The Pittard's Valentines evening started out with all of us kids getting together at Mom & Dad's (Jeremy & Giselle even came into town from Twin Falls) for a special Valentines Dinner. MMmmmmm!!!

After the dinner, we got all changed and dressed up to head to the Caldwell Stake Valentine's Adult Dance, "Dancing to the Ages!"

Joshua & Logan playing Indians

Aunt Sarah had a feather in her hat, & so the boys wanted one in theirs too!!

Sarah, Jeff, Dad, Mom, Jennifer, Autumn, Jonathan, Jeremy, & Giselle


Silly Video of all of us dancing!!

Giselle & Jeremy Dancing

Mom, Jennifer (silly), Dad, Autumn, Jon, & Sarah

Pops & Crazy Face shaking a leg :)

It was so much fun!!!!

Christmas Morning

The girls in our Christmas PJ's... minus Keri, Giselle, & Maylie :(

Sledding on Christmas Day

Logan, Owen, Joshua



and here's a quick video

We found Santa at the YMCA in Caldwell today!!!

Here are the little kid-o's telling Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas what they want for Christmas!!

They've been extra sweet angels this year and deserve a lot of fun surprises!!!

Just a quick note, we have had some special times this past week. Melody is out of the hospital and doing well and that makes everything better. Melody played in her first piano recital ever last Thursday evening and she did a fabulous job. She has a lot of style and poise. I even got to play a duet with her.

Jennifer, Melody, Sarah, Hailey and I all went the Eugene Ballet Company’s presentation of the Nutcracker last Saturday. It was very good and fun to be able to see. It was Sarah and Hailey’s first time to ever see it. It was fun to have a girls outing. We missed Autumn as she had another commitment and we missed Keri & Giselle too… wish we could have flown them here.

We love having, Jeff & Sarah, Jonathan, and Autumn and Mark & Hailey close to be able to see them more often. Of course we are enjoying having Logan & Lucy with us. They are both so adorable. We look so forward to seeing the rest of the family and our other precious grandchildren at Christmas time.

Jonathan & Autumn are very excited to be moving into a home that they have a chance to rent this week. It is very close by and they will be in our ward, so that makes us happy to keep them close.

Jennifer’s student dance recital is this Friday evening and we are excited to see all of her little children dance. She has been working hard with teaching school and dance. Also, we will have an extra treat as she will get to dance with a local music teachers dance company at the recital as well.

I am in the heat of preparing for the Christmas Program as always but it is going well... today anyway.

Love you all.

Brenda/Mom

Dear Family and Friends,

While I have time to write this I felt the need to share with you the great experience I had reading the Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck.

Its a book based on his life and about some of the trials he has overcome. The books main theme is on forgiveness and what the real meaning of Christmas is. He talks about the birth of the Christ child and the purpose he came on this earth was for the atonement. I never really have thought about Christmas in that way as looking at it as a time to be thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ but in a way that is a big part of Christmas. Not only celebrating his birth but also being thankful for what he has done for us.

There are so many ways that this book has given me new insight on this holiday season. I am thankful for this time of year and for the wonderful family that I have and all of my many blessings. "The two most powerful words in any language are 'I am. Those two words contain all the creative power of the Heavens themselves.This was one of the most powerful quotes in the book and I am thankful that I can say I am happy, I am healthy, I am strong, I am a daughter of God! The list could go on but take a time out to really appreciate who you are. Sometimes I feel that we can get lost in this world if don't remember who we are and where we came from. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family who help me get through this life. I am thankful for my parents that have given me so much and such a wonderful life.

I hope we all have a wonderful season and keep the spirit through the whole year.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Luke for this wonderful Christmas gift.

Love,
Jennifer Anne

Christmas Memories and My Thankful List

While I have a few moments at school I thought I would share a few of my favorite christmas memories with everyone. First off let me say that mom and dad and Santa Clause have never let me down. I was such a lucky little girl and was never without anything that I have ever needed ( my brothers would probably say that I was spoiled but being one of the only girls that happens) Anyway Several things that I love about Christmas is that we are all together and able to share a couple days of just being a family.

When I was younger I used to sleep in Mark's room sometimes on Christmas eve. He would make it so fun for me and usually we would stay up most of the night seeing if Santa Clause had come. Mark would always go check to see if the stockings were stuffed and if they weren't he would come back and tell me because I was too scared to go out there in case I saw Santa. Every few minutes I would ask if Mark was still awake and he always said yes! I guess we were both really excited.

One of my most cherished memories is when we made baskets for people in our ward and gave them out on Christmas eve. We were all huddled in the van and I can't remember which brother would call the house but they would tell the family to look on their porch because Santa had come a little early. We would hide the van and wait till they opened the door. The Spirit of giving really is the best present of all.

Christmas Eve dinner is really one of my favorite things to have. The food is so yummy and everyone is laughing and talking, Bing is the background singing White Christmas, mom has the video camera out, Jon is burning a napkin on the candles or some other burnable thing. Then after dinner we gather round the tree and act out the nativity. Everyone is dressed up as dad reads the nativity and the spirit of Christmas truly enters our hearts. I am so thankful for the traditions we have as a family and being able to connect as if we haven't been away at all. I am thankful that I do have a family that loves me and cares for me. My brothers have married such wonderful women and I look up to them so much! I am thankful that we have that bond as an eternal family.

I am also thankful for the wonderful parents that Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I have seen many children at school that are not as lucky as I. I am thankful for the chance to be Melody's sister. She has blessed my life in so many ways and is kind enough to put up with me. She is an example of courage and strength to many people in the things that she has been able to accomplished in her life.

I am also thankful for the wonderful grandparents that I have. I am thankful that they have lived their life in such a way that I am reaping the benefits of their good faith and determination. I only hope that I can be half as strong as them. I love them very much.


So in conclusion of my very long blog I just wanted to say that I am very thankful that I have a wonderful family and I am very thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love everyone and I wish a very HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!!!!

LOVE JENN

Christmas Memories

Jeremy, you forgot about the really expensive toy boat Logan got, it had to be about $100. From what I understand, he still plays with it.

Anyway, good topic, I have so many holiday memories. One memory that never gets old to talk about is the miracle of the Christmas goose. If I recall, that Christmas it snowed and outside was a winter wonder land. It was around noon, and we were all in the family room just chilln’ and shooting the breeze (which honestly is the best part about Christmas, just being together). When out of the corner of the window, we saw a goose land in the backyard. We all jumped up and ran to the window. Some hunter must have wounded it, and by chance, or by miracle, it landed in our backyard. We all thought it was pretty cool, Matt thought it looked pretty tasty (Matt being the hunter in the family, was trained in these types of situations). Matt then proceeded to take a snow shovel to the head of this miracle goose. He kind of looked like Happy Gilmore trying to take a swing at a golf ball. After smashing the goose into the side of the fence he then grabbed its neck a finished the job. Even though we all thought this was very interesting, our two little sisters did not, in fact they did not partake of the miracle goose that Christmas dinner. Some might think this goose story is a little bit disturbing, but what are you suppose to do when a miracle goose lands in your backyard on Christmas day.

Jennifer and Melody, sorry for not pulling you away from the window, but that “goose was cooked,” the moment it landed.

BYU 38 Air Force 24

What about soup and bread bowls, I love that stuff. Hope everyone has a great week!