AH HA, THE HOLIDAYS

Is it really over? I wonder. The magic, the love, the service, the feelings, the family? I hope not. I hope I can keep all the sweet and joyous memories of this past season with me in the coming years.
I hope the same for all of you and yours.
Kevin and Kaja contemplating the next gift? Or just taking a rest? Nicole's having fun! Can you see her?

Jayce loved the apple. It was as good as any present.

Kaja in her new sleeping bag, right in the middle of it all!

Kylee like Jayce's new chair, and unwrapping was her favorite thing. Although, she looks kind of bored.

Gotcha Andrea!

Tyler and Christine with their gifts from Santa!

And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to the cemetary. The snow was frozen on and this is the best we could do.

We love our family and miss the ones not here, but they are not forgotten

All the Christmas Preparations

I hope everyone had a terrific Christmas. We certainly did. I'm a little sad it's over. It comes too fast and is gone even faster. I try to make the time and feelings last. I try to make every moment count and take in all the spirit, but just like everything else in our lives, it comes and goes before I know it.
My brother Brad and his son Cameron spent some time with us so we were able to have them help with our endless wrapping. This is not a comfortable position for my 6'8" brother.

David, Christine, Tyler and I made some honey candy and taffy on Christmas eve. It was a lot of fun, but very messy. It is oh so good.

Here's Brad and Cameron on Christmas morning opening some presents. It really was nice to have them around. It's their frist Christmas without Kimberly, their wife and mom. She passed away in February of cancer.

Aren't we festive. Hey, cooking is messy and I seem to attract the mess.

Leslie's mother in law gave this to her. Isn't it cute? Leslie's got a belly just like Santa. (Leslie I love you!)

Here's my girls coloring. Andrea is very good with the two big girls. She gets right down on the floor with them. She's a good mom and teacher.

Merry, Merry Christmas

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday. Can it get any better? We got snow!! I was already to go out and make a snowman, but the snow won't stick together. David was out snow blowing and it came back and got him covered. Should of got a picture!

I hope your day is filled with family and love.

Denise

Getting Ready for Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. I just thought I'd show you what's been taking up some of my time. The family started with these stockings many years ago, in fact, almost as long as I can remember. The first 7 I had patterns for, but he other 7 I came up with the ideas and patterns. I will now introduce you to my family.


This is Tyler (Rudolph) and Christine (Shepherdess).

This is Jaxon (Raggedy Andy) and Kevin (Santa Claus) and Nicole (Ballerina).

Here is Paul (Toy Soldier) and Andrea (A Doll) and Kaja (Girl Elf).

Here is Leslie (Bear) and Kylee (Angel) and Jaycelyn (Mrs. Santa Claus).

And lastly but not least, David (Snowman) and Denise (Dolly) and Jared (Elf).

I really enjoyed doing these, it took some "encouragement" from Leslie, but they are done and look great over the fireplace.

A good friend and neighbor, and I can probably call her family, gave me a book for my birthday and Christmas; A HEART LIKE HIS. I am reading it for the Book Group this Tuesday. It's amazing. (Yes, girls you can borrow it when I finish). Here are some thoughts from it.

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continutally before me."
Isaiah 49:16

and

"If I could have one thing happen for every woman in this Church, it would be that they would feel the love of the Lord in their lives daily."
Sister Bonnie D. Parkin

We are not alone. But, we need to take a minute, and just a minute is all it takes (sometimes) to close our eyes and remember HIM and know and feel His love for us.

I love you.

Kevin was able to help me organize my pictures. Thanks Bud.

So here are some of what has kept me occupied the last few weeks and slow the keep up of my blog. 'Course these are just excuses.

Here's Kevin painfully studying for finals, while we all played. This was MY birthday!

Here's Jared playing with the girls on the 'dolly' they used to move furniture when we got new carpet (YEAH) in the family room. Jayce was not much help.

And Grandpa getting away with the girls to read and play with dolls.

It has been way too long since I've done this. Andi, thanks babe for getting me at it. I've been so busy that I haven't hardly been able to sit down and read my mail. And setting up this blog seems to take me, who doesn't know the computer real well, just fumbles all over the place. What would take my girls 15 minutes, takes me 2 hours. I do enjoy doing it, I just need to schedule more time than most of you. Whoops. I've been caught in all the hustle of Christmas time, instead of enjoying and taking it all in. I need to be better.

I have some pictures I wanted to show you, but I can't find them. So when the kids come over for dinner tomorrow I will get someone to help me find them. I don't know why I think I have to show you pictures every time, but I like to look at something when I read.

I thought you might like to see the snow. I loved it. It looks so beautiful.


Snow always make a great picture. I love to go out and shovel. David did get the snow blower going, but not until after we had shoveled. Well, we didn't even do that much shoveling because our wonderful friend, Duane, came over with his four wheeler and pushed snow for us. We just did the walk and a little bit around the truck.

See what I mean. This would make a great card. You know I think we should put lights on the shed. What do you think?

Dear Family,
I just want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Since we are scattered for this Thanksgiving, I want you to know that I love you all. I am so blessed with my family. And to those of you who just peek in, you are loved too. God made and gave us this beautiful world and family and friends. I am thankful for loving parents who gave me life and now to my family who I am fortunate enough to have around often. Thank you for all you do and the good things you represent.
MOM loves you.

It's been a crazy month finding out about Nancy's cancer and dealing with it. I know it's really hard for her, and it's affected me and my friends too.

We took a couple of pictures on Sunday when our husbands helped Tom with giving Nancy a blessing. She started her chemo on Monday. We should have done this a long time ago.

I had to put in this picture of my sweet little girls reading and sitting together.

And . . how could I forget my pumpkins heads!

We've had some fun with the family and friends the last little while.

Here we went camping and 4 wheelin' with our friends. We stayed in Richfield and took 30 to 40 miles trips each day. It was beautiful weather and the company was the best. (We missed Cyndy and Duane).

Here are Tyler and Christine and Kaja relaxing and having a great time.

Good form, huh? Look at the 'description' of that arm!

"Hangin' around!"

Good form?

Fun in the leaves! What a great autumn we've had.

David's dad celebrated 50 years in busines. Congratulations Grandpa.

We had a great couple of days of Halloween costumes.
Here are my favorites.
Leslie always likes to dress up and she makes sure we all party!

Kaja was a princess (not far from the mark!). But, with a little extra - Jax's bat hat.

Kylee loves dressing up, so Halloween is her best time of the year.

What a sweet BAT. Almost wish he would bite me!

Grandma and Grandpa are always such good sports to dress up. The rest of the adults didn't!!

HIP HOP! Isn't this the cutest bunny you've ever seen! She hops right into our hearts!

I had am emotional last couple of days. But, it was mostly good. It just brought many sweet memories of two people I miss very much.

This last Saturday, the 20th, was my aunt Mary Etta's 80th birthday. It was also my mother-in-law's birthday and my granddaughter Jaycelyn's first birthday. My cousins Shauna and John invited me and the girls to dinner to celebrate. It was so good to see them all. It was a bit hard for me though to see Uncle Arnold and Aunt Betty and Aunt Mary Etta without dad. But I think he would be happy I was there to represent him.

AND . . I've already mentioned this, but they finally got their deer! We are pretty excited (even if we do have to have deer meat for the next several months.)

And then, yesterday would have been my mom's 82nd birthday. It was a beautiful day. The weather was gorgeous and I got to play with the grandkids. Here is Jaxon. He rolls around, and gets stuck under the cutting table.

I know I am very blessed by what my parents taught me and know that they loved me. I hope they know I love them.

It's been quite awhile since I have sent any info about our family. My life is full; busy and hectic. It's all good though. I am truly blessed and you will now see just how blessed I am.

Here's Tyler just leaving for the Priesthood Session. He forgot his Sunday clothes, so he raided Grandpa's (Dayle's) closet and came up with a dress shirt, a lovely and always in style sweater, and the best, you can't see. He wore GP's old working shoes. They are black loafer-like. The boys told us Tyler fit right in with the styles of Midway.

We spent a couple of days up at the cabin in Midway during the conference weekend. It was so beautiful. The girls had a great time. As you can see they love to have their picture taken. They posed for me.

Grandpa always has to get a bit of office work in. But, what a place to do it! The cabin is so much fun and the company was even better.

Jayce loved being outside and she is always up to posing for pictures.

Kylee can always be found reading the books.

Kaja got a hold of my glasses I need for crocheting. She looks a whole lot cuter than I do in those things.

Jax was rolling in his blanket. He covers the whole room in no time.

Here's THE DEER. Finally! It's been years since the David Jeffs' clan have had a deer. The story is great. The boys admit to a bit of 'buck fever'.