Christmas Morning

Amber checking out her stocking stuff. Her Webkins got an outfit.


Gary got all the episodes of Get Smart.

Here they are getting ready to make the important phone call of the day. We were able to talk to Michael at 7:00 AM our time. It was good to hear his voice.

I made the kids wait until after our phone call to open presents. They thought it was almost torture.

Jason after opening a present from Natalie.

See how excited Amber is waiting for David to open the present that she picked out for him. It was a dart board.

This video clip shows David's excitement when he gets something that he really wants. The game was for the whole family.

Another Christmas tradition

Every year on December 1st, we pull out the Christmas plates and mugs. We use them pretty much for every meal during the month of December. The kids really look forward to getting them out.

Another Christmas Tradition

Patti gave each of the kids a baby's first Christmas snowflake. They really enjoy hanging their ornament each year.

Michael's ornament

Jason's ornament

Natalie's ornament

David's ornament

Amber's ornament

Shepherd's supper

We started out our Christmas Eve celebration with a wide variety of finger foods, and eating on the floor in the living room.

We used the Nativity puppets and read through the Christmas story. We played the chimes and sang Christmas carols.

Santa (Amber) paid a visit. What a surprise, everyone got pajama's. Everyone that is except Gary. He got slippers.

We watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and then set out our stockings.

12th Memory of Christmas

Christmas Eve 1991

I thought I would tell what I remember happening on Christmas Eve. We would have a big dinner, very similar to Thanksgiving dinner. All my brothers and sisters and their families would come over. After dinner the kids would disappear and they would plan/get ready for the program for the evening. We acted out the Nativity (we got creative with parts when there were a bunch of kids that needed to be included). We had Santa come and deliver a present to the kids. We had a talent show where the kids played their instrument or the piano. Then we sang Christmas carols.

As I'm writing this, I realized that Michael was the only one of my children that has participated in a Smith Family Christmas Eve celebration. We moved to Minnesota in 1992 before Christmas and have not been home on Christmas eve since.

11th Memory of Christmas

I remember coming home from the hospital on Christmas eve with Jason. They sent him home in a stocking. We went to dinner and the Christmas eve celebration at my parents home. I remember feeling really tired, but not wanting to miss out. Jason was too little to be baby Jesus. Brian, at 3 months, made a good baby Jesus.

I wanted Jason to be born after finals, but before Christmas. Danelle and Cheryl thought that he ought to be born on their birthday. I was having contractions on the 22nd, but I needed to be in primary. I was the only presidency memeber in town that day. Labor stopped long enough to go to church. It started back up after church and I went to the hospital at about 10 in the evening. Jason was born, just before 2:00 AM. He almost made Danelle and Cheryl's birthday.

Jason's Birthday

Jason turned 17 today. I can hardly believe it. As he puts it, "Only one more year until I am an adult." Wow! They sure grow up in a hurry.

He received a fleece blanket, beef jerky, watch and books (Paradise Lost and Eldest).

Family Home Evening

David having fun with Owen

We had Family Home Evening with our friends the Cramers. Gary and Tren took the kids sleding on Carmichael hill.

We had dinner and then the kids made Gingerbread houses.

I was just kicking back and relaxing

10th Memory of Christmas

On Christmas morning, we couldn't go into the living room until 6:00 AM. I remember waking up and looking at the clock and it would be 3:00 AM. I still wake up sometimes and hope that they children will have a joyful Christmas.

We checked out our stockings and what Santa brought us. Then we would open presents. We opened them one person at a time. It was fun to see the expressions on people's faces when they got something they really wanted.

We had breakfast after that. It seems like we got a yummy cold cereal. I remember having grapefruit quite often.

When we were talking at family home evening about traditions that our children liked, Jason said that he liked opening presents one at a time.

9th Memory of Christmas

I remember the year that I was at Snow College, Wayne needed someone to ride back with him from Eager, AZ. I had time to do it, being on Christmas break from school, so I rode down to Eager with someone. I drove back to Orem with Wayne. He was coming up for Christmas. The rest of his family were all ready in Orem.

On the way to Orem, we were coming up the hill into Monticello from Blanding. It was so foggy, that we could hardly see anything. I watched the line on the right and Wayne watched the center line. I was hoping that we could stop in Monticello so that I could call Gary up. We were dating at the time. I was too afraid to call though.

8th Memory of Christmas

When we lived in Minnesota, we got together with the Bellows family on Christmas Eve, from 1996-1999. We would act out the Christmas story. We had a shepherd supper of sorts. We ate finger foods, sat on the floor, dressed as shepherds and brought our stuffed animals with us. This is a tradition that has continued on with us.

Jason, Michael and Noelle as wisemen, they left the gifts on top of the doll. Notice the intent look on Natalie's face as she plays the part of Mary. Her as Mary this year, is one of my favorite Christmas pictures.

One year Joseph and Mary got into a fight.

We had the missionaries over on Christmas Eve several of these years.

7th Memory of Christmas

The first year that we were married, Patti gave us this statue for a decoration. It has been under our Christmas tree each year since. It would seem bare under the tree without it.

6th Memory of Christmas

In 2004, we adopted a lady in our ward for Christmas. We bought a small tree for her. We took it over to her house. The kids decorated it for her. We left a few presents under the tree and left her with a stocking for Christmas morning. It was fun to do this for her. She was so happy and like a little kid wondering what was in the presents.

5th Memory of Christmas

Every year since 1991, we have put out our tree advent calendar. I got the idea from Gary's mom. She had one very similar to it. They kids have loved it. They have it out this year, even with them getting older. Sometimes Amber has to put Jason's ornament up because he forgets, but hey she thinks that just adds to the fun.

4th Memory of Christmas

I remember the first Christmas that we were in Richland, December 2000, a family in our ward did the 12 days of Christmas for us. The kids tried to catch them each evening when they left something on the porch. They never did.

Here is a bear that we received that I still put out each year. When I put it out, I think of the different things that were left on our porch.

On the 12th day of Christmas, Pete and Teri Squires, along with their family came caroling to our home. They gave us this picture and told us how much fun they had doing the 12 days of Christmas for us. Again, everytime I put the picture out when I am decorating, I think about the fun that year.

3rd Memory of Christmas

I remember going to Monticello for Michael's first Christmas, 1989. It was wierd to not be around my family and the things that I was use to. I remember that we didn't sing Christmas songs. I can't imagine now, that they didn't sing any songs, it just must have been different then what I was use to.

I made red PJ's for Gary and myself. Michael had a red sleeper. We were festive with our sleepwear.

2nd Memory of Christmas

Another memory I have from is from 1987. I made Emily a dress to match one that I had made for me. She looked so cute.


I remember my Dad buying me some red shoes to go with my dress, because I had made the dress.

My 1st Memory of Christmas

When I think of a past Christmas, one of the first that comes to mind is 1986, the year that I got my hope chest. I was really wanting a hope chest, but I knew that they were expensive. I was really excited when I saw it Christmas morning. The thing that surprised me was that not only did I get a hope chest, but Santa left me a few things inside my hope chest. I was so excited, that I remember going in and waking up (they weren't really asleep) my parents and telling them.

Good News

Jason had all kinds of good news today. He went and took his drive test and passed. YEAH!!

He also picked up his PSAT test results and he scored 240. If you aren't familiar with the test, the highest you can get is 240. He missed one question, but I guess the way that it is weighted you can still get a perfect score. That should bring him some scholarship opportunities. YEAH!!

Holiday Music Program

Amber had her Holiday Music Program tonight. It was cute. They did grades K-3. Each grade did about 3-4 songs. It only lasted an hour even with the switching of the different grade levels.

November 30

I am thankful for this month and the chance that I have had to think about those things that matter in my life. I know that I have so much to be grateful for. I know that I take many things for granted. I have a goal to look for the good things in life each day. I have a goal to have a positive attitude. When I taught seminary a few weeks back, one of the thoughts for the day was, "Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?" That made me stop and think. I hope that I can continue to look for ways that I am blessed each day.

November 29

I am thankful to be home from our vacation. We had a great time, but there is not place like home. I am grateful that we had good roads to drive on. I am grateful for the safety and convience that it is to drive.

November 28

I am thankful to Dad for buying us lunch.

I am thankful to Rod and Danelle for their Christmas gift. We went to dinner with them. It was fun to visit. I had to post the picture of Danelle because we were all giving her such a hard time about having three platefuls of food.

November 27

I am thankful that we were able to be together for Thanksgiving dinner.

November 26

I am thankful for Gary giving me a back rub/back scratch right now as I am writing this. I know you all wish that you were getting one too.

November 25

I am thankful that Gary's Dad was able to come home from the hospital today so that he could be with his family for Thanksgiving.

We were able to visit this morning and play a game of Rook. Before we left he got out of bed and sat in the chair. I think that was one of the things he needed to do in order to go home.

November 24

I am thankful for my extended family. We made it safely to Monticello. We went to the hospital for FHE. We sang Christmas songs for the lesson.

November 23

I am thankful that we arrived at my Dad's safely last night. We didn't stop for long along the way and we made it in just under 11 hours. We arrived in time to see the second half of Utah stomping BYU. I do have to say that Dad's TV is really nice.

I am thankful for the Sabbath day. I am thankful to have a day of rest. We will go to church this afternoon with Dad.

We will head to Monticello tomorrow morning.

Downstairs

Family Room- as you come in, on the left is the computer and treadmill.

The entertainment center shares a wall with David's room.

David's roomJason's room

Natalie and Amber's room Across the hall from Natalie and Amber's room is the laundry and my sewing machine and kids clothes that they have outgrown etc. It is the catch all. I had the table upstairs for my luncheon and when I took the picture, I hadn't put stuff back.

The food room we sectioned off of the above room.