We finally took family pictures again.  We had to get the four grandchildren that have joined our family since the last time we took pictures.  It was amazing we could all get there to have them done.  Joseph (my second to oldest grandchild) didn't feel well that day and hadn't eaten.  He fainted during the Grandchildren group.  That made it a picture to remember for sure.  Looking at my family together reminds me how blessed we are.  My treasures are all in the pictures.  I am thankful that I have been taught to value my family above every earthly treasure.  Here are the new pictures.

last few days

The last week I got to be the lucky grandma that tended my grandkids and their Golden Retriever named Yankee.  It was fun, but so busy.  I kept thinking how I possibly worked and raised four kids and am still alive today.  On Sunday we celebrated two birthdays.  Then I started thinking how did I ever have a birthday, how did I have birthdays and raise four kids.  Here are some pictures.  I should have taken pictures of the messes, because now I am not a young Mom with daily messes, I really think they are kind of funny.  Next time!

In three weeks my mother in law will be 100 years old.  There isn't enough I can say about the life she has lived and the amazing person she is.  She has really lived a simple life really.  She lived in the same home for over 70 years.  She lived simply, loved and took care or her family, accepted all her children's spouses like they were her own.  She didn't travel a lot, she didn't drive new fancy cars, but she know what the real riches were and that was her family.   We are having a quiet party for her 100th birthday.  She is very fragile and requested that we do that.  Here is a picture of her.  I will post pictures on her birthday and write more.

I didn't decorate as much was I would have liked, but here are a few of my Christmas touches around the house.  I love Christmas and here is a list of my favorite parts of Christmas.
1.  The reason we celebrate.  The birth of Jesus Christ.  2. The Music  3. The way people act towards others at this time of the year.  4. The lights and decorations.  5. The children.  6. Having my family around, and all our traditions.

After the great St. George snow storm and travel home we began Christmas in earnest.  Grandma Harding was with us in December.  She is failing and we cannot leave her alone so we were grounded. Mom stayed healthy but it is still lots of time and work to help take care of her.  Besides the extra work it was nice having both of the Grandmas with us on Christmas day and we had lots of fun enjoying our kids, kids in law, and 13 grandkids.  Here are some pictures.

December was a wild and crazy month.  First we were in St. George (where it was supposed to be warm and sunny and they had the biggest snow storm in 40 years,