Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 is now history, but like Christmas' past it was full of a lot of joy and the memories need to be preserved. Unfortunately, a lot of the time around the holiday was spent moving 50 plus inches of snow, but that too is an event that may not happen again in my lifetime.

One event to remember was going to Michael McClean's production of "The Forgotten Carols" on December 18th. We went to Saint George and had dinner at the Cracker Barrel with Terry and Vicki Atkinson and another couple and then to the "Carols" at the Cox Arena. I have learned to love many of his songs, and the story that he has written to go along with it is interesting and fun. I would recommend it as a Christmas tradition if possible.

Jillyn, Kenny and girls arrived at our house on Sunday evening the 21st and stayed through the 28th. Kenny and I had some hope of getting in a round of golf, but that was not to be. Many thanks to Kenny and Jillyn for shoveling my driveway a couple of times while I was cleaning the road to the bridge, plowing out Dad and Donna and helping some of the neighbors. We did have a couple of warm days in between storms so the snow settled quite a bit and now has a fairly hard crust beneath the six or so inches that came later.

We had a birthday dinner for Dad on his 84th, which was Monday. Annette and Ed brought steaks which Ed braved the cold to barbecue on the grill outside. Claudine brought home made rolls and a salad. We provided drink and dessert. Brent was having truck problems and couldn't make it. We had a good time eating and visiting. Later we went to Saint George to a Sandberg family party. It was raining the entire time we were there but it didn't dampen the spirit. Some of the kids and grand kids performed Christmas songs and Aunt Grace (Rex's wife) recited a story that was an incredible feat of memorization for someone near 80.

Dad's 84th Birthday

Ellie and I drove her dad back to Cedar and stayed over night with him. He is suffering from an enlarged prostate and was having a biopsy on Tuesday. I went home Tuesday morning and Ellie stayed with him to take him to have the procedure and came home later. I shoveled out James' driveway then while I running some errands got a call the Dad was missing. It was assumed he was out stuck somewhere in his Ranger. When I finally got home to look for him I noticed the garage door was not open and there were no tracks leaving in the new snow. I back-tracked and found him laying in the snow just outside the chicken coop. He had slipped and couldn't get himself up. I asked if he was freezing and his comment was "It ain't very hot!" When I asked how long he had been laying there his reply was "not too long." When we got him in dry clothes and warmed up we realized he had left the house at around 7:15 and I found him at 11:15, four hours later. I can't believe how tough he is. so far there seems to be no ill effects, and within two hours he was ready to head out again.

Tuesday night Ellie and I sang in the choir for "Christmas in Harmony". I had made only one practice because they were usually held on Tuesday when I have Mutual. The entire group hadn't practiced nearly enough so it wasn't the best performance ever, but the special numbers were good and it got us in the Christmas Spirit.

Colleen dropped James off on Christmas Eve and he spent Christmas and a few days here with us. I think he enjoyed it but was glad to get back to his own home on Saturday.

Christmas Day was fun, especially seeing the girls so excited with their gifts and treats. We had Dad and Donna down for Christmas Dinner and we all enjoyed visiting and eating.

Camille and McKenna enjoying Christmas

Camille in her "Princess" outfit

Joel, Tiffany and their girls arrived Friday afternoon to join in the festivities. All the girls had fun playing with dolls and toys. The adults played games, ate and visited. On Saturday we played in the snow, sleigh riding and just sliding down the huge snow piles. The snow was too dry to make snowmen, but Kenny did make a sculpture(?) and Joel and I dug a snow cave. By the time we got it finished all the kids were either tired or cold and had gone inside. We did get out for a while Sunday morning to enjoy the snow again before church.

The girls enjoying the snow cave


Even the 'adults' enjoyed the cave / Jillyn stuck in the emergency exit

Sledding down the frozen road, we could go nearly to the old bus

Jillyn and Kenny left around noon on Sunday. Joel went to Dixie for some dirt biking with friends. He and Tiffany are going home tomorrow. It has been a great Christmas and we hate to see it come to a close. It will seem kind of lonesome around here when they are all gone and we will be anxiously looking forward to their next visit.