Christmas Eve Breakfast 2014

The Cannon Family Christmas Eve Breakfast at Aunt Jennifer and Uncle RayPaul's house in Draper is a gathering of the absolute nicest people on the planet.  I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but wow!  I love to be with them and bask in their unconditional love.  From left to right: Aunt Oakley, Rachelle, me, Jenny, Kayla, Kristen.

My favorite cousin Ben and me with our newest little ones.  He is one week younger than me and I was so, so delighted to learn that he and his wife, Cali, were expecting just a a couple weeks after us.  With so many younger cousins starting their families we're kind of the old cousins now, but I guess we've still got it!

We have lots of boy second cousins joining the family.  Kajsa holding Declin, Cali holding Kimball and Peter and me.

My grandparents, Glen and Joyce Cannon both passed away several years ago.  I'm pretty sure it has a lot to do with the gospel and Jesus Christ and service--public and private-- to everyone they came in contact with, but I'd like to know exactly how they raised five children who are kind to one another without even a trace of sibling rivalry or jealousy.  They are so supportive of one another and quite the example to all of us.
Starting bottom left around the table:  Kevin, Kara, Andrew, Malachi, Clark, Abe.

When I leave this event my face almost hurts from smiling.

When Abe and I were dating we went on a double date with Aunt Michelle (pictured) and Uncle Spencer.  Honestly, she never seems to get any older and she is so supportive and fun to talk to.

And although I was not a participant, I understand their was a rocking dance party downstairs.
I'm sure at some point the family will get too big and widespread to gather at someone's house for this Christmas Eve breakfast with the entire extended Cannon family.  That will be a sad, sad day. But I hope to continue this tradition for the rest of my life with whatever level of Cannon family or Fox family we can reasonably assemble.  Three of the best hours of my life every year.

Cocoa and Doughnuts 2014

The tradition continued this evening and it was so fun to see so many neighbors join us on our front lawn for cocoa and doughnuts.  We've had bitterly cold weather in years past.  Last year there was so much snow Abe actually shoveled the front lawn the day of.  But this year was kind of the most unpleasant weather of all.  WIND.  And lots of it.

Abe did a really good job of keeping fires going despite the rain all day and then the wind all evening.  Even so, the party broke up a little earlier than usual, just because wind is no fun.

The kids so look forward to this night to see their friends.  Faith and Lois with a little photo bomb from Chase.

Asia, Elinor, and cousin Gentri.  Elinor was so happy to get to hang out with her cousin today.

Glen, Ryan, Jim and Abe.  We have good menfolk round these parts.

Cannon, Ryder, and Ryan.

Michelle and I are walking in the morning three days a week.  It's harder to get up and go in the winter and having Peter nursing so much during the night doesn't help.  But it is so good for me.  The exercise is helpful and necessary, but the real benefit is starting the day with 45 minutes of talking with a good friend whose wisdom and example has benefited me in so many ways.

The young men.  I'm just going to say that this is not the most flattering picture of several of them.  Why they would choose to present themselves as such, I do not know.  Derek and William (right of Clark) are very nice young men and look so in the picture.  I don't know what's wrong with the others.  Not my problem.

Christmas Joys

Today was Christmas Sunday- or rather, the Sunday before Christmas.  Abe, me, Bethany, and Faith have enjoyed singing with our ward choir for the last few months.  Faith and Cannon sang with about seven Primary children "Away in a Manger".  They were very sweet, even if Clark's friends were teasing Cannon a bit and trying to get him to laugh while he was up there.  I think Cannon held strong.  Bethany played her violin beautifully while the choir sang "O Holy Night".
It was a really nice day at church.

Then it got even better when we gathered at Steve and Candee's house for family dinner.  Dad and Bev surprised us by showing up with their mission call.  We knew they'd submitted papers, but we didn't know they had received their call two days ago!  We got the non-local siblings on Zoom and enjoyed watching them open it.  They were so happy to get called to serve a full time, two year mission coordinating senior couples service missions while living at home!  They were willing to go anywhere they were needed, but they did put their preference to live at home.  So everyone was thrilled that they get to be full time missionaries, but we don't have to say goodbye for two years.

Peter's first visit to see Santa.
We were sitting down to a family game night last night, when my friend called to tell me the Coca-Cola Santa was at the local Walmart.  She knew I was looking for an opportunity to visit Santa that didn't involve a trip to the mall.  We called for everyone to get their shoes on and grab a jacket--"We're going to see Santa!"

On the plus side, there was no line, you immediately got a free picture printed out and access to it digitally, and Santa gave you a little plush polar bear.  On the down side, he wasn't a particularly impressive Santa, he didn't actually talk to the children or ask them what they want for Christmas, and just took the picture and then got rid of the child.

No matter.  We've visited Santa and everyone was happy.

It made me happy that Elinor would still sit with Santa.  Clark refused and Bethany was off babysitting. 

Clark had a fun activity all day on Saturday.  He has enjoyed a game called "Heroscape" for many years.  He organized a tournament at a local game store, and even though they don't make Heroscape anymore, he has several friends who also have a large collection of game pieces.

The event even had an official name: Jingle Bell Bash. 

Clark and Bethany recently invited a group of kids from their church classes over for a game night.   It was a really nice, fun group of kids and there was an added benefit to our family as well.  Clark and Bethany were very anxiously engaged in cleaning the house all day in preparation.  

Was it wrong of me to take such enjoyment in watching their frustration as rooms they had just cleaned immediately got messy again?

Yes, it was wrong of me.  But justified?

Elinor and Faith worked on a gingerbread house.  Perhaps no one mentioned that they could use all the icing.  I think they thought there was an icing shortage.  

Sadly, this was made on Saturday afternoon.  As of Sunday night, the candy had all been picked off.  Our family has yet to create even one respectable gingerbread house that lasts more than two days.  

Maybe next year.

'Tis the Season for Performance

My Piano recital was Tuesday night.  I had fifteen students playing and I was very pleased with how everyone played.

I quite like all these kids.  They have been very patient and understanding over the last few months with the new baby during lessons.  I'm looking forward to the next several months now that Peter is much more manageable.

But I won't get to teach this lovely young lady in the new year.  Elinor and I have decided it is time for her to move on to a more advanced teacher starting in January.  I've loved watching her progress and look forward to seeing how far she will go.
I told another one of my advanced students it was time for her to move on as well.  So my number of students will be shrinking.
Here is a video of Elinor's performance.  She played "A Scene from Swan Lake" and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

Here is Faith playing "Down in the Valley" and "O Holy Night".  Faith improved so much since the last recital.  I was especially impressed with how musically she played "O Holy Night."

Faith is growing up, but she still has a really sweet, childlike voice that delights us.

Here is Cannon playing "Waltz Time" and "The First Noel."

Bethany had her violin recital a few days earlier up at the University of Utah.

She played beautifully, but I will warn you that the video is rather long.  Beautiful, but long.

Faith had her gymnastics recital Thursday night.

She is on the back row, second from the left.  Here's an interesting little tidbit.  The girl on the back row on the far right is the daughter of the last lady featured in Meet the Mormons, whose son goes on the mission.  The little girl is a friend of Faith's and they call themselves "Butter" and "Toast".

Here is the video of her performance.

Alright.  I think that's enough.  Thanks for watching  (if you watched).  And if you didn't, that is understandable.   It was a bit much.

The Little People

Yes, this is as much fun as it looks.

Who knew the little boys would love their little brother so much?

 The hottest tickets in town during the Christmas season are to the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Christmas concert.  Every year they have some magnificent guest performer and Abe and I have been so lucky as to go several times over the years.  But this year topped all the rest-- I took the little kids-- George, Faith, and Cannon to hear Santino Fontano (voice of Hans in Frozen) and the Sesame Street Muppets-- Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, Abby, Rosita, and the Count.  It was the most enchanting, charming, delightful, touching night imaginable.  The kids were thoroughly entertained and I only wished it were twice as long as it was. 

Abe had a date downtown with Elinor and Peter during the concert so he could drop us off and pick us up to save time with me away from Peter.  It was a special evening and even though the kids are little I hope they remember the sweet time we had together.

This is one I cannot wait to watch again when it is shown on PBS next year.  Particularly the Count and the organist's "Twelve Days of Christmas".  I've never heard anything like it, but was nearly in tears with enjoyment.  We really lucked out with tickets this year.  We got them from Abe's sister-in-law's step-father who is in the Orchestra at Temple Square.  

We have had unseasonably warm weather for the entire month of December.  It inspired the little kids to drag the bikes back out of the garage.

I am not complaining about the lack of snow this year, but if we were to get some snow during the Christmas break for a sledding party, that would be okay too.

 

We got the supersaucer back out after a several year haitus.  I'm glad we kept it stored in the garage and didn't get rid of it.  Peter loves it and my arms have enjoyed the break.  

By the way-- I dedicate my usage of the word "haitus" to my dear friend Emily Leblanc and our 11th grade English teacher whose name I have long since forgotten.  We loved that word!

Ward Christmas Party 2014

I like him a lot.  He is a "Jolley" elf.  Abraham Jolley Fox was aptly named.

Here's another Jolley Fox. Cannon Jolley Fox.  We had our ward Christmas party last weekend and it was great fun-- it was themed, "A Charlie Brown Christmas".

George and his best buddy Lincoln.

Elinor and Megan-- two young ladies getting pretty excited to join the Young Women next year.

To state the obvious-- I love my George.

As part of the evening's entertainment, each auxiliary had to present a talent to help Charlie Brown find the real meaning of Christmas.  As a Relief Society presidency we sang and danced "O Candy Cane" to the tune of "O Christmas Tree".  Needless to say, we did not represent the true meaning of Christmas.  And we weren't even that good at singing or dancing.

The young men acted out the song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."  Clark fulfilled his dream role of the Grinch. 

I particularly liked when he stole the tables' centerpieces.

Bethany helped out the young women by telling reindeer jokes.  This one was either really funny or just really bad.

It was really sweet at the end when Santa Claus came and shared the true meaning of Christmas by reading the Christmas story out of the Bible.  

We left the party in such good spirits.  I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but we love our ward.  We feel so blessed by the good people we're surrounded by.

And although this picture of Peter would suggest otherwise, we are having lovely Christmas season.  Just before our Thanksgiving trip to Spokane Clark, Bethany, and Elinor sat me down and informed me that they were quitting swim team.  They had been having a hard time with a coach there for several months, and they had finally had enough.

I saw that resistance was futile and they really were done.  While I was a little sad to move one, I did appreciate that they banded together and had a united front.  And I REALLY appreciate that I am not driving to and from swim practice anymore.  HOLY SMOKES!  How did I do that for so long, so many times a week, right at dinner time???  

The point is, since then our evenings have been considerably less frenzied-- even with December festivities.  Hopefully we won't go stir crazy in January and February.  Not to worry, I'm sure we'll find something else to fill our time, and probably sooner rather than later.  We'll enjoy the calm for a little while at least.