Hannah Montana

My sister and her husband flew in for Christmas a few days late, so our Christmas celebrating was extended. On the Sunday after Christmas, we all met for another Christmas dinner, sister gift exchange and a white elephant gift exchange game. During the game Cassidy ended up with a broken blue tooth ear piece, Mckay got a little stuffed monkey, Taylor got a empty sunny d bottle and napkins and I got a cardboard stand up of Hannah Montana. I will be honest, I took Hannah away from my 7 year old nephew. Mostly because I have a sister in law who is a teen and loves Miley. I stole Hannah away, just to re-gift her to Camille. Now Camille has a stand up of Hannah and of Jacob from Twilight. What a pair.

Who know Hannah was so tall?
Cassidy is not so excited about her gift

Mckay feeding his baby cousin Damon.

Elders Ensign and Hammond

While serving my LDS mission in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, and while assigned to the Coral Springs area I had an idea. The jury is still out on whether or not this was a great idea or just an idea that came into the mind of a 19 year old kid, but the idea came all the same.

The idea you see was to collect all of the Food Bags of the Restaurants that we ate at and create the "I'll Go Where you Want Me to Go" wall. (seen below)

The reason that I bring this up is that this photo was taken in the Summer of 2001 while I was living with Elder Kenneth Hammond. Elder Hammond was in town over the Holidays and we managed to get together for Dinner.

In the photo below Elder Hammond and I are modeling our new ties at a Tuesday Morning District Meeting. We purchased these Regis ties on "Preparation Day" the day before. Needless to say we became obsessed with the solid color, shiny, Regis tie. Yes, we look a little older, and we look a little,... maybe slightly more than little bit larger than we did nearly 9 Years ago. It truly was wonderful to spend an evening with Elder Hammond as we laughed at all of the funny and not so funny experiences we shared together. We were sad that Hammond's wife was unable to join him, but look forward to getting together with them sometime soon.

Men with Guns

WARNING! The following post is filled with photos of men with guns, and men with guns and dead pheasants, and men with guns and the chucker that didn't get away.

Back Row: Mckay, Tanner, Taylor, Grant

Front Row: Hunter, Johnny (our guide), Eric

Each year the Ensign Men drive to the Lazy JW Pheasant Club in Moroni, Utah. This year we all got together the day after Christmas, but soon realized that conditions may not be so ideal. By the time we rounded the final turn and headed into the small town of Moroni, the temperature gauge in the car read -18 below. Most of the morning was extra cold, but after each of us had a shot a bird or two, things warmed up nicely.

Santa brought Hunter his first gun for Christmas. It was a lot of fun to have the Hunt man along side us with his gun. He even brought down three birds all on his own.
Why am I holding a small chucker when there are so many large phesants behind me on the table you ask? Because this chucker eluded me twice...and I was successful at ensuring he did not elude me a third time.

Still don't have a name for my gun. I am open for suggestions.

Grant and his Prize. He had to run this one down for quite some time.

Tanner and Mckay

Taylor, Johnny, Mckay

Mckay with his gun that he aptly named "The Widowmaker"

Grant on Point

Grant and Taylor

Grant and my Dad, Eric

Johnny and Hunter

Mckay and Tanner doing a bit of tracking

Mckay and Grant

Christmas Afternoon

Christmas afternoon we spent at the Weaver's. Everyone was there except for Ashlee and Rick who did not fly in for a couple of days. The agenda went something like this: presents from Grandma and Grandpa, dinner, playing time, cousin gift exchange, playing, nativity and grandchild talent program, lastly treats and watch the family video for 2009. The day was packed with lots of fun, needless to say, the kids were tired when it was time to go.

This year grandma and grandpa gave every family one really big gift.

All the grandkids got their picture taken before the could open it.

Power Wheels
One day my children will have table manners, for now it is a work in progress.

Ham, scalloped potatoes, layered jello, sweet potatoes, creamed corn, salad and warm rolls. I was stuffed, yet I still managed to eat dessert.

"Daddy get me!"

Mckay loves to take pictures of us.

Cassidy and my Grandma Holladay. One of her four Great-Grandmas. She is a lucky kid!

My dad opening his white elephant gift from us. Kool-aid. Ami is out of the house so red Kool-Aid is allowed back in. Thanks Ami!

Cassidy and Grandma and Grandpa after she performed in the program.

Every year my dad will read from Luke while the grandchildren (and their parents that want to be involved) act out the nativity story. My parents take down their boxes of dress up clothes and the kids dress in what they would like. Every year it is a blast, you never know what will happen. It was nice having another baby in the family so a doll didn't have to play the character of baby Jesus this year.

Ashlee was still in Wisconsin, so Cassidy got to play the role of Mary. She even found a my little pony, no a donkey to ride.

Mckay was a Darth Vader/Witch. Not sure where that role comes in the Bible, but he did sit very quietly around baby Jesus when it was time.

(Take Special Note of The Shepards in the Fields, and the Vikings in the Fields, and the Darth Vaders in the Fields, tending their flocks by night.)

I have two scruffy dogs

Mckay was very excited to show Grandma Lisa that he had two Scruffy dogs. The clip is a little disjointed, but the end will guarantee a laugh. Enjoy!

Christmas Morning

GOOD MORNING!

Well, at least Cassidy woke up on the right side of the bed.

Mckay became happy and alert when he saw that Santa found our house.
The milk, cookies, carrots and lettuce were gone. Mckay asked, "How come Santa didn't drink all the milk?" I guess next year Santa will have to drink every last drop.
As the kids rounded the corner on Christmas morning they had sensory over load. They scanned the tree and the pile of presents. They just stood staring. Mckay was the first to notice that Santa had come. He showed Cassidy where her gift was and just stood there. We had to show him where his gift was.

Santa also brought a large playhouse, but the kids didn't even see it. I finally had to ask them, "Do you see anything else in the room. Something where the chair used to be?" Then the kids saw it. They ran to it yelling, "We have a club house!" Cassidy said, "Mckay you can go in first. You are shorter." For several minutes stockings and presents were forgotten and the kids just played. It was lots of fun!!!

After playing for a while we thought it was time to start opening gifts. We made small piles for the kids as Cassidy said, "Aren't we going to say a prayer before we open our gifts?" I had previously told her of the tradition I had growing up. Taylor and I were proud of her for thinking about Christ and being grateful for the material things that we have been blessed with.

Mckay already had one scruffy dog. Santa brought one more.

Cassidy got a princess, keyboard vanity for Christmas.

Waiting his turn.

Mckay and his dragon castle.

"I Love Dad!"

The club house!