Dean Turns Eight!

Tonight we celebrated Dean's 8th birthday. He got a new set of scriptures and a rip-stick from Mike and Amy, a CTR ring and cash from us and a Nerf gun from Grandma Koford. She'll give him the traditional home-made blanket on his baptism day - January 3, 2009!

Grace's Baptism

Grace was so excited about her baptism for so long - but she was a little nervous. After she was baptized, she kept telling everyone, "I did it! I got baptized!" I'll post a picture of Grace and Jeff when I get one.

Sunday Night

Bo and Grandpa Jack played trains.

One Last Show?

We thought Lisa was through with Choralaires, but she went back two days a week - so...she was in the Christmas show again this year. She sang in a double quartet - I'll Be Home For Christmas. She didn't have much of a voice for the Friday night show, but Saturday was better.

Senior Center Dinner and Show

Dad and Jack and I had a nice dinner at the North View Senior Center before the Sounds of Christmas Time performance. The show was great! All the old folks loved it! So did we! Jack had a meeting right after the performance, but Dad and I headed over to Pleasant View to hear Haley sing at the Creche Display.

Pleasant View Stake Creche Display

This is the 4th year the Pleasant View Stake has hosted a creche display. It was my first time there. I'm going back and taking Dad in his wheelchair! It is amazing! Thousands of nativities from every continent in the world - every country you can imagine - and they are made from every medium imaginable! It's open until December 6th. You really shouldn't miss it!

Watching Haley sing...

Haley loves to sing and she has a beautiful voice! She sang with a group of girls from her ward as part of the entertainment during the creche display. Dad and I got to hear her sing too. When I dropped Dad off at home, I called Byran - there was still time to get in to the Ogden Amphitheater for the 7:30 Sounds of Christmas Time performance! Yippee!

Same show - way better venue!

The girls had pink noses, but they loved performing at the Amphitheater in Christmas Village! What a fun performance!

RS Christmas Dinner

A couple of months ago, I was asked to be chair for the RS Christmas Dinner. I hesitated, but said yes. I went straight to Ann for ideas, since she and her mom have both been RS presidents. She suggested a menu. I pulled together some of the most reliable women in the ward (and some of the best cooks) and we pulled it off. We had close to 70 women there. Weber High's Chamber Quire performed before the meal (they had another engagement afterward). The food held quite well during the performance. Everyone enjoyed it a lot! Thanks, Ann! (pics when I get them)

Grose Family SAT

The SAT got off to a slow start this year, but we ended up with a pretty good crowd. Refer to Julie's blog - thatssogrose - for group pics at the dinner. Here are pictures of those who performed in the talent show. Thanks to Becky for putting this together for Dad this year. He so looks forward to the gathering and the talent show.
Alli sang "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Kendrick played a piano solo. Marianne sang her little heart out in a duet with her mom. Jen sang, "Where Are You Christmas." Lex played a John Schmidt number she'd heard on a CD. Jace played the song from his recent recital. Dean played a piano solo. Becky played and sang the number she did as she accompanied her stake president to every one of his Ward Conference speaking engagements. Amberly played a piano solo. Jenna played her recital piece. The Grose Sisters sang a beautiful a Capella number. The Bolos Sisters sang a hymn.
I snapped this shot of Dad enjoying the talent that was performed especially for him!
After the talent performances, Becky got all the Primary-age kids together to sing, "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus."

We are thankful!

On Thanksgiving Day we only had half of our children with us - but still a crowd with 28 people. Dad joined us, along with Russell, Elaine, Micaela and her friend Zach. Everyone stepped up to help and we had a wonderful dinner. I only cooked turkey, gravy and stuffing! Check out the leftover gravy and stuffing in the photo below!
Table one
Table twoMicaela tries the olives on the fingers. Kendrick has a double helping of his mom's layered jello. All the guys were absorbed in the newspaper after dinner. Audrey shows off her little turkey. Check out the left-over stuffing and gravy! Sharon brought crafts for the kids to do after dinner.

Happy Birthday, Amy!

For her 33rd birthday, Amy invited US to dinner! She cooked the yummiest roast beef, carrots and potatoes (from a farmer down the road), corn bread and Mike made her a chocolate birthday cake. Mmmmmm. We all ate way too much!

"Twenty-nine tickets for the matinee, please."

On Saturday, November 22, we took almost all of the grandchildren to see Weber High's fantabulous production of Peter Pan. There was a little brunch before, where the kids pigged out on juice, chocolate milk, cheese cubes, grapes, oranges and Rice Krispie Bars. Joann, Becky, John and Ann joined us. Sharon and Gus saw it the weekend before. [Weber did SEVEN performances of Peter Pan - all sold out!]
Lisa got some shots of the kids before the show began.
More of the kids waiting for Peter Pan to start. The kids were all great! Even the littlest ones were enthralled with the 2 hr. 45 min. show!

Haley's a Great Little Clogger!

What fun! Jack and I picked up Dad for the recital. Our only regret was that there was only ONE clogging number and that was our favorite of the whole recital! Haley is a dang good little clogger!

Jace and Jenna's Piano Recital

Jace did such a great job. He reminded me so much of Bryan as he slid his bottom back and forth across the piano bench to hit all the keys.Jenna's piece was flawless! She's a natural!

Email from Sharon - 2:38 PM...

A little set back in birthday party preparations...I had to take Reagan to have her big toe glued back on. She stubbed it and lopped a big flap open. Sean Carver glued it shut. I told Gus, "They just glued her toe back on." Ha! Now, back to making ice cream.

Email from Sharon - 2:54 PM

...And Kendrick just broke his arm. Gus is on his way to the ER. Aahhh!

Kendrick broke two bones in his lower arm - about 2 inches above the wrist. One bone was totally broken and the other was broken 3/4 of the way through. Gus asked for an Orthopedist in the ER and Dr. Hall was on call. He set the arm while Kendrick was under sedation, wrapped it and put it in a sling and sent him home. He'll get a cast in a week.

NAL - Rocky at Wahlquist

London and her NAL team came to Wahlquist November 7th. Jack, Sharon, Reagan and I all went to watch. Here's a picture of London during her presentation on Hunger in the USA.

Election Day

Jack had a visit from the County Clerk/Auditor.
Jack volunteered to be an election judge this year. He ended up at poll manager at the North Ogden Senior Center. He was over three crews of judges from 3 different precincts, including a member of our ward, two former members of our ward and Kathy's cousin, Sharon Muirbrook. Jack appreciated Lisa's help in setting up the voting machines. He said she was setting them up 3 at a time and everyone was pretty amazed at her expertise! Lisa was hired by the county for the day because of her extensive election experience. She was on hand to help with any problems at the North Ogden City Offices and the Senior Center.

Proud Moment!

Jack administered the Oath of the Eagle.Nate pins the mentor pin on Dad.A side shot of Nathan with Des Ta Te

Jack, Dad and I went to Nate's Eagle Court of Honor Wednesday night. What an impressive ceremony! When we drove up to the church at 7 PM - it was dusk. The street and the sidewalks in front of the church were flag-lined. We slipped in the side door of the RS room just before the meeting began. After they passed out a ton of merit badges and advancements, they started the Eagle Ceremony. They asked for all the Eagle Scouts to come up front and sit in "The Eagles' Nest." They talked about each of the boys and passed out their certificates. Their parents pinned their Eagle pins on them, and then the boys pinned each of their parents. The two Eagles had each chosen someone as a recipiant of a mentor pin. Tanner Carver (the other Eagle) chose his dad. Nate chose Dad - his great-grandpa. Dad was very surprised and choked up when Nate first said his name.

Both sets of parents arranged for a live eagle presentation from the Ogden Nature Center. The bird was magnificent and the guy giving the presentation did an excellent job. The whole thing was very impressive.

We are so proud of Nate and all the work he has put into getting this special recognition. Jack and I have both worked in the scouting program and we know what is required. Congratulations, Nathan! We love you!