2010 wrap-up

November: Thanksgiving, Forgotten Carols, Black Friday shopping, Reception.

Thanksgiving was awesome we were lucky enough to spend it in Spokane, staying with family, and being able to spend it with our Idaho family. There was soooo much food! As all way too good. Spokane was beautiful and snowy.

We got to go to the Forgotten Carols performance while in Spokane, a performance in which Mom & Dad Mecham, Jessica, Sam & Kaelee, Landon, Ashton & Raelyn Toth participated in. The rest of us were up high in the balcony watching. It had been almost 6 years since Joseph and I saw it together (that was also my first time) It was amazing as always, and fun to know so many people in it.

Black Friday, umm well I hadn't really planned on going out shopping in Spokane. But John really really wanted to go shopping, especially becuase no one else is really into Black Friday Shopping. We left just before 6 am, we felt a little like we were sneaking out, since everyone was still sleeping! We had a lot of fun, and were quite successful too. We got back to the house and Joseph asked about one item, and we had forgotten to get it, it was still early. John was wired and we didn't want him to wake anyone up, so we all got dressed again and went to get the special item and breakfast. The special item was a gift idea for Sam and Kaelee (we hadn't given them a wedding present, and Kaelee expressed  interest in ....a garden gnome!)

here is Nacho the Gnome!

 Reception. There was tons of snow the day of the reception and when everyone went to decorate we were left behind, something about too many "helpers". So we decided to shovel the driveway and stairs etc, but when we had finished there was already another couple inches covering up our work. so we went to the backyard where Joseph made a snow man (which was later wrecked by boys jumping into it from the balcony, lol) and I took pictures. The reception was beautiful, we had fun. We even created a little sibling mischief  (J&S, Jessica, John Aston and Landon) which I don't think Sam and Kaelee know about yet. We took bets on when they would find it, but we all agreed it would be a LONG time. And no I am not telling, lets just say it is payback. We all ate too many desserts but they were amazing! And visited with some great people. 

self portrait of us at the reception, please notice Joseph's bow tie.

 He LOVES doing that!

December: Random stuff leading up to Christmas....

Igloo! Joseph had started making an igloo, he didn't finish before we went over to a friends house for dinner. We had an awesome time and stayed up wayyy too late. When we arrived home (after 2 am) we found that Mom and Dad had finished it for him! 

Here is T-Bone inside it, to show the massive size.

yes, he insisted on having his ear up, in all the pictures!

Christmas was spent at Ensign Ranch (Cle Elum Washington, about 2 1/2 hours away) Our Family, Dad's side had rented out the main lodge for a few days. It is the second time I have been able to go, the best time to be sure (I was really sick the first time and quarantined to a room. And there wasn't any snow last time)

Here are some trees in Cle Elum that Mom and I found while exploring!

And here is the view right out our bedroom window during the stay.

A view outside toward the pasture with an awesome snowman. 

This picture just looks like Christmas to me.

Christmas morning was eventful. After stockings were opened my uncle Ron opened his hand with his knife. So after some quick First Aid and Preisthood blessing, the men were off to Ellensburg for the Hospital, he needed 5 stitches.( his 20th set of stitches) so the main present opening was put off until the men came back so we did breakfast, of custom omlettes (our family was in charge + Bentley filling in for Dad) We wore aprons and chef hats, it was a lot of fun. We did our best keeping the kids occupied while waiting for our Dads to come back. Once they were back we fed them and Christmas continued. Other things we did: sang Christmas carols, children 1/2 pound gift exchange, adult 1 pound gift exchange, lots of card games, sledding, snow ball fights etc.  And to finish this post... the Swanger family nativity!

There were shepherds in the fields, herding pillow pets!

And wise men who saw the star!

and followed it riding camels (or ripsticks!) to see the baby Jesus

and the whole cast

shepherds, wise men, angel , mary Joseph and the Donkey resting.
minus the narrator in the rafters.
sorry there aren't more pictures, we didn't have the most reverent nativity and there was much laughter. Considering that the gifts from the wise men included a slinky, chocolate and a guinea pig. The angel was shy, the donkey past out after the long journey, the  shepherds had animals of all kinds, Joseph had a headache and Mary has an attitude.... lol.


Goodbye 2010.
I missed a lot of things I know,
but that's what happens when you wait soo long to post.