Basement

This is Jared's office last summer.  Dad helped finish the framing.  One wall needed additional studs and he built a closet.  We had to plan ahead for the future bathroom that would adjoin this room.  Jared did the electrical and duct work.  Then Grandpa put in sheetrock.  Grandma claimed her hours of work mudding was a birthday present for me.  We painted, Jared put in some carpet, and we moved in!  

It was such a wonderful moment to move Jared's office from the upstairs bedroom to the basement cave.  It gave us separate room for homeschooling and a little better sound barrier.  

Some of the photos from last year's post, "Tessa's photography" show Grandpa at work.  

Then Grandpa and Grandma came back for more!  They said they were ready to help with the basement family room.  These photos are from January 1, 2018.  Grandpa had previously finished the framing to the bathroom wall that is behind him in the photo.   He had also put in the extra studs in the outside walls and put up sheetrock.  Grandpa and Grandma hadn't even waited for the busy holiday season to pass, but somehow managed to fit in all their work.  It was an amazing Christmas present.  We never could have jumped into this project without them!

Grandpa even added custom fitted storage shelves under the stairs where we had always stacked the case lot cans.  He put a rolling dolly at the back of this closet where buckets of grain could be accessed but put out of the way.  It's great to be able to use every inch of available space for our storage.  Grandpa also made room for water storage shelves in the furnace room.  Somehow he would come over for a few hours and finish tasks that we didn't think could be done.

Jared was able to put in lots of hours too doing electrical and duct work and then finishing work as well for paint, carpet and trim.  Yea!! 

It is so nice to have this space now.  We use it so much!  

One of the things I love about being in the basement is our early Christmas present from Grandpa.  He shared a few of his paintings that he did this year.  And they are just right for our space.  You can see the boat painting in the photo of Jared's finished study.  And we have a scene with a coopers hawk and red rock butte in the main basement room.  

We are so grateful for Grandpa and Grandma's skills and touch to help make our home so nice!

Christmas Times

We heard Christmas music for months before the holiday season began while the kids practiced their numbers for band and choir.   

Our primary put together a nativity scene with angels and Bethlehem children for our songs at the ward Christmas party.  This is my awkward picture from backstage, but it was really neat!

Then Santa visited the party and shared his testimony about Christ's birth.

Jonathan is finally big enough to think that Santa isn't so bad, especially if you get a treat for visiting him.  

Never too old for a candy cane and picture of Christ as a gift from Santa.

Jonathan's favorite book -- a cute cookbook with fun pictures

Visiting with the Marvin Hull Party Santa Claus

Decorating Rice Krispie houses

Christmas music with Jan and Gordan

Michael played in a Christmas program at a rest home, with his favorite festive hat.

Visiting the lights after a concert downtown with Jared.

Abravanel Hall for the Millennial Choir and Orchestra concert.  Jared loved it!!

Jared's first performance since starting piano for the Keller family party.  

Derek Love

Soup!  Love it when Jonathan is a good eater at events!  

Getting together with Fisher!  Candy brought a fun Christmas Tree treat to decorate.

Jonathan spotted a great puppy toy at Target during a Christmas shopping trip.  I was glad he found something wonderful because the main gift that I ordered for him was out of stock and didn't arrive until February before his birthday. 
The thing I didn't realize is that Jonathan is too old now to forget things as exciting as a new toy.  It worked last year!  The puppy turned into an early and much loved Christmas present.

One of our few December snow days!  It was a mild winter!

"puppy cereal" Who knew that cereal and dog food looked so similar!

With Christmas Eve on a Sunday we got to wake up and go to church with Grandma and Grandpa.  After the sacrament service we had time to exchange gifts with Grandma and Grandpa.  We enjoyed the nice morning in Garland.  Having Christmas Eve on Sunday was lovely.   

Jonathan got a little barn set with two colts and a coral from Grandma and Grandpa.  --his other favorite animal and cousin Livi's too!

Family arrived for a Christmas Eve meal together and then we dressed up warm and piled in a trailer to go carolling!

After singing in the neighborhood, we went to the two Tremonton rest homes and performed for the residents.

We had a few songs from the kids and one from Susie and piano numbers from Michael and Jared. 

This rest home is in the old hospital where I delivered Michael and Jordan and it was a familiar place for my dad when he practiced in Tremonton.

We travelled home Christmas Eve night and let the kids wake up to Christmas morning at home.  

After a Christmas Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house, Jonathan wanted to join in with the nativity scene.  

Festive numbers include a rendition of Rudolph from the boys. 
It was a fun and lovely Christmas!