Best Christmas Yet!!

Here's a brief (not really) re-cap of the best Christmas we've had yet, and I imagine they will only get better from here. It all began on December 18, when Jayme got here. Cassidy had to work a couple more days, so Jayme came up by herself. I actually managed to be sort of on top of things this year, so we had some time to play. The decorations were up, I finished Cassidy's stocking, and all of the gifts were purchased and mostly wrapped.


We did some final preparations, grocery shopping and such. Tuesday, we went to a wrestling match to watch Ammon, and everyone was able to be there. On Wednesday, we had a Paparazzi party for Jayme, so we stayed home all day. The party was a bit of a bust, but we still had a fun day, and got some baking done. The girls made sugar cookies, and had a blast. The plan was to be semi-mess free, but that didn't quite work out. Oh well, they had fun, and I didn't have to clean it up. While they were doing that, I made peanut brittle, fudge, caramel, chex mix, almond roca and brownies. YUM!!


Finally, the big day arrived, Christmas Eve! We spent most of the day cleaning and cooking. Thank goodness for my helpers, I couldn't have done it alone. It all went smoothly, and we had a great day. My dad, Scott, his kids, and Rick came over for dinner. It was very nearly perfect.

Martinelli's

Enough food to last for days!

More great food!!

After dinner, we visited and played a pretty intense game of Catch Phrase, it was great fun!

Then we took lots of pictures, here is Grandpa with the grandkids. We had such a fun time with everyone together, it was great!


After the Johnson's left, it was jammie time!! Of course we all had to get new pj's and model them in front of the tree. This year, everyone wanted USC jammies, so we were all matchy, but dang cute!

Jordyn still wanted princess pajamas, Tinkerbell was the closest I could find.

Ammon's sassy "fight on"

Jayme and Cass get in the spirit

Matthew, looking good!

Jenn and Adam too!

Finally everyone went to bed, and it was time to wait for Santa to come!! Jordyn came bouncing in at 6:00 am, to tell us that it was Christmas, and time to wake up! After opening gifts, we had breakfast of cinnamon rolls, breakfast casserole, oj, chocolate milk and egg nog, then I went back to bed! Jayme and Cassidy left to go up to his mom's house, and I got up to get us all ready for church. It was a really nice program, and made Christmas day even a little more special.

After church, we were able to skype with our favorite missionary, Michael. It was great to see and talk to him. He is doing great, and loves what he is doing, but is also counting down until he comes home. We are so glad he is doing well, but most importantly that he is being obedient and is where he is supposed to be at this time in his life. It's a blessing for our family to have a son serving a mission.

The rest of the day was pretty lazy, we napped, played games, watched movies, ate, and basically just enjoyed being together. Jennifer and Adam went to have dinner with his family for a while, but they were here for most of the day.


The rest of the week was spent playing, eating, going to the movies, and helping Jenn and Adam get ready for their move to Massachusetts. Because their apartment was in various stages of packing, remodeling, and cleaning, they mostly slept here. There were a few tears as they left on their big adventure this morning, but I know they will have a great time. I'm so happy for them to have such a wonderful opportunity, but with everyone gone, the house is awfully quiet.
All good things must come to an end, now we can start planning the next one, right?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Annual (or whenever I get around to it) Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family,


It's been another big year for the Stone family. For those who missed last years update, don't worry, I didn't do it. We moved into a new home in April 2010, and so the last 18 months have been full of yardwork, decorating, and correcting builder errors (like NO insulation over the master suite). We were finally able to finish the front and side yard this year, yay!!

Now we get to move on to the back yard, but first we have to finish the basement before spring, but more on that later. We have enjoyed our new home, and love the area. It's only 5 miles from our old house, but seems so much more removed. We have a constant stream of wildlife visitors, pheasant, quail, deer, squirrels... Some are more welcome than others, but I have been feeding some cats that seem to have adopted us. They do help keep the rodent population down.


We didn't have much free time this year, but the girls, their husbands and I were able to visit Disneyland in May to celebrate Jayme's graduation from UVU. It was Adam's first time, and the first time that Jordyn could remember, so we had lots of fun. It was also good to be able to spend some time with Cassidy and get to know him better.




Speaking of Jayme, she's had HUGE changes this year. As I said, she graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Integrated Studies, emphasizing on dance and english, her two passions. In July, she married her best friend, Cassidy Swallow, and they moved to Cedar city for Cassidy to finish his degree in Political Science. We are thrilled for them, and pleased as can be to have Cassidy join our family. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple, and were able to take a short vacation in Park City and St. George before settling back into reality. Jayme is working as a special ed aide at the Middle School in Cedar, as well as teaching dance at a local studio. Cassidy is working for the housing department at SUU while attending school there.


Jennifer and Adam continue to live in wedded bliss in our old home in Provo. They have both been working full time and going to school full time, so they keep pretty busy. Quite often when they come for Sunday dinner, all we see is Adam behind his computer screen, trying to finish his homework. Adam is studying Chemical Engineering, and was recently able to get an internship with DOW Chemical. They will be starting their rotation in January by moving to Marlborough, Massachusetts for one semester. They will then be coming back home for Spring/Summer semester. Since it would be hard for them to find an apartment for just the summer, and silly to pay for one they weren't using, they will be living with us for the semesters they are here, thus the need to finish the basement by spring. They will do every-other semester for three rotations, going a different place each time. I'm only a little (a LOT) jealous of the opportunities they will have to travel and visit so many places, but very excited for them.


Michael left in August 2010 to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Cleveland, Ohio mission. He is doing great, he loves the work, and loves the people. We have seen much growth in him spiritually and as a person. We are very proud of him, and pleased that he is doing so well.

Ammon is a Sophomore at Maple Mountain High School this year, and will be 16 on the 27th of this month. He is a great kid most of the time, and very involved in social as well as athletic pursuits. He can't wait to get his drivers license, but Dennis and I aren't so sure. He's already wrecked my new (to me) van, on the first day we had it no less, and some of his friends were in a more serious accident. Hopefully that has sobered him to the fact that driving is a serious thing with serious consequences. After wrestling for the high school as a freshman weighing 189, and qualifying for and winning a match at the state tournament, he kept wrestling during the team season. For the first time, he attended a regional wrestling tournament in Pocatello, Idaho this summer and was able to place 2nd in freestyle and 3rd in greco.

He worked hard all summer lifting weights and going to football practice. He played on both the JV and sophomore teams this year, and did really well both defensively as a linebacker, and offensively as fullback. That is, until he tore his quadricep, and was out for a couple of weeks. He was able to come back strong though, and even scored a touchdown in his last game.





He is full swing into High School wrestling now, and looking forward to a great season.

Matthew graduated from 6th grade this past year, and is loving being at the junior high. He has made lots of new friends, and is trying lots of new things.

He played basketball last winter, and did quite well. After all, he does stand head and shoulders above all of the other kids.

He played soccer this fall, and had a fun time, even if his team was pretty pitiful. Sometimes it isn't about winning and losing, sometimes you just have to have fun.

This year, Matthew decided that he wanted to give wrestling a try. He's done really well, and we are proud of him for trying something hard and sticking with it. He's learned a lot, and I can see a change in him from this experience.

Matthew still plays the piano, when I make him, and is taking band class in school this year. He's been able to play the piano as well as learn several different percussion instruments.

Jordyn is six, and in the first grade. Woo-hoo! Freedom for mommy!! Shhh, don't tell her I said that! She loves everything. She loves school, her teacher, and her friends. Jordyn is taking dance class and doing super well, she loves that too!

In the spring, she decided she wanted to cut her hair, so we went with a cute a-line, and she was able to donate her hair to locks of love.

Jordyn also played probably her last season of soccer. She had fun, but just kind of followed the pack around, and didn't really understand what it was she was supposed to be doing. I think we'll stick with dance.

Dennis and I are doing great. Dennis is still corporate counsel for DTI and Liberty Press, and I am fortunate enough to stay home. I have been teaching the 3 year olds in primary for the past year and a half, but was recently released and called to work as humanitarian/compassionate service leader in the Relief Society. Dennis has been working with the young men, but will be getting a change in the next week or so. Our greatest joy is having our family around, we love spending time with them, and seeing the lives they are making for themselves.

At this Christmas season, we are grateful for all of our many blessings, especially for the blessing of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, may you all find the peace and happiness you deserve in your lives. We are grateful for having you in our lives, and hope you know how much we love and appreciate you.

Love always,
Dennis, Beth, and family

Another Year, Another Stocking!

As you all know, I have continued my mother's tradition of making felt embroidered, stuffed and sequined stockings for our family. Last year I was relieved to finish Adam's on time. This year, you'd think I'd have learned and started Cassidy's earlier, but no. It's finally finished and we now have a collection of 10 stockings hanging above our fireplace. Wonder how many I'll need to make next year???

Giving Thanks

Where do I even begin? I have so many things to be thankful for, it would be impossible to list them all, but I will give it a shot. I was blessed to be born into a family with wonderful parents, who loved me and raised me well. We didn't have much in the way of material things, but I always felt safe, secure and loved. They also blessed me with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am forever grateful for that strong foundation they gave me. I am grateful for my savior, for his sacrifice, and for my membership in His church.

I was blessed with a terrific man, who loves me despite all of my weaknesses and faults, and is a wonderful husband to me, and father to our children. I am so grateful for all of my children, and the joy they bring into my life. I am thankful for the good choices they have made, and for the people they are. Each one of my children is a special blessing, and I am so grateful for each and every one of them. My blessings have only increased as my daughters have both chosen wonderful men of their own. I am so thankful that they have both found men who are faithful, honorable priesthood holders, who cherish my girls and love them so much. All of our lives are better because they have become part of our family.

I am grateful for the freedoms we have in this land, and for the men and women who have sacrificed to ensure those freedoms. I am grateful for the privilege I have to exercise those freedoms, to worship freely, to share my thoughts and feelings freely, and to state my opinions without fear. I am thankful for my home, and for all that is in it. Not the physical "things" so much, but the safety, security and peace we have here.

I am grateful for extended family, most especially my brother and his children, my dad, my nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. No less important are those who have gone before. I am so thankful for all those who are no longer with us, and for the influence they have had on my life. My grandparents and my mom, most of all, and I can't wait to be with them again. All have a special place in my heart, and I am thankful to have them in my life. I cherish the memories we share, old and new, and look forward to many, many more. I am glad to re-connect with some extended family we have lost contact with through the years, and love being able to share our lives again. Our families are our most important gift that has been given to us, and I love and appreciate mine.

I have been blessed with a few choice, special friends, and for that I will be eternally grateful. They have been with me during hard times, and during good times, and I love them like sisters! We have close, family friends, and they have provided extended family for us, when ours haven't been around.

I'm sure I have missed so many things, but on this day of Thanksgiving, I had to at least try to express my immense gratitude for all that the Lord has blessed me with, even when I don't deserve it. I'm glad to know that He loves and protects me, and that He will never leave me alone. Happy Thanksgiving!!

We Went to Cedar City or National Lampoon's Stone Family Vacation

Our family doesn't have a very good track record with vacations, it seems something always goes wrong, and this time was no different. It was fall break, and the kids had a couple of days off of school, so we decided it would be fun to go down to Cedar City and spend some time with Jayme and Cassidy. We decided to take the Astro van, which we've had for 10 years and 100,000+ miles, so the kids wouldn't be too crowded in the Cruiser. Well, we left as planned, and as we hit the freeway, it was stop and go traffic for an hour and a half. When we finally started moving, we noticed that the engine was running hot. So, we turned of the air and turned on the heater, still running hot. We pulled off in Fillmore and Dennis decided it was the thermostat. He wanted to turn around, but since we were already halfway there, I convinced him to go the rest of the way and fix it there.

Thursday afternoon we hung out with Jayme, went to dinner and went swimming at our hotel. Friday we decided to stay close because Cassidy had classes and couldn't do anything with us. First we went to the Iron Mission State Park and Museum. It was kind of interesting, with lots of displays from the early settlers. Then we went to a park and played, and then we went to see Footloose. I loved it!! Caution: the preacher's daughter is much more skanky in this version -- may not be appropriate for small children. After the movie, we went back to Jayme's and played Just Dance. When Cassidy was done with his stuff, we went to dinner, and swimming again.

Saturday we were going to go down to St. George and Snow Canyon to hike in the lava tubes. Dennis got up early to replace the thermostat on the car. Unfortunately he discovered water in the oil. He replaced the thermostat, filled the radiator, and had the oil changed. We decided it would be best to head straight for home. The car was running great and stayed cool until we stopped in Fillmore for lunch. After that, it started getting hot again. We pulled over and put in more coolant, but it stayed super hot. Finally we decided we weren't going to make it home. Good thing, as we pulled off the freeway in Nephi, the car seized up and we coasted into a parking lot, where we left her. Scott came to rescue us, and we made a donation to Kidney Kars.

It was great to get away for a couple of days, even if it wasn't exactly what we had planned. I love spending time with my family, and we don't get to see enough of Jayme and Cassidy, so that was wonderful! Unfortunately, now we are in the market for a new family car.

Ammon Football

Ammon started out having a great year playing football. He played a lot of Junior Varsity, and a fair amount of sophomore ball. There were lots of weeks that he played most of both games. He was playing linebacker and fullback, and doing well at both. He had several tackles each week, and quite often had a couple of good carries. Everything was going great until the Timpview game. In this play, he pulled the other kid onto his knee and tore part of his quadricept muscle.


Fortunately, one of his team mates has a dad who is an orthopedic surgeon, and he was at the game. He was kind enough to come look at it, and was concerned with the large amount of swelling in his knee. He sent us to his office the next morning for an x-ray, and then an MRI. Lucky for us it wasn't severe enough to require surgery, but this is what it looked like.







After two weeks of intensive physical therapy, he was able to go back to practice and played the rest of the season. After his break, he decided he would rather just play sophomore, so he didn't really play much JV after that. He finished the season with a touchdown in his last game. Yay!!

Matthew Soccer

Matthew had a fun year playing soccer, but it was a little challenging for him. First of all, there weren't enough coaches (are there ever?), so his was a dad who knew nothing about soccer. He asked for help, and even though there were other parents who knew something about the game, they wouldn't step up. I'm not faulting the coach, at least he tried, but it was disappointing to have a season where he learned nothing at all. Then, there were only four teams in Mapleton this year, so they played each other over and over again, that was fun. All in all, I think he had a good time, and he played pretty well, scoring in most of his games. Matthew doesn't think he is ready for club soccer, so maybe we'll go back to SF next year, I just don't know what to do exactly. At least it was fun, and he did well, right?