Memories of the Christmas Season

The best part of being a grandparent is actually spending time with your children and grandchildren, and for George and me, getting two whole weeks to do that with no "jobs" to go to, made for many fun times.  As you can tell, I loved my Christmas present from George which was my new camera, and I certainly took advantage of getting acquainted with how to use it!

So here I have documented some of the many memories of Christmas holidays, 2011:  

Visiting the Brigham Young University Campus 

All the kids posing in front of the B.Y.U. Cougar.  (Don't you love Ethan's hat--of course, a cougar!)

We walked through an empty area where they were setting up for either a seminar or banquet.  Of course, the kids used it for a fun place to throw a football.  Those Copeland kids!

 

 

This was a campus full of many wonderful memories.  Both George and I graduated from Brigham Young University--a wonderful school.

Eating at Chuck-a-Rama - The Copeland Family's favorite place to go as a family.

Ella with her cute ice cream covered smile!

George enjoying his ice cream.

Pretty great--he can hold a baby and still eat ice cream left-handed!

There are always big smiles after eating at Chuck-a-Rama.

Going Bowling.  We spent a great afternoon at the bowling alley one day.  By going in as a group, we were given a bowling lane in a more private room with the television on any channel you wanted.  Of course, it was the one that had a football game going!

Don't you love the expressions each person has after they have thrown the ball and then turn to face the audience . . . Here we have puzzlement.

Here we have joy.  And it goes on and on. 

  A nice big brother trying to help his little sister with some bowling tips.

Success!

I see a faint smile.  I think this was a strike!

And even Grandpa George got in on the action.  He hasn't bowled for years, but he showed the kids and grand kids that he isn't over the hill yet!

Angie, Natalie, and I were the cheerleaders.

Ella teasing Connor, or was it the other way around?

Kevin and his girls--Lauren and Hannah.  They love their daddy!

Now, although the scores aren't going to break any records, guess who won?!  Notice the name "O"--that is George, because that's what Connor told his grandpa that he was going to make, so of course, Grandpa George had to rub it in a little about his win.

Such a fun family activity for bowlers and spectators alike!

Empathy for Kade's Tonsillectomy.  Four days after Christmas, Kade had to go have his tonsils out.  What a good sport he was!  While everyone was having fun, he was resting and eating very little but fruit Popsicles.  The doctor says his tonsils were the largest he has ever taken out, which made Kevin and Angie all the more positive they did the right thing.

  

Here are Grandpa George and I with Kade after his surgery.  We got him some get-well balloons.

Just Watching the Kids Play Games Together at Home. 

While Kade was getting better, Ethan still had someone to play basketball with--Lauren!  She loved playing it with Ethan.  (Notice the large hold in the wall that Kade and Ethan had previously made!)

When Kade got feeling a little better, one game he could play that wasn't too stressful was this skiing video game. 

It was fun for the kids to play, as well as for the spectators to watch!

 

 Koda liked watching, too.

The girls opted for a dance game.  Such good exercise!

Even bath time became a fun game--with bubbles!

Watching the B.YU. Football Bowl Game.  Of course, we all were excited for Brigham Young to play at the Armed Forces Bowl. Along with a few friends of Kevin's, plus some of the kids' friends, we watched the game and had yummy half-time food

Natalie dressed her whole family in B.Y.U. attire.

We all had so much fun--especially because it was such an exciting game that was won in the last six seconds by B.Y.U.!!!

Seeing the Lights at Temple Square.  You just can't go to Utah at Christmas time and not visit Temple Square.  It is really one of the highlights of the visit.  The beautiful grounds, the music, the nativity scene, everything that gives you such a beautiful feeling about the season and the reason for the season--honoring the Savior and all He has done for us.

Jenna, Lauren, and their friend, McKenna

Manger scenes from all over the world were on display as you walked through Temple Square.

We then walked to the Visitors' Center to see some displays and watch a movie about Christ's birth.

This was a large diorama of Jerusalem.  As you looked at the pictures of Christ and the events in his life, you could push the buttons and the locations would light up.

Hannah and Ella were really interested in the scene of The Good Samaritan.

We stopped in front of the tabernacle where Grandpa George told the kids about coming to Utah for the first time and wanting to attend General Conference so badly that he slept on a bench in the bus station so he could be at the tabernacle early the next day.  There were so few seats available in this historic, but small structure, so he went to the Saturday morning and afternoon session in the Assembly Hall.  He must have looked so earnest when he stood in line for General Priesthood Meeting that they took him right to the top of the Tabernacle Choir seats,  and he was able to enjoy the entire Priesthood Meeting sitting right above the choir.  What a thrill it was for him--one he will never forget!

We then walked across the street to Desert Book Store.

There was a display where they showed an old-fashioned machine making gingerbread cookies.

 

 

Everyone got to sample the cookies.  They were the best gingerbread cookies, ever!

No one can leave Temple Square without feeling the true meaning of Christmas and wanting to live better lives as our Savior would have us do. 

Being Around our Angelic Little Cannon.  Anyone who has had a special needs child knows the heartache that goes along with seeing a beautiful, little child who looks perfectly healthy, getting weaker and weaker each day.  Every breath is a struggle, even the tiniest movement must be painful.  Menkes is a terrible disease that doesn't allow copper transport in order for muscles to work properly.  Think about it--everything in your body involves a muscle, practically, including your lungs, eye movements, limb control, and even the heart.

I don't know if I've ever seen a little child work harder just to breathe, but he continually and valiantly works each day, each hour, and each minute, surrounded by a loving family who tries to help him in any way that they can.

 

His is a valiant spirit.  We all love him so much (here his cousin Kade is holding him so carefully).  He is in our every prayer.  Would we take away all of this constant pain he has if we could and make him whole--certainly.  But, we know that through God's plan, little Cannon has already proven himself and has gained the highest blessings the Lord can bestow on him.

We salute his wonderful parents and brother and sister.  They go through so much each day and night, but they continually hold their heads up high and just ask the Lord how to be able to help him best.  We love you, Cannon!

Wrap-Up of the Christmas Season.  Christmas 2011 has come and gone, but these are the memories I will hold forever.  What wonderful memories they are!