"They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strenghth; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint."
-Isaiah 40:31
I love to go to the SLC Temple to see the lights! Usually we go down for my birthday, but this year we didn't make it until after Christmas.
It was great, because our Winterbottom(Epperson) cousins were able to meet us there. We all went out to dinner 1st at the Sizzler, then went down to see the lights.
The Nativity looked amazing in the middle of the fountain!
Ellie and Bekah in front of their favorite tree.
The kids and Lyn! br: Ellie, & Weston mr: Ray, Parker, Bekah, & Lyn fr: Josh & Landen
Our Christmas Eve celebration started at Gramie's house! We had lunch/dinner before Lyn had to go to work, and then played around for a while.
Weston "played" Christmas songs on the Organ while the kids danced.
Bekah almost doing the splits.
Ray's big smile!
Wrestling match in the living room with Uncle Chris.
Uncle Chris, Bekah, Weston, and Ray
The Nativity
On to Grandma Berg's house for dinner and the Christmas play.
Mary-Ellie, Joseph-Weston, and Baby Jesus-Bridger Brand new baby Lola was there also, but being just a day old was to little to be baby Jesus.
Angel Gabriel- Sophia, she also lead the singing for all the Hymns.
Uncle Chad was the reader this year, and Maylie, Sophia, Andalyn, and Bekah were the Angels.
The Shepards-Brieanna, Ray, and Porter(not pictured) and cute Baby Jesus-Bridger
Angels and Shepards and the Manger.
The 3 wisemen- Uncle Brian, Mason, and (Uncle)Brandon.
The Cast: br:Maylie, Andalyn, Bekah, Weston, and Ellie holding Bridger. mr: Brandon, Ray, Brieanna, Porter,and Brian. fr: Mason and Sophia
Christmas Eve Presents
Traditionally we open our person's present on Christmas Eve, however this year the grandkids got to open their present from Grandma and Grandpa Berg.
Some of the girls: Bekah, Kryssy, Maylie, Ellie and Brieanna
Grandma watching the opening of the gifts.
Weston & Ray All the grandkids got new P.J.'s and they each got a special blanket made by Grandma. All the kids were excited to sleep with them that night!
Bekah's 2nd graders, did a musical about Santa losing his Christmas spirit. The songs and dances were fun to watch. Bekah is in the short sleeved green shirt.
Here they are singing the baking song. Bekah is wearing the apron she made.
Ellie's Violin Concert
Ellie and her BFF Anna preforming with the 6th grade Orchestra.
They did a great job!
I really liked their white dresses with blue satin sashes. Yes! They did play that song.
1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?I love hot chocolate, however my husband and kids love eggnog.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? When Lyn and I got married we combined traditions, so we have both.
3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white? We have white lights on the tree in the music room, red,white, & blue lights on the tree in the great room and blue icicle lights on the house
4. Do you hang mistletoe?No, but Lyn's mother does.
5. When do you put your Christmas decorations up?On Dec. 5th for my birthday.
6. Favorite holiday dish?I love Gramie Anderson's Christmas Jello, and my mom's crab cheese ball.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Playing Santa for my younger brothers, and sisters when I was old enough to stay up. Mom and Dad and I really had a good time.
8. When did you learn the truth about Santa?I was 12ish, when I learned that Santa Clause lives in our hearts. Also that year I got to help bring Christmas to a needy family, so it was fun to learn the truth and get to help, it gave me the best feelings!
9. Do open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, Lyn has an uncle that lives far away, and we always open their gifts on Christmas Eve, also my brothers and sisters exchange names and we open those gifts too. Plus the kids always get to open their new P.J.'s
10. How do you decorate a tree?With the ornaments we receive every year. We even have ones that date back to when Lyn was born.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?I love it! Utah has the greatest snow on earth!
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, when I was in high school my friend and I used to ice skate on the frozen canal.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?When I was little, it was my porcelien doll, since I've been married it is my saphirre ring that Lyn gave me, it was a total surprise.
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you?Being with family and remembering to keep Christ in Christmas.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? I love Christmas Sugar Cookies, and Grandma Epperson's Christmas Popcorn.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? When we have the kids dress up on Christmas Eve and perform the Navivity, with one of the Grandpa's reading Luke II. We sing all the Christmas hymns that go along with the reading. It is a special time for everyone.
17. What tops your tree? In the music room an angel & a crown of thorns, and in the great room a star.
18. Which do you prefer-Giving or Receiving?It always nice to receive the home made gifts that my children make, but I love the amazing feeling that comes with giving the most.
19. Favorite Christmas song? What Child is This?
20. Candy Canes-Yuck or Yum? I love candy canes, especially in a candy cane fudge shake from Dairy Keen. Yummy!
21. Favorite Christmas show?I love all the old Christmas classics, like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, and Santa Claus is coming to Town, but my favorite is Mr. Kreuger's Christmas.
22.What is your favorite Christmas book/story? I love to read Christmas Stories to my kids so I have two favorites The Polar Express, and Mr. Finnegan's Giving Chest.
23. What is your favorite thing to do in the winter? I love to curl up with a good book by a nice warm fire, however I hardly ever get to do that, so I'd say sledding with my family.
24. What is your favorite pastime on a snowing day?Building a snowman with my kids and drinking hot cocoa.
25. What is your least favorite thing about Christmas?Taking the decorations down.
I found these questions on a blog that I was reading and decided that it would a fun Jonural entry, so if you want to use it, just leave a comment so that I can check yours out too. Merry Christmas!
So for Christmas we decided that the kids needed a playroom for all the toys that continued to clutter their rooms. So around Thanksgiving we decided that maybe we could finish the toy room by Christmas. Well, we didn't start totally from scratch, Lyn had been working on the down stairs room for a little while off and on. We had been trying to decide the kind of lighting and he had put up some of the sheet rock. However, it still hard a lot of work to be done in 4 wks. We forgot to take pictures before we started the project, but we did take some along the way. Here is theRock Workfor the stove/fireplace. Lyn did it all himself, with the kids' help. We used some left over rocks from our friends(the Lances) house, that they just built. I really like the country look.
First few rows
It's looking really good. The Insulation took a couple of bids, but we finally went with Hansen Insulation out of Lehi. They did a great job and were able to work us in fast.
We put the blow-in insulation in for better sound proofing, that way we don't have to hear the kids when they are in the playroom.
Putting up more of the sheet rock.
Ready for the Mud!
Our friends, father(Grandpa Dennis) came and did the mud and texture for the walls. He did a awesome job! He added the texture as a surprise, cause he doesn't usually do texture without his crew. In the closet, he had the kids put their hand prints in the mud it looks really cool.
Ready for paint!
It really like this color, it's called "Baked Scone" before it dried it was kinds of peachy, and I was worried but it turned out perfect. Lyn found half of the trim in a dumpster at a job in Park City, and was lucky enough it find the rest to match.
Here is the pad all layed. My brother Corey, changed out the carpet in his house right before Christmas, so we were all to use their old carpet and pad.
One of Lyn's friends and former boss, Jose, came and helped Lyn lay and clean the carpet. He did such a great job!
We had a lot of friends and family who donated their time and skills to help Lyn to put this toy room together for our children. We truly appreciate all of your hard work!
Lyn's mother, Susy found us the couch from one of her friends, and bought Lyn the pillows for his birthday. I really like the dk. brown couch in the room.
The rock work turned out great! I love it!
Organized toys!
The library, my "special" books are on the top. It took a lot for me to put my favorite children's books in the playroom.
So y'all will have to come over for a play date. We didn't finish it by Christmas, but it was well worth it. This weekend we are supposed it get our new entertainment center, another freebie from a friend. Then we will be all set for company!
It was great, because our Winterbottom(Epperson) cousins were able to meet us there. We all went out to dinner 1st at the Sizzler, then went down to see the lights.
The Nativity looked amazing in the middle of the fountain!
Ellie and Bekah in front of their favorite tree.
The kids and Lyn!
