Making the Rounds

For as long as I can remember Christmas morning always came with breakfast at my Grandma and Grandpas house complete with Grandpas sourdough pancakes. I love that we were able to share this tradition with our kids this year. After breakfast Grandma and Grandpa open their gifts and then we "make the rounds" to the other families homes to see what Santa brought them. My mom has been doing this since she was a child and it is still continued to this day. After that we made our way to Matt's mom and dad to meet up with all of the siblings.

(Gracie, Abby, Sami and Rae)

(Merrilee, Tom and LuLu)

(Carlie, Danny and Josh)
(Sami teasing Chloe the dog with the red light)

Ava does not warm up to many people, but she always love Uncle Jake!

Christmas Morning

Christmas is so much funner when there are kids involved. My dad made the comment that he hopes that we will not move back to Utah so that we can always come and visit for Christmas. We had a great Christmas and the kids were spoiled beyond belief again! Matt and I decided to forgo gifts this year for each other, but were still surprised by loving parents and grandparents. Sami was so excited for her new bike, she kept saying, "Mom, I got a new princess bike. And its a Huffy bike too!" Ava has turned into quite the beautician lately, so she was in seventh heaven with her new vanity set. The boys were super excited for all of their new gadgets and games. I love the Christmas season and love even more that my kids are beginning to grasp the true meaning of the season. They had a great opportunity Christmas Eve to put that feeling into action. My uncles found out about a family whose father was out of state looking for work and there would be no Christmas at their house that year. By the time we found out about it, the stores were all closed for the night. We explained the situation to the kids. Soon there was a bag full of gifts taken from our tree to be given to someone else. I hope that my kids remember the gifts that they gave instead of the gifts they received this year.

(my dad loved his new pink halter and lead rope from the girls)

Schofield Family Party

We look forward to the Schofield Family party every year. Becky always has great food and tries really hard to make it all perfect. It is always wonderful, but maybe not in the way that they had planned. With 19 grandkids 13 and under, there is always a lot of noise and chaos. But we would not have it any other way. Even if the program is noisy, and the kids are not paying that much attention, or if the potatoes get burned, or chocolate ends up on the carpet; it is still perfect. No matter how crazy it gets, we all love being together laughing and enjoying each other!

(all of the grandkids minus 2, Lucy and Brigham were less willing to participate)

Snow Day

We are always excited to head home and play in the snow. There was not as much as last year, but the kids didn't mind. They bundled up many times and headed out to play. The boys even enjoyed their "No Girls Allowed, Christmas Eve Eve" party at the cabin. Tons of snow, cousins, uncles, tubing and all the soda and junk food you could eat! No wonder they look forward to it every year!

Chocolate Dipping!

Matt's Grandma Schofield is a great candy maker. Every time we head up to Utah she asks us to come over and make them with her. This trip we made the time and went. The kids were so excited. She spoiled them with dark and milk chocolate, nuts, candy filling and lots of fun! Grandpa worked at the Los Alamos Lab and helped with the making of the atomic bombs during World War II. Austin loves to sit and talk with him about anything and everything that has to do with science. It was a great visit and a sweet memory that the kids will never forget.

Frandsen Family Christmas Party

I look forward to my Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas party every year. I have only missed one my whole life, and I love them. There is always the same foods, the same drinks and usually the same activity (family talent show), and a visit from Santa. This year my grandma decided to change things up a bit. A few weeks before Christmas she heard some disturbing news about some people in her Stake. The same Stake that Matt and I both grew up in. There was a little family that was contacted by a Relief Society President. She found out that this sweet mother to two young children had not eaten for four days. She was saving the only food that she had, which was a few eggs, for her four year old child. She also has a nursing baby. This story struck all of us straight to the heart. This was happening to people right where we live.

That night after dinner, we put together some food boxes for some people that desperatly needed it. It was amazing to see the desire that my kids had to serve others. The faces of people that are in need has certainly changed over this past year. What a blessing to be able to give to those who are truly in need. A couple of my cousins took this one step further and started their own food drive. By the end of the week they had a truck bed full of canned food to help those in need. What a great way to start the Christmas season!

Temple Square

We decided to brace the frigid cold temperatures and venture out to Temple Square. Matt and I had not been there since we moved from Utah. I grew up in Utah and I understand the cold, but I think that I forgot how cold it really gets on a clear night! We bundled the kids up and braced ourselves. The lights were absolutely beautiful. It was so worth the cold!

Baptism

While we were in Utah for Christmas we decided to do Easton's baptism as well. It was so great to be able to have all of our family there for his special day. He was able to be baptised in the same place that I was as a child.

I have been in meetings before where I have certainly felt the spirit. Maybe it was because this was the baptism of my second child, or because of Easton's own sweet spirit, bu there was a feeling there that was very powerful. For some reason I was fighting back tears all day. As with all of my children, Easton holds a special place in my heart. He is one of the kindest, sincere and gentle people that I know. He has such a strong desire to do what is right. He tries so hard at everything that he does. I pray that I will be able to help keep his spirit as pure as it was on that day. It truly is a blessing to be his mother.

Baptism Program for
Easton Anthony Schofield
December 19, 2009

Presiding………………………. Bishop Tony Schofield
Conducting…………………….Bishop Tony Schofield

Accompanist……………….Tom Schofield
Chorister……………………Becky Schofield

Opening Prayer………………Brent Skidmore
Opening Song…….When Jesus Christ was Baptized

Baptism Talk……………………...Mel Frandsen
Holy Ghost Talk …………….......Tony Schofield
Musical Number….Merrilee and Emma Schofield

Baptism and Confirmation of Easton
By His Father

Remarks

Closing Song ….Families Can Be Together Forever
pg. 300
Closing Prayer……………Marsha Skidmore

Family Ties

We noticed this sign a few years ago after our own Samantha Rose was born, and I had to get a picture before we moved from here. I found it funny that "Stephanie" (my sister) intersected with "Samantha Rose"!

Winterfest

Sami had her first performance in her new dance class yesterday. She was thrilled to be able to wear her new green costume. She looked darling and danced well. She loves her dance class and is so excited with every performance. Way to go Sami!