Our "first" Christmas!

Our first Christmas was spent on our honeymoon in Santa Barbara.  We got married on the 22nd, so we weren't exactly established somewhere with a tree or decorations!

 

Our first "real" Christmas was in Provo, on 7th West.  We strung popcorn, went to the local dime store and bought decorations, and we spray painted walnut shells gold and hung them from loops.

We went to the Rexall Drug in Provo and bought gifts for each other - it was the only store open - we each had $5 to spend!!

It was a lovely Christmas!!

What the holidays looked like - at least some of the time!!

It's been a crazy few weeks - and I have not been blogging very assiduously, that is for sure.  Here are some random photos to give you an idea of how things were from December 26th on!!  I'm not sure why there are not a lot of Christmas Eve photos - I think they are on my phone and I put them on Instagram and then forgot about them.  But New Year's is the big deal for the Terrill family!

Of course the babies were very popular - young Francis has Bonny captivated!

 

Clue seemed to be the game of the hour this year - the grandkids played it often - and Noah joined in with gusto!

 

On New Year's Eve day we had Marissa Carlson come again and take family photos - they were great - but the group ones all seemed to have one unco-operative  member in each one!!  They need a blog post of their own - watch for it!!

 

Grandkids in the family room - that Fisher-Price house was Bonny's Christmas present when she was 15 months old!!

 

The cousins draw names and we exchange gifts on New Year's Eve - always fun and the highlight of the evening.  The door is open because it was too hot - put 34 people in our little house and it heats up!

 

This year the activity of the night was the lip sync contest!  The Fillmores may have outdone themselves - and the candle is supposed to be a microphone - Hannah declared that!!  Her lip syncing was pretty awesome too!!  I think someone took video - maybe they will publish it - or not!!

 

The Bolanders were pretty awesome too - as were Harry and I - lip syncing to Louis Prima and Keely Smith singing "That Old Black Magic!"  We may have missed our calling!

 

Of course, the big event of the season was Noah and Taylor's wedding on January 2nd!  It was a lovely affair - and we were so happy to have everyone there!!

 

It was a pot-luck wedding - lots of good food - we are hoping this trend continues!!

 

Helen seemed to enjoy herself too!

 

There were "kids' tables" that were popular.

 

And there's the oldest Terrill child - at the youngest Terrill child's wedding - kind of a nice finish there!!

The season was one of the best in memory - we are indeed blessed!!

"It's that time of year . . ."

This is Christmas last year - doesn't it seem like yesterday?  And here it's almost upon us again! The big bike ride - which is going to happen again - here Harry and Bonny are stopping somewhere!!

And some kidlets enjoying pizza!

 

And just some down time by the tree!!

 

And Bonny and Dawn giving Deacon a haircut - one I think he didn't want!!

I think of all the Christmases past - I remember having to sneak around so the kids wouldn't know what was going on - wrapping gifts while watching Holiday Inn - choosing fun new clothes to wear for Christmas events like Helen's party, The Nutcracker, the Messiah Sing Along, the Ward Adult Christmas Party - baking and frosting sugar cookies - making pumpkin bread - taking treats to neighbors - caroling - sitting down at the end of the day and enjoying the tree - listening to carols - and soon the present upcoming Christmas will be just another memory.

Better remember to take photos!!

It's that time of year . . ."

When Bonny and Bruce got married, we were introduced to the Bolander family tradition of feeding the homeless at Christmas time.  We participated with them several times, and it was a very rewarding experience.  So it wasn't much of a stretch to figure out that it was also something we could do with the youth.

 

I'm thinking the photos from this are from 1996 maybe?  I was Young Women President starting in 1996 anyway.  If Noah and Andrew were participating though, it had to be 1999 actually!! 

Giving service at the holidays is a wonderful way to celebrate!

"It's that time of year . . ."

This batch is pretty random - starting with feeding the homeless with the Young Men/Young Women - 1997 - always a great way to spend the holiday!

 

Some great kids here!!

 

The Heritage Halls Holiday Dance - back in 1964!!  My dress was black velvet - and of course Alice made it for me!

 

A Christmas card photo when Isla was a baby!!

 

The photograph Nebeker sent us in his Christmas card when he told us about marrying Sarah!!  Such good news!!

Funny what we recall!

"It's that time of year . . ."

The Cornwalls often come caroling!!

 

I think this was the last year we did matching shirts for Christmas Eve! It got really expensive!!

 

A Terrill Inc. company Christmas party - late 80's.

 

Last year's holiday bike ride - go Dawn!!

Oh, the walk down Memory Lane, filled with some many memories!!

"It's that time of year . . ."

Once again I am not sure of dates - Eve looks young though!  That should be a clue.

 

Porter was young too - maybe this is 2005?

 

The whole Christmas pajama drill was quite the event for Dad and me - usually involved many shopping trips to find enough matching stuff.

 

Ah, Christmas Eve - fun no matter what the year!

"It's that time of year . . ."

Grandma's Party always had Santa.  For years it was Pop, then Jim, then Doug.  Here's Ella with her gift.

 

Esme looks a little concerned about it all!

 

The Santa gifts were from Grandma - she went to a lot of effort to make everyone happy.

 

Ara seems okay with it all - I guess Annika was a babe in arms!!  She doesn't show up in the arms of Santa anyway!

One year Harry and I wore the Santa wigs for Halloween - he wore the beard and I wore the hair!  We looked pretty good!!

"It's that time of year . . ."

The year Grandpa gave us the gift of his baptism!!

 

The year we rented a house at Laguna and took family photos - Ella was a baby!

 

When we lived on 5th South and 10th East in SLC - 1972!

 

A holiday party at BYU - just before we got married.

 

Betsy and Erika are in the corner with Alice - Bonny and Harry in front of the tree - I had made their outfits - and their toys!  I used to be pretty domestic!!

Love these walks down Memory Lane!

"It's that time of year . . ."

Christmas 2010 - a photo shoot!

 

Christmas always means Dad's birthday is one week before the big day!

 

Christmas 1988!

 

I think this was Christmas 1979!!

Oh, Christmas, you are so full of so many memories!!

"It's that time of year . . ."

Christmas Eve dinner - Potato Soup!

 

Sleeping in the "Presidential Suite!!"

 

The Terrill Family Holiday Party!

 

Pedicures are a part of the holiday season!!

 

Oh, we do miss Marjorie!!