December Happenings

December has been a busy month so far.

The first week we had our second annual family dinner at The Roof.  It was so nice to be in the private back room with each of the kids.  We were sorry that Alyssia could not make it.  She was the only one that was missing:(

What a nice evening to be able to get dressed up and begin the holiday season with our family. We love The Roof Restaurant and the kids especially loved the crab legs on the bar.  Personally, I loved the Lion House rolls with pomegranate butter.  So yummy!  Of course, we all dug into the fabulous desserts that were offered.

We also had a chance to reminisce over fun childhood memories.

It was a wonderful night with just the adults!

After dinner we enjoyed walking around temple square.  It was beautiful!

Rick and I had some gift certificates for Anniversary Inn and I thought it would be fun to give them to our married couples to spend a night and a day out on the town!  We offered to watch their kids while they went off to have some fun.

We enjoyed our time with Henry, Charles, and Daisy.  While they were with us we made snowman cupcakes.  The boys were so cute.  Before bedtime we were able to watch a fun movie.  They all slept through the night which was nice:)

Daisy did quite well!  We are so pleased that she is actually starting to like us....  especially when her mama is not around:)

The next week we had Rafe, Scout, Brady, and Chloe over.

We decorated reindeer cupcakes before a movie and bedtime.

I didn't get any pictures of that cute Brady boy but look at this doll!

Chloe Rose under the Christmas tree.

Last weekend was OUR weekend to hit the town.  We started our Friday night with dinner at Fleming's Steakhouse.  Rick had a salad and fish and I had shrimp cocktail, a salad, and the best french onion soup ever!

After dinner we got right over to the Eccles Theatre for our annual Kurt Bestor Concert.  It was wonderful!  We always enjoy the orchestra and band and of course, Kurt.  Its just nice listening to live music!

We stayed in a suite in the Marriott Hotel.  It overlooked the Gallivant Center ice skating rink.  It was fun to look down off the eleventh floor and watch the people skating!  While we didn't have a lot of time in our room we enjoyed the complimentary robes;) 

Gallivan Center Christmas Tree

The next day was a shopping day.  We got a lot accomplished in the way of gift purchasing for our family.  We also caught a movie (Mr. Roger's Neighborhood) before we met up with Boyd and Mare for dinner.  They were in town having a little getaway and we are grateful they used some of their time for us:)

The Macy's candy windows this year were spectacular, as always!

Sunday morning after having breakfast and checking out of the hotel we buzzed on over to the Tabernacle Choir Concert.  They had their guests from the Christmas concert there to perform.

Richard Thomas recited Luke 2 while the guest artist, Kelli O'Hara sang three numbers with the choir.  My goodness did she have a wonderful voice!  We are sorry that we could not get tickets to the actual concert but this was a close second and a wonderful way to end out time in SLC for the weekend.

After getting home and getting this little one ready for church in her new christmas dress we headed off to church for Sacrament Meeting and to teach our Sunday School class.  

It was a beautiful sabbath.  We enjoyed time with Trent and Kathy and DeeAnn and Darrell's families before scooting off to the local performance of The Messiah.

It was a full weekend of THREE concerts and good time with family and each other!  It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

Thanksgiving in Vegas

This Thanksgiving most of our family traveled to Las Vegas to be with the Hafen family.

We traveled to St. George the day before Thanksgiving and thankfully missed the snowstorms.  They came while we were gone.  Eight inches of snow in Grantsville!

We enjoyed doing a little shopping in St. George and had a nice dinner with the kids at Black Bear Diner.  We stayed at the La Quinta Inn and Suites and had a very nice room.  Skylar had gotten some trade for work and so we were able to stay there for two nights.  We (especially the grandkids) enjoyed the hot tub and heated pool.

Thanksgiving morning we drove to Vegas.  Mom put on her old Christmas records on her even older stereo and I relived my childhood:)

Rick and I got to work in the kitchen getting the yams and stuffing ready.

It was an "ON" year so Terri's house was full!  We had just short of 100 people come.  That is a lot to fit into one house but it all worked out and the food was great and company even better.What a nice time it was catching up with different family members.  Too bad I couldn't visit with everyone:(

We didn't take many pictures but here are a few.....  

Oh Man!!  Gary was with us but I don't have any pictures of him:(

Special Guest

I got to be Scout's special guest at her Preschool Thanksgiving party.  We enjoyed doing a few puzzles on the tablecloth before the party got started.  

Miss Heidi read a story about the Pilgrims and asked the kids questions about what they had learned. Scout didn't raise her hand but she would whisper the answers to me:)

The kids also sang a special song of the things that they are thankful for.

These are some of the crafts she had made.

Indian Scout

We had a buffet of rolls, meat, salad, chips, and a cookie!

I'm glad to have been chosen as her special guest!

I love you, Scoutieroo!

Trip to Hawaii

A month ago Rick and I were privileged to take a trip to Hawaii with Clyde and Sharon Rigby, Sarah's parents.  They are dear friends and we have talked for a long time of taking a trip together.  We had been planning it for about six months and it turned out so fun.

We started out on the island of Oahu for just a few days.  We stayed up on the north shore in the Marriott Courtyard right next to the Polynesian Cultural Center.  It was a beautiful hotel in a great location.  We arrived and rented a van for the four of us and made the beautiful drive up to Laie.  We had a nice dinner right there at a restaurant in the PCC.  When we returned from dinner Rick and I went out to the hot tub and relaxed in the warm water:)

The next morning when I awoke, Rick was already gone so I made my way downstairs to find my way to the nearest beach.  I was hoping to catch the sunrise and I barely made it!  What a spectacular view!  Little sand crabs were running around and a nice breeze was blowing.  It was a beautiful moment!   Without Rick:(  He actually found me a few minutes later.  He had been out on an early morning jog and missed the sunrise completely!

The grass was loaded with huge snails!

The next order of business was to get ready, have breakfast, and head to the temple.  The temple was just a short five minute drive from our hotel.  We along with Clyde and Sharon were able to do an endowment session.  It has been a VERY long time since I have done a session in that temple. 

 It was full of people and wonderful!

The grounds are so beautiful!

After changing our clothes it was time for the PCC.

    

 We were able to make some fun memories.    

umm... this smoothie was delish!

Tattoos from New Zealand

Fiji

The next morning before we flew out to Kauai we stopped at Pearl Harbor.  This is always enjoyable for me.  I love remembering what so many have sacrificed for what I have now.  It is unfathomable for me to really know what so many have given up so that I can enjoy the freedoms that I have today. I want to remember, honor, and give thanks...always.

We made it to Kauai!

My favorite island.

We stayed in a condo in Poipu just a five minute drive to Poipu Beach.  It was a two bedroom and served us well.  We had a fun time being with the Rigby's yet were afforded the privacy needed as well.  While most of the time we each did our own thing we did enjoy a few meals together along with two different game nights, and a day at the beach.  

Our second night in Poipu we ate at Keoiki's and I will tell you that the food was soo delicious!  We just kept saying, "This food is so good!"  It really was!

                         and of course, we had to have the HULA PIE.

While we mostly just had beach time (cause that's what we love) we got over to Waimea Canyon and Hanapepe town.

It was nice not having a plan.  We just made it up as we went.

This was a fun mansion house owned by a man named Gaylord that we got to visit.  Now it is filled with shops and a couple of restaurants.  

This was kind of fun.  Something that we had never seen on the island.  Dozens of sea turtles come up on Poipu Beach each night to rest.  Who knew?  It was super cool to see and some were still there  in the morning when we returned.   Just really cool.

Also, a couple of monk seals make their way to the sands of Poipu to take a rest as well.  

They are fascinating to see up close:)

Our last night together.

                        What a nice time we had with our dear friends!