"All I want for Christmas is a photo of my grandkids - all together!!"

Here we are - a couple of proud grandparents. And it seems like every year I say, "All I want for Christmas is a picture of all my grandkids together."

This appears to be easier said than done!! I get Christmas cards all the time with great family photos - professional and amateur - where every one is facing forward with a smile - or at least not a frown - on their faces. We seem to miss all the golden moments when this might happen. This holiday season has been no exception - Matt and Eliza go tomorrow - Bonny and Bruce were heading back to Malibu - it was now or never! (We did get a pretty good shot of all of us at Hannah's wedding in June - but Ida wasn't born yet!!)

We were at Harry and Dawn's for dinner - and afterwards some of the group was heading out for a drive in movie experience - somehow we missed all the chances up at the cabin last night and today. And this is what we got - not a cohesive group full of happy campers! And they had all had good naps!! (at least the small ones - and the big ones weren't the problem!)

So I decided to just walk around and snap individual photos of some of the greatest kids in the world!! I love all of our kids - but the grandkids are just the icing on the cake, to borrow a somewhat hackneyed metaphor. These wonderful children bring us lots of joy and delight - and it has been a great blessing to have them all here these past few days. It has also been gratifying so see their wonderful parents in action.

Ara Grace - the wonderful young woman who made us grandparents. She's a lot like her mom - who made us parents - there is just something about that role!

Ella Sophia - who always has a sweet smile for us. And loves the little ones and reaches out to them.

Henry David - the boy who brings us joy! He soaks up knowledge like a sponge. He's a great athlete too.

Esme Claire - the little girl who knows what is important in life. ("But Grandma, you can buy American Girl dolls with money.")

Eve - the loving, earnest little scholar who always is happy to see us! (And who always notices my earrings!)

Annika Joy - wise beyond her years - and a great photographer too!

Porter Cardon - the little guy with the big heart who opens up your heart when he opens the door.

Calvin Hyer - who said, of his new pajamas Mama made for him, "I love these - they turn into clothes in the morning."

Harry William - a little boy who thinks he's one of the big kids - and who does a great job of keeping up with them!

Theo Keith - a little boy who loves books and music and all things fine and good! And he can find Madagascar on the world map - just ask him!

Agnes Mae - almost the reincarnation of her mother - but with her own little sass!

Ida Rachel - small and warm and snuggly and beautiful - aren't babies wonderful?

So, until I get a great group photo - or find a big frame with 12 4 by 6 openings - or there are more to add and it will all start over again - I will just have to check the blog and revel in the joy that is being a grandparent.

My Christmas is complete!!

Terrill Family Christmas Party - circa 2008

The annual Terrill Family Christmas Party had a few changes this year. For starters, we had it after, instead of before Christmas. That actually seems to work better - at least for most schedules.

The venue changed too - Dad and I had the great idea to hold it at the ward building.

Since all of our kids were in town, we decided to invite some Clayton folk to join us - and that seemed to work out well. Dawn's folks were there too.

Robin and Chris made the trek out - it was great to see them.

We did a changed version of the nativity - no doctrinal changes - just some theatrical ones!! We had a "community sing" at the start, so we didn't do carols in between the nativity scenes. Bonny just played some stanzas from the different carols to transition to the next scene. We all did sing "Silent Night" at the end though.

Probably everyone's favorite part was when Scarlet went on stage to pick up the baby Jesus - every time I took it from her and put it back in the manger, she came right back to pick it up again!! We'll have to let her play Mary soon!


Eliza led and Hannah played while we had kids and grown-ups choose their favorite hymns, carols and Primary songs - it was a lot of fun.

Like many newlyweds before them (today was their 6 month anniversary), Hannah and Robbie played Mary and Joseph.

Noah narrated too. That was a change. Now I just need to find someone to take my eternal job as stage manager!

Grandma Helen had a story for the children - and a rousing rendition of "Frosty the Snowman" for everyone to sing.

The Doug Terrills came.

And cheers to Heather who came, "heavy with child" indeed!! We were glad to see all of them. and Drake was a wonderful sheep!! He had the role down pat!

Except for Fred and Joan who are here from Tennessee, Scott, Shelly and fam deserve the prize for coming the longest distance!

We used the opportunity for some 4 generation shots. But I didn't get my "all the grandkids in one photo" shot - that may never happen!!

Grandma Mary even stayed up late last night finishing a little doll for Ida - every great-granddaughter gets one!

Greg, an honorary Terrill, helped with clean-up - among other things.

Harry and Dawn did some great kitchen clean up too. I should have taken a photo of Bonny in the kitchen beforehand - she was a real trouper - and a whiz at organization! She took Eve and Henry home with them for a "Cousin's Sleepover."

We are planning a family get together tomorrow night at Monrovia Canyon - hope everyone stays well - at least we are close to home!!

Even though the event was "different" in many ways - like we had Costco pizza and hamburger soup - with ice cream and cookies for dessert - it was also the same in the important ways - re-connecting and re-establishing ourselves as part of an eternal family.

I told Doug and Robin that it was so good to see them - it meant Jim was at the party too!

Plan on next year for sure!

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Matt and Eliza with a baby carriage."

This used to be a refrain that was scribbled in many a year book when I was in high school. I have no idea if they do it anymore!

But the love and marriage seem to have led to more than one baby carriage, anyway.


We love having the happy family here with us for the 5th anniversary celebration. We are doing the babysitting honors tonight while they celebrate.

Go to Eliza's blog - if you are on her list - for a nice little retrospective on their 5 years together.


But here are some of my faves from that day 5 years ago!




Many congrats to the lovebirds!!

Christmas night

Hannah and Robbie know how to "end the day" - but since Calvin and Henry were sleeping in the family room, they had to opt for a movie on Dad's laptop!!

We did go visit Harry and Dawn - and Baby Harry was more than excited to show us his new skateboard - and to say the word skateboard over and over again!!

Calvin and Porter enjoyed the pizza Daddy B ordered for everyone - and having the little table all to themselves for fun and facemaking!

Eve enjoyed showing everyone her "loot" - her prize present - a new dollhouse!!

The new tradition seems to be a puzzle - one with very many pieces in fact - Dad joined Bill in filling in some of the blanks. Not sure how long last year's puzzle took to finish.

Not the best shot in the world - but there was a rainbow Christmas afternoon - a really nice way to end such a fine day.

The day after Christmas was fun - and eventful for some - we'll keep you posted - if you are even finding time to look at blogs these days.

"On Christmas Day in the morning . . ."

Boy - here it is the end of the day after Christmas, and I'm just now posting about Christmas morning! A woman's work is just never done, is it??

There were some early risers on Christmas a.m. - and one of them was Hannah!! The child in us never dies does it??

Of course, we had some real children with us to add to the fun. Agnes loved it all - especially the wrapping paper and boxes. And the Tic Tacs!

Phoebe's new hat from David - she could start giving Alice a run for her money!

Dad checking out the Harry Potter wands. And there were also some musical drumsticks - pretty fun for everyone.


Henry with a wand - he doesn't really need a wand to be magical - he's great just the way he is!!

Agnes peeking at all the action.

Noah with his own personal set of roasters - no more borrowing them from the folks!

Henry - with Phoebe's new booklight - that boy is a reader - I love discussing books with this precocious 2nd grader.

All decked out for some holiday visiting.

Phoebe and David gave the boys Disneyland passes for Christmas - so they'd printed out the passes off the computer and but them in a big box. Phoebe and David were pretty excited - Calvin looked at his and said, "Oh, a new book." Phoebe explained it all - and Henry had to ask twice if it was "for real?" When he figured out it was, he was really excited!!

Before we went into the living room on Christmas morning, Henry was hungry and wanted to eat - and I sort of "spilled the beans" as they say about the trip - but like Phoebe said, thankfully it just "went over their heads."

Hannah and the lovely quilt from Diane.

Christmas was rainy, gray and overcast - perfect for not doing much at all - naps, eating, building fires, reading new books - but we did get in a trip to see Harry and Dawn before Harry headed off for his shift.

That will be the next post - hopefully not much will happen tomorrow so I can catch up!!