Ash and Jess decided to come see us for Christmas on their way to Colorado Springs

Jessie got a job transfer from Moses lake, Washington to Colorado Springs.  They packed up and had movers load their stuff and deliver it to a home in Colorado springs on the 5th of Jan,2012.  After they left our home on Monday December the 20th they drove to Colorado Springs and then flew to Arizona just a few days before Christmas to get there stuff out of storage.  While they were there they drove to Lake Havasu and spent Christmas with Jessie's parents.  Then they drove back to Chandler.  Ashley and Jess met up with grandma Taylor and had lunch with her.  Then they flew back to Colorado Springs and stayed in a hotel for 5 days waiting for there belongings to arrive on Jan 5,2012.  At least our plane fair will be reasonable and it is easier to fly into Denver and then take an hour drive to Colorado Springs to see them.  Jess started his new job on Jan 4-5, 2012.  They plan to be there for at least a year.  Ashley has already put out her resume and received a response and interview for a recovery room position (just like me).  They have been so busy and are very exhausted from the move.  Things will slow down a bit.  Moving is a very stressful time in anyone's life but they are doing great.

Just enjoying being with the family

Ashley and Jess arrived around 6pm from Washington.  Sharae and Joe wanted to see them so they drove down and got to our house around 2 pm on Saturday December 17,2011.  We all played Karoke while we were waiting for them so we could go to the "Pie" and get Pizza.  I had made chili just in case they came in late.  Ash and Jess left early it took them 12 hours to get to Utah. 

Jess is just chillin after their long drive to Utah yesterday.

Lounging around after Christmas dinner, snacking and visiting before we started our game night and opening presents.

Landon had worked 9 straight nights and just woke up to eat a late Christmas dinner, here he is visiting with Ashley before he had to get ready for another night shift in NICU at Primary Children s hospital. He got to open gifts with us and was out the door.

Landon just woke up and being a good sport about getting a picture taken.  We had alot of snacks on the table to eat while we were visiting and playing games.

Our gorgeous Ashley tasting some of the homemade Christmas goodies.  She was asking for chips and salsa after all the sugary treats.

Asher loves chips.  He won't eat much of anything else.

Asher and Aunt Ashley enjoying some chips and salsa, while Bill in the background is checking the Turkey.

Christmas tree in the family room.

Uncle Landon got Asher and Ian each a toy and the cute hats, gloves and scarfs they are wearing in this picture.  Ian was so cute giving Asher a nice brotherly kiss for Christmas.

They are growing up so fast.  Ian is 5 yrs old and Asher is 3 yrs old and Sharae is expecting her 3rd baby.

Cute kids.

Papo and Chiquita with the grand kids. They were going to take Chiquita for a walk.

Ian loved playing out in the snow, I felt bad it was not good enough snow to build a snow man.  He was happy anyway just running in it.  Joe and Sharae have not had any snow in Moore, Idaho yet.  This was a treat for him.

He loved just running around in the snow.

Cute little Asher.  He would come up to me and just wanted me to love, hold and kiss him.  He is very affectionate with me.

Ian loves to do this cute little poses in front of the camera.

Family pictures with the boys. (three generations)

Bill and I with our kids and grand kids and of course our littlest family member Chiquita.

me with my kids and grand kids (three generations)  Sharae is expecting her 3rd baby (I hope it is a girl for her sake)

Me and my kids.

Me and my beautiful girls

Me and Ash

My Children at Christmas: Sharae 28, Landon 25, and Ashley 29.  I can't believe they are all grown up.  We have always had special Christmases.  It was so nice being together.

Casual Christmas picture in front of our tree in the living room.

   

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE COOKS

Christmas tree in the family room

This is the wonderful man who prepared our Christmas dinner, Bill my husband the Chef.  He always helps me out by cooking.

We feel like we have been eating all day, snacks and then this big dinner. It is delicious, it is just that we are so FULL.

We love the dinner, Thanks dad and mom.

Ash and mom helping with the finishing touches of the Christmas dinner.

Christmas table setting just before we sat down to eat.

Last minute touches for dinner-Sunday Dec 18, 2011

The turkey was delicious.  Bill soaked it in a Brine solution for 24 hrs before cooking it.  It was so tender and juicy.

After having a nice Christmas dinner of Turkey, potatoes, yams, salad, rolls and strawberry jello we headed to the living room to exchange Christmas gifts.

Gift exchange from Ashley to Sharae

From Sharae to Landon, and from Landon to Ashley

Landon slept all day to go to work that night.  He got to do the gift exchange and then everyone said good-bye and he was off to work.

Saying good-bye to Landon.

Landon got a nice I-pod alarm clock from Rae. "I like this, I have still been using my same alarm clock from High School".

Rae gave Bill and movie basket with a movie, candy and popcorn.  Thanks Rae.

I asked Rae for a new picture of her family.  She had some nice pics on her blog so she had one made for me.  She also made in Relief Society an emergency kit for my car.  "I love it Rae"

I love homemade gifts.

Rae opening her Christmas present from Bill and I, she got 2 new PJ sets, one for winter and one for summer.

Bill is explaining the Cook "Cookbooks" to Joe and how over all the years they were compiled together into one nice book.

I am helping Asher put on his new PJ's from mamo and papo.

Asher got a car PJ set and story book that makes car sounds from Bill and I.  Sharae did not want the kids to get alot of toys since they have so many.

Ian loves his toy story PJ's from mamo and papo with the nice activity book to go with it.

Thanks mamo and papo

I am making sure everything fits just right.

Giving a Christmas hug.

Wow!I love it.

getting ready to open mamo and papo's present.

Ashley gave Rae some cuddly PJ's.  They are so cute.

This was definitely a PJ Christmas this year.

Asher admiring the cars on his feet.

Bill and I were worried about getting the right size for the boys.  But they fit perfectly.

Italian chocolates from mom and dad from their trip to Europe.

Dad got Rae some sketcher "shape up" shoes.

A shirt with Paris written on it.  Since we went to Paris we gave the girls each a shirt.

Joe got some nice cuddly PJ's from Bill and I.  Sharae was excited to cozy up with Joe when it is cold.

Hey! Hi Jessie

Ash opening the food storage bag we gave each of the kids for Christmas.  It included all of my homemade canning, such as pears, peaches, salsa, stewed tomatoes, jalapeno jelly to put over cream cheese and eat with crackers-yummy good. Also some dehydrated apples, tomatoes and macayos salsa. 

Last but not least we put in the food storage bag some warm winter hats.  (A friend of Bill's made them for our family, we each got one).

Ashley's Paris shirt.

jess got some cozy PJ's too.

Thanks mom and dad

Landon gave Ashley some of his homemade beef jerky (which he puts special spices on and dehydrates it, his special receipe) and a "life for flight" shirt from Primary Childrens hospital (where he works).  I love it Landon-Thanks.

Jess is excited to have the jerky to eat on their trip to Colorado Springs.