December 23rd

Sunday

After church we went to the Stake Christmas Fireside.  It was just a good Sunday. 

Monday

In the afternoon we had Chris's family come down and we had a big 'dipping chocolate' party as we got treats made to take around to neighbors from both our families. 

A few leftovers:

Mike really wanted to go pixie, so he made all the plans and we got everything ready to go.  It was just like old times with drawing the plans for where everyone would be hiding, who would ring the bell, synchronizing watches, etc.  Don't worry, we got Noelle snow pants to cover those white legs (and keep her warm).  I drove them, and all went well. 

Zander's ready to go home so he can get ready for his first Christmas the next morning.

Tuesday - Christmas Morning

So few stockings and so little candy, but enough for the few of us.

Yes, Mike checked things out at 2:15 a.m., but I was not awake and he didn't take pictures.

Mike eating candy with his nice porcelain chopsticks his ancestors gave him and Ellen. 

Dad gave Ellen and I chocolates, fingernail polish, hot chocolate, and "Pride & Prejudice" movie

Ellen's first reaction to her gift from mom (It is in the next picture)

It says: "I love awkward, nerdy guys."  "What the nerd thinks she means" (and a picture of Napolean Dynomite.  "What she really means" (and a picture of David Tennant)

2nd shirt of David Tennant saying: "Shouldn't you be studying?"

 Mike give Ellen a movie all in Chinese

Lounging around on Christmas:

 Mallory and Noelle

 

Christmas afternoon at the movies waiting for Les Miserables to begin. Billy, Josh, Ellen, & Mike.  U. Marc, A. Margaret, Dad and I are across the aisle.  We all LOVED the movie.  Ellen did a good job of covering Josh's eyes in the appropriate places.

Christmas night playing games with Spencer, Marion, and John.  Can you guess who won?

Yes, it is skit time

Wednesday

Isaac and Caleb just waking up in the morning.

Marion had to take the boys to the dentist in Logan and meet Sue, so he took Ellen and Mike to work.  Our former Zone Leader is very sick and doesn't have much longer to live.  We were going to drive to Lindon to see him, but after talking to his wife, we did not go.  We went to the Brigham City Temple instead and put their names in the temple.  It was a wonderful, quiet day.  The temple adds so much peace and perspective to life.  

To be Continued to report on our trip to Colorado.  It's been snowing all day, so we are checking weather and will go either tomorrow or Friday.

Thursday and Friday



The older I get the more I worry about bad roads.  After checking weather and looking at roads with Google (which is amazing), we decided to wait until Friday.  Ellen ended up needing to work at 5:00, so we went to the temple and then used one of the Olive Garden gift certificates they got from their boss and went to dinner after and then took her to work.  We also had a wonderful surprise when Chuck and Chris showed up!  Remember, they used to live next to us for quite a few years.  They have a live aboard boat in San Francisco Bay area and have never sold their home because they love Riverside.  When they left, Ellen said, "That was like a journey back to my childhood."  I went out and took a picture of them so you could all remember them and what great neighbors they were/are when the move back. 

 

We left home to go to Tom's about 7:30 Friday morning.  It was a pretty good trip except for some blowing snow across Wyoming for about an hour's stretch.  It was very cold and it made us wonder how the pioneers did it.  We had slow traffic through Denver and then all but stopped traffic because of an accident on the other side of Denver.  We got to Tom's later than we thought, but it was so good to see everyone.  The kids have sure grown a lot.

Saturday

It was so fun to just play with the kids and visit with Tom and Mel.

 

Playing the Jensen Family Tree game with Taylor and Max

 

We babysat while and Tom and Mel went to see Les Miserable.  Max is in to Star Wars and Grandpa found a copy of #4 which will always be number one to me.  That was the first one that came out.

Taylor, Max, Cambria, Grandpa holding Gabe 



Taylor lost a tooth.  Her third one!

 

Taylor and Max

 We are having a wonderful time.  It is very fun teasing Mike who almost continuously texts Kelene.  She sure seems like a nice girl and they are having a good time even though she is in Arizona and he in Colorado.  Ellen and Mike had a blind date Saturday afternoon and went laser tagging and had

 ice cream.