Michael and Sydney's Blog: December 2009 Activities/Pre-Christmas

I wanted to share some of the fun things we did BEFORE Christmas. This blog reviews December starting at Christmas Eve at the train station. We are excited about out train ride. Heidi and Christy are actually making jokes about my load of lugguage and games, reindeer ears and bells etc. All of this I planned to take on the train. My coat is bulging because I don't want to have to leave anything behind.

Lucky for Christy she got to open a present she didn't purchase for herself. She received a large cast iron skillet so she can make German Pancakes. I told her I have had my same pan for almost 40 years. Now she has the pan, she can build a life around it. Love you Christy!

Colin was so much fun to have around to watch as he sampled every Christmas food offered him. Here is is with a Snikerdoodle. He was also sniffing the aromas from Dad's Christmas Breakfast.

We had Christmas Breakfast the morning we left for San Antonio. Colin approved. Thanks again Dad for making the delicious traditional breakfast. Dad said he missed having Adams' help.

We lovely ladies drove together to the Nokia Theater near Dallas to see The Rocketts Show from New York. It was a wonderful show with dancing, lights, music and a living nativity. They brought camels, sheep and donkeys on the set. It was a spectacular sight. Thanks Dad for buying the tickets for this fun night out on December 23.

Heidi flew into DFW on December 22. She went with me to sing at the nursing home in Azle. I go twice a month for a sing along. It was especially nice to have Heidi come and do her beautiful singing. The residents loved her singing and one old guy tried to convince her to stay.

We had the missionaries for dinner the evening Heidi came home. We also had the Thetford family over. The missionaries sang songs for us and read scriptures.

We went out Christmas Light viewing. Jackson helped me take these pictures at a sight off Flat Rock Road. These people light up their whole acreage.

More pretty lights, Texas style.

Merry Christmas from Colin. We visited him in his new house one Sunday evening.

Christy's Christmas Coverings, Colorful, Clever and Catchy!

Jared and Jamie's other fireplace and stockings.

Jamie's decorated tree in the new house.

I took this picture on December 19th after we went to the Dallas Temple. After that Dad took me to see Bodies in Dallas. It was interesting and inspiringto look inside the body and see all the intricacacy of each part of the body, just like there was a great plan. We left with an immense appreciation for our Creator, which seemed fitting for Christmas.

This is one of my cute students, and our class Gingerbread Village made from graham crackers and candies. We worked on the big house for one week and they each made their own houses. I've been doing this at school for the last 19 years. This may be my last time. (I say that every year.)

My birthday bouquet arrived at school early on my birthday as a surprise from Dad. It was the biggest and most beautiful arrangement with lots of orange flowers. It was a total surprise, because I never think Dad is listening to me. A few weeks before my birthday I told him that I decided that orange was my new favorite color. Turns out he was listening and that made it even more special. These flowers lasted for weeks and sat on the table during much of December.

I took this picture while Christy was home, so we will call it her 19th Happy Birthday picture. She turned 19 on December 12. She was away from home at UT. We sent her a cookie gram which arrived with 3 dozen cookies, one pint of Blue Bell, 2 milks and 2 pieces of cheesecake, a balloon and a Happy Birthday card. We wanted her to know she was loved and missed on her birthday. She said she gave most of the cookies away.

Jackson and I made this turkey on the first day of December. It was a combination of goodby Thanksgiving and hello Christmas.

Here the gang is at the Fort Worth Christmas Parade on the day after Thanksgiving. It was 70 degrees at the parade and Jared bought us all an ice cream cone.

One of the lighted floats from the parade. We picked a good place to view the parade. Before we left Jamie and Jackson had helped me decorate our Christmas tree. We were all more than ready for the Holidays to begin. December 2009 came and went in a flurrry of fun activities.