Second Christmas

On a second Christmas it is customary to tear off the wrapping to see what is inside. Here Anita is demonstrating how it is done.



Santa is a new experience. He is scary!

Christmas Day

In the morning we slept in, not like in years past.

It was 8am before we arose. This was not because we stayed up late or did anything that was not customary. We had our family home evening in the living room where the tree and presents were placed. This year Santa put most all the gifts under the tree wrapped. We read from the Bible about the birth of the Lord Jesus and the circumstances that surrounded his birth. We then opened a gift each. The snack for Santa was set out, olives and cheese with a cup of cranberry cocktail. We put out the one gift that was not wrapped, a bicycle, and retired to bed by 10am.

Breakfast was as usual. We spent some of the time in the morning setting up a new arrangement of the study so as to make room for the new Wii. Now our time is ocupied with watching some of the classical movies that were from Santa and playing with the Wii.

Our Christmas dinner was a grand feast indeed. We had a fine turkey, mashed potatoes, olives, sweet potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, and a fine drink with cranberry juice. It has been nice to send time together and feast.

Merry Christmas to All

The past year has flashed by. Our family is scattered across three states. I wish we were closer so we could see more of each other.

Larry is the 11 year old scout leader in our ward. He was the family history center director and scoutmaster until recently. He still is the ward web site administrator.

Last year at work he joined the new Toastmaster's club that was started. He was elected to the office of Seargent at Arms. He is working on his eighth speech and is doing the web site. Our club started out pretty strong, but started to wane. We have a diverse group that participate in Toastmasters.

Work has been a challenge the past year. I was the manager over a group of ~10 people but have now been asked to head up an Internal Research and Development project related to composite materials design and analysis and work on methods for analysis. I still have 4 projects that I am responsible to manage, but that will diminish as the projects come to an end.

Jeanette says Merry Christmas from the balmhy breezes of Texas. It has been rather warm here.

Arlo is still in school.

Craig, Brina, and Bradly are too far away.

Brian is still in Littleton.

Julie, Clint, and Leslie are too far away.

Anita is in Salt Lake City.

Debra finished her junior year in high school. She spent the summer in Magna, Utah and worked at Smith's Food and Drug. Debra attended EFY in Idaho. Eric is still shorter than Debra. Debra is studying Kempo with Brother Owens at the church on Wednesday nights before youth activities. Debra is planning on going to New York for choir. Jeanette and Debra are going together. Debra is a tutor in math for an 8th grade boy.

Eric is in the 8th grade. Eric has a moose named Bruce. Eric has completed the work on his project for the rank of Eagle Scout but needs to have a scoutmaster conference and finish a couple more merit badges. Eric is working on a science project to investigate if capping your toothbrush promotes or inhibits the growth of bacteria. Eric is almost as tall as Debra -- measured daily.

Eric's favorite family gift of Christmas was the... Wii!!!!!!!!!