Christmas Eve

We started our Christmas festivities at Jo's house on Christmas Eve afternoon. We had a tasty lunch with ham and rolls, fruit, and goodies.





We started the presents by giving Jo Jo and Poppy their gifts. I didn't get any pictures of Poppy's gift. Travis and Adam made him a giant ramp for the new race cars that he got. They worked hard and it paid off - the ramp is cool! We all got together and gave Jo a new camera. We also gave her a year of grandkid playdates with a calendar.


With so many kids, things at Jo Jo's can be a bit crazy at times, but it sure was fun watching all of the kids open their gifts.








After we opened all of the presents upstairs, and were spoiled. We all went downstairs for more fun and spoiling.

Hailey, Carson, and Brinlee got a a fun red wagon with two seats. Cambree got a play kitchen. Gage got a race car set. MyKelle got a real camera, and Addison got a new art desk/easel. They were all so excited..especially Hailey! She climbed in and out of the wagon lots of times, and it is still her favorite gift!







A few months before Christmas, Jo started asking us what we wanted. She gave us an amount of money to spend and told us to come up with something as a couple that we wanted. Katie and Darin knew right away that they wanted a computer. Adam and Jess got a freezer. Kelli and Jeremy got a new TV and microwave stand. Travis and I talked and talked, and couldn't come up with anything that we needed or wanted. Jo kept asking and asking, saying that we needed to come up with something because she wasn't just going to give us money. Finally, one day I asked Trav what we were going to get. He responded with, "Don't ask questions at Christmas time." Which is the Gines' family response when someone is scheming and plotting without wanting the other person to know what is up. After all the kids opened their big gifts, the couples got their gifts. Travis started opening things like new shoes for him, new pants, and a remote control helicopter. I knew that he told his mom to use the money to get me something, so at this point, I was confused. Finally, there was one last gift to open. They told me to open it, and I was truly surprised! Travis and Jo bought me a sewing machine! After the fact, I found out that he wanted Jo to use all of the money on me and buy a sewing machine and a sewing table. Jo talked him out of the table and they just got the machine, and with the extra money Trav was able to get a few things, for which I am so glad! I have already starting sewing and am so excited for my new hobby! Thank you Travis for being so thoughtful, and Jo for your generosity!




After the fun at Jo Jo's, we headed over to Grandma Gines. We ate and played the white elephant game. Then, Santa came for a visit. Addison was so in awe by him the whole time he was there. She was excited to sit on his lap and is still talking about it. Hailey, of course, didn't feel the same as her sister.

Tiny Dancer

On December 17th, Addison had her very first dance recital. Miss Katie, Addi's teacher was very specific about how she wanted the girls to look. She made us do a special hair-do in the dancer's hair. Thankfully, after a few tries, I figured it out, and it looked pretty cute. Now, it's my go-to do!

Here's the dancer before the big show...I didn't even tell her to pose like that!


The recital was packed! I got there 30 minutes early and scored a seat on the very last row..seriously! Luckily, we got a seat, there were many who did not. I asked Travis to do the still shots so that I could run the video. For their first dance, Addi's class wore Frosty the Snowman hats. It was difficult to tell which girl was which - for me anyway! I ended up filming the wrong girl the whole time! There was a girl on the end with her hands folded over her face, acting just like Addison would on her bad days. I have seen her at practice act the very same way! I thought for sure it was her...but I was wrong! Thankfully, Travis took pictures of OUR daughter. She's on the back row, with the green band around her hat. In this picture, she just above the baby's hand raised in the air.


Here's the girl I filmed the whole dance...


This was their tap dance. Miss Katie does half tap, half ballet. I'm actually really sad that I missed watching Addison!

After Travis informed me that I was filming the wrong girl, I got it right for the second dance, and she was beautiful! She's on the back row, second from the left.


They danced ballet to Jingle Bells. Addison was cute. Usually, she was a count or two behind Miss Katie, and some of the other girls, but in these shots, she's right on. Once again, back row, second from the left.



She's front and center in this one, on the free-style dance.


So proud, and excited to see so many supporters there for her!




One of the best pictures of Ethan to date...


Thanks to everyone who came to support Addison! She was so glad you were there!

Update on Hailey at Nearly 14 Months

- Hailey learned to walk. Once she had it down, there was no stopping her. She's all over the place now, almost running.
- Hailey is so accident-prone. She always has a lump or bruise on her head. We're thinking Santa should bring her a helmet for Christmas.
- Hailey is still tiny in comparison to where Addi was at this age. Her feet are the size of a 6 month old's. It's amazing that she can even walk on those tiny little things. She won't ever keep shoes or socks on - and it's hard to find some that actually fit.
- She loves her big sister Addi, and calls her "A".
- Hailey can out-eat her sister at any meal.

- She goes to bed at 7:15 PM, wakes up at about 6-7 AM, and still naps twice a day for almost an hour each time.
- Hailey is a tease. She loves to do things just to get a reaction out of people. She especially loves to "tease" her sister.
- She has seven teeth and loves to brush them.
- She loves her blanket and can't go any where without it.
- Hailey has turned into a drama queen. She likes things her way or not at all!
- Her smile still melts me and I L-O-V-E this little lady!

Realize The Promise...

This weekend, as a combined group of Young Women, Young Men, and Leaders, our ward set out on a HUGE challenge. We planned to read the ENTIRE Book Of Mormon in two days, and 'Realize The Promise' offered by Moroni to discover the truthfulness of it. After all was said and done, it ended up taking 21 hours. We listened to most of it on CD (at 1.2 times it's normal speed), read some aloud as a group, and had some guest readers. We started Friday afternoon at 4 PM, and went until 10 PM that night. We were back at the church at 7 AM on Saturday, and ended at about 11 PM, after we cleaned and set up the church for Sunday's meetings. We had planned to read the last chapter, Moroni 10, together in a combined meeting during the third hour on Sunday, but ended up reading 8 chapters together in that meeting to finish up.

Thanks to Suzanne Brenchley, for photo documenting this event, and allowing me to steal her pictures!




As YW leaders, we were in charge of feeding this group of about 60 people, four full meals, and LOTS and LOTS of snacks in between. It was a big undertaking, so we recruited the help of the ward members to donate baked goods, and come and help with preparing, serving, and cleaning up. I was so impressed with the people in our ward and their willingness to sign up and help. It was a bit overwhelming to realize how much help we had, and all that were involved to help make this event a success. We had invisioned the ward members doing all of the work, allowing us as leaders to stay in the main room the entire time. That of course, didn't happen, because there is always more to do than you think of, but with their help it was executed much more easily! We knew that food was the key to keeping the kids awake, and excited about the hours and hours that we spent at the church. My goal going into this, was to make it feel like a cruise ship, where you could get whatever food you wanted to, whenever you wanted to. I think it was an overall success! We all ate too much!!!




I was overwhelmed, and completely touched by the STRENGTH of our Youth. I received a strong witness that they are truly a chosen generation, much stronger than any other before. I was impressed by their overall desire to be there. Truth be told, there were times of boredom, and difficulty staying awake, but overall they did much better than any of us as leaders expected them to do.





I serve with an amazing bunch of women, and was grateful for the chance to get to know them each a bit better (we've only been serving together for a few months). Through this experience, not only did my testimony of the truthfulness and power of the Book of Mormon get strengthened, but I also received a strong testimony that my Heavenly Father knows each and every one of us personally, and individually. He has a plan for us, and for the orgainization of His Church. When our Gina conducted her first meeting as a new YW President, she powerfully told each of us that she had received personal insight regarding the people she chose to serve with her, and felt strongly that each of us was there for a reason. I received that witness this weekend, too. I know that these ladies are the right ones to help strengthen the young women of the Davis Creek 3rd ward, and to help strengthen me too!




We had 11 of our 15 AWESOME young women attend. They are great girls, and I'm so glad I get to be their leader, and get to be taught by them and their examples each week!

Sammy


Alana


Sidney (on the right) and her friend


Elizabeth


Brittney



Jordan


Marissa



Bree


Ashlyn


Olivia


Samantha


We ended on Sunday after we finished reading, with a testimony meeting, where EVERY single youth bore testimony of this great event, confessed to it's difficulity, wished that they had been more awake, more attentive, (I wish the same thing for myself), but the most touching part was when they testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. They testified that they felt like they never before had while reading, that they knew that Christ loves them, and that he gave His life for them. They bore strong testimony that the prophets in the Book of Mormon are real people and that they sacrificed so much, including their own lives, in some cases, for the truth. Some said that this was the first time reading the entire Book of Mormon, and that they gained a greater understanding of it's importance in our lives and know that it can be their own personal guidebook in their lives.

I was touched and grateful that I was able to be a part of this amazing event!