Nativity Pics

 

  
                         The wooden nativity that Patrick painted did not include the bear.
                         It was a gift that Jenna received for Christmas one year and decided
                          she would add to the nativity

                    The first Mary (pink) is the first piece that Jenna received to her nativity;
                 the second is the only piece I can find to a nativity that my mom had given me;
                    the third Mary (blue) is the one I received last year from Roland and Biff

                             Though he carries a shepherd's crook, we used the first piece to
                               represent Joseph, next is an angel and the baby in the manger

                       The wooden nativity set except for the donkey and camel pictured below

    
                          Three wisemen, the camel, donkey and sheep (the wooden animals
                         didn't have the glare that the ceramic animals of Jenna's nativity had)

              Just to demonstrate the size of the rooster with the sheep and Ooki's wooden elephant

                                       Jenna's nativity as of December 23

Christmas Eve Elephants

                           The first name drawn to pick a gift was our granddaughter, Ester
                       Carrie suggested this white elephant she had wrapped.  Ester loved it.
                        

                                                 The expression on my face says it all

                       Jeanie was next to pick a gift.  She opened the clock that we had brought.
                Carrie took that from her and next Jeanie opened a set of Futeboy soccer players.

        Then Randy decided he wanted the Futeboys (our bowling pins had not yet been open)
                                           and so Jeanie had to pick out something else.

                            She opened the snowman that we brought and gave orders for no one                            to take it from her. I figured when we had made our purchase that she would like it the most

        Roland LOVES Superman.  He opened this gift and surprisingly no one took it from him

                            next was Biff who received a knife. He wants to use it with fishing

                           Tony got the bowling set and Rochelle opened the last gift
                                   which was a stuffed mushroom which Ester Loves

                                       and then Randy and Jenna played with the futeboys

                                            Jenna's been sick.  It was good to see her smile

                         They both enjoyed playing the game.  Randy let Jenna have the game
                          and allowed her to trade some lame gift she had received.  An Idiot's
                           Guide to a Near Death experience along with som sour cream and
                              onion flavored crickets.  It was almost as if having one (eating
                                crickets) would give you the other (a near death experience).

12 Days of Nativity

About a year and a half ago, after we cleaned mom’s house, I reclaimed my nativity mentioned here and learned that it was just too large for my small house and my less-than-tidy family.  Last year was the only year I put it up.

My family had sent me a wooden nativity the first Christmas I was on my mission.  The nativity consisted of five pieces: Mary, Joseph, two lambs and the baby Jesus.  My brother Patrick had painted each of the figures. 

Two years after I had returned from my mission, I had purchased a bunch of Christmas items that went on clearance following the holidays.  One of the items I purchased was a three-piece wooden set with painted camel, the three wisemen and a shepherd.  I added those to my existing nativity.  That is what I used for several years after Roland and I were married.

My mom had given me a small nativity sometime before we had moved to West Valley.  It was smaller than my wooden set, and often I displayed both sets.  I hope that they are still in the shed, but it dawned on me that since I haven’t run across either, that they may have been in the same box with my dip n drape nativity – never to be seen again.  Except for a wooden lamb that somehow drifted from the rest of the set, and a small Mary from the other.  

Randy said he wished I had given him the nativity – which is odd, because of all my children, I figure that he really wouldn’t want it.  Thus I thought I would give him one of the missing nativities, should I have come across them. But alas, it is still not discovered.

Last year Roland purchased another nativity set and put Biff in charge of picking out the figures.  I have Mary, Joseph, three wisemen, a donkey, a lamb, a camel, an angel and surely you’ve heard of the Christmas rooster – which by the way is almost the same size as the sheep.  And so this year I added Ooki’s elephant to the set.  The rooster actually looks more out of place than the elephant does.

Well, somebody has decided to give each of our activity girls a nativity set – one piece at a time. Jenna received Mary on the 16^th I believe.  I noticed one of her friends had taken a picture of her Mary and posted that someone had left it along with the scripture.  The scripture that came with the first nativity figure was Luke 1:26-31.

The following day Jenna received Joseph who came with a verse from the children’s songbook.  The third day was a donkey.  The forth day was the Stable.  The fifth day was a cow.  And the next three days were wisemen.

         Jenna had diligently taken pictures.  The last she took was of the cow.  She had borrowed my LG cell phone – which I had to replace as it cut the conversation.  I still use it as a directory and had told Jenna that she could borrow it to take to school for a brilliant idea she had wanted to make as a gift for her teachers.  Unfortunately it did not work out.  I had forgotten I would need a chip to transfer pictures, but did not have a chip on hand nor do I want to invest in another after losing two chips already.

Unlike the nativity that I received last year, Jenna’s includes a shepherd – which came next and was followed by a sheep.  We’ll have to see what the next two days bring.  I imagine that Christmas Eve will come with the Christ Child.  Pics will come – eventually.

My Day So Far

         This year the weather has been awesome enough for me to drive in.  As I was returning home from Jenna’s school, I stopped to get gas.  It was under 20 dollars to fill my tank.  I was stunned.  It wasn’t that low the last time I drove for real.

           Last year when Jenna’s school held their Christmas performance, and the weather was rotten, not only did I miss the program, but Tony had as well.  He and Rochelle had just moved back after living in Texas.  Tony surprised Jenna this year when we both showed up just as her class was lining up out in the hall. 

         There have been some years when I know she hasn’t been able to find me in the audience.  I have taken pictures of her program just to prove to her that I was there.  This year I had my new camera but was very far away from the stage.  I decided that I would just enjoy the performance and NOT take pictures.  However, when the principal invited parents to stand and take pictures of their kids BEFORE the performance, I handed the camera to Tony and asked if he would move up closer to get some shots.

         Jenna was wearing a headband with huge red antlers sticking up.  I had not noticed her wearing it in the hall.  I don’t know how I noticed when she was on stage.  The antlers blended into the drapes.  It actually looked kind of weird.  Tony not only took several still pictures of her, but filmed both musical numbers as well.  What a guy.  I was/am very grateful for that.

         Tony was starving.  After Jenna’s class dismissed, we left toward his car (he had driven us in his new car) and got something to eat before he returned me home.  I had only twenty minutes or so to start sorting socks or start my blog or do dishes.  I knew I wasn’t going to complete any one task – let alone all of them.  I still have to add pictures to the last couple of thoughts that I’ve already posted today.  I’ll need to run to the library as well as I have a few items to return.

         I returned to Jenna’s school just before school let out. I am usually early and have to wait a while before the bell rings and for her to cross.  Normally I sit at a bench behind the school and read. I have enjoyed the crisp air that’s lingered this season. Today would have been less enjoyable.  I was grateful I had a car to sit in, as it has gotten colder.  To me, it feels like the coldest day of this month.  And it seems to be getting colder with every passing minute.

         Initially I was going to stop at a fast food place on my way to Roland’s place of work – only he really didn’t want that choice of food.  I suggested we just go out and eat and Jenna and I could just bus it home.  And so that is what we did. 

         He will be home in another hour and we will go to the Church house where Sunny and Patrick attend services and spend a few hours playing games with the family.  We are excited!

         I should include pictures with all three of today’s posts.  I am unable to do them all at this time however.  Perhaps I will be able to do so on Christmas Eve – before our other family party.  (That is if Jenna will allow me the time to do so)

The week before Christmas

Today I have the car.  Well, for six – eight hours. 

This morning Jenna and I rode in with Roland to his work.  We stayed in the car and listened to Henry Winkler for about 45 minutes.

I should have waited a while longer before pulling out of the lot, but I was afraid of more traffic entering the lot, and wanted to avoid the employee traffic and so went out on the road earlier than I should have.  But we did say a prayer before we left and got Jenna to the school with thirty minutes to spare.

It is Jenna’s last day of school this year.  The classes are doing a program this morning.  I didn’t make it to her program last year because we had the hardest snowfall we had seen for a number of years and so of course the busses were running behind and even though I had left the house earlier than I thought was necessary, I waited for over 20 minutes before I realized that even if the bus did come, there was no way it would get me to my destination and allow my walk hike up to her school in time to see her perform. 

She wants me there for her performance today.  I haven’t been there for all of her performances.  When she was in first grade, Roland and I arrived early enough, but were called away to set up chairs for a funeral. I gave a flash drive to someone recording but never got it back.

Her part does not start until after 10:00.  I have things to do and could not afford to hang around her school all day.  But I didn’t want to be taking the bus all day either.  That is why I am driving.

When the school has a program, the parents have the option of checking their child (or children) out early.  Jenna doesn’t want to be checked out early because she wants to stay for the class party.  So after I pick her up this afternoon, we will pick up some lunch for Roland and I will drive back to his office and he will drive us home – although I really don’t mind taking the bus from his work.  Perhaps I’ll have him drop us off at a TRAX station.

Tonight (thanks to my awesome sister-in-law, Sunny – the glue who holds us together) we will have a family party with two of my sibs and their families.  Corey and Joh cannot make it. 

  but Sunny says everyone in Utah will be there.    I’m excited to see everyone and play games.  I think the hours in today are going to fly right by.  

Still Wearing My Walking Shoes

I realize that this weather has been tough on a few people and I will probably be unhappy about it when there’s no moisture come summer, but right now I am enjoying walking and not trudging through snow.  I have enjoyed NOT having to wear my boots. I am enjoying the breathable air.  I feel good.  When I get headaches, I can step outside and make them go away.  The headaches are so much better than the sinus infection of the last two or three years – which I DON’T miss at all.

         The last few times I’ve gone walking, I noticed three or four trees that still have autumn leaves clinging to the branches.  Does that mean I might still discover autumn leaves on the ground in June?  Wow, that would be something.

         To think at this time last year, Jenna and I were getting rides from our neighbor up the street.  Her son enjoys his freedom with taking the bus.  I think he feels coddled when she drives him.  He may change his mind again if the weather gets bad again and the buses are late.

         Randy called about our Christmas plans for the 24^th.  We drew names this year.  But instead of having just four or five gifts for all of us to open, he wants each of us to bring white elephants so that there will be more gifts to open.  With that, Roland decided we needed to go to Big Lots to purchase something tacky. 

         The hotdog toaster was over the limit – but it spoke white elephant.  Though I think if Bill and Kayla had something like that, she may actually use it for Garrett and Anna.  But I don’t know.  I guess it’s a good idea, but will the hotdog actually get cooked – will the toasted bun get burnt.  I don’t know.  25 dollars is too much of a gamble, I think.

         Roland had wanted to get a snowman or Santa Clause cookie jar.  The only one that we could find was not in a box.  We settled on a ceramic snowman sectioned in four pieces – each section offered a content of measure.  There are no handles though, and so using them as measuring cups seems an inconvenience – but it did scream white elephant.

         One of the white elephants we are taking is a recycled gift from Roland’s office party.  Surprisingly, it's actually a useful item. 

         We used one of Jenna’s gifts as the final white elephant gift.  She said she had wanted this item, but when I returned to the store for it, all I could find was a smaller version.  I had forgotten how small.  Her room isn’t clean and both Roland and I thought it might be more clutter to add to her room.

         I’m sorry that I cannot say what it is at this time.  Jenna reads my blog.  She’ll learn in time what it was that may have been left under the tree and may end up with it anyway.  I predict her and Tony will be fighting over it.  Perhaps Randy and Biff as well.  All four play like little children still.       

         It will be a fun Christmas.  And I’m still okay if it doesn’t snow.

I’m Floored That She Would Even Remember Me

         Quite recently Jenna had asked me if there were seriously anyone who did not/does not like Santa Clause.  I gave her an example of a girl who used to live in my mom’s ward.  Roslyn hated beards.  She was scared of anyone who wore one – even in pretend. The two top people on her “hate” list were Santa Clause and Jesus – I don’t know if it was that order.

         Imagine my surprise to learn that little girl grew up to be the vice principal at Jenna’s school.  I hadn’t known that when I related the above.  I was assisting at the JA city when Roslyn had approached me yesterday to ask if I was LaTiesha Cannon.  It’s true that I was wearing a nametag with my first name on it.  But still.  I don’t think we’ve seen one another for at least thirty years – not that we had much contact when living in mom’s ward.

         Roslyn had been a sunbeam when my mom was teaching in primary.  I may have subbed in her class a few times.  I knew her as one of the primary children.  I’m guessing we’re at least twenty years apart.  I didn’t think she had even known me at the time, let alone 20-30 years later. I was shocked that she was able to make the connection. I do have the same first name as one of her aunts.  Perhaps that is how she remembered.

         To be honest, I did not nor would have recognized Roslyn – even if I had seen her sitting by her mother.  She had seemed so withdrawn in her youth and had a very low self-esteem. She was still in her youth the last time I remember seeing her.  The person I saw yesterday approached me – something she would never have done in her youth.  We had an actual conversation.  We hadn’t said that many words to one another in the entire time we had both lived in the ward that we had both grown up in.

         Roslyn said she had come – not only because Vantana had a class participating in yesterday’s event, but also because her brother is a director of JA City.  I hadn’t recognized him either.  I think he was still out on his mission when I moved out of the ward.  I might have made a connection with him if I had spent more time with him.  They have a common last name and so maybe not. 

         He smiled when I asked if he was Rob Anderson.  I told him that we had been in the same ward – but it was Roslyn who had made the connection.  I had told both of them that I had recently related Roslyn’s lack of passion toward Santa Clause.  This morning I said to Jenna: “Guess who that little girl grew up to be?”