We are missing these guys!

Denton and his family moved to Richland, Washington.

We sure do love them and miss them. And many here do too.

No more grandkids in Richmond but at least we have some close in NC.

And we get to go see our Arizona family in January.

Here are a few of Denton's latest family pictures.

Aren't these the cutest kids?

A Very Clayton Christmas: December 2010

As it turned out this year, only Clayton came home for Christmas. And we had a great time. Chelsea had a baby, Jordan moved to Arizona, Denton moved to Washington state, and Lindsay went to Utah. So it just left us 3.

We started Christmas Eve day with eggs and bacon and then a yummy Christmas lunch at BRIO ( one of our favorite restaurants). They are known for their fabulous bisteca wedge salad with gorgonzola cheese and bacon dressing.....great bread and pasta. After a relaxing and delicious lunch, we went to see " True Grit" at the new "Cinnebistro". It was a beautiful theatre with really comfortable seats. We didn't eat there because we had just eaten ...but we want to go back and try the food. We hear it is good. The movie was great and the boys were really happy. We toured the Stoney Point mall ( Clayton pushing me in the wheelchair) to see the decor and festivities. We came home and set up our new Christmas present. Jordan's family and Clayton gave us Apple TV this year...so CTR hooked it all up and got us all set-up. It will be so nice to access Netflix's now w/o having to connect the computer. It is awesome. Greg did a smorgasbord of appetizers that we love , including smoked oysters for me. We watched a new DVD/ book we received, more movies and fell asleep.

Christmas morning ( after sleeping in) began with Greg's traditional sourdough pancakes and sausage. We missed all the kids here to help us eat them. We opened gifts , which was over in a few minutes:) Clayton loved his new Panini grill from us and his sliders cookware from Lindsay and Regan.. He is becomnig quite the cook. Lucky for us, because we will really miss all of Denton's gourmet meals. Seems like most of our kids or in-laws love to cook. And we even have some grandkids who love to cook too.

Then we went to another movie ( How do you know?) at the Regal Wheschester Commons). It was fun...not the best show ever but still entertaining. We came out to snow falling and got home quick before it got too bad. We got to skype or talk to all our other kids and grandparents , which made it really seem more like Christmas. Clayton made us his famous pasta for our Christmas dinner by candlelight with Ghiradelli brownies for dessert. More time realxing and watching TV. It was snowing again, so Clayton left around 9pm to get back to DC before the roads got too bad.

It was a quiet, low-key Christmas but we really enjoyed it and appreciated having Clayton all to ourselves. It doesn't happen very often. It was especially meanigful this year, after his scary car accident. We realize all the more how much we love all of our children and grandchildren and value the relationship we have with them. We received lovely gifts from all of them and aappreciate all their kindnesses to us.

It was a very difefrent but very nice Christmas. We have beautiful snowy trees outside to make it a White Christmas and a brand new baby granddaughter right from heaven to remind us of the most important things in life.

Our New Baby Granddaughteri : Marjorie Kate Wood (Gigi)

Our 12th grandchild was born December 21, 2010. Her name is Marjorie Kate Wood. She weighed 5 lbs 12 oz and was 18 inches long. She is our 7th girl. We also have 5 boys. She is so tiny and cute. They nicked named her Gigi. Yesterday, December 23rd, we drove to Raleigh, NC to welcome her home and celebrate with her family for a few hours. Here are a few of the pictures we took. Also below is an explnation of her name.

From Chelsea

We are loving MKW so much. She is strong and alert and she's wearing me out with the nursing :). Love her expressive eyes. We don't know how officially we will refer to her as Gigi (spelled that way), but I love that her first name, Marjorie, means 'child of light,' is a family name on both sides, and is linked to her sisters (the J and the 'ee'). We also love that it is old fashioned and shared by a wonderful woman, Marjorie P. Hinkley.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/46965/Marjorie-P-Hinckley-Best-selling-author.html

I don't own any of MPH's books, but have relished her words. Her husband described her as a great lady with tremendous capacity. I'd like to gift that legacy to this tiny 5 pound miracle.

Her middle name, Kate, pays tribute to her great grandmother, Kathryn Romans. Grandma Katee has been a pivotal example in my life and has become a close friend to me in my grownup years. She is witty, intelligent, a voracious reader, a talented homemaker and genius quilter, and probably the most enterprising person I know. My daughter is lucky to be named for a great grandmother who is not only still alive at her birth, but ONLINE and google chatting. Amazing!

We love her already and are so glad she arrived safe and sound.

$5 pedicure for the Woods Girls : December 2010

Chelsea took Evie and Chloe on a little date to get their toes painted. It only cost $5 and they were thrilled. It is amazing how much joy something so simple can bring. I know because I am smiling all day long after a pedicure. But I pay for the whole enchilada so I can get the leg and feet massage.

I am sure these girls are hooked now and will want "pedicure" in their future. Love the flowers.

Breakfast with the girls at Mimi's

This year we were suppose to go overnight to Williamsburg again for our annual girl's Christmas celebration at "Chritmas Town"...but unfortunately Tamara got sick She felt so bad but it worked out for the best. This is my old stake YW presidency. We had so much fun serving together we have maintained our friendship and get together as much as we can. We are missing Genia in the picture this year.....we did meet her for dinner one night later but forgot to take a picture. As it turned out for the original celebration, we had just as much fun and maybe more (since it was freezing and they would have had to push me in the wheelchair) eating Chinese take-out in my family room with Tamara's pretzel dip and Suzie's hot fudge brownies. We had so much fun just talking and relaxing. We decided it was a good new tradtition. Crista spent the night and then we all gathered for a yummy breakfast at Mimi's. We always do a fun gift exchange and this year we even got gifts from Crista's trip to Italy. I love these girls. We are all differnet ages but have so much fun together.

The Annual English Christmas Tea at Thelma's

Every year, for the past several years, our book club has gathered at our dear friend Thelma Bethel's (who is now in her 80's and still partying hardy) for our annual English Christmas tea. She is originally from England so taught us how it is done. For the past few years, we have helped make her delicious recipes and she gives us cookie bags to take extra's home. Sylvia graciously types all the recipe's in a book for us. Her home is decorated just beautiful and she always has out her special manger scene ( that her son made when he was a boy) Her sweet daughters always come to help her entertain us. We usually read a Christmas story and discuss....but then spend the most time munching on all kinds of wonderful goodies. Her cute husband Pete, stands out in freezing cold in front of their town home with ear muffs and gloves helping us to find a parking space. It is a wonderful day and we all look so forward to it every year. Thank you Thelma for your many kindnesses and warm hospitality . We love you and love coming to the special English tea every year. xoxo