Extremely filled up weekend

CHRISTMAS!!!
This long weekend started off with Christmas!!  It was kind of an interesting/different Christmas as far as who was here and who wasn't.  Randy and Courtney stayed the night Christmas Eve, so they shared Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Blake, Jared, my parents and I.  Then Randy had to go to work at 11:00.  Brian had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so we saw him by taking dinner to him both days.  Celia's parents and brothers are here from Pennsylvania, so they all came down for Christmas dinner.  It was a good Christmas, even if we did have to work around work schedules!

Courtney, Randy and Jared opening presents

My mom, Jared & Courtney getting ready to eat yummy Monkey bread.  (Cindy, this is what it's supposed to look like!)

Blake and I in our Christmas red shirts!

CINDY CAME!!!!

Saturday, the next big thing happened!  Cindy flew in to the Idaho Falls airport.  It was a long hard day for her, but she made it .... only an hour and a half late.  It is always so good to see her! 

Cindy meeting Maden for the first time, she thinks he's tiny.

BABY BLESSING!!!!!

Sunday morning .... Maden was blessed in Brian and Celia's ward in Idaho Falls at 9:00 am.  Brian did a really good job and Maden was very content.

Maden, in his "tie" and "man pants".  What big eyes you have, Maden.

FAREWELL!!!!!!!

The last thing capping off the weekend was Jared's "farewell"!  He spoke in our ward in Groveland at 10:50 am.  We hurried home from Brian's church to get here in time for our Sacrament Meeting!  He did such a good job with his talk and I am so proud of him!  He claims he doesn't like talking in church, but you would never know by the way he spoke, appearing to be full of confidence. 

This is the picture that will be on his plaque in the foyer of our church.

Just before going to the church.

Randy, Cindy and Jared getting ready to go to the church.

Now, he's even more ready with his suitcoat on.

We are very proud to be his parents!

We had a dinner in our house after church.  We had tables and chairs every where in the living room and family room.  Leisja , Sarah, Danae (who is hiding behind Sarah) and Danielle came to wish Jared well! Thanks to all the people who came to support Jared!

After dinner, some of the kids played Nerts and Spoons!

They look pretty calm right here, but sometimes, it got pretty wild!

After most everyone had left, Nate, Sarah, Leisja and Alicia came and surprised Jared.  They played Nerts again, it was pretty crazy!

We tried to get a picture of Jared and Nate looking dignified like the missionaries they are about to become, as you can see it wasn't too hard for Jared, but Nate....let's just say it was a little harder!

It was certainly a packed weekend, but it was a good one!  I always look back and wish I would have taken more, better pictures, but I guess what you see is what you get.