"Enchanted" and the Higginson Christmas Party

On Thursday, December 27, we had the Higginson Family Christmas party and gift exchange. We had a really delicious meal. As you can see in this picture, the food was delicious and plentiful.
We had a fun (and slightly competitive) white elephant gift exchange. The variety of gifts was fun to see.
One of the gifts was a package of men's thongs which Spencer kindly modeled for us. Thank goodness it was OVER his shorts.
Travis, with his drawing order number in a place he'll be able to see the number easily.
Opening the presents.
The variety of unopened white elephant gifts.
Grandpa and Grandma Higginson.
More fun dollar store gifts!
Cute cousins waiting patiently on the floor for their turn.

Veronica and Samuel.
A footrace in the gym.


During our stay, we were able to go to the movie several times (thanks Grandpa Dale). The girls saw Enchanted on Wednesday night. We loved it. It was a fun, entertaining movie...

So we saw it again on Thursday afternoon...
...and on Saturday afternoon, as well. We were glad Grandma Higginson and Aunt Leslie and Aaron Jr. were able to go with us. Savannah went with Caroline's family later that afternoon.

While we were in Utah, Bruce stayed much of the time with Nathan. He had his first date on Friday night. HIS FIRST DATE! Crazy! Crazy! Crazy! He had a good time and even went to a chick flick--something he wasn't too thrilled about.


We enjoyed seeing family while we were in Utah and had a nice time. Of course, on the way back home, we ran into more bad weather. That seems to happen a lot to us in the winter. We don't enjoy it. What should have taken 2 hours and 45 minutes, took us nearly six hours. Glad we made it home safely and we're glad we were able to see you all. Love you!

Christmas Visit with Rindlisbachers

We traveled to Utah on Christmas Eve amid a big snowst0rm. We arrived at the Rindlisbachers in the early evening and had a pleasant Christmas Eve. The next morning, we got up and opened our presents with them. They gave the kids a blankets and sweatshirts or pajamas. The big gift this year for our family was a WII game system and a few games. It was a nice morning.
Bruce, Savannah, Veronica and Joseph in front of the tree.
The kids with Dale.

Veronica and I fixed a yummy pancake breakfast after opening presents.
Bruce began playing Guitar Hero on the WII.
Again, my pictures are out of order. I stink at this. This is more present opening.


We had a very nice day. In the afternoon, we drove to the cabin up by Smith-Morehouse. More on that in the next blog! Merry Christmas.

Xavier Christmas Concert

The Xavier School Christmas concert was Friday, December 21. It was a wonderful show. Joseph (1st grade) sang Suzie Snowflake, the same song I sang at the Christmas program when I was in third grade. He did a great job. Here he is smiling and waving to us.
Savannah's class (4th grade) performed a Latin number that was really beautiful. She knew all the words. I was impressed. Many of the songs performed were actual "Christ"mas songs, including some that we usually hear only in church. That was great since for the last few years we've attended the kids "Winter Concert" or "Holiday Concert".
Veronica participated in a beautiful dance. The girls started out alone and then were joined by the boys and did a real waltz to the song Mary Sweet Mary, by Faith Hill. It was a gorgeous song and Veronica looked very pretty and graceful as she danced. The evening ended with Silent Night. It was held at the College of Southern Idaho's Little Theater and it was a really nice facility that seats 300. They performed two shows and they were both full.

One very unusual thing that may have been a first for us is that Travis and I sat in the audience just the two of us. Bruce was playing in a game in Idaho Falls and all the rest of the kids were performing. Very weird.

We Visit the Griswald's Christmas Home

I can't take credit for comparing this Christmas house to the Griswald's. That was Kristi. We loaded everyone up and drove about ten miles from Twin Falls to a crazy Christmas house. This is all done by one family who loves here. It is completely decked out with a big loop that you walk that includes lights, lights, more lights, a nativity, more lights, Santa, and a camel. It was cold, but fun. Santa gave the kids a candy cane and an elf gave each of them a carrot to feed the camel. All eight kids at the Christmas house.
Brrr. It was really cold.

Savannah and Aaron.
Kristi had a great time. In case you can't tell, she's dancing to the Christmas music that was playing.
Savannah's posture reminds me of a certain girl carrying a xylophone. What was her name?

Spencer, Joe, Savannah and Aaron dance a Christmas jig. (By the way, "jig" is a common word in Boggle.)
The roof of the Christmas house.

Savannah and Aaron look at the Nativity.
Spencer and Joe look at the baby Jesus.
Luke reaches for a lit up hot dog.
Happy Luke and Veronica.
What cute boys.

The kids straddle the trail leading to naughty and nice. They chose the nice.
Feeding the camel.
The camel eats Luke's carrot (and almost his hand).
Leslie and Aaron feed the camel.
Bruce and Benjamin. I'm not sure what Benjamin was looking at, but I'd sure like to know.

We had a nice time. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Greeting

This is a Christmas song by Savannah and Joe's favorite singing group. Merry Christmas!

Jonas Brothers - A Christmas Prayer (Joy To The World) lyrics

Every year at Chistmas
All I can see
Are pictures of the things I want
Around the tree
But this year's a little different
I'm not thinking of myself
So my prayer for this Christmas
Is for somebody else

So I pray Joy
To the world
Peace for every boy and girl
God, I know you're listening
And you can hear
The need of every broken heart
And all their tears
I don't have a lot to offer
Just this one simple prayer
That this Christmas everyone would know
Somebody cares

So I pray Joy
To the world
Peace for every boy and girl
Hope when life is hard
Light when everything seems dark
I pray that every hungry soul
Will be fed and will be warm
That not a single, solitary child
Would suffer harm
And Lord we find their ending
As we take another view
My hope is that this Christmas prayer
Would somehow come true

I pray
Humanity would rise
And join with me
And together we'll sing
Joy To the World (To all the world)
Peace for every boy and girl (for every boy and girl)
(Talking bout hope) Hope when life is hard (when life is hard)
Light when everything seems dark
I pray that (I pray) every hungry soul
Will be filled and will be warm(Not a single child)
That not a single, solitary child
Would suffer harm (Never suffer harm)
And Lord we find their ending
As we take another view (As we take another view)
My hope is that this Christmas prayer
Would somehow come true

Joy To the World
Peace for every boy and girl