Ford Christmas Party

We had a wonderful time at the Ford Family Christmas Party.  This year it was held at Brad and Lisa's house.  We ate a delicious dinner including ham, funeral potatoes, salad, rolls, corn and candy cane cake for dessert.  After dinner, we enjoyed watching everyone do their talents.  This year EVERYONE was asked to participate.  Even my grandma and grandpa Ford did a rap.

This was my G and G Ford dressed up like rappers.  They did an awesome job and we all LOVED it! I hope to have them in the talent show next year for round 2. It's pretty funny to see you grandparents acting young again ;)

This was Shane's first performance on his guitar.  He played Dust in the Wind.  He did a very good job and I am happy to know that he enjoys playing the guitar and we hope to hear more performances.

Let's just say that our family let everyone down a little bit this year.  We always come up with something creative.  3 years back we did our own rap and had a little verse for each person on the Ford side of the family. 2 years back we did a light show using glowsticks to Manheim Steamroller. Last year we did a very funny poem with props and all.  Well this year we forgot about the famous talent show and so we had to resort back to an old talent we used 4 years ago.  We did the palm pipes and played Silent Night and Deck the Halls.  Even though it was a replay, as you can see we were all having a great time regardless.

Other talents included

Bob, Ellen, Preston, and Whitney in an elf show.  They put their faces on computerized elfs that sang and danced.  It was pretty funny and nice to involve Preston who is on a mission in Oregon.

Jason, Shannon, Keira, Steve, and Whitney sang an Aussie Christmas song....persuading their parents to take them to Australia for Chirstmas next year before the "baby boom".

Kevin, Kathy, Brianna, Josh, and Brooke sang "Big Girls Don't Cry".  It was really great to see Kevin reach for those high notes.  I think his voice was gone by the end.  Kathy, Brianna, and Josh were AWESOME back up singers/dancers.

Brooke also kept the piano talent alive with her Christmas piece.

Brad, Lisa, Austin, Justin, and Brylee played blew over bottles to play Jingle Bells.  Brad said he couldn't do the blowing and so he was in charge of jingling the bells. 

Even though it is takes preparation to come up with something new and creative, we always have a fun time watching everyone perform.  This tradition started with the grandkids performing piano songs, singing, and dancing.  Now that we are not so young anymore and can't always practice our talents, it has turned into an event where the whole family get involved: parents, children, spouses, and grandparents.  It was definitely the highlight of the night.

At the end of all this excitement we remembered the true meaning of Christmas and ended singing Silent Night. I am so glad that the Christmas season comes around, where everyone can remember the spirit of love and giving and especially to remember the birth of our Lord. 

Grandpa, Grandma, Brianna, and Kevin singing Silent Night.

Josh, Justin, Austing, Bob, and Ellen joining in with the family Choir.

Shannon, Jason, Whit, Steve, Keira, Shannon and Josh

Shane and the injured Amanda.  She cracked the ball in her arm socket snowboarding earlier that day.

The Ford Family Christmas party with always be remembered and we want to thank Lisa and Brad for all their efforts to make this yet, another memorable Christmas party!

Desert Star Playhouse

It's that time of year again when all the Christmas Traditions start happening.  On Thursday night we met up at the Pie in Murray to eat. We had a good time eating garlic chicken, pepperoni, and combination pizza.  We also loved eating their cheesy pull-aparts.  It was a lot of fun chatting,

Next we headed the the Desert Star Playhouse to see The Nutcracker: Men in Tights (Luckily there were no men in tights).  We always enjoy going and having a good time singing Christmas songs and having a good laugh.  They always have some good mormon jokes and political jokes scattered throughout the play that crack us up. 

I just liked how they hung ornaments from the antlers.  Very creative!

Josh, Shannon, me and Trav anxiously awaiting the play.

It's always fun to spend time with the family and keep the traditions going. We're really grateful for the Christmas season and that we get to spend time with both the Tidwell and Guymon sides of the family.

Festival of Trees

So my mom and dad invited me and Trav to go to the Festival of Trees Friday afternoon.  Travis had to sadly decline because of his overload of homework and studying before the Christams break. But I was super excited to have something to do!  Plus, I always enjoy time with my parents.  They came and picked me up around 3:30 and we headed to the already way crazy busy Southtowne Center.  The place was just filled with trees.  Large and small.  I felt like I was literally in a forest with a million other onlookers. They were all so beautiful and unique and were made for someone special that had passed away or who had survived something terrible at Primary Children's.  There were two trees that stood out to me. One was for a little boy that was in my parent's ward who died of a certain time of cancer as a four, just a few years back.  There was a tree  for my sisters friend's (Taryn) mom who had died of cancer this summer.  It was a shock to my mom and me because we didn't know they had dedicated a tree to her. 

As we looked at this particular tree, my mom said that Taryn had said the other day, "I really wish my mom was here to help me put up the Christmas decorations."  When my mom told me it brought us both to tears because it is so sad that many people lose their moms.  There were many special pictures and stories that were held within these heart-filled trees.  It was very touching.  After, we went and picked up Cafe Rio and all ate it her at our place so Trav could join us!  Thanks mom and dad for the fun night!

The tree for the Utah Utes that I really liked! Go UTES!

A picture I took for Travis because he loves BYU.  He was definitely happy they won Utah this year.

A sweet car that they were going to be auction off for Primary Children's.  My dad says it will go for hundreds of thousands.

Thanksgiving....A Week of Being Grateful!

Travis and I started of the Thanksgiving Break with a bang!  We went and saw Blindside!  Which I absolutely LOVED and Trav liked it a lot.  It really started the week off with me being grateful that I have food, clothing, and shelter.  That movie taught me a lot about how I should give to those in need and not be upset that I can't afford the latest and greatest phone.  I want to go see it again already.

On Saturday, Trav actually had time so we got to go shopping to spend the money Trav got for his birthday.  He got a lot of nice looking clothes, and plus he really needed them as well.  We celebrated his 26th birthday at our apartment with my family earlier in November. This was the best weekend and I loved every moment me and Trav were able to spend together.

Monday night we headed down to Huntington to visit his family, who we haven't visited since August.  We just can't find the time to make it down there with work and mainly pharmacy school. We had a great time looking at their newly remodeled kitchen that looks awesome!  We also were able to go to the farm and feed the calves which was a first for me.  When Ray asked me and Trav if we would go do it I was a little scared of being near the cows.  Then he adds, "Now Blue does bite."  I kind of chuckled and he said, "Really, you need to be careful."  (Now blue is a dog that was dropped off at their farm by someone.  It seems to have been abused by it's previous owner.  She wasn't very friendly when Ray first noticed her on the farm, but as he has fed her she won't stay away from him.  She loves Ray.) 

So later on that day we ate at Cindi's Cafe in Huntington. It is a little place on Main Street, but they had delicious food.  Trav said "We couldn't eat for this cheap at Wendy's and I am plenty full too."  Our next adventure was to the farm.  I was scared of the cows and now Blue.  We'll just say that Trav did most of the hay moving, okay ALL of the hay moving.  I sat there in my nice jeans and my black dress coat ( I wasn't prepared to feed cows) and watched.  When we headed towards the second corral of calves, I saw Blue.  I was scared and waited until Trav distracted her enough to jump in the truck.  I stayed in the truck while Trav got out to go get the food for Blue.  I figured once she was I need not be fearful.  It ended up that I just walked calmly around the cows.  She only looked at me, never sniffed me or even came by me, but she wanted Trav to pet and rub her face all day long.  It was also pretty funny to watch the cows as Trav would kick the hay into the corral.  They would all get scared and run to the other end.  It was a good time.  Never thought I would end up marrying a cowboy!... but I sure do love him!

Next we were headed to Trav brothers high school basketball game.  He is a senior this year and starts as a guard.  He did really awesome with 13 points and some rebounds.  It was fun to watch him and support him.  They won 92 to 56.  Good Job Mark!  Overall, we had a great time on our short visit to Huntington.  It's so nice to be a part of Trav's family who are so much fun and so supportive of us.  We're looking forward to being with them for Christmas.

Thanksgiving Day!

This brings us to Thanksgiving Day.  Trav and I headed up to Grandma and Grandpa Fords for our 1 o'clock Thanksgiving feast.  We had good turkey, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade rolls, candied yams, and my favorite STUFFING!   We had a great time chatting during the feast, and after we went around the whole table and said what they were grateful for.  I said that I am grateful to have the opportunity to go to school and get a good education and that is because I have a good job.  I also said I was grateful for the gospel and for my husband who works so hard to do well in school and makes me happy.  It is also good to verbally state what you are grateful for.  Once I got thinking about it, I couldn't decide which ones to share because I have so many blessings in my life.  Following the feast, we had banana cream pie and pumpkin pie.  Now I had pumpkin pie, not so much by choice, but by being allergic to bananas, I had no choice.  But it was still good. After all this we had a good time playing Trivial Pursuit, Camping and Outdoors style.  My Grandpa Ford bought the game up in Yellowstone and we finally unwrapped it.  We had a good time seeing if we are real campers. It's always a great time to be with the Ford side of the family.  We ended the night by watching Disney's "UP".  It was a good show, but I must say random.

To finish up the week, we made a trip down to the new "In and Out" Burger in Draper.  We waited about 1/2 hour for our food, but it was definitely worth it.  Trav and I were very happy to hear it was coming up to Northern Utah.  We finished off the week with the BYU vs. Utah game.  Trav was way excited that BYU won, and I was way sad that Utah lost.  That is all I'm going to say about it. : (

Great Grandma Ford, Grandma Ford and Grandpa Ford.

I love them all dearly!

The middle section of the Thanksgiving Table

and the tail end.

I couldn't be more grateful that Trav passed one of his many tests on November 20th, so that we could spend some good quality time together and with both of our families the following week.  It was so nice to just hang out and home and watch TV and even just to go to Walmart and shop together.  I'm so glad he is my husband and best friend.  I am already counting down the days to Christmas Break!!!