December: The first half

Christmas is almost here and, since this is supposed to be our family journal, I thought I'd better hurry and record the December pre-Christmas doings before I get any further behind. The first week of December I (Julie) was able to fly to Denver to attend the funeral for cousin Eldon Kartchner's wife, Heather. The services were very sweet and sad -- sad to know how much Eldon and his three little ones, Emma, Elle & Kai, miss her. I did enjoy spending time with my mom, getting to see Erica & Kira, and seeing Eldon and all his family. Two days after I returned was the annual Queen Creek Christmas Parade. This was our third year to do a family float -- technically, it's actually sponsored by Matheson Dentistry. The theme this year was Christmas memories so we did a caroling hayride. A friend, Jacob Winsor, does hayrides with his wagon & mules and we had a great time. We even won 1st place in the Equestrian Division and got the following picture in the paper. Cousin Norma Villareal pulled the Varo twins along behind the main float.

Other happenings this month: Carter lost his 2nd front tooth at school -- he says he accidentally hit it on a desk, "it was hanging by one thing so I pulled it out". He can now officially sing 'All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth'. We went to cousin Lauren Stephenson's baptism tonight. Friday night was the ward Christmas party. Alex and the kids attended while Julie went to a Jon Schmidt concert with Mom, Karina & Devon. And, the best part of all, I (Julie) finally got my voice back after two straight days this week of being able to do nothing but whisper. Laryngitis really likes me.
 

Brad decorated a great gingerbread man. I think this one's for you Uncle Jeff.

We also did our annual caroling expedition at the Chula Vista nursing home. Harry Weiting (in the wheelchair) has joined in with us each year and it was fun to see him again. The Shumway clan as well as Great-Grandparents Matheson also joined in with us greatly increasing both the quantity and quality of music.

Eve, Lydia and Emmeline at the nursing home.

After the caroling we gathered at Grandma Ouida May and Grandpa Mac Matheson's for doughnuts and hot chocolate. Carter, Megan Shumway and Brad all attend the same school and gave us a rendition from their recent Christmas concert.

Monte was pressed into service -- Matthew Shumway, Clark Stephenson & Lydia.

Eve loves an outfit. She's experimented with several lately. Here's a few of my favorites.

Lydia is also into high fashion. She chose to express it via a rather daring hair cut. Notice the bangs on the right side of her face are . . . shall we say cropped quite closely. Lydia was quite proud of her work and when I took her to a friend who cuts hair the next day she wasn't real thrilled to have the look altered. You'll see in future entries that she now has a pixie-ish do.

Grandma Matheson got a new vacuum and the box has provided hours of fun for the girls. Lots of, "Come find us mom" and "Where did your girls go?"

 

 Surprise . . . it's Eve! (with the ever-present purse and doll) . . .

. . . and Lydia!