New Year's Eve

Time to Par-tay!

The puzzle we finished just before midnight. Thank you Blair, Brooklyn and Ryan.



Party boy Blair


Party boy Ryan


Party boy Greg


Evan, Claire and Brooklyn were around. They were downstairs playing Wii. Judy did join us before midnight. And Evan, Claire and Brooklyn emerged before midnight as well. Most of us went to bed but the real party animals stayed up to 2am. Who were those animals?

An afternoon in the snow

It's a snowy day - let's go play.

We have to knock down icicles.

This is a big icicle - let's bury it.

Let's go sliding.

Up

Up

Up - it was quite a climb.

Down we go.

That was fun.

The End

Ryan's Wisdom Teeth Out

Ryan had his wisdom teeth out in Pleasant Grove Utah and as far as getting your wisdom teeth out goes - he had a fairly pleasant time. Greg took him to have the surgery. The procedure was 30 minutes in surgery, 30 minutes in post op. All went as planned and he was having a milk shake when they came to pick the rest of us up to head up to Tremonton.

A post op picture.

Christmas Brunch

As has been done for years and years, the family tradition is to gather on Christmas morning for brunch. The menu usually includes a potato and egg casserole of some sort but always includes bacon, sausage, waffles, syrup, whip cream and strawberries to go on the waffles. YUM! We hosted the gathering this year. Here are some of our honored guests.
Young Mr. Jace Jensen - not much into breakfast but he loved playing with the "Cuties" on each table.

Claire, Parker, Kelly and Mari

Ryan and Garry

Andy, Garry, Ryan, Don and Erika
Nancy, Scott, Clint and Jace

Joslyn, Claire and Parker

Breakfast done - time for music - Rockband Anyone?

Was a very "rockin" mood in the family room. Don and Garry on guitar/bass, Joslyn on drums and Andy on vocals. Cameron is learning the finer points of performance. Others in the photo - nice foot Ry (on the couch) - Nice feet and hand Mark - Nice head Erika (I think it is Erika, the dark hair next to Mark) and Nice ear Claud!

In the living room there was singing around the piano - singing one of Nancy's new favorite songs.

Some more Rockband.

And if singing and rockin' isn't your thing - you can always stack Play-Doh containers.


We had such a great day. It was very fun. We missed everyone who wasn't there, Jeff was working all day! But thanks to everyone who was able to be there. Thanks for your brunch help and thanks for your family love!

A Gift from Nancy - and - A Gift to Nancy

We hope everyone had a warm and wonderful Christmas day. We had fun with family and friends. Our Christmas gift from Nancy was a printed copy of three of her new favorite songs - "Love Knows No Borders" - "Gentle Jesus" - and "The Family Is of God". Our gift to Nancy (request from her) was to sing all three songs. And lucky for us and for you, Evan recorded us singing "The Family Is of God". And, to add more love and excitement to the moment, Elder Hardester had just called home and so he was able to hear the song. Ryan and Kelly are at the piano - improvising the music a bit - they turned it into a piece for four hands. Kathy is holding out the phone so Eric can hear the song. If you'd like to sing along, the lyrics are included in this post. Enjoy!



With joy
1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in fam’lies.
2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,
To love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share
Their love for Father in Heaven.
3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,
To nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray,
To love and serve in the fam’ly.
4. I’ll love and serve my family and be
A good example to each fam’ly member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,
I’ll help my fam’ly remember:
[Chorus]
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.
Words and music: Matthew Neeley
© 2008 by Matthew Neeley. All rights reserved. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. This notice must be included on each copy made.
To hear this song, go to www.friend.lds.org.

Christmas Morning

Santa had come!

Claire and Evan had been waiting patiently, "Can we open presents now?"

Evan was designated Santa's helper. He doesn't like this picture because the camera caught him mid stride so it looks like he's doing some sort of special Santa's helper dance Love it!

Can't think what it is called but Evan put it on his wish list. He was a pro before he stepped on. So far no broken bones. You have to worry - even pros get hurt sometimes.

The cutest shower radio ever! But - it doesn't have a clock in it - so we took it back. Still looking for a shower clock radio.

A Braun for a brawny man - but Greg's whiskers prove to be too tough - even the Braun doesn't cut 'em. He's back to using a disposable.

A new watch - but it wasn't his favorite gift...

Evan's old Gameboy with a Pokemon game included was his favorite gift! He beat the game the next day. (new blanket - courtesy his mother - yes those are penguins)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is our time to read and some how reenact the nativity story. We have celebrated with the Jensens for several years. They have a "book" with pictures and songs to go along with telling the story. Sometimes we act the story out but this year we used Jensen's wooden nativity figurines.
Claire was our happy narrator.

We all sang Christmas hymns.

Parker and Cameron were the nativity handlers - they delivered all of the pieces to the right places at the right times.

One by one the characters journeyed to the stable.

Will everyone make it?

Yes - all characters made it to the special scene.

Christmas Wishes from Adelaide Australia!

Too Cute - Go Dads

Temple Lights and Hot Chocolate

The Oakland Temple

Several years ago, it was a tradition of the Busath cousins to have a family night up at the temple during December. People coming and going and schedules crazy with the coming and going, we haven't been up to see the temple lights all together for a couple years. But we made it this year - with hot chocolate, doughnuts and all. This year there is a sculpture exhibit - scenes from the Savior's life. This exhibit is in the visitor's center and we made sure to include viewing the sculptures as part of our temple visit this year. Here's the brochure that advertises the exhibit. http://mormonsoprano.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/limited-exhibit-brochure_2.jpg

The group minus Mark and Claudia who were taking the picture(s).

Cousins chillin' (really warmin' - it was cold outside)

Kelly, Ryan and Garry

Evan and Jeff



Andy, Joslyn and Claire


Cutie pie Jace
Cutie Pie Parker

When you have to tie your shoe you might as well do it in good company.
Cameron, Ryan and Garry
Pretty city lights - that's the Bay Bridge and San Francisco in the far distance.
Side of the visitor's center
The multi-stake center

Holiness to the Lord - The House of the Lord

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

On the temple terrace looking over the front grounds
Time for hot chocolate and Krispy Kreme's

Grandpa Scott and Jace

Nancy, Claudia and Mark

Mari, Joslyn and Claire and some little Jensen heads

Kelly and her fancy light up lip gloss! Wouldn't want to gloss your lips in the dark (there's a little mirror on the side of the container too!) Those riding with the Hardesters started and ended their evening with listening to Joslyn and Claire singing to High School Musical 3 sound track and various Taylor Swift songs.

A zillion points to anyone who can guess what song they were singing in these pictures.

We missed everyone who couldn't join us this year. We hope Clint is feeling better. Hope you are all continuing on with your own favorite traditions. Happy 2 days away from Christmas!