Oregon and Idaho Christmas Celebrations - and a Bonus!

What a wonderful time we had during the month of December - well, we actually started on the 30th of November.  We had five Christmases!  Who does that?  Well, we did.  This blog shows two of them.  We started with the Oregon families - Wayne and his family and Vikki and her family.

We have a Christmas tradition each year of giving to each family a gift certificate to a book store of their choice and dinner out.  Each family goes out to dinner and then shopping for books.  Then they take them home, wrap and put them under the tree until Christmas morning.

Dinner before shopping

Max found something he really liked at the book store

Another tradition is to give each grandchild an ornament that hopefully will depict something from their year.

Each of the Modjeski boys had the #7 on their
basketball jersey - total coincidence!
So they all received the same basketball player
ornament with the #7 on it - clever, huh?

Then on Christmas Eve (this year it was on November 30 since we were leaving Oregon on the 3rd) we had a yummy ham dinner and all the trimmings.  Always so good - not only the food - but the time together.  My favorite time!  And we always have a spiritual 'program.' Remembering the reason for the season.   Vikki (my daughter) doesn't like me to call it that; but I have yet to find another word that works quite as well.  Any suggestions?

Our 'program' for 2014

Just couldn't resist sharing this so-cute picture

We had the pleasure of having our wonderful sister missionaries with us on this evening.

A dynamite duo!  Sisters Jensen and Kerr - friends forever

A Christmas for FEET.  A great gift from Modjeskis - Foot Massager with heat.  And notice the slippers.

I love that we can see the Christmas lights that Wayne and Max put up.

His favorite book from Gramma and Grampa

And then.....Jay (and Wayne) entertained us.  Very funny!

So that fun evening and those good-byes are now behind us and we head toward our next Christmas -- in Idaho.

We spent the first night in LaGrande and then on to my sister's.

Sandie and I always have such a grand time together.  We laugh - a lot!

And so do our husbands!!  They have always been such good sports!!

Good times and good food

Aren't we cute?

Another fun Christmas

They liked their ornament

We were able to spend some time with Craig, Mason and Caitlin

We went to Mother's grave and did some cleaning and put up a little Christmas tree

Finished result

We stayed a couple extra days with Sandie and Dale, as our little Annie, Utah, had a terrible flu bug.  And we were quite concerned about catching it and spreading it across the country as we travelled.  Of couse, we loved being able to stay in Kuna for a couple extra days; however, we were also sad not to be able to spend that time with John and his family.

This is the bonus:

We had the opportunity and blessing of staying with Paul (Michael's brother) and Heather in Saratoga Springs, Utah.  Heather and I spent a wonderful day together shopping and going out for breakfast while Michael took Paul to his doctor's appointments.  I wonder who had more fun.  Although, it was really good for the boys to have some quality time together.

Heather and I laughed and had such a good time together.  She took me to some fun places.  She also helped me choose a couple more temple dresses.  Which, I really thought I should have -- since I only had one.  She was extremely helpful.  It was such a great day.

We visited Holdman Studos, Inc., at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.  These stained glass pieces are part of a Creation Project for the library at Utah Valley University (UVU) for their 75th anniversary.  

Absolutely breath taking!

Also in this studio they are creating the windows for the Rome Temple.  It was so amazing to walk around that facility and see so many different phases of the temple project.  I was given one of the #1 leaves being used in the windows of the temple.  I will treasure this beatiful piece of glass.  I highly recommend Holdman Studios.  You could even make something for yourself - a blown glass flower, bowl, etc. 

I know I said in the last blog that this one would be about our training in the Salt Lake Temple and our travels across the United States.  As you can see, it's not.  It will be coming; however, I have three more Christmases to share.  And THEN I can share our training and travel.