Hey everybody! Its Jared! Yes its true your long lost (at least from the blog) brother and friend is posting! This post is titled "To the Women in my life" because well, I thought I should take a moment to let each of you know how thankful I am for you. (Namely Mom, Jen, Les, Becca, Mariah, Ashley, and last but not least my sweetheart Audrey)The amount that each of you have taught me is amazing. The influence and spirit each of you carry is as different and unique as you are and I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to interact and spend time around you. Anyways I wont drone on and try to thank each of you individually on the blog but feel free to call and I'll try to put into words maybe thru an experience I have had with you or something you have taught me just a little glimpse of my gratitude.
To close I thought I would put this little video in here. I was watching it this morning and mom thought each of you might like it. Its a video of an upcoming artist named Alex Lambert (Dont get him mixed up with Adam Lambert) I hope you enjoy it.
Here goes (and I love the funny stuff, so Becca should do another post to keep us all rolling...) * The 4th ward has us all take a family name off a tree at the ward christmas dinner to do a Christmas surprise for... we get the Harpers. (Remember Danene? Remember Danene's eyelashes???) So a few days later we make a little plate of goodies to take over. It is sunday afternoon, the sun is setting but we still have good light. We park beyond the Harper's house and do a u-turn so we are in the middle of the dead end street (ah, remember when Salem had places where there were no houses?) The older boys run up the street to the door with the gift, Jared wants to follow so badly, 4 years old and shoeless, we find him a pair of shoes in the car- they are too big because they are not his. I can still see Jared, grinning from ear to ear, shuffling (to keep the shoes on that are too big) down the middle of the road toward the Harper's. In the meantime the boys have delivered the gift, rang the bell, and are running like blazes toward the car. They pass Jared who continues grinning and shuffling away from the car and toward the Harpers. We frantically call him back- he does not come. shhhh shhhh shhhh go the shoes, taking the grinning boy closer and closer to Harpers. Danene opens the door, bends to pick up the gift, and looking up sees cute Jared- shhh shhh shhh. She laughes, "well, Hi Jared!" she says laughing, she looks up and waves to us (we're cracking up in the car...) "Merry Christmas!"
I love the OakRidge Boys and our little dance to "la la La LA!" That tradition started in Rexburg- dad was working at Osco and we were all anxious and waiting for him to come home that Christmas Eve so the celebration could begin. Time started to hang heavy so desperation kicked in as I looked for things to keep the evening fun and you kids entertained. I assigned you each a room and a light switch... Adam was stationed to watch for dad. We practiced Adam sounding the alarm and your response by rapidly flashing your assigned switch off and on, off and on. Playing in the back ground was, you guessed it... the Oak Ridge Boys. We turned off the lights and waited - a few minutes later Adam sounded the alarm and the windows of our home came alive with the flashing of the lights. Dad was so delighted by this happy welcome home, and you kids were so excited that you were practically glued to the ceiling. That night we did danced to "It's Christmas" for the first time, and I LOVED it.
Another one- I loved having you all sing us awake Christmas morning. We could hear you as you got your act together in the kitchen. Then the singing would begin, a little disjointed at first but gaining volume and strength- we would lay there for a minute or two and just listen. Fun memories, happy times.
And last- the year dad surprised me with the peach colored dress with the white lace collar- it was the perfect gift- I felt lovely in it, and well surprised and loved by him... but he has made me feel that way every Christmas.
It's the night before the night before Christmas... I have been reviewing posts and looking at pictures and smiling. Big tears, dear family. I loved how well Ben said he was quietly thinking and his thoughts turned to family. That's just what this time of year is all about, isn't it? I had a lot of fun planning my Christmas post, oh the pictures of Christmases past I could share, but alas, Mac is in Salt Lake getting a new disk drive among other things, while it is still under warranty- which is a good thing and has saved you all! (from the pictures...) I will be thinking of each of you during the next couple of days- I am so thankful to know my grandchildren are well provided for and loved. I am happy there will be something under the tree for each of them, and that sometime during the hustle and bustle they will hear once again the wonderful story of our Savior's birth- that is the most important thing of all. I love you all and wish you a merry, merry christmas! Mom/Denise
The Gnomes brought Ellie and Addison a gingerbread house kit and that got Adam inspired. He entered his at his holiday party--he didn't win, but he was robbed--that from an unbiased spectator!
His is a replica of a building on campus.
Here is hoping your week is filled with gnomes and other great visitors.
Welcome to our family blog. Post pictures, tell your latest jokes (DAD), upload a video from your fancy-pants Mac computer, and tell us all what's goin' on. It's so much easier than gossiping through Mom. S'rsly people.
And I will pester you about it. Cuz I'm super-awesome like that.