Snow Day #2

We got lots more snow last night. Here are 2 new photos from today to see the fun St. Louis snow.


I brushed off the car yesterday. Over night it recovered and got even more snow.






This is the beautiful backyard. We don't own a sled, but we are going to try to improvise today.

SNOW DAY!

Today was a snow day for school. We got a few inches last night and it has been sleeting/snowing all day. This is the most snow that we have had since we moved here to St. Louis. We don't have "snow" clothes yet so we only stayed out for about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, it was not sticky snow. We tried to make snowballs, but they broke up into an explosion of snow like confetti. So, we couldn't make a snowman either. We had a good time though playing in the dry cold snow.

Leda Jeannette Giles Clawson turns 70!

Yes, it is true. My mom, Jeannette, is now 70 years old. She doesn't look it or act like it, but the birth certificate says she is 70.

Emily, Julia and I flew out to Maryland to be with the family to surprise Mom for her birthday. She didn't know we were coming at all (she says she had no clue and we kept the secret well). We all hid in Jason's basement to surprise her. She thought she was coming down in the basement to look at something, but she got quite a shock as all of her grandchildren yelled "SURPRISE!"



We then enjoyed a pleasant family dinner at Jason's house and had cake and a few presents. One of the special presents was that the 4 children got together and reminisced about our mother on a DVD. It was fun to remember the funny things we have shared as a family throughout our lives.

Mom was especially glad to have a photo with all of her grandchildren. What a great group.
















From Left to Right
Brett Clawson, Jason Clawson, Jim Clawson, Jeannette Clawson, Courtney Arnold, Brooke Carter






We didn't make her blow out 70 candles.








From top Right Clockwise
Emily Carter, Jeffrey Arnold, James Clawson, Peter Clawson (on lap), Julia Carter, Megan Arnold, Amanda Arnold, Christian Arnold, Jackson Clawson (on grandma's lap), Leda Jeannette Giles Clawson (The Birthday Girl), and Charles Clawson

Christmas Dinner

We decided that for this year's Christmas Dinner we would enjoy the food on our China. We don't use it very often and it was fun to have a fancy set up on the table with China, real silver, and crystal goblets.

We had turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls and corn. For dessert I made an apple pie and Grandma Carter's chocolate pie. All of it was yummy.

Christmas Day

This is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. One of the main ways we celebrate is by exchanging gifts with each other. And, Santa Claus brings gifts to all the good little boys and girls too. He made it to our house and even enjoyed the cookies and milk.

He brought the entire family a Wii and some games to go with it! Our stockings also had some fun goodies.

Christmas Eve

Emily and Julia worked most of the day creating a play to share with Mom and Dad. They even made programs for us to follow along with. They had a script, costumes, music and everything. They put on quite a show.



A tradition we have in our family is to open one present each on Christmas Eve.

Emily and Julia were very excited for Santa Claus to come. Here they are in front of our very first fireplace with the stockings waiting to be filled.

They also made sure that Santa Claus would have some refreshments after all his hard work. Here they have set out cookies and milk as well as some carrots for his reindeer.

To remember the birth of Jesus Christ, we read the story of his miraculous birth in the Book of Luke in the New Testament. It always amazes me what humble and righteous people Joseph and Mary were. They were truly special individuals to be given the responsibility of raising Jesus Christ. I am grateful to them and to Heavenly Father for giving us Jesus Christ.