Our family has a thing for flexing our muscles as you can tell!
Lining up to watch or jump!
John and I got the THRILL (!) of going to the Donny and Marie Christmas concert at the Gammage Theater at the end of November!
MMMwahhhh!
John helped a brand new member of the Church research her family and find relatives to be baptized for. It was a sacred event in the temple with them as John also baptized this woman and her husband for her grandparents and other relatives. Afterwards, seeing the Christmas lights, was the perfect ending to that perfect event!
I am grateful every day for the Church of Jesus Christ and for the blessings of the gospel.
I am thankful for the Savior and His eternal gifts to us...opportunity to repent and feel peace, the hope of returning to Him through His atoning sacrifice, the resurrection, eternal life, improving my actions and being able to feel Heavenly love each day through the Holy Ghost...
For temples and the covenants that make it possible to be with my family forever...
For the Christmas season that helps me to focus on Christ and on helping my fellow brothers and sisters. My puny efforts are returned to me in joy ten-fold!
For the abundance He showers upon me and you. For giving us work and the strength to perform our labors. For health, safety, freedoms, beauties of nature to gladden the heart!
For John and his deep-down wonderfulness!
For Christmas lights!
I had to share this picture of John and his dear mom. We were eating at one of our favorite restaurants, The Cheesecake Factory. Mom Barry got here in time for Thanksgiving; a real treat since she was not able to make it until January last year, due to her dialysis treatments.
In November we celebrated Sam's 4th birthday, Nina's 10th birthday and Johnny's 10th birthday. Sam and I went to TOYS R US where he chose a transformer, an army unit set and ? (Can't remember!) We ate at McDonalds, (Sam's choice too) with Grandpa. For Nina, Grandpa and I took her to Hobby Lobby. She picked an art set with brushes and a canvas. We ate at Applebees. Johnny wanted Ella to come so we, John, Ella ,Grandpa and I headed to Target and the Paradise Valley Mall to shop and eat. John chose...guess...lego-type blocks but they light up! It is such a pleasure to have one-on-one time with our grandchildren!
Ashlyn, after having to postpone her fifth birthday party because she had the flu, finally got to celebrate with a Hello Kitty cake and"Brave" party! When we shopped at Toys R Us, she chose a Hello Kitty figure that magically sits on her shoulder and a "Brave" playset. When we opened the set, parts were missing so it went back to the store and instead she got a unicorn "Dream Light". We ate at Barros Pizza for her birthday celebration!
The Very Barry Christmas party had a few surprises and a whole lot of fun this year! After eating our MaCayos (sp) Mexican food, we played the white elephant game. The prize that was fought for most was the Wonder Woman drinking glasses that Devin ended up with!
This is sweet Mom Barry listening to John give his special remarks on a Christmas gift he gave her many years ago (an orange candy dish) and how she received it with such gratitude. He hopes that we receive gifts in the spirit that they are given. Christ gave His gifts to us with the greatest love. How do we receive them?
The Nativity was precious as usual, but this year we had a donkey-Millie, camel-Wesley, cow-Mollie and a lamb-Ashlyn present.
Grandpa Santa gave all the adults and the older grandchildren jammie pants. Pulling them up high like Grandpa Norman Barry was a riot!
Charlee, Oaklee and Nina 'modeling' their new pj pants wrestling style, I guess.
Sam and Ashlyn doing ?
Cute Mindy in her jammie pants.
Rich, Treslee, Nina, Elle, Millie and Wesley
Cousin time!
Adorable Taylor time! The youngest Barry for a time...until Mindy has number 19 in May or June!
Brooklynn is a beauty!
Generous, kind, Grandpa Santa passed out big bucks for everyone this year!
This is my favorite picture of our party!
I am so grateful for our family!!! I couldn't feel more blessed! After the Santa gifts we were treated to the Very Barry Christmas picture show put together by Anya. (So sad that she, Johnny and Ella couldn't come to the party because John was sick, Ella had dance rehearsal for her ballet) The show was outstanding-complete with laughter, happy tears, memories of this wonderful year and even a tender story that showed the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you Anya! That was a real labor of love!
Thank you family for filling my life with abundant joy and for being good people. Thank you for raising your children to be valiant. Thank you for not moving far away!!!
My dear parents came for Thanksgiving. Having them here was my greatest blessing of the 2012 Thanksgiving season!
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