Santa Claus

The Ward Christmas party was at the Nevitt Farm (Bishops Father's place) last night. Teele and I arrived early to inspect the "Cage" that would deliver Santa from the sky. Then when his mind was at ease about that we boned several turkey's and put them in the roasting pans. Everybody arrived and the first thing on the agenda was this...

...a trailer full of fluffy white cotton, AKA "Valley Snow"! They had a blast and really enjoyed the long rides around the farm.

Jayden playing in the snow...

Payten wasn't too sure about it...

Sage played with Grandma and Aunt Amanda. Isn't he cute in his warm little bear snugly? Crystal bought this at Khol's this summer for $1.46. She was glad it was cold enough for him to wear. Then after a dinner of turkey, ham, and tons of side dishes there was a very nice program. Bishops wife, Brenda, did an awesome job with the kids. Then the high light of the night. Santa Claus arrived! The kids were all in the barn when they heard Santa's sleigh bells. They ran outside, it was very dark, and were looking everywhere for him. Then they heard his bells again. They were coming from the sky! They started looking up when all of a sudden Santa lights up. ..

...the children exploded into claps and cheers. They were so excited and when Santa touched down they swarmed him as if he were a rock star. It was so fun to see and it helped get me in the Christmas spirit.

Payten was terrified...

... Kaitlen, in pink, was excited but kept her distance...

...Jayden, with Wayne at her side, was simply "Amazed". She wouldn't sit in his lap but she never took her eyes off of him. She took her candy cane then stepped back a few feet and watched...

...Trey...

...Sage...

...still watching...


...this little girl fell in love with Santa. She was talking about him coming from the sky. Through out the night every time she saw Santa with a free moment she ran and gave him a quick hug then stood and waited for another chance to hug and tell Santa that she loved him. She stole his heart...


...This little boy made Santa's night. His father passed away two years ago and left his mom a widow with six children. They are Tongan and from Hawaii and the most awesome family. He approached Santa with a humble heart and then confessed that he was on the "Naughty List" because he wasn't doing well in school. Santa talked to him a bit about how important education is and the little guy promised to do better in school. Santa told him that he had been on his naughty list but because he apologized and promised to do better that he was now on the "Nice List". His mother watched all of this with tears pouring down her face. What a humbling experience for all who witnessed it...

...See the striped hat. Yep that's Jayden still watching Santa. Her little feet stayed rooted to the floor! She went home and put on a little Santa suit Crystal has and went to bed dressed as Santa Claus...

...Crystal...

...Amanda...

...Jessica and Payten...

...If you didn't notice there is no picture of William with "Santa". He wasn't feeling very well and he wasn't so sure Santa wasn't his Grandpa. One minute he was postitive it was pa pa and the next he didn't know. So he watched from the side lines. It's so sad when they grow up...

...Just try to get all five of them to stand still and smile. So we just give up and roll with it. I think everybody enjoyed themselves and Santa did a great job just like I knew he would!

A Few More Interesting Jobs

Amanda spent a month or more in Spain, France and North Africa a few years ago and came home with many interesting photos. Here are a few more that I thought were some unusual Jobs.


This is in Africa. He is the village "Water Boy". If you didn't bring your own water with you then this is who tourists had to go to, to purchase a drink of water. Don't you just love his outfit?

Sevilla, Spain this is the Moores house, the Muslim rulers of Spain, summer home. They traveled to Spain every summer to take in the Bull fights. This man stands on his ladder 10 hours every day. It is his job to Clean and Polish every square inch of this massive cathedral. He is not painting he is polishing! He is the only one that is allowed to do this. He learned this skill from his father who also spent everyday on this ladder polishing this cathedral and now his son is doing it. This job will be passed down to his son. Apparently this is a very prestigious job. The arch he is working on opens up into...



...a court yard that is home to this thousand year old tree. Isn't it beautiful! Not a job I know but very beautiful.

These are the tiles in the courtyard. This floor tells the Moorish history. It was somebodies job to "Journal" that history. A new tile was added anytime there was a change in their status. Such as wars, who they faught, why they faught, peace time, health, births, weddings etc. Not quite the golden plates but a journal none the less. And I can barely keep one with a computer that lets me type as fast as I can. I don't have to go out and chisle it into the cement or on a golden plate.


This is a father (sitting along wall) and son (standing far left),in Africa, and they are weaving a fancy suit for a business man in America. The boy is holding the woolen threads I'm amazed that he is weaving a suit not a square/rectangle rug but a suit with lots of curves. Now that's hard work and very impressive!

Okay this isn't a job but just interesting. This is in Sevilla, Spain and those four statues are holding up a coffin which is the final resting place for Christopher Columbus! Amanda was nearly jailed for taking this photo. Apparently you are not allowed to use a FLASH in ANY of these old places because the flash destroys the artifacts. Especially the rugs and painting on the walls. So she snapped this photo and almost had MY camera confiscated and herself jailed. They realized they hadn't told their group the rules! Anyway we are forturnate to have this photo because the others are rather dark.

This last one is my favorite job! This is the village cat in Morocco,North Africa and he is a celebrity there. He literally sits on his butt all day long! He doesn't sit like a cat but like a human would, that's why he is so popular...too funny. Now that's the job to have!

Job Opportunity

Sometimes when I think things are bad I look around and pretty soon I realize that I don't have it so bad. Take this lady for instance. Yes this is a real woman. Amanda met her in Spain. She rolls in mud everyday then sits outside this building to earn money. See the bowl at her feet? She just sits there all still like those soldiers standing guard at the Queen's Palace in London. I wonder if I could set up shop next to the bell ringers at WalMart. That should draw a crowd. I know I could build a mud puddle that I can roll around in. I can't imagine what I would look like rolled in mud!!! That sight alone should be worth something right? ButI really don't think I could keep a straight face. Now what makes someone just wake up one day and say, "I think I will roll around in that there mud puddle and go to that there Cathedral/Museum where all the tourists go and sit there and let people stare at me and take my picture. At least the mud would cover up my red face! I bet she has the best skin in town.

Kids Craft

Crystal picked up these cute little Christmas craft kits at the Dollar store. They worked on these Saturday and had alot of fun glueing the felt shapes on. Thought I would share.

Wayne

Trey

Kaitlen

Jayden

RaLee

William

Senorita Jayden's Favorite Dress

Of all the dresses in Jay Bug's closet this bright orange Spanish style dress is her favorite. Crystal came over today and she said, "You have to take a picture of Jayden in this dress. I swear mom I don't even know where she got this. I know it came from some ones Hand-Me-Down's" but I don't know who's. Not only does she insist on wearing this but she must wear the tennis shoes too." I just laughed because it reminded me of Crystal insisting on wearing her cowboy boots with her dresses.