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Temple Trip

I don't have any pictures of it, but on the 27th, we had a really special experience at the temple. Alyssa and I had been doing some family history work, and had quite a few names ready for temple work. We had our Prete company and the Doigs, including Michelle's family who was visiting from Kalispell at the temple in the morning to do baptisms for the dead. All the youth as well as my sister Sarah and Vicki (Tracy's mother) acted as proxy. It seemed to me that Alyssa was just beaming when the people whose names she had found were baptized.

After baptisms we had lunch at Granny's. Then Austin left with Hemsleys to go to Kalispell for a few days. Rob and Alyssa went to Raymond to watch the high school boys basketball tournament, called the Sugar Bowl. Some others also left to go home. Later in the afternoon Granny once again watched the boys (Preston and Mark) while Sarah, Brian, Mom and Dad, Grandpa Paul and I went back to the temple and performed initiatories for all of our names. Grandpa Paul was very happy that he got to be proxy when the work was done for his uncle George whose name Alyssa had submitted. My dad also said he had a strong feeling when he was proxy for the Masker family (from Grandma Prete/Nash's line). I was also very happy to do temple work for our ancestors.

Later in the day, Mom and Dad took us to The Keg for dinner. On the 28th, Brian and Sarah left in the morning and we had a relatively quiet day with Mom and Dad. I inputted more family history, went to the Dr (to finally get my strep throat treated which had been bothering me since before Christmas eve). We visited and did laundry. Mom and dad left around lunch time on the 29th.

Trying out the new skates

On Boxing Day (December 26th, for your Americans), we went ice skating at the Magrath Arena. Austin and I had just gotten new skates; Preston now fit Austin's old skates; and Alyssa took over my old skates. In addition, we got Brian and Sarah skates for Christmas. I really enjoyed skating together. I hadn't been skating for quite a while, and it felt really good to be in skates that fit (my old ones were a 1/2 size too small). Mom and Dad came and watched and Rob stayed home to take care of Mark. Unfortunately, the curling we had also scheduled for the 26th got cancelled due to the a problem with there being water instead of ice at the rink.

Preston did great skating. At first, he couldn't even stand up. One of the first things I taught him was how to stand up after falling down. That seemed to give him confidence to know that falling down is normal, and a problem that can be fixed. I started out having to hold him by the torso to keep him up. Over the course of the hour, I went to holding his two hands, then one hand, then having him skate a few feet to me at a time. By the end of the hour, he skated the length of the arena three times all by himself. Admittedly, his "skating" is still more like walking, but it will come. I put Alyssa and Austin in preschool skating lessons in Rocky and I tried to teach Preston in a similar way. I was super proud of him, and I think he was very pleased with his improvement. We want him to learn to skate before his class starts going skating at school.

Christmas Morning

This is the Christmas tree before the present opening mayhem started on Christmas morning. I love this scene with everything just perfect ready for Christmas. It seems so magical.
Stockings first.
"I can't believe I got a Flames jersey!!!!!!"
Lots of gifts opened.
We helped Mark open his presents after everyone else was finished. Preston got him this turtle music toy. It's a winner--and that's pretty amazing, because it is hard to find just the right toy for Mark

I was concerned with Christmas being on Sunday this year, that we would be rushed getting all the presents open and getting everyone ready for church at 11, especially since Rob and I had to be there early. In reality, it was no problem at all. We even had time for a nice hot breakfast before church. I think everyone also got a hot shower (Christmas miracle). It was really nice to go to Sacrament meeting on Christmas day. We had a wonderful Christmas program with music and narration.

Later in the day, we had a nice dinner and celebrated Brian's birthday (which, like my brother Joe, is on Christmas Day).

It was nice to be with Brian and Sarah and my mom and dad for Christmas. Some highlights of the gift action...we got Brian and Sarah ice skates. All the kids got mom a Kindle which she was excited to get. Rob got tickets to a Calgary Flames game. The kids mostly got stuff from their wish lists, but were surprised and happy to get piano music that suited their interests. Alyssa got music to Wicked and Mamma Mia! and Austin got Disney and Super Mario Bros. music. I was delighted to get the music to the Forgotten Carols, as well as the story book. Rob surprised me with a magnetic bike trainer so that I can ride my road bike in the house all winter.

Pinata

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to break open a pinata. This year's pinata was a heavy monstrosity. It took a lot of whacking and eventually revealed its contents. Lots of candy and towels--beach towels from Hawaii for each member of the family. I am told they are to be our Wasa Lake towels.

Rob and Val were taking their lives into their hands by standing so close to where the kids were whacking. Luckily no one was injured and nothing was broken.

Cousin Gift Exchange 2011

One of the highlights of Christmas Eve for the kids is the cousin gift exchange. Each of the cousins draws the name of another cousin and gets them a gift. The kids go around, usually youngest to oldest. The giving cousin presents the opening cousin his or her gift which is opened while all look on. Thank you to the cousins who gave us such perfect gifts.
Two new shirts for Mark. Both very cute. These, like all his shirts, double as chew toys.
Alyssa got aviator glasses and some winter stuff.
Here are all the kids with their gifts.

Grandpa Paul's Christmas Message

This year, after the nativity, Grandpa had all the kids come around. He had made several word signs out of wood and had wrapped them as presents. One by one, he had the kids unwrap the words. Then he explained that these represented some of the most important gifts of Christmas--the gift Heavenly Father gave us of his Son, our gifts of service, sacrifice, obedience, faith and testimony. It was a really nice addition to Christmas Eve.