The Most Beautiful Grandbaby Ever!!

We thought we'd better get some pictures of our beautiful little Emma on the blog. Emma is 6 weeks old and we are anxiously awaiting her first smile. She watches us as we try to coax a smile from her but she has yet to share one. You may have already seen these pictures on Quinn and Laural's blog but just in case, you now have a glimpse of our perfect little granddaughter.

Christmas Holidays

The Van Bibbers had a great holiday season!! The Saturday night before Christmas we all met at my brother's home with his family. My parents, Quinn and Lauralee, and Daniel and Hannah were all there and Carly joined us when she arrived from Cedar City. We had fun just being together.

On Sunday, Bryan lead the choir during sacrament meeting in a wonderful Christmas program. The choir sang better that morning than at any of our practices. Bryan works very hard planning for and preparing the choir for performances. He is bringing a lot of the skills and techniques he is learning by being a member of the Wasatch Master Chorale. Their performances this past month have been wonderful as well.

As soon as we finished with our Sunday meetings we rushed home, changed our clothes and headed to Vernal, Utah to visit with my sister, Shelly, and her family. Bryan, Manja, Carly, Anne and Taylor all made the journey as well as my parents. We arrived in time for a fabulous turkey dinner with my sister's family and her in-laws. We visited and played games and worried about the weather for the following day. We were going to go sledding on Monday morning before heading back home, but the weather reports called for heavy snow, so we got up, had breakfast and then headed home. We were in Ogden for about 20 minutes before the snow started and it didn't stop until the next day. By the time the storm was over we had 8 inches on the ground. What a wonderful Christmas Eve treat!!

We did venture out in the snow a little bit, just downtown to see Christmas Village. We hadn't been there for years and it was fun and the displays are so much better than ever before.

Christmas morning we took our time getting up and opening presents. Laura, Quinn and Emma joined us about 1:00 and Hannah and Daniel came later that afternoon along with my parents. We had another Christmas dinner, opened presents and then played games, watched a movie and just enjoyed being together. We are so blessed with comforts, love and the knowledge of the true meaning of Christmas, our Savior's birth.

On Thursday, following Christmas, Carly, Anne and I went to Laura's house for the day. This was one of our annual "GIRLS DAY" activities which involved scrapbooking, watching movies, eating pizza and drinking diet coke. In addition, we have added in one more activity--fighting over turns holding Emma!!

Saturday we drove to American Fork for the Van Bibber Christmas party, originally scheduleded for the middle of December but changed because of bad weather. We visited with family, ate yummy soups and exchanged fun presents. It was great to see everyone again. Daniel and Hannah and Carly all left from there to travel south. Carly was headed home to Cedar City and Daniel and Hannah were headed to St. George before their planned hike of the Grand Canyon. The hiked from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch on Monday, December 31st and hiked out on Wednesday, January 2nd. Can't wait to hear about their adventure and see their pictures!!

We spent New Year's Eve at the home of Brad and Debbie Smith, along the Myers family, until about 10:30. Then Bryan, Taylor and I headed off to the multistake activity to chaperone the youth party. It was a fun activity --glad it only comes once a year.

Now it's back to real life. Work, school, church callings, laundry -- you know the rest.

Christmas

Mom has messed up Christmas for the past three years, according to Anne. The first year we got a fake Christmas tree, the second year she didn't put up the snoopy shower curtain, and this year she wouldn't let us put of our own Christmas tree decorations. She had to have a pretty tree this year. "I have let you put up your own decorations for twenty-six years, I just want to have a pretty tree now." Mom said that.

We are all trying to get ready for Christmas. School is out for the Holidays!!!!!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taylor Is An Eagle

Taylor received the Eagle award in scouting. It was awarded to him on the 9th of December. Out of the four recipients there, he was the youngest. Taylor requested a live eagle, so one of the moms made a few phone calls and we got one just in time. each of the boys had a chance to go up and help hold the eagle. It was pretty awesome. We also had a professional photographer there. He took some pretty cool pictures of the court of honor. It was a great court of honor but a little long. Anne had to do a little bio on Taylor. We were all a little worried but it turned out to be ok.Here are a few pictures from the court of honor.