2010-12-30 Elsa is baptized

Brian and Natalie cancelled the baptism planned for December 29 due to snow, but despite the major storm we proceeded on Thursday morning. Bishop Cannon conducted the program, Grandma Heath spoke on baptism, Natalie spoke on the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and both of Elsa's grandfathers shared their testimonies. Elsa's cousins sang 'When I am Baptized'. It was a wonderful and spiritual ceremony. Afterwards we enjoyed a trifle, bagels, hot chocolate and good company.

2010-12-30 Bowling

In our annual bowling extravaganza, Michelle finished her second game with three straight strikes (a turkey!) to get the highest score and win the overall prize by 2 pins. Many thanks to Melissa for the excellent score keeping. Apologies to Michael for our fun at his expense. Next year we'll do darts or Xbox.

2010-12-24 Thomas turns 16 years old

Thomas celebrated his birthday during our Christmas Eve activities. He went shopping with us to pick out a ski helmet. He will be ordained a priest in the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday, December 26 by his father. He will get his driver's license on December 27, he hopes.

2010-12-23 Joshua's birthday party

Joshua turned 12 years old and will receive the Aaronic priesthood and be ordained a deacon on Sunday, December 26 by his father. Melissa planned a wonderful party for Joshua and his friends at the stake center where she has access thanks to her service at the stake primary president. The boys played basketball for a couple of hours.

2010-12-24 Thomas family Christmas Eve breakfast

As per tradition we held the Zella Sorensen Thomas Christmas Eve Breakfast at Melissa and Michael's ward. The Fords did all the set up and clean up which is much appreciated. Again, Don Stauffer claimed this was his last Christmas before he dies.

Attending were

Laurel and Kim with Meredith, Nick and Ron, Emmalee, Ashlee and Gracie, Emily and Kimball, Annie and Lucy and Eloise.

Janet with Lisa and Jesse and with a surprise visit from Lisa's father, Keith Rollins.

Bill and Kandace with Halley, Katie, Chris, Sam, Max, and Janey.

Don and LaRue with Randy, Becky, Bill, Rock, Zinnie, Hazel, Ruby, Clara, Gene, Trevor, Steven, Erin, Madeline, Alex.

Donna Heath

Louise with Diane, Karen, Scott, Spencer, Camille and her husband, Steve.

Melissa and Michael with Thomas, Joshua, Benjamin and Jack

Mindy and Coray with Jonathan, Abby, Will and Sarah

Melanie and Jeff with Andrew, Elizabeth, Anna and Eden

and us - Tom and Paula

2010-12-20 Roylance family Christmas dinner

Grandma arranged a Roylance family dinner. We don't see Dave Knudsen and Dave Killpack very often, and we enjoyed their company.

2010-12-19 Handel's Messiah

It was fun for me to sing bass in the chorus at the 16th annual Cottonwood Heights performance of Handel's Messiah. The music is wonderful and inspiring, and it still echoes in my brain.

2010-12-16 Our 39th anniversary

We celebrated our 39th anniversary at Deer Valley in the St Regis Hotel. We started with a ride up the funicular to the hotel from the parking lot.

The hotel was extraordinary with wonderful views, food, and service. We walked around the hotel, ate dinner at the hotel restaurant, and walked around the ski area.

We stayed in a luxury suite with fireplaces, and a big comfortable bed. It's hard to believe that we have been married this long, but we do have 30 descendants.

2010-12-17 Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert

We (Grandma, Melissa, Mindy and I) enjoyed the annual Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert at the conference center. It wasn't without drama. We were in a long line at the entrance door, but it was getting late for the start. Paula and Mindy found their way into the building, but couldn't get a seat. Melissa and I never made it into the building. We were at the front of the line when the doors were unceremoniously slammed shut. Fortunately we did get into the conference center theater to watch the performance on the big screen. The concert was wonderful.

David Archuletta stole the show with is great tenor voice and infectious smile.

2010-12-13 50th anniversary of the passing of Marie Thomas

Today marks 50 years since my mother passed away. It was a clear sunny day like today when I came home from school on the bus, and my father's car was in the garage. I felt that my mother must have died or my father wouldn't be at home.

2010-12-11 Pecan logs

We made a ton of pecan logs with LaRue Stauffer and Louise Franke, Laurel Young, Janet Rollins, and others. Our share was 31 logs. Now what do we do with them?

2010-12-12 Egberts visit for a couple of days

We enjoyed a short visit from the Egberts who came to Salt Lake for Sam Egbert's wedding on December 11. While the Egberts spent much of their time with wedding and family activities it was fun to have them stay with us and share breakfast. Now they are on their way back to Colorado Springs for Christmas and then back to Salt Lake on December 26. Lots of miles in December when the weather across Wyoming can be frightful.

2010-12-08 Bonneville Glen nativity

I went with the Ford family to the annual Bonneville Glen nativity. This was a wonderful, idyllic presentation of the Bethlehem and the birth of Christ. This is Jointly sponsored by the First Baptist Church, Wasatch Presbyterian Church, St. Ambrose and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Churches, and the Bonneville Stake. The presentation is touching.

2010-12-08 Deseret Soap factory

I went to the Deseret Soap factory @ 3600 S 7200 W with Steve Pulsipher and Bryce Jones to spend 4 hours of volunteer work. I moved boxes, filled liquid detergent bottles, and generally helped out.

2010-12-08 Road Home

We picked up donated items from our ward and delivered these to the Road Home, a homeless shelter in Midvale. About 250 people make this warehouse their temporary home. We had many coats, much clothing, diapers, sheets and comforters, detergent, etc. Our ward is very generous. We filled our truck and three big SUVs with stuff. Steve Hunt, our elders quorum president, made all the arrangements.

2010-12-09 White Christmas

We went to dinner with our family home evening friends and then to see White Christmas at Pioneer Memorial Theater. Some of my children have never seen the movie, White Christmas, starring Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby. I'd recommend it.

“A holiday card come to life!”
—NY Daily News

The classic Christmas movie has been turned into a lavish holiday spectacle for the whole family to enjoy—an all-singing, all-dancing evening of theatre that includes some of Irving Berlin’s greatest songs, including Blue Skies, Sisters, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm and, of course, White Christmas.

2010-12-03 New Canaan Christmas party

We have many fond memories of Christmas in New Canaan, as depicted in this print by Brian Kammerer that we keep in our entry way and highlight at Christmas time.

 Grandma organized a Christmas dinner party for her New Canaan book group plus some others. This was the third year we have held the dinner at Willow Creek Country club. We had about 35 folks with New Canaan connections including Alan Heilner, Dennis Heiner and Henry Heilesen, all part of the 'H' in the New Canaan ward directory and the cause of some confusion.

Lindsay Starr and Kathy Morgan (now Barlow) also came to the party. Both are now single and interested in dating.
Following dinner at the country club we returned to our home for more conversation and dessert.