New Year's Eve

I saw the idea for a New Year's Tree on Pinterest and thought we'd try it out for our family New Year's Eve party/FHE.

Maybe it will become a new tradition???

 The kids helped me to decorate the tree. We stuffed balloons with silly jokes and also placed sparkly icicles, circle garland and noise makers on the tree.

 We topped it off with a Happy New Year hat and 2013 glasses.

 In the evening, we gathered for pizza and treats.

 After dinner, we did the kid gift exchange. Each cousin brought a white elephant gift to give. We sang "Jingle Bells" as they passed the gifts around in a circle. When the song ended, the gift in their lap was theirs.

 The Clawson's had just moved back from Arizona. We were so happy to have their family back in our midst.

Missing Dean and Candice's family though.

 We sent the kids to play, and then the adults did their own white elephant gift exchange.

As midnight approached, we popped the balloons and read the silly jokes. Kyrick was the most entertained..and most entertaining. We would read the joke and then the kids would laugh. As Kyrick figured the joke out, he would laugh extra hard and really get a kick out of it. Sometimes he would admit he didn't get it..but when explained, it was funny all over again.

Taylee 

Treyson 

Kyrick 

Abree 

Audrey 

Grandpa Waite 

Grandma McKinley 

 Lexie & Tyrel

Sydney

Maliah

Minutes before midnight, we turned on the t.v. and watched the ball drop as we counted down from 10. The kids went crazy with noise makers..for the few minutes we adults could stand it...then it was back on the tree for next year. :)

Happy 2013!!!

Christmas Ison FHE

On the first Monday of December, we gathered in our home, to have our annual Christmas Ison FHE.

Tim read the story of our Savior's birth, as the kids covered their heads with towels and scarves acting as Mary, Joseph, shepherds or wisemen.

It was nice to have Jana and Kevin's family there... including Aaron and his cute kids.

After reading in the scriptures, we took turns ring bells and singing Christmas carols, until our special visitor arrived...Santa!

Our Santa helper this year was new to the job. He was sweet, funny and did a great.

Of course the traditional white elephant gift exchange happened and many treats were enjoyed.

Grandma Ison's Funeral

We had what seemed like, a mini family reunion for Grandma Ison's funeral. Many family and friends gathered to say their good-byes.

Arielle made a video for the viewing/funeral. She started with pictures of grandma as a baby, continued throughout her life, then ended with a recent video recording of Grandma cooing, oooing and ahhing over the newest great-grand baby, Jonathan.
As you hear grandma say, "What should we do with all these kids?" the video pans out to the big family photo, then back to grandma holding Jonathan. It's very sweet...gets me teary every time I watch.

Jocile-Angela-LoraDawn-Jana-Kristen

Amber and I gathered a few things from Grandma's house to display at the funeral.
We included things that said "Grandma Ison" to us; porcelain baby doll, temple presidency pictures, temple cross-stitch, canned peaches, hen/rooster creamer, scriptures, decorated egg, a piece of the petrified wood fence from Arizona, grandma holding a baby, and one of her aprons.

It was a wonderful service. Each daughter participated in the program. Jocile gave the life sketch, Angela, Mom and Jana gave talks about, "lessons learned from mother" and Kristin played an organ piece. The talks were personal, entertaining and even thought-provoking. It was very enjoyable.

The great-grandkids also got to participate by singing.

Included in our family gathering, was Dean/Candice's family. They were able to pull enough strings to get Jackson baptized/confirmed and Jonathan blessed that same weekend. Sooo nice to be with family.

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving group felt small this year. With Dean/Candice's family having just moved, Lexie in Arizona and Grandma celebrating in heaven, we had 18 people...extra room at the table.

Even so, we were grateful to be with family.

Jason and Abree were my potato helpers.

Even after following directions from the internet and packaging, the turkey was done WAY ahead of schedule. This seems to be a trend for me, over the last few years. What am I missing? --I guess to have it done ahead of schedule, is better than behind. Over-cooked turkey, is better than raw turkey, any day. :)

Ten pounds of potatoes...never looks like enough at this point. :)

We enjoyed our time together and ate a delicious meal that everyone contributed to.

Happy Thanksgiving!

PS- That night Tim and Karen announced that they are pregnant with #4.  Wahoo! :)

Levi turns 2!

For Levi's 2nd birthday, we celebrated in Grueber Park (sp?).

Candice's dad and step-mom won a jump house rental from a silent auction and gave it to their family to use. Levi was the lucky recipient.

Candice made cute CAR themed food.

Levi was fun to watch as he tried to blow out his candles.

Oops.. things got a little juicy.

With some sibling and cousin help, the candles were finally extinguished.

The cousin crowd descended upon the birthday treats. Yum, yum.

Hard to believe that Levi is already 2 ...time flies.

Happy Birthday Big Boy Levi!