Christmas Eve

Day traditions:

Skaters...Carter, Marci, Scott and Sperry

 Every year during Christmas Eve DAY, our family does something a little "out of the ordinary" and crazy.  The last 2 years we have gone roller skating. Sperry and I requested our Christmas Music and we all had a great time skating.  There was a little girl who kept falling and I would help up and skate with her for a little bit.  Not that I was "skate certified", but it got so that when she would fall, she would watch for me to come around and hold up her hand so I would help her back up.  I was kind of honored that she wanted me to help her. But, then after taking a couple of falls with her and bruising my tailbone and having sprained my ankle and wrist a little... I found a way to help her without hurting myself (which is always a plus).

Jacob loves skating!!

Carter on his roller blades (actions shot)

We had so much fun. I can't wait to see what happens next year!

Night Traditions:
Did we seriously forget to take ANY photo's on Christmas Eve dinner.  Well then, set your imagination to "high" and I'll take you there. It was so much fun. We invited our wonderful friends Tara Cummings and her family over for dinner AND we continued our tradition that we have had for many years of having the missionaries join us for the big meal.

This year we continued with our tradition to have Fondue dinner. We had pre-cooked (which is more kid friendly) meatballs, sausage, cubed sourdough bread, and mushrooms for dipping. We also served fruit and crackers along with a big salad.  After that meal, we cleaned out the fondue pots for dessert. White and milk chocolate fondue with cinnamon bears, graham crackers and peppermint sticks for dipping or for those who wanted shakes, we had that too.  It was such a fun dinner with the highlight of our first time in over 10 years with Sister missionaries.  Loved that we got to share some time with them.

After dinner, we watched the nativity video and each of us spoke from our heart about what we love about the Savior and this wonderful time of celebrating his birth. So grateful that Christmas is really a celebration of Jesus Christ's birth and life. It's my favorite holiday. It's the only holiday I "decorate the house" for. The music is so beautiful, I don't consider it strange to sneak it into each month at least a song or two.  And the lights... that radiate hope into every soul.

Denver Colorado LDS Temple

Manger scene during Christmas at the Denver LDS Temple

Doesn't this make you feel peaceful?  I love going to the Temple, especially making the time to go during the hurried and crazy month of December. When you go, you get to see this manger as soon as you enter the parking lot.  It's a great "calming, slow down, remember what you are here for"... feeling. 

Centering.

2013 Our World Sayings

~ M e r r y    *     C h r i s t m a s ~

We thought you'd like to hear...

                 some things that were said in our house this year.

Please scroll down to see the happenings of each member of 

our family. And we wish you a Very Merry Christmas.

               

                       

Jacob, age 14

Jacob enjoys playing tennis with the High School team, plays the  trumpet with the Concert Band at school.  He loves to mountain bike, hike, draw, read big fat novels, play baseball, and make plans for when he has his drivers license (for some reason, he thinks he will have a car). He serves with his Priesthood in the office of a Teacher. In Scouts, he has earned "Life" and is working toward earning Eagle. This year he hiked miles and miles, Temple Walk, Pioneer Trek for 3 days and a handcart, 15 miles over the divide at Scout Camp and plenty of running around with friends.

A Scout is always Prepared...

"If Carter is Japatarian, then I'm Hungarian. That means I eat meatballs and sausage and lots of it." 

14er's Carter, Scott, Jacob: Hiking Mt Sherman

"Mom, can I watch TV instead of doing my homework... I mean can I watch an educational TV show, you always say yes to that."

Nothing like a hot doughnut and friends (Jacob, far right in yellow tie)

"Mom, what can I do to make extra money?"  I suggested the usual: you can referee football, do some extra money jobs at the house, babysit, or tutor in math. He replied, "Mom, not that desperate to earn money!"

We have loved Jacob for 14 years (and many cinnamon rolls will prove it)

Carter, age 12

Carter loves to play basketball, go camping (in any kind of weather), mountain bike, ski at warp speed, plays the clarinet, and is a great judge at our game, "drawing contest".  He's filled with funny sound effects and keeps us laughing with his sense of humor.  This year, he put in the miles: 15 mile hike over the divide, a 10 mile temple walk, and the big Mt Sherman hike over 14,000 feet in elevation.  This year, he received the Priesthood and serves as a Deacon. He is a "Star" scout and is preparing to earn his Eagle Scout award.

Carter and Scott: Cycling in Aspen.

  The kids were asking a lot about us having another child. They are very interested in all the toddlers at church.  When I told them that we have decided that 3 kids completes our family Carter said, "Then let's get someone who is like 15 yrs old. It will be like take and bake pizza...It's already made and they are wonderful."    

Carter and Sperry hanging with BYU's Cosmo

"Getting a scholarship to college is like getting a free brownie out of the oven of life".

Carter hunting for our dinner.  Actually, it's his shooting merit badge action shot.

During a dinner conversation said, "Mom's food tastes in music is like chicken in my mouth. The music is the chicken and my mouth is my mouth. I don't like chicken."  At a different dinner Carter said, "Mom, I don't like this food. I'm Japa-tairian. I like sushi and rice and seaweed, not this type of food.

Carter (far left) and Deacon Ensemble playing for the residents at the Assisted Living Facility

Sperry, age 9.95

In a school project, Sperry described herself. "Hello my fellow humans.  Right now you're probably wondering what we like to do.  First, I would like to tell you my favorite things to do. I like soccer, volleyball, biking, skiing and painting. I think the most important people in my life are my parents. As a class (in school), we like to make new friends and learn things. My teacher is very nice, funny and awesome. That's why after the bell rings every day I give her a hug. Yep, that's right. I'm a hugger. Well, now I have to go, so I guess I'm saying goodbye. Before I leave I just want to tell you I'm very tall. I'm almost five feet! Ok, that's all. Goodbye everyone!"

 

Sperry was singing during breakfast. Carter said to her, "I'm going to make a tape of this and play it at your wedding reception."  Sperry replied, "go ahead because the guy I marry would be going... 'oh yeah, cool song!'  Besides, I'm not going to thing about who I marry until I'm old enough to make those types of decisions.  Like maybe in college or I might wait till I'm 50".

She makes shopping fun, even when they have run aground

Sperry asked: "since Dad's birthday is on Black Friday... do you think his mom Grandma Sue missed all the shopping when Dad was born?"  She joined me on our Black Friday adventures. We stood in line for shoes and great deals.

Sperry's volleyball team (right side, pink shorts, big grin)

In a school paper, Sperry listed this insightful advice:

I think the best invention ever created was a hug.

The best thing I can do for a friend is to give them a hug. 

        The best thing someone has done for me was given me a hug.

Scott & Marci, the age of parents

"And we continue past the point we feel tired.
And we work past the point of our abilities.
And we remember who we are raising.
And within the warmth of hope, we begin with the next day,
to do again."  

~marci sargent

A Merry Christmas Message

Sperry's piano recital

Sperry played a Rainbow Prelude this year for her recital. She played her multiple paged song beautifully.  So grateful for her gift of music.

Thanksgiving 2012 with Grammie Karen, Larry and Uncle Jon

Carter is the the blue plaid coat and Jacob is somewhere in the mix of those serving others.

 Thanksgiving this year was filled with service, comedy of errors, and plenty of food...oh yeah and family. Oh, yeah, and shopping.  How's that for an overview that will keep you reading for more!  The youth including Jacob and Carter helped to pack up a large food donation from Walmart to a charity who delivered over 300 complete Thanksgiving meals to those in need.  It was very cold the night that they gathered from 9pm to midnight to assemble the dinners in boxes. BUT no one complained, they enjoyed themselves while they helped others. Love that about our youth.

Here's our pumpkin pie maker, Carter the cook!

Nothing like smoked turkey! Seriously the best, made by the lovely Scott.

 Grammie Karen and Larry came down for several days for us to help celebrate Thanksgiving.  It's been years since we have had family join us, so we also hosted Uncle Jon (Scott's uncle that lives in Colorado) for the big meal. It was so much fun and we had plenty of food.  But, each holiday meal comes with a story and this year it was the culmination of a comedy of errors.

Scott started cooking the turkey in our little hand-me down smoker. It looks kinda like a trash can with a rounded lid. It was something that Scott has always wanted to upgrade because since it's heated by charcoal, you have to tend to it every hour.  After 2 hours, it wasn't heating to the temperature's we needed to COOK our turkey.  So, he moved it to the BBQ.  After about an hour, I asked my friend Cathy if her husband was still selling their super nice, deluxe, electric smoker.  I texted her about 10 and asked if we could buy the smoker from them.  I was so happy when she said that we could come over right away and buy it.  So, we brought home a smoker, started it up and moved the turkey for a third time.  Scott was able to leave the turkey unattended while I drove to pick up his uncle.  The food was delicious and as usual, each of the kids join in the cooking.  Sperry made the green key lime pies, Carter made the pumpkin pies (his specialty) and Jacob made the mashed potatoes with Grandma.

Me and my little mommie

Hey, it's time to eat and then we go shop the sales!!

Carter, Uncle Jon, Jacob and Scott.

Larry, Mom (Sperry in the back) and Carter in the background

Action shot with plenty of Sparkling cider, man we love the stuff!

Jacob, one of the few photo's he didn't dive out of.

I call this, "Life of Pie"  with Carter and his favorite pumpkin pie.

I love to start eating early, like 1 or 2 in the afternoon.  This leaves plenty of time for football, family and dessert.  This year, we shopped the sales. As a family we all went to Walmart and got the basketball standard and a few Christmas presents. Then Sperry and I went to the store she picked and got 50% off boots for each of us.  Not bad, not bad.  Thanksgiving was a huge success and we are so grateful that family joined us for this celebration.