Time Flies

 This week seemed to go by in a flash!  It was delightful to have Miranda and Dan and family and Jonathan and Kristy here for the week!  We tried to do something special with the children each day.  Sunday we made gingerbread houses.

Monday we had a girls’ out to lunch and a guys’ out to lunch.  Tom, Jonathan, Dan, David and Zachary went to eat Mexican food.  Miranda, Kristy, the girls and I (and baby Ethan) went to a Chinese buffet.  They had a great time and we all had tasty food.

Monday night Jonathan and Kristy did a Bethlehem night dinner. 

  We laid out blankets and sat on the floor in costumes and ate traditional foods Joseph and Mary might have eaten-- Hummus, pita bread, olives, grapes, cheese, grape juice, and such.  It was delicious. We all ate with our hands and without plates.  We did not, however, recline as they likely did.  After, we acted out the Christmas story and Dan sang a song.  It was cute.  Camden sang along with him, one phrase behind.

Tuesday was Christmas. Everything went surprisingly smoothly.  Lots of presents, lots of happy kids.  Good turkey and such for dinner and a relaxing evening.  I think everyone was pleased with what they got.  I gave away some of the pottery I’d made and people seemed pleased with it.

Wednesday afternoon Rebecca and crew arrived plus they stopped to pick up Aaron on the way up.  We had snow Christmas night and it was lovely.  We only got about an inch of snow, Little Rock got a foot… and Rebecca was traveling through that.  So we wanted her to come in daylight.  She left late Christmas afternoon, drove to Andy’s and came up the rest of the way on the 26^th.  It was fun to increase the bedlam.

I think Wednesday was the bonfire day.  The kids went out back with Tom and collected deadfall.  They made two nice fires and then roasted marshmallows and made s’mores. Dan helped by chain sawing broken limbs that were still attached to some of the trees.

Thursday we all went thrift store shopping.  It’s always an experience to see a variety of styles and wonder, “Who would actually WEAR that?”  The kids scored some good finds.  Tom spent one afternoon playing hide and seek with the grandkids.  They love him!  I think the kids went to the park this day.

Friday Tom had the kids go do a scavenger hunt. They found these space guns Tom had bought at a cheap store.  They flashed lights and made “Whooop! Whoop!” and “AweeeAwee!” sounds.  All five of them.   All at once.   All the time.  Who thought this was a good idea?  The funny thing was that the older kids soon tired of them.  But Camden and Zachary ran around the house two guns a piece, having a fantastic time. Rebecca took a herd of kids to the library.

That evening Tom and I went to a viewing for Sister Vanderstek who passed away last Friday.  All six of her children were there along with their children and grandchildren. They shared good memories of their mother and grandmother.

We played a few games of Five Crowns, but all too soon it was time for Jonathan and Kristy and family to leave.  They packed Saturday morning while Tom presided at the funeral.  He got home just as they were loading the kids into the car.  I think in the afternoon, we kind of recuperated.

Today I taught the Gospel Principles class.  Tom taught the fifth Sunday combined priesthood, relief society class.  He had lots to do after church and didn’t get home until almost 5pm.  Rebecca made a great Turkey pot pie and we then had French silk pie.   Yum.

Levi, the dog was very patient with the children--- as you can see. He and Eli, the little fuzzy dog had a great time playing together, too.

Notice Zachary is sitting on top of Levi here.

And someone's giving the other some lovings.