CHRISTMAS 2008

Christmas is always wonderful for Dad and me. It was especially great this year because of the rare opportunity to have the whole family together. Who knows if that will ever happen again at Christmastime. It was a most remarkable (OK, I know, I’ll say it…“overwhelming”) moment when I sat down to the clam chowder dinner and looked around the table at all 13 (it’s a lucky number!) of us. Thanks, family, for being there and being you and being part of our Barker Bunch. We love you!!!

I want to share a list of things (more than 8) that made the holidays happy for me:
--the food (the chocolate, the shrimp dip, the stuffed mushrooms, I could go on…)
--the music (the Hallelujah Chorus, O Holy Night, the Bach number by the ward choir, Sleigh Ride, the Tabs’ Concert, Party Program numbers, renditions on the pipe chimes, Briton’s piano “Angels We Have Heard on High”)
--the lights (our green trees, the neighborhood, Centerville Pioneer Park, Temple Square luminaries and floating golden bubble candles in the Reflecting Pond, the Farmington fireworks exploding in the cold night air at New Years)
--selecting and wrapping gifts for loved ones and watching the smiles of appreciation
--the snow (I didn’t have to do any driving in it!)
--the much appreciated efforts and sacrifices made to bring about the black-attired family photo, despite illnesses, schedules, travel time, etc.
--watching the sharp-shinned hawk, all the quail squished onto the feeder and all the other little birdies
--the Treasure Hunts
-- Laur (your Santa’s Ho-Ho-Ho, your gift to me of Squawkers, watching classic Christmas movies together, your unending help and support with everything…even the sugar cookies!)
--Briton (playing Boggle, enjoying the peanut brittle, playing the kazoo and washboard in moose antlers and skis (with and without lyrics), caring for/enjoying/playing with your kids, the snowball fight)
--Robin (your skit in the red hat & apron & purse, wrapping together, BeRhymed teamwork, making the mushrooms when I know it’s not a favorite, as Mary with Sydney, sliding Sydney down the slope, kissing the snowman)
--Talmage (doing the CARS Puzzle together, tubing down Glover Lane Hill together, strollering on Temple Square, reciting nursery rhymes, picking out the yummy pink cheerios, car stickers covering your legs like a tattoo at church)
--Sydney (playing peek-a-boo with me and Daddy, pulling towels out of the drawer, climbing on the hearth to be part of the nativity, being adorable--penetrating brown eyes and wispy hair and toothy smile)
--Baron (the idea and the vocal and guitar performance of Brothers, the scarf headband, enjoying the Medieval Bread despite the walnuts, searching for the orange cream, liking the fish, noticing and approving of the new tree)
--Donette (the hand-made snowman gift, the excitement about the Tinker Bell outfit and the Princess puzzles, always remembering to say “Thank You”, your awesome communication connection with Baron in the BeRhymed game)
--Brielle (always overjoyed to see us, singing Jingle Bells, you as a little lamb, excited about the Treasure Hunt, introducing the 2 grandmas at your house)
--Colby (recognizing and warming right up to Santa Claus, intently playing with the Thomas trains on Christmas, having a great time and even laughing during the photo shoot )
--Autumn (animated Night Before Christmas reading, angel “flying” through the air, sharing your pop-up books with nieces & nephews, making the deviled eggs & cheese bread, “Far, Far Away”, orchestrating the gingerbread event)
--Airie (helping with green lights, making great sock puppets & candles, “Far, Far, Away”, finding the musical bear ornament, excited at the Treasure Hunt, making the veggie platter, sending a Christmas card, David on the piano)
--Abram (great performance with the sock puppets, good manners, enjoying the pistachios, playing Boggle, smiling at the Corvette, always a big help in setting and clearing the table, did you use the Strawberry Shortcake toothbrush?!)

Dad & I want to thank everyone for the thoughtful gifts we received from all of you and for making our holidays happy. We wish you a Happy & Healthy 2009!

Here's a sampling of the many photos we took during the holidays:

Quail! Actually we got a photo later of more quail in the tray and a bunch stuffed around the gazebo!

Sharp-shinned hawk waiting

Sharp-shinned hawk sunning on the railing

Sunday morning after church

Ready for chowder

More hungry visitors

Where's the cheese bread?

Monster, marmot and mommy

"Said the Night Wind" Puppet Performance--BIG hit!

"Brothers", m'oh boy!

Dad concentrating on that note

Girls and chimes

The nativity players

SANTA!

The Hillsboro Barkers ready to trek to Provo Canyon

Dad on Christmas morning

Excited about the treasure hunt

Brie and the Santa Sugar Cookie

Colby and the Thomas Trains

Brie and Baron searching for a clue

Mom and the Christmas buffet

The Stansbury Barkers ready to call it a day

Grandma, Talmage and the Cars Puzzle

Grandma and Sydney playing Peek-a-Boo with Daddy

Talmage studies a clue

Miss Sydney tubin' in the back yard

The Snowman

The snowball fight!

Ready to tackle the Glover Lane Hill

Grandma's Tubing Feet

Grandma and Talmage at the bottom of the hill

Grandpa & Talmage...we did it!

3 boys and 2 tubes...engine with boxcar plus Briton on the caboose

Sombrero Man

Piling into the CRV

Fountain and lights and a green-capped mummy at Temple Square

Happy New Year!

It's 2009!!!