Christmas Recitals

Jennie and Jordan, Caitlyn and Jieun

Bridget with Grandma

Caitlyn sent me two more pictures from Thanksgiving weekend last week, so I am adding them here.  If I added them to last week's letter, no one would see them.

 Celebrations and recitals for the Christmas season are officially here.  Our first recital this week was Ori's and Effie's dance recital.  They did a fabulous job and looked so beautiful.  Look how long their hair is getting.

Effie and Ori

Catharine, Ori, Effie and Kelly (Sara's mom)

They were lucky girls with their parents, their grandpa and grandma Pederson, Grandma Catharine, and Aunts Mimi and Mahala, all there to cheer them on.  Ori also finally lost her tooth that has been literally hanging in there for quite some time.  She wouldn't let anyone pull it for her.  Her 2nd tooth came out shortly after.  Now she can sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth..."

Apparently this smile came after blood, tears, and a mild
panic attack.

Caitlyn took her Senior Moves Ice Skating Test on Saturday morning.  It's a difficult test that requires a lot of muscle and energy.  She passed! which was very exciting.  Now she's done with all her move tests--she has one more "freestyle" which is a program with all her jumps and spins.  Afterwards we did a little shopping and we tried to go to the German Festival at This is the Place Monument Park, but after waiting in a long line of cars, we gave up and headed towards home.

The other recital for the week was the annual Christmas Ice Skating show.  Against my better judgement I signed up to skate (pressure from my skating coach).  Caitlyn, of course, was the star of the show and thus was put in the last spot of the evening.  I was 12th in the line-up.  The show goes for two nights and was just over 2 hours long--WAY TOO LONG--especially since everyone who  came to see me had to stay the whole time to see Caitlyn.  The other problem with being last is that about half the audience leaves and misses the best skater in the club.  I almost fell the first night, but caught myself and continued on.  The 2nd night I totally biffed it after catching my toe on the ice.  I went down flat on my stomach--which, as Caitlyn pointed out is better than going backwards--it's easy to  hit your head that way.  I did get up and finish my program and got some cheering for that!  Unfortunately, my stumbling was seen by more people than just the family--we saw Jed and Patti Cook there with their kids, and some ward members.
(Friday Night--pictures taken by Sara)

Avie--she loved my Sobe life water

Luckily there is a big open area behind the bleachers
where bored kids can go play with each other.
Dojin and Effie

Jennie and Nick 

Ori and Yuna

(Saturday Night, Adrienne's family came--they stayed the entire time, even though they'd been skiing and shopping that same day).

Finn, Adrienne and Ila

Roy, running the spotlight

Gunnar, Oli, and Grandma Catharine

and Finn

Catharine, Caitlyn and Roy after the show

Kaitlin, Elsa, Caitlyn and Annika (Caitlyn's supportive friends)

Watch Caitlyn's program
Cait's program December 2019

Roy said that I should post the video of my program with me falling.  I decided that'd probably be too humiliating, so I'll just post a couple of pictures:

Other pictures this week:

Bridget is growing up fast

Effie, Avie and Ori in their Sunday best

Beverly eating shrimp and veggies

Roy and I enjoyed our Come Follow Me discussion on Christ being Love and Light.  This was reiterated in the Christmas Program this evening.  We are so grateful for the greatest gift, given to us from our Heavenly Father--His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He truly is the gift that keeps on giving.  Let us continue to keep our focus on the Savior this Christmas.