After Christmas events and Open House

After Christmas we hurried to prepare for Crismon and Danielle who were arriving Tues. evening, Dec. 27th. Emily's Christmas gift to me was helping me hang pictures in our home. We hadn't put up many since we had painted a few years ago and I was very anxious to have them up. She spent hours working with me and I love the results. Julia's gift was printing out updated pictures of the family, putting them in protective sleeves and posting on the refrigerator. This is a wonderful blessing to me! I love surrounding myself with pictures of our family! It was lots of fun having Danielle & Crismon here for a few days before the Open House. We attended a temple session on Wed. evening. Then on Thurs. afternoon and evening the Caudle's and Vance's came for dinner and a concert by Danielle. She played a few pieces for us (she's amazing!) and then a few of the children performed as well. Another fun time with family.

Sweet Danielle sharing her talents with us.

Cute Julia performing for the family.

Emily delights us with her clogging.

Dec. 30th was not only Crismon's 63rd birthday, but BYU won at the last second, 24-21 over Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl, which gave Crismon what he wanted for his birthday. Dad, Julia and the Vance's watched the game at the Bowles home in Happy Valley. Emily was so good to spend the day with me decorating for the Open House that night. It was a full day! Scott and Laurie Swain arrived that afternoon and came to our home for dinner. Then off to the Open House!

Cathy Hansen about to tackle changing this Institute Room.

The sign-in table in the foyer area. The video was playing here, too.

The Institute building transformed into an elegant event. 

Music area representing Danielle's life.

We were happy to introduce Danielle & her parents to our friends.

Wedding pictures display

Lovely display of refreshments

Yummy homemade Cheesecakes

Decorations borrowed from friends made it easy for me.

Julia & Sydney helped clear tables.

Friends Joyce Betita and Cathy Hansen. Cathy worked the miracle with her
talents by doing all the flower arrangements and the bulk of the decorating,
along with Cindy Hansen and Dorinda Yates.

Alisha Christiansen did all the food and refused to
let me pay her for her services.

My sister, Kathi, with Ondalynn 

Julia Vance, Julia and Emily were great help with this event.

Brett, Vivienne & Kaeley at the Open House.

I couldn't have done this Open House without wonderful friends who pitched in and spent hours helping me pull it together. We were greatly blessed by their service. We opened gifts at our home later, helped pack Crismon and Danielle's bags, and got them off to the airport for their 7:40 a.m. flight the next morning. I was glad to have Sat. morning to visit with Kathi. We greatly appreciate the support of many family and friends that came to the wedding, reception, Open House and showered us with their love and support through generous gifts as well.

Christmas with family

Returning home from the wedding we had just a week to get ready for Christmas. It was a whirlwind of activity. I appreciate sweet daughter, Meredith. who did some of my shopping for me online. There was popcorn treats to be made and delivered to neighbors and friends, there was work to do on our business, the Open House to prepare for and all the details and fun of the Christmas season. We are so happy to have the Vance's and the Caudle's close by to enjoy at these holiday events. Christmas Eve we spent with the Vance's. Ondalynn prepared a delicious meal, then a sweet program where we wrote what gift we wanted to give the Savior that coming year. The Vance's gave their traditional gift of a new book for each of the children and they presented us with the one Pres. Monson mentioned in the Christmas Devotional, "The Mansion." 

Christmas Eve dinner at the Vance's

We gave a few small gifts to the children. The girls were especially excited to receive the necklaces I made at the "Sister's Retreat."

Julia, Sydney and Bryson anxious for Christmas Day!

We loved having Julia and Emily home for Christmas. There is always something fun happening when they are here. We woke up Christmas morning to a "Winter Wonderland." Emily had stayed up late making snowflakes and posting signs. So fun!

 

"What did Santa bring me?!?"

Our Christmas before gifts were opened.

Daisy posing with her new jewelry

Our best Christmas gift, Kaeley!

Clark loves his Mommy.

Julia, Emily and Sydney acting out the Nativity

We invited one of the YSA to join us for our Christmas dinner who didn't have family to be with. We played some games later with the children and enjoyed a wonderful day together.

Bryson & Clark, both Joseph, Julia is Mary, Kaeley, baby Jesus

I loved having Christmas on Sunday. Isn't that the perfect day for Christmas? Our ward combined with the Columbia River Ward. Crismon spoke and gave the most wonderful talk. A sister came up to me afterwards and said, "Christmas began with the gift of his talk." It was a tender meeting as their Bishop spoke, too. He had just suffered a serious eye injury during a youth activity 2 weeks before and had to have eye surgery. The ward has been praying for a miracle that his sight in that eye will return.

Festivities of the Nativity

Earlier this month, Dad and I picked up Vivi and family and drove to a Stake Center in Vancouver for the Festivities of the Nativity where we met the Vance Family. It was freezing, but so nice to see a live nativity. Julia loved dressing up as an angel. There were also hundreds of Nativities. It was spectacular!

We then went to the children's room where the grandchildren had so much fun dressing up in the nativity costumes and doing interactive activities. Here is Clark as a shepard boy.

Daisy made a precious angel.

Sydney dressed in every single costume from Mary to a Wisemen.

I joined the Caudle family in their home with the Joy School families for their Christmas program. The children sang the songs our children learned years ago from Joy School. What memories!

Daisy was adorable as Mary, just as Vivi was as a little girl at her Joy School program.

Crismon & Danielle's Wedding Reception

We happily honor this sweet couple, Danielle & Crismon.

Although I posted pictures of the wedding, I'll share pictures of the wedding reception that was held at the Canyon Gate Country Club in Las Vegas. It was a very elegant, beautiful venue, and the Swain's added some other decorations that made it look gorgeous. We really enjoyed the lovely evening meeting their wonderful friends, and enjoying some of our Lewis family. Myreel & Larry brought Grandma. Also, Dori Ann, Dantzelle, and a surprise was Hyrum & Sundee and their cute family. Everyone, and I mean everyone that came through the line said, "The Swain's are the most wonderful family. Danielle is very special, do you know how lucky you are?" We do feel very, very blessed to add this lovely young woman to our family.

Emily and Julia are our last two to marry!

The Wonderful Scott & Laurie Swain Family

These precious girls saved me!

We were all smiles on that special day.

What a blessing to have all our children and spouses, but Janelle & Brett there for this special day.

We loved having Grandma Lewis and other family with us. 

Purple candy table - yum! 

Delicious food and presentation

Crismon & Danielle's Wedding

What a joyous day for the wedding of Crismon and Danielle Swain, from Las Vegas. Danielle was a beautiful bride! Crismon, the handsome groom and both with their "eternal smiles!"

These two are perfect for each other. Check out the proud Dad's in the background. 

The happiest day of their lives! December 16, 2011.

 We were blessed with a gorgeous, sunny day. Windy, but lovely. The Las Vegas Temple taken from the church parking lot where the Luncheon was held.

We loved our early Christmas present, adding Danielle to our family! We missed Janelle & Brett and 13  of the grandchildren.

 We were so happy to have all our nine children there. What a sight it was for us to see our 6 children lined up on the front row of the sealing room with most of their spouses, and Crismon and Danielle kneeling at the altar. Heaven on Earth!

All our children participated in singing "Families Can Be Together Forever" at the Luncheon.

The reception was stunning. I hope I'll get more pictures soon.

We had fun "hanging out" at the Hilton Hotel on Sat. after the wedding. We missed the Williams as they had to hurry on to Idaho for Bryan's brother's wedding in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Addison's Baptism, Visiting Grandma Lewis

When we learned that Crismon was marrying Danielle in the Las Vegas Temple, we immediately thought how wonderful, this is close to Grandma Lewis in Kingman. We are happy that Vivi and cute baby, Kaeley, wanted to go a little early to LV with us and go visit Grandma. Her apt. is inside the Pease home and so we had a terrific time visiting with them as well. Thanks to Grandma and the Pease's for the delicious meals, scripture study, visiting, and all you did to take care of us and inspire us to be better. We love you! Doesn't Grandma look great for being 91!

Vivienne (Caudle), baby Kaeley, Dad with Grandma Lewis 12/11

December was a busy but wonderful month for our family. Dad flew on Thurs. afternoon, Dec. 8th for Minneapolis to be with Seth & Tiffany's family for grandson, Addison's baptism. He had a short but delightful time being there for this special event. We surely hope we can be to all of our grandchildren's baptisms. I stayed home as it was too close for us to be leaving for the wedding. Also, I was preparing for  Crismon, Jr. to arrive from China. Dad came in around noon on Sat. and CJ arrived an hour later. It was a race for me to work with CJ to get him ready to leave on Monday for SLC and to be with Danielle for a few days before the wedding. What a whirlwind of a weekend!

Addison baptized Dec. 9, 2011

Crismon & Danielle's Engagement

With Crismon doing a semester abroad in China the past 4 months, he and Danielle continued their relationship over Skype. They met their Freshman year in a Folk Dancing Class. She helped him learn the Mexican Hat Dance out of class one day. They both came away with a feeling like, "That's the kind of person I'd like to marry." Crismon remembers thinking, "Whoever marries her will be one lucky guy!" Danielle served a mission to Japan while Crismon was serving in Australia. They both left their missions with a love for the Asian people.

 Before leaving for China, Crismon went to Aspen, Colorado to visit Danielle who was attending a summer Music Camp performing with the orchestra there. They asked a random tourist to take their picture, never knowing it was going to be the picture they used with their wedding announcement! Thanks to photo shop, they were able to change his shirt color and take out the person in the background.

Technology made it possible for them to continue to development ties with each other, spending about 3 weeks worth of time on Skype! Crismon returned from China just 6 days before their marriage. By the time he got to Utah, he had Danielle had just 3 1/2 days together before their wedding day.

Finally back together they could get some official engagement pictures. 

                                         

Crismon's ability to speak the language grew and he felt the experience was extremely valuable in many aspects of his life. He also came away with the feeling that he didn't want to take his family to live in China, but possibly teach Chinese and the Chinese culture in the states. We're grateful our grandchildren won't be living in China!