Remembering 2008

I was asked what was the best part of 2008? It has been on my mind all day. I have had a lot of blessings through the year. We welcomed 3 new grandchildren, healthy and growing now nearly a year old. I love each grandchild who comes into our family so much, you would think there isn't room for more, but there is. Each one brings a bit of heaven to their homes. We were able to fly to Ohio to meet one of them and see Jeffery while he was on leave. We said farewell to our beloved Prophet Gordon B Hinckley and sustained a new one- Thomas S Monson. He has continued to announce more Temples in foreign lands, namely Paris and Rome among others. Our oldest Grandchild was baptized this year and the following day his sister was blessed by her father. The priesthood is such a blessing to us all. Paul, his brothers and father have been able to bless his mother who has been is so much pain lately from her fractures, caused by the Osteoporosis. I have been able to do the quilting that I love to do and have made more progress than in other years. I joined a small quilt group and devote at least one day a week to my quilting there. I counted that I have completed over 15 quilts this year. I still have many UFO's, They will get done eventually. I did start more than I finished so I have goals to complete those that were started in 2008 first. Only because they are closest to the top of the pile in the totes. We were able to gather 2 of my siblings at Christmas time and look forward to gathering with the Crowther's to begin the New Year! 2009 will be another good year with 2 more grandchildren coming to join our family. And another grandson will be baptised in December to start the Holiday Season. Our Blessings are abundant if we just look each day for them.

Brown's gathering

We got together with my Brother and Sister and their families in Richland at the Ransom's home. Of course Pictures were taken... Paul, Mary, Derlyn, Sheila, Roma & Gordon Descendants of Alma & NaOla Brown - 1st & 2nd Cousins Michael & Beth came all the way from Oklahoma to spend Christmas with Roma & Gordon. Derlyn & Sheila spent Christmas in Hermiston with Tim & Danette's family. Paul & Mary Family...missing half of the kids. 9 of 12 grandchildren Milton and Christen's children finally got to open their gifts of the Jerseys that I made. I had to see if my grandchildren could JUMP like Sylvia Bushman does, Here's our tries at Jumping, just for her! Jackson jumped so hard he fell down laughing! Grandpa Paul tried to Jump and NaDell's girls jumped but the best jump was at Milton's house where Seth got some AIR when he jumped. When we got home there was a package from CUBA on the porch. It was all wet. This Nativity was inside. Only the wings on the angel were broken off. There was a water ball that burst, that is why the package was wet. Jeffery sent it with some Guantanamo Cuba Ornaments for his siblings and Grandma and Grandpa Crowther. There were nice cards for Dad & Mom, and a note for mom to explain who got the ornaments. It all made me cry, but that is easy to do since we miss him and had hoped he would be home for Christmas or soon after. Brant, Tina & Christopher are still enroute, stranded in a hotel in Idaho until the road between Ontario and LaGrande opens up in the Morning. Jes, Janessa & Jackson went home to Vancouver today. We had a great time this whole week celebrating Christmas. I'm so grateful my heart is bursting with all the love and happiness that we share. Who knew that when our children were grown they would still like each other...

ChristmasHoliday 2008

Christmas/Boxing Day- Sledding Pioneer hill Christmas Eve we used the Nativity Puppets- Jackson kept throwing the Babe off his arm. That's why Jes is laughing. Jackson thought he could sit in Santa's chair, hahahaha Christmas Morning - Jes gives Janessa a bear hug Candy Cane Bread, a Christmas tradition, better without being burned and Foil in it this year. Lots of Nuts and Cherries, YUMMMY Paul got me a Crystal Nativity- the first one he has bought for me. I got Paul a set of Metric ratchet tools.Craftsman is the best! My Secret Santa got a 30's Charm pack for me, among other things. OOOOO, AHHHHHH NaDell and Andy and their kids came Christmas Afternoon. I misplaced my Olympus camera and the Nikkon won't upload my pictures for some odd reason. Sorry NaDell. Now that I figured out how to upload video too. Will have to put them on my Memory stick somehow and upload the video of Olivia and Elizabeth dancing with ELMO LIVE! It is a good one! We can't show the presents because not all the kids have gotten theirs yet. Milton and his family get theirs on Saturday. Waiting for Brant, Tina and Christopher to come Monday or Tuesday. Christmas will last a longer time this year. All the way through New Years. Watch for many more Blogs about Christmas... Here are Joe and Colby ready to take off! Joe and Colby took Grandpa Paul sledding at Pioneer Park. Joe figured out that our Olympus camera takes VIDEO too. Have had the digital camera 2 years now and just learning new tricks.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to those who are here... and to those who will come... Happy Birthday to Christina Bosen Crowther born on this day 22 years ago. Also today I remember my parents who are missed very much. It's been a long time, but every year at this time I hear Momma singing in my ear... Reminding me that I am loved and to do what she would do if she were here. Serve my family and 'make a homemade' Christmas. So today we are getting ready for the "Candy Cane Bread" and the homemade gifts. Not everyone in my immediate family will be together today. We will miss Jeffery in Cuba, Mandy and Ben in Ohio

Nativity Puppets and More SNOW!

Today in Primary I let the children act out the Nativity with my Nativity puppets. It was hard to contain the little ones long enough to line them up for a picture. The donkey and wisemen didn't hold up too well, some parts came off... (note to Mary, get better glue) The older Children get the story and it didn't take as long to get a picture of them. We decided we need a STAR to shine for the Wisemen. Now everybody wants to make these for next Christmas... I love these Nativity Puppets. They make it easy to portray the real story of Christmas. And afterall... Christmas is for Kids! After Church, the snow was still coming down in BIG FLUFFY FLAKES! I couldn't get up the driveway so I had to park in front. See the accumulation on top of the lightpost? It grows higher with each snowfall. I need some grandkids to come play and make snowmen and snow angels for me! It looks like a BLUE Christmas without them if this keeps up. They wouldn't want to get stuck here in Walla Walla...

Primary Dinner- Christmastime 2008

We got to have a dinner as a Primary Presidency at Turners for Christmas Friday night, in spite of the snowy weather! I had to have a picture of us taken before year's end, we were called back in the Summertime. Jay and Wendy made a wonderful Dinner, the company was great! For dessert,Wendy made this Yummy cake. We had to take a picture. School's are closed the good neighbors are shoveling and using their snow plows to help others. It's cold, but we have a warmth of Love for each other. I love working in the Primary. These are truly God's Children! He loves them all and when they sing I feel the Spirit through them. It's 5 days before Christmas and I'm not stressing too much... hahahaha I had 2 days of straight sewing and got a lot of things done and in the mail.

SNOWBOUND - sewing

Winter is HERE! We have had more snow, it has continued to fall here in Walla Walla. This is my view out the front door tonight. 19" showing on the yardstick today and more coming this week-end... Paul had to shovel to get up the driveway. A nice neighbor put a blade on the front of his lawnmower and zoomed past in the sidewalk clearing the way. I have spent the day in my jammies sewing the day away! YEA, one more gift ready to wrap up for the grandchildren!!! No pictures, it's a surprise! I only have to wait a week to see how they like what I made for them.

Winter Wonderland

BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! Here is what it looks like at night. Dad put the Icicle lights on the front trees since he couldn't use the work ladder to reach the eaves of the house to put them there. This is what the Winter Wonderland in Walla Walla looks like. Just in case you were wondering. I had to trudge out in my Trek Hiking boots, sweep my way down the steps and change batteries 3 times to get these pics. Paul was just saying last Sunday how nice the December weather was this year. So I guess the weatherman heard him and had to change things up a bit this week. I used my metal yard stick after trying to use a 6" protractor that was upstairs, (it was way over the protractor deep). The stick is on the 9" mark, a Quarter Yard in Quilt-eze! I will be in my sewing room as much as possible this week...11 days before Christmas.

Christmas Traditions- Very Long Post!

Here is our 2008 Christmas Tree with the Family's ornaments on it. All decked out with 500 twinkle lights... It is a far cry from the $1.00 Charlie Brown tree our first Christmas!

Walla Walla 3rd Ward had their Christmas Fireside on Friday.The Bishop got to read scriptures at the Ward Party. Someone said he looked like" Mr Rogers"

Ha, Ha, Ha!!!

Young Men sang "Once in Royal David's City"

Brother Fairchild played "Angel's We Have Heard on High" The Primary Children Sang... "Jesus is Coming" There's a video, but I need to learn how to upload it to posts.

Elders posed with and sat on Santa's lap. Today Paul and I braved the weather reports and traveled to Tri-cites. It was snowing hard in Walla Walla when we left. No snow in Tri-cities though. Today was the day to deliver ornaments to the Families so they can enjoy them this year. First stop was Milton and Christen's... Coy wasn't feeling well so he was in his sleep shirt. They still got a picture putting their ornaments on their tree.

I delivered the last two quilts. We got to see Kori's pre-school all set up. Joe was helping clean up after the past week.

Andy wasn't home but the kids all got to put their ornaments on the tree. Andy was at the Nutcracker Ballet getting ready for the matinee performance. Aunt Roma came from Warden to go with NaDell, Elizabeth, Olivia and I. Vincent got to stay with Grandma Shirley.

Here are all of us at the "Nutcracker Ballet". I'm so glad we got to go. It was Roma's first time to see the ballet! Olivia and Elizabeth were weary of more pictures. They got autographs and cookies afterward.

2 weeks Before Christmas

I've been having fun trying to finish the grandma gifts for Christmas. Some are still from last year so the gifts this year are not as elaborate. I've had to simplify because of time restraints. I'm having some very late nights. Going to quilt at Lynn's has helped me finish most of the families quilts. YEA!!! I hope to deliver two more this Saturday when I go to see Andy in the Nutcracker Ballet. My Christmas letter is still in my head... It will get done next week. Paul has brought in the tree and it is ready for lights and trimming. Gotta still decide which window it will be in... The mail each day brings new Christmas cards and swap squishies for the Birthday Swap I'm hosting on WASIQ this next year. I'm waiting for my stocking from my Secret Sister. Last night was our Quilt Guild Potluck and Treasure sale. Lynn and I participated in a Ornament and tree block swap . Those are pictured in the 2nd picture. The book and fat Quarters were prizes from the Fall Mystery we did last month. I think I made out like a bandit.

Had to take 4 pictures to show all the loot I got at the treasure sale and things from my Secret Pal - it was the same lady as last year-- Jean Fletcher.

My lady, Ann Bisgard, made me a felted wool star that is white and beaded.

I finished getting the 3 sets of ornaments for the Ornament Swap that Marilee McQuarrie does each year. I stopped after Guild with Lynn to see her Homemade Ornaments on her tree. My ornaments this year were...

Two of them were made by Mignon Lim. I made some tin-puched ones many years ago and since I have saved all my juice lids from my smoothies I had some lids to make these. The only requirement was that they be homemade.

This Saturday I'll deliver the kids ornaments to them so they can enjoy them on their trees also. I have to mail 3 sets to the ones not in Tri-cities.

Tina graduates on Friday with her Teaching Certificate from BYU-I. CONGRATS to her for this achievement. She gets to say the Prayer at her graduation too. Brant is in charge of taking pictures since I can't be there.