Idea's

I like the idea that each family chooses a color for the pictures. That way when people see it they can tell who belongs to whom. Clint and I will probably have to where black or gray. That's what color all his shirts are. Unless we count his work shirts from when he worked at Fugal's, they are all neon orange. I don't think he'll like that. Hee Hee. Also I had an idea that might be fun. What if we did white elephant gifts? We still do the regular presents, but also have everyone bring one extra little gift that we could win from playing a game or something. They wouldn't have to be big gifts just something from the dollar store. I know Heather's kids love going to the dollar store, getting gifts, and wrapping them. Just thought all the kids might like it.
Love, Jenny

An apology

I appreciate Brent's diplomatic approach. There is was no contention on my part in the least in these discussions and I want to apologize immediately if any of you felt that as a result of anything I may have said. I just know how hard it has been my whole married life to juggle so many families, and the guilt that is involved in it and wanted to have the opportunity to have some concrete plans in place for this part of our family before the other sides starts planning theirs.

I will go with whatever you all decide... aside from Christmas morning as we made a promise as husband and wife that that would be our sacred time. (I am very sad that others cannot enjoy that opportunity as well, I don't mean to make anyone feel badly about it... I was simply stating a commitment we made that we honor in our home. -one that one side of our family took horribly and we were ostrasized for a couple of years for)

I do not mean to push/plan the holidays. I just know in the past without someone taking the reins it doesn't happen and we can't function on last minute... it just doesn't work out most times (course often the Dorius' curse kicks in and we can't do plans either... ha ha) and I just wanted to be sure that, where we can all be together this year, I could in good faith say that we have plans before Jess' family tries to figure out their "dance" as well.

You all go ahead and plan and let me know what you decide. I just can't do contention if there is going to be any... I just can't. I will be happy with whatever you all decide. :) ~~heather

Thank You for the Love

Hi Everyone,

We are humbled that you all want to spend some quality time with us when we come down in December for Christmas. We realize that everyone is very busy and we were not insensitive to this when we made the decision to come down. This is a very unique opportunity for us to have so much time available with out having to take to much “personal time” off of work or school and we wanted to come down to see everyone with this opportunity. We feel blessed that we can share this opportunity.

That being said, I need to say I was made aware of this thread of discussion and have agreed for the most part to stay out of making any firm decisions regarding the activities surrounding the celebration of our Lord’s birth specifically because I knew that there would be many families involved and I did not want our family to be the center of any contention. I am concerned that this is exactly where this thread has the potential to go so I will offer our schedule and a few thoughts on questions brought up but I will leave it to you and your families as to how you want to proceed after that. We are open to just about anything as long as we can see all of you during this great season of love and joy.

- We will be doing a Christmas dinner/get together here with Harvey and Suzanne (whom we just brought up to live closer to us so that Nicole can help her more to become better) on the Sunday prior to Christmas.

- We plan on leaving here (weather permitting) early Monday morning and traveling as far as Gooding, Idaho (which is where we hope to be by night fall). We have determined for the safest travel it would be better not to travel at night if possible.

- We plan at this point to leave there early Tuesday morning and to be in Utah Valley by early to mid afternoon.

- After the holiday we plan on leaving Saturday morning to head on home.

You will notice that we have planned nothing for while we are there yet. Yes, we would love to get a family picture done. Yes, we would love to have a full family get together with everyone together and enjoying one another’s company. But, beyond that we leave it up to you and your schedules.

Here are a few suggestions (both heard and unheard) that I offer up as possibilities, again it is up to you:

- It was suggested that we get together, by Dad, on the 26th for a meal at their house. This shouldn’t interfere with most other families activities and Nicole and I can help get some of the cooking done while others may have to be at work during that day.

- On Christmas Day itself I vey much enjoyed the suggestion that Jenny put forth, that people will be just going in and out all day at Mom and Dad’s. Maybe this could be a snacky kind of day with treats and little sandwiches or something along those lines. Something that doesn’t require anyone putting forth a lot of effort on this day that so that all can enjoy it.

- Again because people might have to work during the day, we could probably do the pictures Friday evening. We would rather not do a dressy photo as we were not planning on bringing suits and dresses and such. It might not be a good idea to do white shirts for a couple of reasons, such as with a snowy background we might all look like floating heads so that might not be as good an idea. I agree we probably don’t want to look hodge podge so I am good with going with a specified color shirt and slacks (like beige or something). We think Mom and Dad could coordinate to their liking and the rest of could coordinate as a colored background for them. I am not choosy on the colors and we could even coordinate boys one color, and girls a complementing one. Another suggestion might be to have each family choose a different color to signify who belongs to who with Mom and Dad again coordinated to their liking.

In other words we are coming down to just enjoy family. Please do not be concerned with anything major if it will cause any issues on Christmas Eve or Day. We want to see and enjoy you and if that means one at a time then that will have to do. As far as Mom’s morale (as it was suggested) I think I would be more concerned with her sanity after having to try and coordinate a major gathering, so if we cannot all get together for more than a small meal and pictures that is okay to.

We love all of you and cannot wait to see you.

Thanks,
Brent

11am sounds do-able to us!

BREeeeeNT..... what is the plan? or is there one yet? LOL

Also...so I can start planning now... shall we try to co-ordinate clothing a bit for pictures so it's not so modge podge? All black and white? Solid dark colors? Jeans and white shirts? Denium shirts? Church clothes? Any prefrences? It would be nice to have an idea to start watching for deals/sales on a certain thing now rather than try to fit it into the Christmas time pinch. *GRIN* MA! Dad! Any preferences?? Anyone else have an opinion? Shpeak up won't ya?
~~heather

we understand the need to have just special time with your little family we feel that need too, but we also have a few other things we must consider. On the years when we have the kids for Christmas like this one we only have them until 1 pm then they must go to their other parents until 9pm. On the years we don't have them for Christmas we don't get them until 1pm and then they have to go back to their other parents at 9pm. Also, this year Nanette gets Tony and the rest of the boys for his birthday which is Christmas Eve. We also have Golding grandparents that would like some of our time too and in our effort to make neither family more important we have a real dilemma on our hands as to how exactly to divide our time and make it fair but still have time together as our family too. This year we feel it is important that we make it special because Brent will be here, but it will also be Bethani's first Christmas and the first Christmas that my brother Jim will be home from his mission. Also a big one for us this is the first year in 4 that we will have the 5 boys with us Christmas morning and all of the kids together on Christmas morning all 8 of them. Alot of exciting things and we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings so we will try to be as workable as we can with everyone, but we do have a few considerations to think of. Sorry that makes it so complicated to get together. What if the lunch wasn't until like 11am? Is that enough time for everyone or is that still to early? Any other suggestions? Want to give us away yet?? Just as a note we are telling this to the Goldings too so everyone will understand where we are coming from and hopeful still be speaking with us! We are good with the picture idea too! Especially since no one is pregnant that we know of so it will last a little while.:-) Love you guys! Sean and Katina

Christmas

I am fine with which ever we do, lunch or dinner. Clint and I only go to his mom's sometime on Christmas day. They don't really set times because with so many combined familys it is way to hard to get together at the same time that makes everyone happy, so people drift in and out of her house all day. I think pictures a good idea too.
-Brent what days will you be here so we know what to plan from that time?

I am good with that. :)

Also...we are ok with a lunch or dinner or even a Christmas Eve party...however our tradition is that Christmas morning is time for just our little family. And we try not to rush it. We have so much family that we want to see and want to see us that if we give up this time we dont get any as our own unit...so we have made this our "sacred" time that we try to enjoy just as our own unit. (Our few experiences trying to share it has been disaterous and our kids are growing too fast to miss even one of them...) I hope you all understand.

Having said that...what about lunch or dinner that day? or a big Christmas Eve party? (plus all our get-togethers the other days that Brent will be here....) *grin*

AND! Shall we have our family photo done? My friend Amy is a photographer and we could go get pics on the steps of the Provo capital type building or something... cheaper than Sears and a larger space too! LOL! Just thinking out loud.... what do you all think?

((hugs))
~~heather

Christmas

hello all! We have talked about it and we really feel that for Mom's morale since Brent is coming home this year that we should have our party at Mom and Dad's house so that Mom can have all of her kids and grandkids under her roof for the first Christmas in a long time. We are greatful that Heather is willing to have us all over there, but feel that for this instance Mom and Dad's house is the best choice. We think that it might be fun to do a brunch and just have everyone bring their favorite breakfast thing to share. :-) Sean and Katina

Christmas Draw 2008

Caleb and I did the draw, as per Brent's request... *grin*

Brent & Nicole = Jenny & Clint's Family
Sean & Katina = Heather & Jestin's Family
Heather & Jess = Sean & Katina's Family
Jenny & Clint = Brent & Nicole's Family

Also just a reminder... Brent and Nicole will BE HERE this year! YEA!!! I am offering my house as our gathering place for a Christmas party (be it Christmas Eve or Christmas Day) since we have wider open spaces and such. But I am good either way! Let's plan though so I can let Jess' family know what we are planning so they can plan around it! *grin* SOO excited to be all together again!