Hawaii Bound!

Dad and I drove to Idaho Falls, Friday Dec. 18th - we met Sydney and Jordan who had driven down from Rexburg ... we brought Sydney's car back to Pocatello - she has it packed full with the things she will need coming back from vacation - heading to Las Vegas for Student Teaching!

 Here is the right side of the car - glad it is as big as it is!

 The back - totally packed!  love the WA heart sticker and the one next to it is the Teton Dam half marathon she ran last spring.  Below - the left side of the car - pretty good packing job, I think!  Jordan will drive them back to school so she can have her car in Rexburg.

Fairbanks Visit

 Dan and Lindsey drove to Pocatello to help Kate and Ben move.  Dan brought his Dad's big covered trailer - we got to enjoy the girls for almost a whole day!  Here is Georgia eating on her little 'table' - such a cutie!

 Olivia is such a great big sister - she helps all the time ... here she is making her "Christmas Feast".

 I think toast, orange slices and a candy cane IS a Christmas Feast!

 Sadie wanted to show Millie the Snow Globe!

 I got out some Christmas Children's books and Georgia was happy!

 Millie's cute smile!

 Grandpa made yummy pancakes - looks like Christmas time with the snow outside.

 Sadie saw our marble game in the cupboard and asked if they could play ... of course!

Fun to have the chance to 'rock' the baby in the same rocking chair I did her mother!!

Annabelle's School Christmas Program

 Annabelle had her Christmas Program on Thursday, Dec. 17th.  She is on the second row from the top, under the 'Holidays' on the sign - she said that sign fell down on the first graders at practice!

They sounded like most fourth grade classes!  pretty good - the girl in red next to Anna I don't know, but the next one in gray is Avery Stones, Dad's cousins granddaughter, and then the girl in white is Grace, Anna's best friend here.

 They sang a song about Santa "too fat for the chimney - some cute hand actions.

Last of the Tendoy (Indian Chief) School programs we will see!  Anna's teacher is in red sitting on the chair helping out the music teacher.

Annabelle's Piano Recital

 Annabelle had her first piano recital at the Copper Summit Assisted Living Center - Dec. 16th.  It was snowing and the piano teacher and two other students were a few minutes late getting there...we took advantage of that and took pictures up close of Anna at the piano!

 She was a little nervous - I liked the three Wise Men on top of the piano.

 Dad went around the room introducing himself and getting back into the Recreational Therapy mode!

 Some of the client that came for the recital ... a couple of the old ladies 'sang' to the students playing ... pretty fun.  I told Dad, I hoped we didn't end up in a place like that - then I said: I guess we would have dementia and we wouldn't know we were there!  It reminded us of the Nursing Homes in Wisconsin that we would do our Family Show in.  Kate and Anna went around talking to some of the audience, one old lady asked if she could kiss Anna!  umm no!

 Sister Debbie Connet - next door neighbor to the south - great piano teacher.  She had us and Anna come over to her house after the recital and she and Anna played some more songs - not Christmas ones.  She says Anna has an unusual gift for learning music!  Thanks Aunt Heidi for giving her the use of the piano.

 Here is the cute Program Sister Connet made for the recital...Anna was first and did really well.

 Sister Connet sat with her and played the other hand - nice support!

We hope to attend many more recitals of grandchildren!  Good job Annabelle!!

Snow and Joel's concert

 First big snow of the season ... we measured 7 + inches - the airport had over 5 and said that was the largest one day total since 1963!!

 The view from our back deck...very pretty and cold!

 Joel's 'concert' was really a school assembly - the Music concert is scheduled for January!  He won't be here.  This is his 6th grade band getting ready for their two songs.

 Joel is in the middle - holding his music.  He was the only trombone - the other students didn't come.

 Joel playing the songs - they did really well.

It is amazing that only picking up an instrument less than four months ago - they sounded pretty good!  Kate said the teacher is really good - bless Middle School teachers!   The music company that Joel rents his trombone from said they could take it to Hyrum with them!  Joel did say it is harder to play now that he has braces on his bottom teeth.

More Friends Party

Another of the group just before going into the Laser Tag event....they were fun, cute boys.

 Oreo Ice Cream cake - everyone liked it.

 Pizza - everyone liked that also.

 Funny picture with all boys eating! - the little one in green shirt was a younger brother, he and his mom came.

 Joel put away both big pieces of the Oreg Ice Cream Cake - growing boy!

Whole group enjoying the ice cream cake.

Joel's Friends Party - Monday

 Joel invited four friends to go to the Outer Limits Fun Center for his friends party - Here Kate is helping them sign in on the computers.

 Two friends driving the space ship!

 Another friend playing a fun game.

 He won lots of tickets!

 They all had 20 tokens and one of the boys kept buying more for all the others.

Getting ready for Laser Tay - Brogan, Emilio, Mceen, Joel and Branson.

Joel's Birthday - Sunday

 Here is our Christmas Tree for this year - kind of lame, we know - but we are moving and don't want to have to put up and take down a bigger tree!!

 Our last Sunday Dinner in Pocatello with the Mortensens - Celebrating Joel's birthday again.

Joel and a chocolate cream pie for a Birthday Cake!  Isn't he a handsome 12 year old?

Joel's Birthday - Saturday

 We all went out for Joel's Birthday dinner on Saturday, Dec. 12th - presents and all!

 When I was getting out Joel's presents I found one I had not given to Annabelle! - that's the white box she is holding - it was a small box with three kittens on it.

 Here are the girls who came and sang Happy Birthday to Joel - plus a free piece of pumpkin pie!

 Big piece of pie - good thing Joel shared a bite with all of us.

Here's the whole group - it was a nice way to end a busy Saturday, packing, cleaning and getting ready to move.