Christmas Fun in Utah

Wow! December seems to rush by twice as fast as any other month! Our Christmas started on Sunday the 14th when we met at Marenda's & Sam's place for our annual Christmas Traditions of other countries and cultures. This year we did Hawaii



The only picture I got was of Mellissa Rosenhan doing the limbo. She was by far the best of anyone who tried.











Not planned, but I was making Christmas pajamas for the grandchildren right up to the last thing. These three were for Sheridan, Marcus and Caleb Harding.







These two are for Talia and Gavin Hickman












Our first company, Barry, Kendra, Kira, Trenton and Tessa Halterman, arrived from Phoenix, Arizona the Saturday night before Christmas - (Dec. 21). This picture was taken on Sunday of their lovely family.


Trenton, Barry, Tessa, Kendra and Kira








I had to take this picture to show off Kendra's first try at making her daughters Christmas dresses. I think they look great!












Shanda, Preston, Talia & Milo Hickman arrived Sunday night from Colorado Springs, Colorado.




On Monday, there was lots of fun playing in the snow. Since Talia didn't have any boots, we devised make-shift boots by putting grocery bags on her feet and legs and taping them She was not too happy at the "getting ready" but loved being in the snow.













Barry and Preston had great fun playing in the snow with their children. Aren't they great dads?



Preston, Barry, Kira, Trenton and Talia.













Our Arizona grandchildren couldn't get enough of the snow.

Trenton, Kira (tasting the snow) and Talia











We finally confinced a soaked little girl to come in.
















We started the week celebrating Barry's birthday. He had hoped to go fishing but it snowed all day. Kendra is giving him his gifts.










In spite of the snow, Thayne and Jenny and children came down from Salt Lake to join us for Barry's birthday dinner. ( They traveled by car from Detroit, Michigan and arrived in Salt Lake Sunday night.) It's been so great to have them here.







Preston and Shanda are enjoying a brief time without a baby or little girl in arms.









The day before Christmas was filled with lots of family activities then everyone met at our house in the afternoon. The first order of business was for those who desired to decorate the traditional Christmas cookies.


While we were waiting for some of the others to arrive, Talia did her decorating.

















Trenton, Kira, Shelby and Addie are decorating cookies.











Sam and Marenda watch Addie with her art work. Dana does her thing which turned out to be several interesting black cookies.












Dana, Paxton and Jenny.












Next came more fun in the snow as boys and dads went out to use Preston's snow fort for a fun time of pelting each other.












Sheridan, Paxton and Marcus.




















































After everyone was thoroughly cold, it was time to eat. We spread blankets on the floor in the family room and had the children eat down there and were able to seat the adults on two tables up stairs. We had a total of 28 and were still missing 2 of our children and their families. Serena and Kerali - we missed you.













For our program each family did a number. Trina and her boys are singing a Christmas song and Sheridan is playing the guitar.











Marenda and Addie did a song and dance to Jingle Bells. It was really cute.




















Liz, Deren and Drake sang one of Deren's favorite Christmas songs - not necessarily a traditional one.








Barry, Kendra and their children did a medley of songs - Drummer Boy, Maria and Oh Come All Ye Faithful.




















Shanda had Talia helping her with a number then Talia ran away.


















Shelby, Thayne, Jenny, Dana and Paxton sang a Christmas song























Then Deren finished up with his favorite Tom Leher song - (I need to do some calling and get the names of the songs people did and will enter then later).








It was then time for the enactment of the birth of Jesus. This year out Mary was Kira Halterman and our Joseph was Paxton Hansen.

















The rest of the children filled in as wise men, shepherds, angels, sheep, etc.

Front: Sheridan, Drake, Marcus, Kasen and Marenda
Center: Paxton, Kira, Caleb and Trenton
Back: Dana, Shelby holding angel Addie.





It was then time to open the pajamas. Most of them were a success but I had not understood what Caleb wanted so he wasn't too happy. I promised him I would put footies on and put a picture of a bug after Christmas.

Left to R: Shanda wirh Talia. Caleb, Shelby with Tessa, Me with Mitchell, Drake, Kasen with Dana, Sheridan
Front: Marcus, Paxton, Kira and Trenton.





I had my picture taken with some family groups. Here I have Talia and Milo Hickman







And here are the three Halterman children - Trenton, Tessa and Kira.











Christmas morning at our house just before the children attached the gifts.
















I had to take this picture of Milo. He is 4 1/2 months old and is all but crawling. The interesting thing is that he goes backwards. Here he was backing into the gifts under the tree.




Before they returned home, Kendra and Shanda just had to do a few artistic Christmas cookies.























The Saturday after Christmas, we traveled to Salt Lake City to Joyce & Don's place and there met them and Reed and Julie (Vernal) for gift exchange, a meal at Chili's and lots of good visiting.

Left to right: Julie and Reed Hansen, Garth, Janice, Joyce and Don Fenner











This was one dessert that we got and 6 of us shared.


We are a bit exhausted but are so grateful for the wonderful family that we have the opportunity to spend time with some of them.

A Successful Century Plus One Birthday Bash

With all of the rush of activity during December, I have always had a special challenge because my Mother's birthday is on December 12th and we have tried to go to Southern Utah (LaVerkin, Utah) and have a special family dinner and party for her. Last year at this time, she turned 100 so the party was held for over 200 friends and family. This year Mother is living at the Beehive House in Hurricane, Utah when her 24/7 care became a bit more than the 5 of us could handle. Although she fought this move and declared that she would never be happy, six months later, we find her very much enjoying all of the attention she gets there and the constant activity they have going on. Some of the family check on her daily and at times we are there for a couple of hours at a time.
On Wednesday, Dec. 10th, Garth and I traveled to LaVerkin and spent 3 days with Mother. We were delighted to get in on their Christmas party given by the owner on Wednesday evening.


More and more Mother is claiming one of the two recliners in the living area as her own. The owner of the Beehive Homes is very good about knowing each resident personally.



Here Mother and her best friend at the "home" are waiting for the Christmas party to begin.





On one of the couches sit my Aunt Edna and her friend, Glenna. Incidentally, Glenna is Mother's worst enemy there because she has used her bathroom and eaten some chocolate in Mother's room. While we were there, Glenna was moved to a Level 2 Care facility so Mother should be happier.






After we had sung songs and talked about traditions, etc. Santa and Mrs. Santa arrived with bags of goodies for each of the residents












Most of them sat on Santa's knee to tell him what they wanted for Christmas but Mother didn't want to get out of her chair so they went to her.









On Friday, Mother's birthday, we went over in the morning and I gave her the newest dress I had made for her. I figured she needed something red for the Christmas season. I also found this vest in one of her drawers and took it over to her. In the past she has told us to take things back to the house but when she saw the vest she said, "Oh, I like that."














There is a couple, Sandy & Allen Foote, who volunteer their time to provide activities and entertainment for the residents. At first Mother wouldn't join in anything except for once a month when Allen came and provided a concert of songs that would be especially remembered by the residents. Because Mother liked it so much, he started going to the house weekly.

















He scheduled his concert to be on Mother's birthday and she loved it! She was one happy person with all of the attention on her all day long. The people at the "home" served cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to her at lunch time







Sandy told me that Mother is even joining in now with the Bingo games and other activities - something she absolutely refused to do when she first moved into the "home". Sandy made her this lovely crocheted afghan.








As a family we owe a lot to this sweet lady at the left. Her name is Lola Gibson and she is quite a bit younger than Mother but has some serious health issues and can't take care of herself so is living at the Beehive House. She calls our mother, Grandma and can get her to do most anything she wants her to - even watching Jazz basketball games! (Mother never went to a basketball games that I remember). If she thinks people aren't taking good care of Mother she will tell the help.











Friday evening, after the residents had eaten, we all went to the "home" and took gifts and two kinds of cake to serve to the residents and anyone who came to wish Mother well.








Amazingly enough, except for Quinta's husband, Dell, all of Mother's children and their spouses are still living. Here we have Back: LuDeen and Fred Lundin, Eric Nielson, Garth and Janice Hansen & Janice and Corrin Nielson. Sitting we have Marsha Nielson, Mother (Ruth G. Nielson) and Quinta Beatty.









Mother and her daughters: LuDeen, Mother, Janice (That's me) & Quinta.









Mother and her two sons: Eric and Corrin













Two of Mother's sisters-in law (Aunt Edna Gubler & Aung Genevieve Gubler) and her only living sister, Aunt Ardella Heiner.












Mother and her gifts: Two pink roses representing 100 (upper rose) & one from Corrin and Janice, a box of chocolates from Eric and Marsha, two lovely fleece jackets made by LuDeen and we all went in on the fiberoptics flower arrangement in front.