Alvan's boys..

Last night we had our Ward Christmas Party. Alvan is the Faith in God leader for the boys, he has 20 regular attendees. Last night they sang for the ward a song Alvan and his assistant Dean have been teaching them for about a month now. Unfortunately, not all boys were able to be there, but it was still great. P.S. the boy in the bright blue shirt at the front is one of my nephew's Riley, I'm bragging :) Enjoy

Smiley night sky

Last night we were treated to a special phenomenon ... Venus, Jupiter and the moon aligned to create a smiley face, pretty cool huh?

The smaller eye is venus, the big one Jupiter and the mouth is the moon.

Another shot just in case this one looks better in close up

And a final one with our street lamp in the bottom corner, and if you look hard enough a plane gong across the sky in the top right corner!!

Thanksgiving 2008

On Sunday 30th November, we had the family over to enjoy our traditional Thanksgiving dinner together....On our newly finished patio!! It was wonderful, 20 people and still heaps of room...the breezes were wonderful and the space is amazing. The company was great too! Here are some of the pics from the night:

Nan & Freyr...he loves me!!

Yustan reading...take a peek at our great view

Rick & his brother Jesse

My girls!! L to R: Whitney, Jaime, Elly & Tara

Funny Faces

Freyr enjoys Perrin's remote control car going between his legs.

We almost have a complete patio

Yesterday we made some definite progress! Our patio roof was almost complete, until it was discovered that two of the roof panels were damaged during delivery. So we have to wait for another 2 weeks until the supplier can replace the faulty panels, then they will go up followed by all the guttering. So close.. and yet so far!!

The boys are putting up the receiver channel (after the trusses in the roof were reinforced)

Drilling in the receiver channel... Supervising the drilling in of the receiver channel!! A good lengthways shot, shows the green guttering and the black posts.

The posts and beams are up!

Now adding the roof..

The boys are Ammon Taleni and Brent Whittaker (Nathan will remember him as Brent Little)

Enjoying the shady view

Now all we need is furniture to sit on!!

Isn't it lovely? Once the roof is finished, we have to start saving again so we can tile it and then screen it... giving us a lovely indoor/outdoor living area.

End of an Era!?!

Last week I was released as the Ward Choir director and a Relief Society teacher and called as a Primary teacher. Although I have served in Primary and Young Women's at different times, I have served in Relief Society more than any other auxiliary a total of 15 of the last 25 years. I dearly love the Relief Society programs and the sisters I've been privileged to work with. I will miss it so much...very selfish I know. I gave my final lesson last week just after I was sustained to my new calling. I know in a few short months I'll be thoroughly in love with Primary again, but in the meantime, I need all the prayers I can get. Today I gave my first lesson in Primary, I'm teaching a combined class of 3,4 & 5 year olds. It's going to be an interesting and challenging class, but I'm grateful I can already see the sweet spirits, even in the more "boisterous"children. Afterwards I was set apart... it was the most amazing blessing. I'm so grateful for such a loving Heavenly Father, and for his comforting words. I think I'm going to be alright!! P.S. I've been asked to continue on with the Ward Choir on "assignment" until further notice... lucky Christmas is just around the corner.