Christmas Nativity

We had a fun FHE on December 14th, 2009. We acted out the Christmas Story with the Elders, Liz, Robert, Eve, and the Websters. So much fun! Here are pictures to tell the story:

Here Samuel the Lamanite (Elder Stanley) preaches on the Wall. Rocks (sock balls) and arrows where shot at him, but everyone missed!Nephi (Ben) prays to know when the sign would be given and was told it would be the next day. Here he sees the sign!Joseph (Xander) takes Mary (Rachel) on a donkey(Ben) to Bethlehem for the tax.No room in the Inn so they settle for the stable.Mary gives birth to baby Jesus and wraps him and lays him in a manger.An angel (Robert) appears to the shepherds (Jennifer and I).He tells us not to be afraid, that he has brought glad tiding of great joy! A horse turned shepherd (Eliza) helps tend the sheep.

Shepherds visit the baby Jesus and sing a song.

Eve joins Jessica at the piano. We sang Christmas carols for each scene.Elder Stanley plays with a lost sheep.
The 3 Wisemen (Elder Burrows, Wendy, & Kevin) follow the new star. They stop to talk with King Herod.

King Herod (Elizabeth) says to tell him where they find this new king so that he can come worship him too!More singing as the kings worship baby Jesus.

Kevin and Eliza.

That was it. So much fun!

Oh Chirstmas Tree

On Saturday November 28th we headed out to Christmas Mountain in search for our perfect tree. Unfortunately Jennifer had to work and didn't get to come with us. It was one of our fastest trips yet. I don't know if it was because we had nice weather, or because the kids weren't being so picky, or because we just found it fast! Anyway, we enjoyed some hot coco and then boarded on the tracker trailer and headed up to the tall trees. This is the one we chose- a fine noble. We named him "Charles". He is very well build and shaped! Not too tall, not too short, and bushy just the way we like it!

Rachel enjoys flicking the little tiny tree top- one of Charles's neighbors.

Jessica and the measuring pole. Notice the lovely scarf she is wearing. It is the Westview choir scarf for the year. At the choir retreat a couple of weeks earlier they did an activity that involved yarn. Jessica volunteered to take it home and crochet it into the scarf. It will be passed around each week. She was given it first and got it for the long weekend.

Taking is the beautiful view from the top of Christmas Mountain.Kevin said that it wasn't fair that he had to lay in the mud every year and cut down the tree.

Melissa volunteers to cut down the tree and gets to work.

Hauling the tree to the road for a pick up.Loading Charles onto the trailer. We had to stop at Mistletoe Lane for this photo. Mistletoe is one of Melissa's nicknames.

Waiting for Charles to be shook and bailed.

He looks so small now!

Here we go! It was a nice, cold, but sunny day for a tree hunt. Charles is now in the front room waiting to be decorated.

Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving 2009 was a real treat for our family. We served 22! To make room for everyone we moved one of our couches into the living room, and set up two more tables. Everything looked and tasted wonderful. The best part was spending time with family and friends. The Wiseman family of 7 joined us as usual, and in addition we had a bunch of Carters too! My Aunt Bonnie was here, and my cousin Craig and his wife Tracy, their daughter Wendy (my 1st cousin once removed) with her husband Ben and two kids Xander and Eliza, and her brother Jake.

After feasting we enjoyed visiting and laughing. Later Xander came and told me that Thanksgiving was over now, and it was time for us to get on with the Christmas singing and instrument playing! So we all crowed into the living room and got out the instruments and played and sang Christmas songs. I must admit we are getting better each year!

It was a great Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for all the many blessings I have been given. Especially family, friends, and music.

Kaula Pork

We have been blessed to have the Elders in our home every Monday night for dinner and Family Home Evening. They have been teaching Elizabeth. Such a nice spirit to have her being taught in our home. On one occasion I had asked the Elders if there was any food they were craving or wanting. Elder Burroughs if from Hawaii, shyly said (as he rubbed his tummy) that he'd love to have Kalua Pork. I had no idea what that was, but offered to make him some sweet and sour pork instead. He was happy with that. Well, I chatted on facebook with Jenn Hoopii, my companion from Hawaii, and she told me all about Kaula Pork and how to do it. She said that if I made it for the Elder that he'd be my Friend for ever. So after searching online and getting more advise and recipes, and even going to a Hawaiian restaurant my friend told me about so I could see what it tasted like, I did. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. A few hours before dinner I got the thought that I should make some cake for dessert- so ran to the store for some pineapple, and Rachel baked a pineapple upside down cake. Well, the dinner was a success. Elder Burroughs ate until he couldn't eat anymore! When we served the cake, Elder Stanley (his companion) said "go ahead- tell them!". "Tell us what?" we asked. It was Elder Burroughs Birthday! We quickly put a candle on his piece of cake, and sang to him. I am so happy that I made Kaula Pork!

NWPA

On November 7th Kevin, Jessica, and Melissa traveled with the Marching Band for their last competition of the marching season to Corvallis to compete in the OSU Marching Band Competition and Oregon State University. To my surprise after getting them all sent off, Brian says, "Let's Go!". I was in shock, because Brian rarely even wants to go to the local competitions. I guess after all these years with kids in band it is finally grown on him. So He and I packed up our coats and rain gear and headed off to Corvallis, Oregon. We got their just in time for lunch break- which was boring. But once the shows started again we enjoyed ourselves. It was fun to see all the different bands and the variety of shows and ability levels. It was a fun day. I'm glad that we went (even though it was freezing!) Our kids our great!

Yea Melophones! Yea Saxophones! Yea Tubas!Yea Percussion Rack!