Baby Blessings

Abe here:  I do not post on Betsy's blog very often but tonight I really wanted to.

Here I am with two of my brothers Baden (center) and Philip (right).  We gathered this evening for the Blessing of Henry James Fox, Baden and Mary's newest addition to the wonderfully enormous, extended Fox Family.  I have eight siblings and between the nine of us there are now 53 amazing Fox cousins (with the 54th on the way in January).  I'm so grateful to be a part of this group and be able to participate in tonight's simple, yet beautiful, priesthood ordinance of blessing a new baby.  I LOVE my family!!  Thank you for your goodness, friendship and support.  I LOVE the James and Kathleen Fox Family and I LOVE Baby Blessings!!!

Christmas Morning 2013

We gathered on our bed right around 6:00 AM.

Lining up youngest to oldest for the procession downstairs.

Everybody checking out their haul.

My friend helped me to sew personalized pillow cases for all the kids and they were a BIG hit.  George loved his monster pillow case.

I like Faith's crazy Christmas morning eyes.

Legos ruled the day for Cannon.  Faith got some Friends Legos as well.  At the bottom is the picture book of "What Does the Fox Say?"  Hee hee.

Clark asked for and was granted a high black leather (faux leather) office chair, nice pens, and mechanical pencils.  Everyone's Christmas wishes should be granted-- no matter how geeky they may be!

The nerf girlie bow and arrows were very much appreciated and played with today.

Aliyah had a good morning of princess toys and dress-ups. 
Last night as the candy and fun and lack of sleep started accumulating I made the prediction that within 24 hours at least one child would throw-up. 
I received a text from Matt a few hours ago informing me that sadly, Aliyah was the victim of my prediction.  Sadness.

The Christmas morning remote control car tradition.  They will not last more than a week tops, but they are great fun until the sad moment that they cease functioning.

New scooters all around (except Clark).  When Razor scooters first came out many years ago I thought they were such a silly fad that would die out quickly.  I was totally wrong and my kids have used and abused theirs for years and it was replacement time for the older kids and new ones for the little ones.

Clark got his first cell phone.  The girls were almost as thrilled as he is with this hope they too might get their own phone someday.  The sad/funny thing was Abe had purchased it several weeks back and stored it away in our closet with the rest of the gifts.  One day I was teaching a piano lesson downstairs and Clark was working on school work in my room when the phone started ringing. 
I know we should have turned it off, but we didn't think anyone would call.
He came downstairs asking why this phone was ringing in the closet.  So much for the element of surprise.

Bethany has been one happy camper today.  She got my old, seldom used sewing machine, her own fully stocked sewing basket and sewing lessons to start in the new year.  My good friend and  Bethany's crafting mentor was instrumental in helping me get everything she'll need.  Today she has been sewing headbands for all the girls in our home.

I love Christmas Eve and the wonderful spirit we feel, the anticipation, the joy of being with family, the climax and culmination of the all the excitement of the season. 
But Christmas day is so marvelous; it's like being on drugs (I would assume).  No responsibilities for anyone.  Do anything you like.  Oh, you're bored with your toy?  Go get another one!  Oh, you're hungry?  Go get your bag of chips or your box of sugar cereal that Santa brought you.  You want to play a video game?  Play until your eyes start twitching.  You don't want to get dressed?  I don't blame you-- I don't get dressed on Christmas Day either.
It's almost 8:30pm right now and I am sad that the day is coming to an end.  I am in heaven.
Good thing tomorrow will be more of the same.  Although I will get dressed. 

Elinor got Seasons 1 and 2 of Studio C- super clean comedy sketches that our family adores.  We've been cracking up all day.

Faith and Aliyah enjoyed this cool building structure toy.

Georgie and I playing with his Thomas trains.

Allison stayed the night with us, but Barbara came very early this morning to watch the kids open presents.

A little Just Dance for Misty to show off her Hot Mama moves! 

Matt and Misty took off to go visit her family in Southern Utah and Allison headed off to be with her family so we were left with just our family to enjoy Abe's British Fried Breakfast.  We loved having a full house, and we loved being together with just our family for the rest of the day.

He's been making this breakfast every Christmas Day since 1996.  And the great thing about eating this meal is you don't have to eat for another 36 hours.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Christmas Eve 2013

The Christmas Eve festivities began at our house around 5:00.

My brother Matt, Abe, and Clark.

Queen Aliyah and King George.

The traditional Christmas Eve dinner on my mother's Christmas dishes.

My favorite picture of the Christmas season is George, Aliyah, and Emi throwing magic reindeer food outside in preparation for Santa's arrival.

Cousins at Christmas.

Singing carols at Christmas.

The wisemen rejoicing at Jesus's birth.

Cannon (a shepherd) and Brigham (Joseph).

Allison and kids in Christmas jammies.

The reading of The Night Before Christmas.

Bethany wrote and shared her poem, " 'Twas the Real Night Before Christmas".

"Gelf" the Elf's final destination on Christmas Eve.  We're glad that Gelf turned back toward the light at the end.  He took a turn for the dark side a couple of nights ago and we were all very concerned.

The masked and caped marauder was caught stealing candy canes.  Clark suggested that perhaps Gelf hadn't received enough attention this Christmas season and he thought negative attention was better than no attention at all.

The living room after Santa's arrival with gifts for 5 adults and 8 children.  

We had a full house last night!  The more the merrier.

Matt and Misty and their girls used the girls room and all six of our children zonked out in the little boys' room. Personal space is overrated. 

But excitement on Christmas Eve is not overrated.  It was a magical night.

Christmas Eve Breakfast 2013

The Christmas Eve breakfast at Aunt Jennifer's house is very near to, if not the, most enjoyable two hours of the entire year.  My dad and Bev were not there this year as they were visiting family in Washington state, but I love being with my aunts and uncles and cousins.

And Barbara and Allison, who are just like family, come each year as well. 

I adore talking with and getting advice from my wise aunts and sharing in the exciting lives of my sweet younger cousins.  

The kids love playing with their 2nd cousins.  

Kristen, Kara, and Aunt Michelle.  I loved hearing the adventures of the American Fork Marching Band from Kara (in purple).

It's been years since a Joyce and Glen Cannon family photo was attempted.  I think I was expecting Clark, so there weren't any great-grandchildren yet the last time.  I'm not sure how many there are, but they are not all in this picture.  My sister Brig and brother Chip and their families were not there.

A Cannon cousins picture.  I think my grandparents are very proud.

The gift exchange at the end is delightful for the kids and adults.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Means Family

Christmas is almost here and that means serious FAMILY TIME!!!!!  

Last night we had an adults dinner (minus Chip and Laura in Virginia).  We went to Texas Roadhouse- we'd never been there before- and it was great fun sharing memories of Christmases past and talking about our children and lives.  

My girls were beyond thrilled to get to tend Aliyah and Rosalie while the adult were out.  

This was our first time getting to meet little Rosalie because they live so far away in Washington state.  It is especially fun to see her because she looks so much like Faith looked as a baby-- and a bit like Elinor as well.  It's kind of like going back in time.

Matt and Misty came to church with us today and Uncle Abe was in love with Rosalie as well.

As we got to church this morning we had someone take this family picture.  It was a really nice day at Church today.  Our family was very involved with Sacrament Meeting and the choir and music.  Bethany spoke, Elinor played the chimes on the organ, Faith sang in a small children's choir with one of the songs, I played organ, and Bethany played a violin accompaniment with a song.  We were kept busy, but it was wonderful.