CHRISTMAS DAY 2008

Christmas day was wonderful as always. We had the wonderful company of Michelle's family and Kelly's family. That makes is great for empty nesters. We always make everyone wait up at the top of the stairs and then Grant turns on Boston Pops music and start down the stairs. We enjoyed watching the children open presents. Little Alex is just starting to rip paper but sure did like our gift of poppin' balls. After gifts are opened, we look at stockings. Grant got tickets to go to a Dodger game and Tod got tickets to his alumni, Cal State Long Beach sports. Afterwards we had a big breakfast of scrambled eggs, cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, yogurt, juice and milk. Afterwards it was time to go across the street to my sister's, Patricia, house and call Robert. We talked for about one and a half hours and enjoyed every minute. We also go to Abuela & Abuelo's house for dinner and more gifts. We had a great time!

Pictures: Tod, Michelle, Madelyn, Spencer, Zach, and Alex coming down the stairs; Madelyn and Spencer standing in front of the presents and tree; Madelyn with her american girl doll.; Grant, Christine, Zach and Kelly; Michelle helping Alex open a present; Alex, Madelyn and Spencer playing with a toy; Christmas breakfast.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

One of our family traditions is to put our shoe under the tree before we go to bed on Christmas Eve night. This comes from the tradition that in Uruguay on January 6th all the children put their shoes out in the hallway and the 'three kings' come and put gifts under their shoe. So we have taken that tradition and incorporated it into our own tradition. We put the shoe under the tree and Santa puts gifts under that person's shoe. But...........first we have to do a shoe dance!!! We all get our shoe, turn on music and follow Grant in dancing around the bottom of the house. I, Christine, am the end! So the bottom picture is everyone getting ready to do the shoe dance: Michelle, Spencer, Grant, Tod, Madelyn, Zach and Kelly. The middle picture is Grant and Madelyn in the dance and the top picture is Spencer. He crashed on the chair just before the dance so we left him there!

Nativity at Abuela & Abuelo's

The Sunday before Christmas, we go to my parent's , LaMar & Sonia Williams, home for our annual Nativity production. This evening always includes dinner, snacks, the acting out of the Nativity, Christmas songs, playing bells, and a visit from Santa Claus. Always friends are invited to join the famiy and enjoy the evening. This year Grant and I invited the Briggs to go with us. Dan, Franca, Francesca, and Alessandro Briggs. Ale became one of the shepherds. Also Pat Libby, her daughter, Denise and her daughters were also present. My brother, Larry and family were there as well as my sister, Patricia, and her family. We always have a great time and enjoy the production of Luke, chapter 2. Here are pictures: Spencer, as a shepherd, looking up to the angels; Abuela found Santa's sack and passed out gifts. My mom always says, "Don't open it!" She makes us all wait until everyone has a gift. The angels, including my granddaughter, Madelyn who is at the bottom; everyone taking pictures of the nativity finale. I thought it was funny to see how many people were taking pictures! The production crew: Larry, my brother, with the camera, Me, playing the piano, Grant in the back was the narrator, and terry & Louis who took over playing the piano for me. The Shepherds: Ryder Romero, my great nephew, Alessandro Briggs, our friend, and Spencer our grandson. The finale of the nativity play with my dad, LaMar Williams sitting on the left.

Shopping with the Grandchildren

It is fun fun fun to go shopping with your grandchildren! I seem to like to buy books for them. Madelyn, 9, is an avid reader, and I am trying to get Spencer in the mood for reading. We also made a stop to "Fuzzywigs", a candy shop in the Shoppes. Of course, Spencer loved that store!

Christmas @ Grandma Clark's

The Saturday before Christmas is always, "Christmas at Grandma Clark's house." This year we had the advantage of having more guests than usual. We had Grant's Uncle Jim and his wife, Claudia, Aunt Betty, Stephanie & Dave Marsden, Grant's cousin, plus Michelle, our daughter, and her family. Grant and I had a great time. There are always presents for the children and we adults play a Christmas Present game. Kind of like the white elephant game. We had a great dinner prepared by Stephanie and enjoyed each other's company. A great weekend!

SYDNEY IS "KNIGHTED"

At Sydney's (Laura's daughter, 5) school, they honor those who are exceptional in the school values. Sydney was 'knighted' by the school knight, for showing compassion to her fellow classmates. She received a medal and also lit a candle with the rest of the school children who were knighted. This ceremony is only done four times a year. So.... well done Sydney!!!

A BOY!!!

LIESEL & CODY Moultrie found out they are having a boy!

They had their appointment this past Tuesday, December 16th but tried to wait till their announcements were mailed to tell everyone. A huge snowstorm in Utah delayed mail to everyone so they called us! We are so excited for a new grandson in our family! Also, they moved up Liesel's due date to April 24th. That is even better news!

MISSIONARY DINNER

Sunday eveing, December 14th, we invited the other couples from our ward, with missionaries to our house for a 'missionary dinner.' There are five families in our ward that currently have boys serving missions. Only the Kat family and the Reynoso family were able to attend this evening but we still had a great time. George Reynoso make a pork roast, Wendy Kat made a salad and we provided the rest. We sat and talked about our boys for a long time. It was a great evening. We plan on having another dinner in three months. From L to R - front row: Teri Reynoso, Christine Clark, Wendy Kat. Back row: George Reynoso, Grant Clark, Fred Kat.

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

This is the first year in a long long time that it was just Grant and I decorating the tree. We haven't been without someone else since Michelle was a baby. So, we put on Christmas music and started decorating. the first picture is Grant stringing the lights on the tree and the second picture is the finished tree. What do you think?