Pack Christmas Party

With two brothers living in Utah, we were able to have half of a Pack Christmas party.  The other half will get together in Virginia with Lico and Lica.  We celebrated with dinner, chatting, a white elephant game and more chatting.  Ben and Pocha came too.  It was good.

Nativity Sets

Nativities that grace our home....

-1994:  This is our very first Nativity our first Christmas together.  My sister Nina gave this to us.  The two baby Jesus figures in the middle are from Playschool years.

-2010:  I saw this Nativity at the Red Barn in Santaquin and fell in love.

-2008:  The kid's favorite Little People Nativity.

-2010:  Framed Nativity and Names of Christ

-2010:  Rebekah's pop-up art Nativity.

-2011:  Kerri's pop-up art.

-2008:  Snowman Nativity

-2008: Laura Turner and her son Raine gave this porcelain Nativity to Makayla.

Christmas Decor

This year I have posted a lot of our seasonal decorations.  This is mainly for posterity and my memory's sake.  Through the years I have made, bought and given a lot of decorations away.  My hope is to preserve our memories in pictures to remember now and later.  

More memories on the downstairs tree.

When I was young, our family received this cookie jar from my father's company that he worked for.  I remember it sitting on top of a shelf in the kitchen and liking the bright colors.  I acquired it years later to charm our home during the holidays.

This cute little Ruldoph will forever be in my heart.  I made it at the time when Cameron and I (1993) met at Snow College.  I also had a cute missionary that I was writing and was (and still am) very good friends with his grandparents in Manti.  Grandma Julia invited me to her Relief Society crafting night and I made Ruldoph.  The entire night I only had one thought in my head....Cameron!

Winter Goodies

-Mr. Snowman Jensen - 1995

-Santa - 2001

-Mitten Snowman - 2001

-Wooden Christmas Carolers - 2001

-Let it Snow Snowman - 2003

-Snowflake Pillows - 2009

-Ornament Wreath - 2009

-Subway Art - 2010

-Classic Santa Pictures - 2005 and 2010

-Interchangeable Yearly Wreath - 2011

-Pumpkin Snowman - 2011 - See Fred the Pumpkin in the back?

Ugly Sweater Party

Cameron's Christmas work party was held at the Cucina Deli in Salt Lake, it was our first Ugly Sweater Party.  Prior to that we double dated with friends and went to the DI to pick out two semi-ugly sweaters. Add three dollars worth of Christmas decor from the Dollar Store and a glue gun and we got two awesome 'ugly sweaters'.   Makayla added a monkey to Cam's stocking and we were set.  Guess who won first prize?  Yep, instead of an iPod (we're spoiled), Cam won a festive Christmas goose.  Yes!

Three Guys and a Mission

About 11 years ago we began a Family Home Evening group with two of Cameron's missionary companions from Japan.  Ron/Natalie Gordon Family and Jim/Lisa Barnett family.  We get together every couple of months for dinner and fun.  Even after being gone for six years in Washington, we hopped right back in and joined the fun.  We take turns hosting and enjoying our twelve kids.

Christmas 1991 in Okinawa, Japan.

Can you tell who is who?

They really haven't changed too much in 20 years.

Ron - Cam - Jim

Happy Birthday T!

Trevor had a great birthday on the 27th.  We celebrated by going to Red Robin for lunch (Red Robin is our favorite place to eat once or twice and only a year).  He got his traditional breakfast in bed with gifts and a day off of doing chores.  Later in the week he had a friend party that included lots of friends, basketball, rubber band guns that Dad made, shooting rubber bands, movie, pizza, cake and ice cream and more rubber band shooting.  It's great to be 10!

Happy Birthday Mr. T!