Sing a Song (and other stuff)

Elise and Emmy aren't the only singers around these days. Daddy sang a solo yesterday at church and did a beautiful job. He has a good voice and it is so pleasant to listen to. He sang, "Where Can I Turn for Peace" and it was just beautiful. For variety, he did one verse in Spanish. We were all proud of him!

Since it was the 5th Sunday, we were combined for Priesthood/Relief Society and our lesson was on preparedness and it was really good. Sunday School was good, as usual, too.

Kristen went to the doctor today and is still progressing and we're all getting ready for this new little baby to come! Ethan and Beth had to postpone their Saturday snowboarding plans due to the busy weekend in Park City because of the Sundance Film Festival, but are planning for later. Adam finished up some things he needed for scholarhip applications! Yay! Adam, along with Shayon, both worked on poems to send to Kelsey and Sidney to invite them to prom. Logan enjoyed playing xbox with friends on Friday and Saturday. We all had fun on Sunday afternoon kicking the soccer ball around together outside and watching the chickens and dogs and cat. We all read in our scriptures and are making good progress. And then we watched some family shows together before bedtime.

How Much Is That Doggy In The Window...

...no, this one is not for sale....

Logan was so cute last night when he answered the phone call asking about Bouncer's last puppy (out of ten) that we had listed in the paper to give away to a good home. He wants to keep the puppy, so this is what his end of the conversation sounded like...

It's a female, so it will just get pregnant.
Just black.
The daddy is a BIG dog and sometimes he snaps.

After this glowing recommendation, I think the caller was convinced not to choose this puppy, and Logan was happy. He didn't think the person on the phone sounded like they would make a good home for the puppy, so that's that! Logan really loves the animals and looks out for them!

Cars

On pick-a-peck recently, there was some discussion about cars you guys drove when you were little. I think we (or someone) bought Christopher's old one, the little blue one, and gave it to Ethan, and maybe Kristen drove it, too, mostly around the basement, I think. Later we got that red one that Logan mostly, and Adam some, drove around, but I believe it was Logan's Christmas present. And it was more powerful...it could be driven outside. You guys can comment if you remember it differently.

Bits 'n Pieces

I thought I'd do a rundown of a few bits 'n pieces of Jarrell Family life...

I guess I should mention right away one of the highlights of recent days. Another one of our chickens started laying eggs! And that has helped us figure out who is laying the jumbo eggs. I know that has been a great mystery to everyone, but now we think it is solved! It appears that...drumroll, please....the speckled chicken is laying the big, jumbo eggs! Elise helped us name her and she is now officially "Princess". A fitting name for a chicken laying such fine eggs! We of course, still love Sassy and her little bluish, green eggs, and the black hens who are laying the nice brown eggs. And for the record, chickens are a lot more interesting and fun pets than people might imagine.

In other news, the second xbox 360 is going back. What are the chances that we would get two defective consoles in less than a month? Anyway, this one has to be shipped out for repair or replacement - just like the last one. The boys worked so hard to save up their money for this purchase. I feel bad for them, that they've had bad luck with their xbox, even though I'm certainly no fan of these games systems, I still feel for them because they like it and worked hard to purchase it.

Kristen is due any time, well actually Feb. 5, and we're all excited about that! Cory is doing well in his business, doing famously (see Kristen's blog). Elise and Ian are cute as ever. Ethan is taking some interesting classes this semester, such as illustration and animation. He and Beth are dating and have a fun date planned on Saturday to go snowboarding. Adam is dating Kelsey. He and Shaylon who are friends are dating Kelsey and Sidney, who are friends - makes double dates fun when they're all together. Logan likes playing the xbox (when it's working) and had Ryan over yesterday for some playing time and he's coming over after school today while his mother is on her way back in from Asheville. Adrian is busy with work and taking care of the "livestock". He is currently working on rennovations at the chicken coup. Our animals are doing well; however, Lucy is getting older and having a little trouble moving around as easily these days. Junior continues to bring us things and we brag on him. Bouncer had 10 puppies in December and we've found homes for all but 2. Ralph is just being his own lovable self, aloof, but nice. He's had "fun" as the puppies tried to play with him. The grandmas are doing well and I guess things are going along as usual for the most part around here.

Kristen and Elise.

Adam and Ian.

Heading to the van.

Logan and Milo.

Ian in his red jacket that everyone has worn so far... Kristen, Ethan, Adam, Logan, Elise, and Ian!

Isn't she lovely! Ready for church on Sunday. Kristen teaches Primary and does a great job with the little ones in her class.

In the van on our shopping adventure! You just had to be there, but we have another story to add to our repetoire.

Logan doing another flip on Kristen's trampoline.

Logan is the champ in the flip department! He does forward, backward, and sideways flips.

No, he's not jumping off the roof! But the guys did have a lot of fun on the trampoline at Kristen's this weekend.

Adam really gets some height on that bounce!

Logan and one of the puppies.

Logan is a good friend to the animals. He really does look after them.

Bouncer's 10 puppies! They are cute and a lot of fun.

Church Ball

It was a lot of fun to watch Adam and Logan play church basketball today! Great job, guys!

Notice Logan with the ball in this picture.

 

Some Like It Hot

I had been thinking for awhile that our house was hot. Maybe it was the fact that we had to open our windows in the Wintertime to try and regulate the heat. But nevertheless, my hunch was confirmed when Kristen said she thought she was going to roast in our house over Christmas. And she does like it hot, so I figured it must really be hot. (There have been times I thought I was going to smother in her car because the heater was going full blast! But that's another story.) :) So, anyway, Adrian has been trying to accomodate the folks around here by keeping it a little cooler. (I have wondered if he secretly likes it hot to make his bread rise better, but that's another story, too.) Last night I finally had to break down and admit that the house was a little too cool. Poor Adrian! He get's, "It's too hot, it's too cool!" What's a man to do?! He does as he always has...he patiently tries to make it better. Honestly, in his defense of the hot/cold stuff, it is harder to regulate a wood stove than a heat pump. I mean, there's certainly no thermostat on the door of that wood stove where you can set the temperature to 72. And it is so good to have all that firewood to heat with. Lots of hard work went into it, no big heating bill, and it is such a comfortable source to heat with, it's warm (or hot). Well, that's my commentary on the temperature in our house! Thanks, Adrian, for keeping the homefire burning!

Memories from Christmas 2005

What are some of your memories from Christmas 2005?

Holidays Together

As you can see from the pictures below, it was a wonderful Christmas and NewYear's holiday together! I loved every minute of having everyone here in the house together. I will always treasure these memories!

Everyone was thoughtful and kind and showed so much love to one another.

I was touched over and over again as I read things from our tablecloth that we had written over the years. It was so neat to look back on some of the highlights we had written about.

I'd like to share just a few of the thoughts that were expressed this year:

Kristen said, "Most of the hightlights of my year involve my family - their triumphs were mine as well. Our family has tried to live the gospel more fully this year, growing closer to our Savior. We just completed the Book of Mormon, in obedience to the prophet. We have truly felt the Lord's blessing in our lives this year."

Cory said, "The Lord has blessed us beyond measure. He is truly merciful. If the years to come are half as good as this, our family will be one happy bunch."

Ethan told about some of the things he's doing and expressed gratitude for having two good jobs and attending school. Adam mentioned his BYU plans and preparing for his mission and the excitement he feels about serving the Lord for two years. Logan talked about gaming and music, a typical thirteen year-old, I suppose. Adrian commented that this had bee a year of endings and beginnings for him (with changes at church and work).

As I have thought about Christmas and family and the time we've spent together, my heart has been touched deeply at the love we have for each other in our family and the desire we have to be a family forever. I have shed more than a few tears as I have reflected on these things.

The greatest joy and blessing I have is the hope of being part of an eternal family. I am so grateful for this part of our Heavenly Father's plan. Each one in our family is so special and I am grateful for them and want us all to live the gospel and keep the commandments so that we can be together forever!

I love my family so very much and appreciate them for the wonderful people they are!

Here's a view of the wood pile that Logan took. Kristen, if you need to feel all toasty warm, you know where to come! Actually, the Firebuilder has been moderating the temperature a bit, i.e., no plastic articles melting in the house. I'm having fun with Adrian on the fire-building...he's really good to keep us warm and it is tricky to regulate!

We ring in the new year again with toasts and wishes of Happy New Year!

Where is all this stuff coming from?!

Adrian and Logan in the front yard, battling it out with silly string.

Logan and Adam on the front porch, ready with silly string.

Look out!

On the actual New Year's Eve, we (Adrian, me, Adam and Logan) went outside, after watching the countdown and ball drop on the internet, and banged on pans, shouted "Happy New Year", thew our popping things on the ground, and played with sparklers and silly string. Oh, and we all said, "Rabbit, rabbit, rabbitt" as soon as it was the new month and year. And we listened as our "neighbors" shot guns in the distance.

On Thursday night, after we wrote on the tablecloth, we brought in the new year a little early, since we all wouldn't be together on New Year's Eve, and toasted each other with our sparkling grape juice, and then had some fireworks in the back yard.

Our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. This is the view from our yard in the evenings.

Logan gave Junior a nice place to rest! :)

Adam, Logan, Ethan, Adrian, Kristen, Cory and Elise. What a nice-looking group!

Everyone signed our traditional table cloth, sharing memories of 2005.

We've been doing our tablecloth since 1992. Lots of good memories recorded there!

The guys - Logan, Adam, and Ethan. Aren't they great!

Adam and Ethan in the front yard.

The whole family gathered at Chile Verde for dinner on Thursday night before everyone left on Friday. It was a good time to be together.

Elise, Kristen, and Ethan as we're getting ready to go see Christopher's new house and then out to eat.

Logan, Ian, and Ethan.

We played cards one night at Grandma's house and watched the Carolina game.

Several folks enjoyed playing some of the electronic games, like this one or pinball. I think there was a little competition going on the pinball...so who was the champ?

Playing mormon rook around our table. We had a lot of fun playing cards, visiting, and laughing together. We also tried out Ethan's new Pictionary game and his Yatzee game, plus Kristen, Ethan, and I did squeeze in a quick game of Go-Spel. And I think the guys got to play some of the games they like...Risk or that Star Wars board game.

You can see the soccer ball coming at Logan as he gets ready to defend the goal. We had a good time outside with the boys playing soccer and baseball.

A view from our back yard. You can see the smoke in the air (guess who's got a good fire going in the woodstove). You can see Adam's pitchback in front of the swings and in the distance, beyond the volleyball net and the basketball goal, is Logan's new soccer goal.

Adam is working on his technique as he throws the baseball into his new pitchback.

Elise and Ian had fun playing with the puppies over Christmas. Bouncer, our golden retriever, had 10 black puppies in early December.

Ian loves to play ball! Here he is shooting baskets on the deck.

Sassy lays the greenish blue eggs (left) and we don't know which chicken is laying the brown eggs, but we're getting one of each kind each day.

The chickens strutting around.

Elise and Milo, just being sweet.

Ian and Elise were such good helpers to go with Papa to the chicken house and look for eggs!

This picture was taken on Christmas Day, after church in Dobson. I LOVE having everyone at church and filling up a row with our family! I just love looking (wml) at everyone - all the great-looking, talented, wonderful, sweet, extrodinary people in my family!

Opening presents! Everyone was so excited this year about the fun surprises we had chosen for one another. Ethan got everyone thinking about it even more in the weeks before Christmas as he made his plans. There was so much kindness in the thoughtful gifts we exchanged and the love behind those gifts is truly a priceless gift.

Christmas morning. Adam shows one of the gifts he received from Ethan.

Ethan and Kristen in the living room. It was so good to have Ethan, Kristen, Cory, Elise, Ian, and Milo home for Christmas!