December in Review

As you can tell I've had a hard time keeping up on this blogging business this month. So I'm doing a review of the month all at once. Except I will post Christmas later. I forgot my camera Christmas Eve and I borrowed a camera so now I'm waiting for those pictures to be e-mailed to me.
Anyway.................here's the Crazy Combes month...........

CHRISTMAS SYMPHONY

Willow, Carly, Jami, Cole, & Todd at the Christmas symphony. Every year we go to the Utah Symphony's Christmas performance and we really enjoy it. We've done this for about 9 years, give or take a year.

Willow and Carly with Santa before the symphony.

Jami and Cole with Santa. We couldn't get Todd to sit with Santa.

FEEDING HORSES

One evening Clint & I went to measure windows and the gal whose home we went to had horses. We had taken Jami & Zandra with us since it was someone that we knew and so here are a couple of pics of J & Z feeding the horses. I'm not sure if the horse ate Jami's hand or if Jami was cleaning out the horses nose. Either way it's pretty sick.

Zandra's turn.
Do you think the girls need to hold out their hands a little more? Big Red thinks so.

DECEMBER PIANO RECITAL

Cole with his Level 6 award around his neck.

Jami posing for her photo.
Jami waiting for her turn. Jami played the Theme from Batman, and Jingle Bells with her piano group. She really did a great job.

Cole played Christmas Fantasia. He has really made a lot of progress. I leaned over to my mom during Cole's song and said, "Can you believe that kid is my son and he is playing that music from memory?" You see I took piano for quite a few years and had one heck of a time ever memorizing a song, let alone playing in front of an audience. Maybe it has something to do with practicing.

Cole receiving his award.

The kids and their grandparents after the recital. Their grandparents are always there to support them in all of their activities. We are really lucky!
SANTA'S REINDEER

One Saturday we went to the Quilted Bear in Midvale and saw Santa's reindeer, along with Santa. My sister and her girls went, along with my brother Duane and his girls, I picked up my brother Lance's 2 girls on our way down, and we also had cousin Todd with us. Then Clint's sister Shannon and her boys met us there so we really had a crowd. It was a lot of fun to be with so many cousins AND Santa!

The girls looking at the reindeer.

Here's a picture of the whole crew. Minus a couple of the adults.

More watching the reindeer.

Kelsey and Kenna with Santa. Kenna did NOT like this one bit. She doesn't like men in general (except her grandpas) never mind a man looking like this!

Cole & J with Santa.

One of the reindeer, I'm not sure which one, um I wanna say, Prancer.

Combe cousins, Rory, Todd, Jami, Cole, & Kellen.

Some of the Dearden cousins, Jami, Kenna, Annie, Avery, Cole, Kelsey, & Ashley. Funny how Cole is the only boy here and Jami is the only girl with the Combe cousins.

Combe cousins again.

TREE DECORATING

Jami and mom decorating the tree.

Cole & Waffles hanging ornaments. Waffles had to make sure he did not miss a thing, he was always right where he was in the way.

DADDY DAUGHTER DINNER

Every year Jami's dance studio has a Daddy Daughter Dinner in December. Jami & Clint didn't go last year but Jami made sure I got them on the list for this year. Jami was really looking forward to this and Clint was a little nervous that the date wouldn't be up to her expectations. Not to worry Jami had a great time, she really enjoys this one on one time with her dad. And she loves to dress up.

All ready for the ball...........

Grandma Rose

This is a picture of Clint's Grandma Rose. I believe it is her high school graduation picture. On Nov. 5, 2008, Grandma Rose passed away at the age of 90. She was an amazing woman! One of the kindest, and sweetest Grandma's ever! I have been so lucky to have her in my family. All 4 of my grandparents passed away by the time I was 5. Before we got married, I didn't believe Clint when he said that all 4 of his grandparents were still alive. I hope that my kids realize how lucky they are to have been able to get to know their great-grandparents. They are all gone now but we have many fun memories. A lot of game playing, cards especially, great rolls, great pies, fun outings and much more. We love you Grandma Rose! This is a part of the display at Grandma's funeral. The cards represent Grandma Rose's love of playing pinocle. Always a card game going on.

This picture was taken last Christmas (2007) at the Symphony Hall. I couldn't get Grandma to sit on Santa's lap, but she did agree to be in the picture. Jami, Rory, Cole, and Kellen, in Idaho Falls, on the way to Montana for Grandma's services.

Throwing food to the ducks and geese.

Jami racing with the birds. I think she beat a couple of them.

John, Kota, and Clint playing poker at Donna & Wally's house. I think that there were 3 poker tables and 1 pinocle table. Like I said a lot of card playing goes on in this family. It was like a family reunion. I think almost everyone was able to make it to Montana for the services.

Tucker playing pinocle. I think he's 9 and he kicked my rear-end. I'm just not much of a card player.

It looks like Kota is counting his chips.

"We are a happy family" Garrett making his nephew smile, and Grandma Janni joining in.

Rory cheesing it up for the camera.

Garrett and Jami. Garrett is Clint's cousin's son. Garrett said he didn't realize he had so many cousins. The kids really had a good time with all of their long lost cousins twice removed.

Cole & Todd at Burnt Fork. This is where Clint's family loves to go. Cole & Clint were sad that they didn't get a chance to go fishing here but at least they got to go and take a couple of pictures. I don't think a trip to Montana would be complete if Clint didn't get to go to Burnt Fork.

Cole at Burnt Fork.

Clint outside the church.

Pam and Melyssa at the lunch after the funeral. I think that Pam is looking for the funeral potatos, they were probably all gone.

This is Grandma Rose's sister she is 95.

Me holding Pam's baby Gracie. She is a cutie!

19?!! HOLY COW

I can't believe it but this little girl will turn 19 in about 40 minutes from when I am typing this. It is amazing. I was telling Tara that I can't believe she will be 19 and she said that she didn't think 19 was that big of a deal. I told her it's not really unless it's your kid. Because of course neither Clint nor I are not old enough to be the parents of a 19 year old.

I am so proud of you Tara. You're a beautiful, talented, & smart girl. Your brother and sister love you very much. So do your dad and I. Hope you have a Happy Birthday, we love you much!

November Birthdays

It was my mom's birthday on Nov 4 & it is Tara's birthday tomorrow, so we celebrated them together at the Dearden's a couple of weeks ago. Luckily Tara was home for the weekend and she could join us for her birthday celebration. Grandma Dearden always cooks whatever the birthday person wants, even if it is Prime Rib, or some other dish that she isn't used to making. It's usually my oldest boy (and I don't mean Cole that asks for something out of the norm). She is great about catering to the birthday kid or adult. We did take over the dinner this time so she didn't have to make her own birthday dinner, but she still made a couple of side dishes. I don't think she can help herself.
Jami & Annie set up the chairs for the birthday girls so we could all watch them open their presents.Jami presenting her sister Tara. Grandma makes a bear for all of the grandkids on their birthday. Duane, Allison and Avery watching the gift opening. I guess Avery is watching a little movie on a toy from the 70's, that she found in Grandma's basement. Lance, Lori & Kelsey. Look at those rosy cheeks, Kelsey must have been running around with the kids just before this picture.

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Dearden for having the fun birthday get togethers! It's always something we look forward to even if it isn't our birthday. We love you lots!