Ma's visit to Idaho (part 3)

While Ma was visiting Idaho, the family got a very special Christmas outing.
Shatzi really wanted to go to a very popular spot just outside Rigby called
the Mountain River Ranch.  It was so much fun.  You definitely have to make
reservations for this one especially at Christmas time because several companies
held their Christmas parties here.  When you arrive, everyone gets to ride on
a sleigh ride to a barn one or two miles from the check in point.

Everyone standing in front of the sleigh we rode on.

The horses were Clydesdale horses.

The driver on the right of the photo was taking a little rest.

                                        These photos are taken from Shatzi's and Dave's camera.

It is a variety of the night's event.

The tables had the seating pre-arranged.  We were

able to sit near a heater.  I think they did that on purpose

because of the children.  We were the only family with children.

These are the entertainers that sang and joked around all night.

Ma was able to talk for several minutes to the

guy on the right.  He served his mission for

our Church in New Mexico (in Farmington)

The meal might have cost a lot, but they were not

skimpy with the food.  Dressing, potatoes, salad

baked potato, vegetables and THREE pork chops with

seasoned gravy.

And for dessert we had this wonderful cheesecake with

berry topping.  It was the very best cheesecake Ma has ever eaten.

(By the way, the other choice was prime-rib.)

Elf on the Shelf at Shatzi's (Ma's visit part 2)

While Ma was visiting Shatzi and Dave's house,
Bria, Max and Logan got a special gift sent
all the way from the North Pole.  (Orion,
Addi-Belle, Payson and Bion got a package
from the North Pole just a short time later
with a different elf named Elven.)
Inside the gift was a special elf.  The kids
are supposed to name it, and Logan only being one
years old didn't quite know what was going on,
but Max and Bria did and they each wanted to name
him a different name.  Bria, being a girl wanted
his name to be Snowflake.  Max, being a boy, wanted
his name to be Sonic.  They compromised and named him
Snowic.  Ma thought Snowic was a great name too.
This elf is a mischievous elf.  He had the job of watching
the children during the day, and then flying back to the
North Pole at night to tell Santa how good the kids are.
But when Snowic came back, he was always in a different
spot, and he must have gotten back early because he got into
mischief.

Snowic on his first day back.

He was charming this time.

Snowic on his second day back.  He was a little harder to find.

Logan did not like Snow driving his favorite car toy.

Logan was mad at Snowic that day.

On another day, Snowic was caught in the pantry

slurping syrup with a straw.

And on another day, Snowic was caught

with a dry ease marker in his hand.

My!  What he did to the family photo.

After that, Ma had to leave to come home,

so she was not able to see what other mischief

Snowic got into,

but the children at that house had a blast this year as well.

Ma's trip to Idaho (part one.)

Ma left to go to Idaho in December 1,  2011 to attend
her Uncle Leon's funeral, and to go to Bria Webster's Baptism.
She stayed and visited Shatzi and Dave Webster's family for one week.
These are some of the photos she took while she was there.

Logan Webster (age one) as he rides in the back seat.

Ma and Aunt Shatzi drove all over with all the

errands they had to make.  Christmas shopping,

and taking and picking up kids from school are

the most common trips to make.

Country roads in Rigby, Idaho.  Very pretty

and symetrical to look at.

The sunset on the horizon on the week Ma was there.

It looked a lot like one of the sunsets seen in New Mexico.

Elven the Elf

When Ma was visiting Bria, Max and Logan,

they got a special package from the North Pole.

It had a special Elf on the Shelf.

They had to name is a special name of their own.

Santa sent a special scout elf to our house.

Everyone was very surprized when we opened the

door and found it wrapped on a

box that has traveled all over the world.

Our family was in charge of naming him

Orion picked ELVEN..

Elven's job is to come and sit on a shelf,

and watch everyone during the day.

At night Elven comes back and sits on the shelf again.

Every day, Elven sits in a new place.

It is fun to try to find him.

On the first day, after his visit from the North Pole

we found Elven here:

He was hiding on the Chistmas Mantle.

Then on that day, we tried harder to be good.

There were a few mis-haps, but over all everyone

was pretty good.

On the second day we found Elven here:

He was above the television between the steins.

On the third day he was found here:

He was on the book shelf.

Since Elven sits between things that look busy,

it is hard to find him, especially for the two year old twins.

It was always so much fun to see where Elven would be each morning.,

The twins Addi-Belle, and Payson loved looking for him.

Orion and Bion loved looking for him too.  Usually they

would find him first and then tell the twins, but sometimes

the twins would find him first.

It was so much fun to have Elven at our house

this year.  We hope he comes back every year.

On Christmas Eve, when Santa comes,

Elven flies back to the North Pole with Santa,

and so on Christmas morning, Elven was gone.

The Kids missed him very much.

Thanksgiving 2011

                This year we were missing someone who comes every year if  they can,
                   and that was Michale and Rebbecca Martin.  Michael is serving in Afghanistan,
                     but we still gathered together and had a thankful feast
                                                          celebrating our many
                                                                   blessings.

Pilgrim Payson

Pilgrim Addi-Belle

Pilgrim Orion

Pilgrim Jerry.  Michelle Johnson knitted him

this pilgrim hat to wear for Thanksgiving.

Looking up the table with Pa at the head.

We had so much food that we could

not fit the turkey on the table.

Looking down the table

with Ma at the other end.

It is not Thanksgiving without a little

relaxing and resting.

Michelle Johnson looks so comfortable.

Reina and Orion playing the WII.

Christian was just hanging out

comfortable too.

Pa's Birthday

                        November 21, 2011 is Pa's 61st birthday.  Michelle came over
                         and left a card and some apple cider.  She had to work so she was
                       not able to stay long.   Jerry called later in the evening, and Michael
                                       is overseas  serving in the Army in Afghanistan. 
                                                     But we surprised him with
                                                        just our little group.

First, Ma took Pa out to eat at his favorite restaurant

with the gift card from Macy.

Then while we were gone,

Macy decorated with special balloons that

glow in the dark.

The candles were special too because whatever the

color the candle was is what the flame burned to be.

But the biggest celebration was the excitement

of the littlest ones.  They were so excited to

hear that there was even a BIRTHDAY.

Happy Birthday Pa

Out to Dinner at Elephant Bar

                     Macy gave Pa and Ma a gift certificate just before Halloween to go eat at
                         the restaurant she works at.  It was a $50.00 gift card, so we could eat
                         whatever we wanted.  Well of course we had to take all the children
                          because WE were the babysitter.  We had a lot of fun.  We wanted to
                          go when Macy was working so the kids could see her at work.

Looking at the HUGE elephant trunk

Addi-Belle and Payson

Addi-Belle, Orion and Payson.

There was a Giraffe too,

so maybe next time we go we

will visit the Giraffe.