Family Picture, almost-- 2nd try

Our family at christmas time. Chris is not in the picture and Mandy's baby is in her tummy so they are not included at this time. f

Family Picture

Christmas Fun

Josh and Kelsie sledding at the cabin
Laura and Kelsie in matching pj's
Emma and Aaron, what a pair
Natllie built a snowman with the kids
Johanna, Laura and Steven eating lunch in the sheep camp

December has been full of wonderful family times. Natalie and kids (Laura, Steven and Aaron) came for 2 weeks at the beginning of December. Chris was busy with work and Natalie got some great air fares thanks to her family checking internet in the middle of the night. We loved having them here and spent some wonderful time with them all. Chris missed his family, but they did make it home the week before Christmas. It was not a fun trip home, Natalie spent about 24 or more hours with 3 kids in airplanes and in air ports thanks to the weather closing some of the airports they were headed to. Steven was a great hit as Superman, flying through the airports and planes, saving people as a super hero does. He loves wearing his Superman costume and when he received a small Superman action figure from his cousin JJ for Christmas he exclaimed "It's a toy of me!!"
While Natalie and the kids were here we got together as a family many times. The house was filled with young voices, toys spread everywhere and lots of laughter. Amy came down to spend time with us, Eph and Mandy came up as did Josh and Tiffany and JJ and Kelise. We held our annual family Christmas dinner with each member of the family providing part of the dinner. Amy's delicious artichoke bottoms with cheese filling were a new treat. Eph and Mandy made home-made bagels and Natalie provided a wonderful green salad and dressing. Johanna and Dad cooked skewers with chicken, shrimp, mushooms, peppers and pineapple on the grill. Steve braved the cold weather to provide us all with a treat. Emma and Kathryn whipped up a wonderful strawberry/lemonaide drink and we ate rice krispy treats with ice cream as well as Bruce's famous cheesecake for dessert. Grandma Mahoney provided potato salad and we had a feast. Grandma and Grandpa Mahoney, as well as Bruce, Tim, Zac and Sarah joined us in the dinner and reinacting of the nativity story. It was a little caotic ( Mary(Laura) rode on the donkey(Josh), but Joseph (Steven) and a shepher (JJ) also insisted on riding!!
The few days before Christmas Amy, Emma, Johanna, Kathryn, Josh, Tiffany, JJ, Kelsie, Steve and Jean went to the cabin. (We tried to convince Eph and Mandy to come, Bruce offered to take her on a snowmobile ride in hopes of starting her labor, but she refused). The cabin was great, lots of food, games, snow, sledding, skiing and snowmobile riding. Bruce and kids also came. It was very relaxing. We played a new game, Cruses, and there were times that we were all laughing so hard that my sides hurt. Bruce with arms that could not bend at the elbows and having to scratch like a monkey was a sight to see!
Christmas morning was early, Johanna was up about 4:30 waking the others up. After present opening we got ready for Breakfast. Eph and Mandy came up, but Josh and Tiffany never made it because they got stuck in the driveway!! They made it in the next day and we had Christmas all over again!
We have had lots of snow, enough that we had to shovel the driveway before getting the car out the day after Christmas. It has been a wonderful month of having family around and remembering what Christmas is all abaout, family, fun, food and of course remembering our Savior, His birth and life.

Johanna got her hair cut for "Locks of Love" This is a program to donate long hair to those who have cancer and have lost their hair to Chemo. She has talked about it for a long time, and finally decided to do it. These are before, during and after pictures. She looks great and is blessing the life of someone. (The pictures are not in the right order, you know me and computers, I always made some mistake! :)

Also a picture of Johanna and Jared with some of Johanna's Tip money from being a waitress at Jacob Lake. She has been saving the money in a can and we dumped it on the counter and counted it, what fun!! She has worked hard and has money to get through the next year of school!!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving table. Johanna, Jared, Steve, Jean, Emma and Kathryn. Amy was taking this picture. We had much to be thankful for, good food, good company and blessing from God.

Kelsie and JJ had fun playing at our house in the evening. We love to have them and Kelsie always "smiles" for the camera!!