Our Christmas 2009

Just some snapshots of our Christmas Celebration

Matix - He could 'smell' it was for him and didn't hesitate to take it out from under the Christmas Tree.

Do you remember this little guy from last Christmas

He weighs about 100 lbs now.  But he does still love Jon!

Jamie trying to feed Marnee Cream Puffs.

Holly's babies

and Justice and Josh - Dark hair blue eyes and blond hair brown eyes!

and More

T.J. and Derrick with Kristine

And . . . Carter would not let me take his picture and the photographer did a bad job on Holly and Matt -

But we had a wonderful Christmas together.

xoxoxoxoxo

Below:  Jim and I as Mary's Parents in the play "Savior of the World".  Do we look like a nice Jewish couple?  Well, no!  But it is was such a great experience anyway.  Another way to look at it . . . we were Jesus's Grandparents.

In any case, it was a spiritual feast. 

Here is Jim waiting for the show to open.

Jon and Ammon were in it too, but refused to take part in the photo op even though I pleaded and I promised Ammon he would regret it some day - to no avail - Naughty (I sure do love them) boys! <3

My sister said "You also took the fall off; now update that blog"

O.k. - o.k. o.k.  So I have become slothful . . . I mean, I am still.  BUT -  Here are some photos of events of the fall:

Love those new grandbabies who arrived in the summer.  Easton Matthew and Preston Wade.  Both were "blessed" in the Fall, so that is good 'fall' news.

Easton

(He's first since he is a whole week older than Preston)

That cute blanket was made by Kristine - Jason's wife.

Above:  Jamie holding Easton 'in the buff'

Below:  look at that cute little cowlick in front.  That is quite a swirl!

Easton dressed in his blessing outfit.  He looks pretty handsome I think.

Just a side note: On Easton's blessing day, this guy got up and walked to the podium as if he were going to address the audience with his testimony.  He did, in a way.  He got up and dedicated a song to BOTH babies and then on the piano he 'played' his testimony . . .  "I need thee every hour".  It was so, so beautiful.   I just thought, "Wow, this guy is really good!"  I was thrilled.  I thought to myself that I ought make sure I sought him out to tell him how wonderful the song was - thinking that maybe he didn't know how beautifully he played (like I do - it's always nice to hear that you did o.k.).  However, I didn't see him again and never got to say how wonderful it was.  It was not until we left the meeting and went to Jamie's house for dinner that I found out, uhhh! Duhhh! Yeah, he probably knows he has a bit of talent there - that was Michael McClean . . . do I feel dumb!  I bet though, he still likes to know he did o.k.

I do believe Easton looks a LOT like his daddy.

Note in the photo below - Matt can never not claim this child.

Note Matt's cowlick!!!

Speaking of looking like his daddy . . .

Preston & Wade

I adore this photo!

We were there with the family in September (as I mentioned in my last posting)

but we missed Preston's blessing day by one day.

By the way, I think Preston looks more like me

than any of my children,

let alone my grandchildren.

O.k. maybe just his hair color.

Unfortunately I can't claim any gene pool contributions

to this sweetie beautiful child.

But I love them both just the same.  

Thanks Wade and Cristy for arranging that for me!

Preston - you little doll!

* * * * *

Now the reason I missed the fall updating was because of this Play we were in . . . Savior of the World.  I will be posting that soon.  But in the meantime, here is Halloween at our house.  Isabelle and Gabrielle visiting us.

So happy Halloween and Thanksgiving . . . 'till we meet again.

I took the summer off

Hi friends and family. I love you.  Did you miss me????

Well, maybe not . . . I may be talking to just myself right now - and yes, I miss me - posting on my blog . . . If anyone had stuck around to read it at this point they would be dusty and old.  "Tis o.k. - but I do plan to post more things.  Gosh, I guess I just needed the summer off!

Since my last post, we had a gaggle of birthdays, but especially noteworthy were the birth days of my two newest grandchildren, Easton and Preston.  I don't think my daughter Jamie and her husband Matt coordinated their baby's name with my son Wade his wife Cristy's baby name on purpose. I'll be posting some photos.

I have been traveling quite a bit with my job.  Mostly to the St. George area and southern Utah.  I usually stay in this wonderful bed and breakfast there across the street from Brigham Young's Summer home.  You should go there . . . really!  It is called the Seven Wives Inn.

THEN

Jim and I went home to Cowley - love my home town. 

Love my mom and Dad.  Is this just so cute?

Dad mowing his acres of grass

with a push mower. 

He's 80!!! 

Oh! I took my turn, don't worry!

We also went out to the Denver area to see Wade and family.  You know, we have not been anywhere for years, literally. 

And we stopped here at this lovely restaurant to eat

while we were on our way there. 

NOTHING is too good for us! 

As you can see, we went ALL out!

Our sandwiches we packed were quite tasty.

We visited Rocky Mountain National Park during the 'elk rut' . . . 

You just can't believe the elk. 

The people there live with them as if they were tame cows.

  Here's pappa watching over his harem. 

If any other bull gets too close,

It's hell to pay for the poor hapless intruder . . .

unless he's bigger . . .  Then there's real trouble.

The whole harem leaves their man for the new guy

without complaint.  That's loyalty for you.

(you've got to enlarge this one)

My Granddaughter, Morgan - don't worry, she is perfectly safe here!

Postcard for Grandma and Grandpa Hardie

AND

We also visited the LDS Conference center this summer - they had an art exhibit from contributors from members from all over the world.  It was wonderful, and these are my personal favorites:

This one is entitled "They Did Not Doubt"

I just wept!

*

I also loved this scultpure

 

It is called "Mary and Martha"

Mary looking up with her spiritual eyes, scriptures in hand.  Martha looking down to earth, and holding a basket of produce to care for her families earthly needs.  We need to have balance as these two are doing.

(I'm sorry I am not giving credit to the artists.  I neglected to get the information)

Ohhhhh!  And finally . . . Our family is in a stake play called "Savior of the World".  My kids and my husband now hate me immensely cause they think I succored them into auditioning.  Jon and Ammon still have yet to actually attend a practice.  However, they have minor parts, so I think they will catch on.  But they are supposed to be singing.  That's going to be a trip - whew!  Jim, on the other hand, has a speaking part AND he has to grow a beard.  Now Jim has never in his life had a beard other than a few days 'sick leave' from shaving. Yes, they are all shooting blood from their eyes, but I just know it will be this great family experience . . .  well, please pray for me, would you?  

Oh, it is soooooo, soooo funny! . . . we discovered Jim has no chin hair in the front . . .  pictures to come.