Christmas at our House

This has been quite the week. Last Friday was my Birthday and Ardell sent me sixty -- yes that is 6 0 long stem red roses to my office. My supervisor got the call that there was something at reception for my department, so she went down three floors to the other side of the building and up three floors to reception on the south bank of the building, then down carried the huge bouquet down three floors to the main atria and up the north elevators to our third floor. They were really heavy. She brought them to my pod and said if I had another delivery I had to go get it. So I unwrapped it all and it covered the whole pod - which is two -two drawer filing cabinets back to back. So the whole office knew I had received them, and I had to tell them they were from my Teddy Bear and there was 60 cause I was 60 years old that day. So then the whole office sang Happy Birthday to me. My face went very red to say the least. Then I had to call Ardell and tell him.

It was been bitterly cold this past week. Today we are -7 for a high, so that is balmy. Last night, Christmas eve, we spent at Colleen's house with her family and Brad was there too. It was so good to see him. Kara and her girls came over too. Heidi had gone to Randy's for the evening. Colleen is having them all over tomorrow for dinner. We all had a nice Chinese food supper with all the Boyers. Lucky and his daughter and husband and twin girls were there. Brianne and Alana are really cute kids. They are about 2 yrs old. Alissa and Alexis were there too.

This morning Ardell and I opened our gift from Melanie and Jules. It was a beautiful picture and a picture of Jules and one of the Vancouver Olympic symbol of the formation of rocks. I don't know what it is called.


Then we both fixed dinner this afternoon. I put the turkey in and Ardell instructed. We had a realy nice dinner just the two of us. It was quiet and we watch Cornation Street while we ate.
Now it is time for bed.

I just might tackle the Boxing Day Sales crowds tomorrow. I want to go get a few things that I didn't get for Christmas. I might even go shopping for myself too.

I talked to Marvelle and Clifford night before last. We have a book for all of you from Ardell's sister - Mary Anne Wilson Quinton. She has wrote a book of poems and published them. It is a great little book dedicated to her parents and her brothers, Ardell and Earnie. We have one each for all of my sisters. We will get them to you soon.

So I hope the whole family had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We sure had a quiet one and it was soooo good to just relax and be by ourselves. Talk to you all when we can.

Noble New #73 - Marvelle - Reporter

I just read the blogs that our family has entered. What a wonderful vehicle to let us know about the wonderful people in our family. I'll bet the person who took the kids shopping enjoyed it too. We love you all. You can bet if I'm ever home when they have the 'craft's day' I'll be there.

Uncle Gayle is a special person too. He thinks of others all the time. I love him. If he wasn't married to my sister I wouldn't even know him. Clifford takes care of me. He is so kind and loving too. Each of our mates are wonderful people. I hope each of us remembers them when they need it. Brad is a wonderful person too. How we love them. Cam is very special too. We love him. I hope each of us remembers the special people in our life and tell them how much we love them especially at this time of year.
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When we went to Jeanne Hough Ethridge's place her husband Don ,(for Thanksgiving) he told her to sit down and visit wih her family - meanng us her kids while he did the dishes. How wonderful he is. Don Smith 'tried' to get some things for us in Mexico when he went. He is wonderful too. We love each of you. Keep up the good work.

What LA is doing is keeping a record of cute things the kids say. Kaylie's remarks need to be written up there.

love Marvelle

Cute Quote of the week.

Last night Ryan and Beth and their two beautiful little girls came to visit us. While we visited, Hailey and Ava were both very busy checking out the Christmas decorations and playing in the Grandma Room. When they were finished downstairs, they came up looking for something else to do. Hailey said she wanted to see my bedroom so I took her in there and turned on the light. I had moved the doll carriage with the doll in Taylor's blessing dress into the bedroom to make room for the Christmas tree. As soon as Hailey spotted it, she wanted to play with the doll. So I told her she could pick up the doll. (This one is not porcelain.) She carefully picked up the doll, cradled her in her arms and innocently asked, "Is she break-a-full?)

Winter Celebrations

I know we don't call them Christmas Concerts anymore.....but thought I'd let you know that Jill and Peirce just had a "what we used to call a Christmas Concert"...but now known as a Winter Celebration.... at their school last week. :0) Pictures and videos on our Ackroyd Family Blog here.

Actually, I'm sounding sarcastic, but I think they did a good job in the concert of incorporating what we believe to be the real meaning of Christmas. They talked about winter celebrations in many different countries - including a number of Christian countries. They went through the story of the Savior's birth, through Hannukah songs and dances, and also celebrations in India and Africa and a number of other places. At the end of the night all the kids came into the gym and sang a song about Peace on Earth. It was quite moving!

We have someone Very SPECIAL in our FAMILY

I don't know if the whole family knows of who this VERY SPECIAL PERSON, in our family is,

BUT....................

did you know that on November 22nd, Colleen hosted a crafts day at her house for all the ladies of the family. Heidi, Kara, & Beth & Colleen represented the Boyer's. Gaylene & Lester Ann were from the Jensen's, Paula and I from the Wilson's. We all had a very nice time visiting and doing our crafts. Thanks to Gaylene for ordering and directing us all in the painting and assembling our crafts. I made a beautiful nativity scene. It was fun making it and visiting with all the girls. Some of the little kids did crafts too. Christopher even colored some Christmas tree ornaments. Haley and Alexis and Alissa made some bead work necklaces to adorn themselves and their little sisters. Collen spent the whole day with a housefull of company and wasn't feeling well. How she got any sleep we do not know.

I marvelled at how well all the kids got along together in the family. I think they are all discovering their cousins and enjoying playing together.

HOWEVER.................

there was another person who got the big idea of taking all the little kids shopping for their mothers. This was Duane......what a WONDERFUL GUY. Off he went with Ryan and Dave in toe and took, Haley and Ava, Alexis and Alissa, Taylor, Jordan, Sydney, and Christopher and Tanner and I don't know who all else went, but he took all the kids to Market Mall and they all did their Christmas Shopping for their mothers. That was NINE kids that went to the mall with Uncle Duane and loved it.

Christopher came home with a lovely present, which he and Garry wrapped up right away, so Mommy would not find out what it was. He whispered in Grandma's ear what it was, though.
I had given Christoper some money to buy a gift, (his reward for his excellent report card), but Duane made sure that each one of the kids all had a gift for their mother's before they left the mall.

I thought, what a wonderful person to make sure that each child had a gift to take home, and he even put out money to boot for each of the kids I am sure.

Duane -- just wanted to know you are the greatest.......................& special too.


Love

Auntie
Shirley