We love being together with Family!

.....and Uncle Amaron and Daddy put in the Swing set from Santa!

Then we got together for our big White Elephant Gift Exchange and Fondue Party!

Then we headed over to grandma and grandpa's for stockings and more presents!
(They have stockings for everyone!)

The kids loved eating in the green house!

My favorite part is when all the family gets together for a big meal. We butchered our own turkey this year and had a green house to extend our dining room to add another table!

Caroline wasn't too thrilled with the quads, she was simply content with her little slide.

They took their little sisters on rides in their p.j.s and all the other little neighborhood kids!

They screamed and yelled with excitement!!!!!

They went berserk when they went out to the garage to feed the dog....

All the excitement of Christmas morning.........
but this was just the beginning!

Red Soup and omelets for breakfast!

<<<<>>>>
The girls informed me that in the movies the kids jump on mom and dad to wake them up, but they were being nice instead and woke us up with lots and lots of kisses!

Christmas Eve @ Grandma and Grandpa Pember's House....

Grandpa's fancy Train set up this year, made it so much fun for the grandkids. When we would go visit he would give us hot chocolate and goodies and show the movie!

Traditional Story told my Grandpa,
Twas the Night Before Christmas

Nativity put on by the children......
(The boys are almost too old for it.)

Talent Show:

Uncle Nate and Aunt Jessyka singing

Austin and Mom singing "Silent Night", brought tears to my eyes being able to sing with my son.

Everyone was entranced with Jon's sweet solo.

The girls performed their Christmas Spectacular tap dance!

"Sweet Caroline" getting so big and dancing with her sister, Kalicia

Grandma and Grandpa singing

We had such a nice experience Christmas Caroling this year.... getting to know our neighbors!
(and getting all bundled up, cause it was freezing!)

Taylor 9th Ward Christmas Party....
Bishop Lewis being the Narrator for the Children's Nativity

Cute little Shepherds!

Aunt Jessyka came and Mieka sang with the primary. And Kalicia's new friend Cameron wanted to hold her hand.
I think Jon wanted to hold his new friend's hand too, Kelly.... Hee Hee!

We went to Phoenix for more doctor appointments at Child Rehabilitative Services at St. Joseph's Hospital. We got to see Santa there!!!

They were sad because they hadn't seen Santa all Season and then all of a sudden we saw three within two days and they couldn't figure out how he was everywhere! He is magic.......

The boys favorite place to Christmas shop was Bass Pro Shop.

Daddy enjoyed teaching his little girls to shoot!

Daddy is so proud of his little "Tom Boy" princess Kalicia who gets into all the hunting and fishing!
(Look how hard she is concentrating!)

Writing letters to Santa......

~Christmas Picnic with the Merrill Family at Pioneer Park~

One of the kids' favorite activities, after eating pizza, was climbing on the rocks. (Moms were a little nervous....) Charlotte was so proud of herself that she could climb up there like all the other cousins!

Then we took a walk across the street to go and see the.....
TEMPLE ~ LIGHTS!!!

The girls of course were fascinated by the water and that they could see the Temple's reflection in the water.

What a wonderful feeling to know that we are a.....
FOREVER ~ FAMILY!!!!

We went and visited Austin's biological family and took Christmas gifts.

Grandma Maland hugging Kalicia. She has adopted our girls in return!

Grandma and Grandpa Vesely with Austin

and Grandma Maland set up a little Tea Party for the girls while the adults got to visit.

EAGLE PROJECT:
(amongst all the other busy Holiday fun!)

Elwood Waters and Sandy Stewart were great helpers!
(Along with the Isaacs, Tenneys, Bro. Gunn, Winston, Kelly and of course Dad, Jon and Mom)
Austin did a great job organizing his Eagle Project.
He remodeled the Silver Creek Camp Kitchen.
Yea! Now to plan his Court of Honor and help Jon get his finished!

Fun Christmas Activities with Grandma and Grandpa Pember!

Watching the Polar Express......

Making Christmas Goodies to deliver to friends and family.....

Caroline loved the Candy Canes!

The other two loved eating more than making!

Jon and Austin helped decorate Grandpa and Grandma's House.




Happy Birthday Grandma Charlotte Burgoyne!

What a fun memory with Grandma and Grandpa Burgoyne! We went and spent time over there during the Holidays and for Grandma Burgoyne's Birthday.....and she got down on the floor with her great grand kids, just like she did with us when we were little. She read our favorite story as kids, "Little Black Sambo." My kids favorite part is when the tigers ran around the tree and turned to butter and Little Black Sambo's mom made lots of tiger pancakes!

Happy 17th Birthday Jonny Boy!!!!!

We celebrated his birthday all weekend long, starting Thursday with a big French Toast Buffet, going out to JB's for lunch.......
Then we got to have his biological brothers and sisters come stay the weekend with us, along with his biological father. It turned out to be a busy and exciting weekend!
BBQ for his Birthday dinner. He invited the Stewarts and Grandma and Grandpa Pember too! What fun! I hope he sees and knows how much he is loved!

It was quite an experience to bring two different families together in one house for a few days. We all had a wonderful time together, playing games, watching movies and visiting for hours.

(Mom's 1st attempt to an ice cream cake and it turned out! Yea!!)
This was the cake he asked for this year, along with the Pumpkin Cheese Cake!
Happy Birthday Jonny Boy! We love you so much and are so glad to have you as a brother and son!

Christmas Celebrations and Performances!!!!

Charlotte's 1st Grade Christmas Performance

Charlotte with her friends ~Hayley and AJ

Jefferson Academy Christmas Program.......

DANCE MATRIX

Kalicia's Tap Dance at the "Christmas Spectacular."

Austin Performing, Tenor, in the Snowflake H.S. Honor Choir.

I, Mom, even got a chance to perform with my singing group, The White Mountain Bells.

I thought this was so sweet..... Charlotte has practiced this tap dance with her Dance Matrix team and was so sad to miss the "Christmas Spectacular" because of eye surgery. So they got her costume for her early and she performed it on stage at one of the practices and we all made a big deal of it and clapped and cheered for. I was so grateful to them, that they played along to help her feel special. She has a fabulous dance teacher, Ms. Michelle.

Grandma Pember came too, to cheer her on!

I have such beautiful little performers!

(Austin's choir sang at the Snowflake Christmas lighting. Small town stuff, so much fun!)


The Grand Ball

Jon served as one of the waiters, while Dad and I danced the night away..........

Austin and Chantelle....

...going to Snowflake High School Winter Formal.
(He was so excited that I found a shirt to match her dress and even a tie!)
So cute!

Austin got his Patriarchal Blessing on Sunday, December 5th.
What an amazing day! He is one special young man! We can't wait to see what life brings for him. What a spiritual day. We were all in tears and very proud of him! He was thrilled and wanted to yell it to the world. (I had to help him contain himself because it is a special blessing that needs to be kept sacred.) Bishop (Patriarch) Manor new how to make it a special and memorable moment.

So, later that Sunday we helped Austin make a toilet cake. He was answering a girl, Chantelle McCleave, that asked him to Winter Formal by making her this cake.

"I won't be a POOP! I will go with you!"
(Very clever and very boyish!)

Jon is always so quick and willing to help, along with being very creative.

The girls had fun eating on their gingerbread houses while they watched their big brothers.

Amongst all the excitement of making a toilet, we turned on Christmas music and began to decorate for Christmas. I love this time of year!

The girls get excited because all the Christmas stories come out of the closet. Their favorite is The Grinch!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

.....And all the fun that goes with it!!!

A fun and entertaining weekend at
Grandma and Grandpa Pembers.
(Sage and the Girls Band)


and the boys went hunting!

Charlotte surprised Daddy with a cute haircut when he got back from hunting.

The Thanksgiving Holidays are so much fun with family all around, no work, just traveling and fun!

Can't forget the
Traditional Candy Houses,
made by the kiddos.

So Silly and full of sugar.......
I always love how creative and clever they get!

The cousins came to our house to play with clay and make ceramics.
Their clay pieces will get fired in the kiln and then they get to glaze(paint)them next time they come.
That was such a fun and messy project. I loved all the creative ideas. Snowmans were the most popular to make.

Halee was so excited about the neat bowl she made and can't wait to put food in it!

Caroline already learning how to use carving tools and loving it, my little artist.

Merrill Thanksgiving Feast

All the Merrill Family together,
but we are missing DeLona's Family.

Merrill Cousins at Aunt Angelene's House

Merrill Girls
.....dancing and performing the night away,
directed by Aunt Rachelle

My Favorite part of the Holidays is getting a chance to see family that you never get to see!
We get together to visit, dance, laugh, eat and just have a fabulous time!!!!!

It was great to see my cousin, Donald Bradford, who is living it up in New York and a designer for Calvin Klein. We had so much fun together as kids, with Sharon too!
(The Three Amigos)

I saw so many cousins that I grew up with, that brought back so many fun memories.
Adam Connolly came to visit from Alaska. He taught me to dance as a kid and it was so much fun to see him dancing with my daughter.

This was such a fun Holiday Break! What a great way to start this exciting time of year, surrounded by family!!!!