So next comes JANUARY!!

   So, to get caught up I think I will try and do a month at a time and what I can remember what happened. 
      I started the New Year by taking Connor out for his birthday. Derek went with me again, because he had some time off and so we kind of did the same thing as we did for Haden. We took him to Artic Circle and let him get something to eat and play on the stuff there. Then took him to pick out a toy.  Isn't he cute missing those two front teeth.  He loved that he could stick his tongue out through the teeth.

 
    Since we got a new washer and dryer a couple of months ago, we realized we had to tear out the tiled pan the old ones were sitting in, we decided we should just go ahead a have the mudroom tiled and since we were going to have them tiled we might as well tear out the old built in lockers (if you could call them that) made out of press board. We thought we it would be nice to put in new cabinets and use them for a pantry. So why not paint too. You know it would have been cheaper to get the washing machine fixed. OH WELL!!
Jeph was here for a couple of weeks until school started again in the middle of Jan, so we put him to work. He is very handy. 

Derek's mom got sick this month and needed to go into a nursing care facility for some rehab. We got to visit her several times while she was there. She has done well and was able to go home a few weeks later.  Jeph came up with us to say good-bye.  He was getting ready to go back to school in San Diego.

My neice, Ingrid had a shower this month and so we went up to my Sister-in-Law's to help celebrate the coming arrival of her first grandson.  I gave Ingrid a baby afghan that I crocheted, pictured in the lower right corner.  She has had her baby since then and he is so cute.

January is Derek's and Alan's birthday and since Derek was gone on his birthday to the Canary Islands (for work) we celebrated as a family at Kathryn's house. 

The guys are turning 26 and 58.  Alan got money!! Yeah! and Derek got a bunch of stuff.

Derek likes to give out gifts for his birthday.  This year he gave all the grandkids, savings banks and he put money in them to start out their savings.  What a great grandpa.  You can tell the kids love him.  Whenever he is around they swarm all over him.

It was a fun and busy month.  

Finishing Up 2010

This is going to be a long post, just sayin'

THANKSGIVING 2010

We had Thanksgiving at our house this year with all the kids and grandkids.  It was great.  I was able to catch everybody and video them for John for Christmas. 

DECEMBER

KAT'S BIRTHDAYDecember brought Kathryn's birthday.  Mom and I took her out to Lunch at Zupas (one of Mom's favorite places)  We had a nice time visiting.

We were then invited down to Kathryn's house to celebrate with the family.  Just a few photos of my favorite daughter :)

"NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM"

 Later in the month Mom and I went to a "Night in Bethlehem" that a neighbor of mine with their family put on every year in Provo. It is quite an undertaking. They invited both of our wards to go, so I went with Mom, so she could experience. It was a neat experience.

PREECE CHRISTMAS FAMILY NIGHT

So this year Christmas Eve went to the In-Laws, so we had our party on the Monday before Christmas.  Dan and Alicia graciously offered to host the party at their home.  We had a fondue for dinner amongst other things and that was kind of fun.  Who gets to have Fondue anymore. 

 We were going to let the kids make Gingerbread houses (out of graham crackers) before we ate, but the weather was nasty and it was hard for everyone to get there early, but we didn't want to disappoint the kids, so we followed through after dinner.  You can see everyone is really concentrating hard trying to get the darn things to stand up.  But they finally did.

Jeph just enjoying the Chocolate Fountain that was also put out.

Then it was time for the Pinata.  Dan & Alicia had the perfect place for in their Garage.  It was pretty empty and we had plenty of room for swinging.  Although it took a while for the thing to get broken and a few tears in the process, I think all the candy made up for it.

We finished the evening having a gift exchange and I gave the grandkids their traditional Christmas Ornaments.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Since Derek & I had no where to go on Christmas Eve, Mom invited us to her house where she was hosting a celebration with Marcia and some of her kids who were all up for her daughter Julia's wedding.  The only problem was we got our call from John in Hong Kong right when dinner started and we ran on home to visit with him.  Two hours later we headed back and all the festivities were over.  We had a wonderful visit with our John and then some Philipina Sisters called right after to chat with us too.  What a great Christmas Eve!

CHRISTMAS 2010
 Christmas morning found us with just Derek, Jeph and I enjoying the calm and quiet of another Christmas....until

... All the fun arrived.  First came  The Smiths (Kathryn's family)
Let the chaos begin!!! and fun!!

 Soon after came Dan & Alicia and boys

 And last but not least Alan & Jacqui's crew!!!

I crocheted this cute little baskets for the little girls this year and some clothes to go on the dollies.  It was way fun.  I want to make some more clothes.

And my newest sweet little granddaughter Evelyn just rounded out the day!

A WEDDING IN DECEMBER?

So my Neice who has been living with my mom found her one and only this past year.  We were so excited for her and Brian to tie the knot.  They make such a cute couple.  Here are a few pictures that I took.

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST

AT THE TEMPLE

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Brian Rollins

 THE BEAUTIFUL MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

THE BRIDES BROTHERS

Mom with all her kids that are still here!


Some other cuties in the bunch! That came to see them come out of the temple.

Julia's family that were able to come to Utah to see her wed.

THE RECEPTION
The top left is Brian's parents and the lower left are Julia's parents.  The room was beautifully decorated with white lites and a gazebo and they had a slide show going on about the couple as they grew up.

 There was dancing and you can tell all the cousins enjoyed themselves.

Cutting the cake was fun too.  Let's just say they had fun feeding each other. 

Throwing the bouquet to a gaggle of girls!

 Finally!!! We get to go and be alone!

It was a fun day from start to finish.  Thanks Julia for letting us be a part of your day!

NEW YEARS EVE
So every year we have a tradition to go out for Chinese Food.  So this year we tried someplace new and we even made reservations, because we just weren't sure if they would be busy or not.  The other place we had gone to the last few years, was never busy.   But with about 22 people, we just wanted to make sure.  So we get there and they were packed.  It didn't look like they were expecting us at all, but as we observed it looked like another huge party were just finishing up and that would be our table.  Thank goodness.  The food was great and they were very efficient. 

 Afterward we headed up to Dan & Alicia's to celebrate Connor and Haden's birthdays.  Connor turned 7 and Haden turned 5.   What a couple of cuties.

In fact the day before was Haden's birthday, so Derek and I took him out for ice cream and some fun. Aren't they cute together?