Happy Birthday Rachel

Happy Birthday sweet girl.  We love having a NYEVE Baby!!!  What a year it has been and we are looking forward to the amazing year that is forth coming.  We will be missing hanging out with you today.  We always loved the double reason to party on New Year's Eve. 

Happy Birthday Eli

Happy Birthday Eli - We are so thrilled to be spending your actual birthday with you - WE LOVE YOU!!

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary

Wow - 10 years.  It was a great day and we love you both so much!!!

Happy Birthday Caleb

Baby - 336 is HOT!

A week ago a request came to shoot a Christmas video at 336.  (Cousin) Tiffany Alvord  and a fellow YouTube performer came over last Wednesday evening.  Mom and Dad sure were glad the Christmas decorations, inside and out, had gone up just a few days before.  Fun for 336 to co-star with a couple of YouTube stars.

#lighttheworld

Wonderful Christmas Initiative to help us remember Jesus Christ and what we can do to show our love for Him.

Here are 16 ideas  to #LIGHTtheWORLD on day 1: Jesus Lifted Other's Burdens and So Can You:
1- Learn more about the process of addiction recovery so you know what is available and can help strengthen those around you.
2- Strengthen someone spiritually. Read Matthew 11:28–30 and then discuss with others how the Savior can help us through life’s most difficult challenges.
3- Snowing outside? Lift up your shovel to clear an elderly neighbor’s driveway.
4- Share an experience on social media of when prayer helped you carry a burden.
5- Do you know a caregiver for an elderly or disabled adult? Take some time to visit the caregiver. Ask if there are any errands you can run for him or her.
6- Students: Offer to carry someone’s backpack for him or her. Try to think of someone who could really use some kindness.
7- Is there a new mom in your area? What might she need? Laundry folded? Kitchen cleaned? Groceries picked up? Show up and offer her assistance.
8- Do you know someone who is mourning the loss of someone? Take them dinner, leave a surprise Christmas decoration at their home, or stop by and visit them.
9- Is there someone who is fighting cancer or some other illness? Determine what would help lift their burdens. Do they need help around their home? What is difficult for them to manage? Show up and assist them.
10- Gather school supplies and books and drop them off to a local refugee center where the children are working to learn english.
11- Contact your local hospital or nursing home and ask what kind of Christmas decorations they would allow the patients to have in their rooms. Once you understand the requirements, take some and drop them off.
12- Do you know someone who is struggling to financially make ends meet? Do you have some funds to spare? Consider dropping off some gift cards to help them through some difficult times.
13- Ladies: Do you know a mom who is overwhelmed and would benefit from feeling loved? Consider whisking her away for an hour to get dessert, or drop by something you know she would love. Help her recharge her batteries.
14- Do you have a skill set that you know would be helpful to someone in need around you?

Found these great resources to help celebrate with your families.  I love the ornaments and printed them out to use with my seminary class.  They're free!!

  https://www.theredheadedhostess.com/most-popular/free-lighttheworld-printables-red-headed-

hostess/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ILO

THANKFUL THURSDAY & SPLENDID FRIDAY

Sarah and Mom baked and cooked for 2 days preparing for a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner.  Guests were invited from friends at Church - the Caravantes family (except their dad who had to work) and Sherri Jones.  It was a wonderful traditional feast topped off with pumpkin, chocolate mousse and apple crumb pies for dessert baked by Sarah.

With Sarah home for thanksgiving it was an occasion to do something(s) fun on Friday.  Mom, Dad and Sarah went right out to get the best deal on a tannenbaum in years, a real "Black Friday" special.  The finest and biggest noble fir on the lot was picked out along with some front porch poinsettias.  Sarah fixed breakfast burritos.  Then it was off to the early show at the cinema. . . not just any movie but the long awaited - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  Following a wizarding ride in the theater it was straight to Station Square in Monrovia to catch the Gold Line for a train to downtown L.A.  Visits were made to:

• Pershing Square
• Grand Central Market (lunch - a little Mediterranean, South Americana & European cusine)
• The Bradbury Building (1883, National Historic Landmark, noted for many movies filmed in it's amazing interior)
• Angels Flight (funicular that accesses ritzy Bunker Hill)
• The Broad, (brand new modern art gallery) walk past the exterior
• Disney Concert Hall, walk past the exterior
• Union Station

("Sure would be nice if we have a couple kids around to pose in these silly Christmas tree lot cut-outs.")

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Fall Break at the Cabin

We took full advantage of Fall Break this year by spending some time at the Cornwall Cabin. The cabin was rather full, but the tight fit helped the cabin to feel quite cozy.  It was beautiful weather for being mid October in the mountains. We had many first timers: Spencer, Ilo, Walter and Caleb. It was a good respite from normal life.