Christmas is such a fun time, even for grandmas and grandpas. We have our little tree up and there are presents under it. That always makes me excited. We did receive one from Craig Cottle family and I opened it thinking that there would be wrapped presents inside and to my great suprise there was a Christmas log. The best part about it was it was made from one of your trees, Craig! I remember sitting in your backyard amazed at how much all those trees had grown. How I wish you could just give one or two to us in Cardston. We do need trees. I really do appreciate that log and the time you all spent in making it such a beauiful Christmas present. I love it!
There isn't much going on around the office, but I have to start studying for what I am going to teach next semester.
Love you all. Grandma Cottle
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Can't believe Christmas is only 8 days away! I think we are finally ready. We went to the doctor today and Marlie is now 8 pounds 12 oz. The doctor can't believe how much she's growing. She is such a happy baby! Still rarely cries. She is even sleeping through the night quite consistently...are we lucky or what. Just wanted everyone to know we'll be blessing her on Dec. 30th. We're hoping the Miller clan will be able to make it down.
Addy just had her first band concert. We get to see her tomorrow night. She said she only made 1 mistake but you couldn't really tell. Her favourite number is Oh Christmas Tree- she gets to play it on the chimes.
Ben and Matt's frequent hobby these days is making massive forts. Every day when I come down to the playroom, a new addition is added on. I can barely find my way to the computer. They love to play inside with Marlie. This can sometimes be a little scary. They are great big brothers (the first time I typed this it came out bothers....this might be a more accurate description)
Brent is just finishing up some grading and then is off for the holidays. We are excited to spend time together with our family and extended family. My brother and his family are coming home for 2 weeks so we can't wait to see them. We are hoping to party with the Millers over the holidays as well. Can't wait for everyone to meet Marlie.
Hope everyone is doing well and is ready for the holidays. If I don't get to the blog spot before Dec. 25.... Have a Merry Christmas!
Jodi
Monday, December 17, 2007
December 16 Blog - Mel Cottle
December 16, 2007
Last week was a week of goodbyes. All week we have been saying adios to students headed home for winter break and on Thursday we bid Elder and Sister Wilson goodbye (they have completed their mission). We have enjoyed their company and will miss them in the days to come. On Friday night we met Randy and Theresa at Staunton for dinner and a visit to the Blackfriers Playhouse's Shakespeare like rendition of A Christmas Carol - quite unlike what you might expect from Shakespearian actors - it was a comedic blast. After the play we also said goodbye (for a while) to the Millers as they are headed to Canada for the holidays, all in all, a goodbye week.
Saturday we again participated in the Rockbridge Christmas Box program. I described this program (provides food and toys for needy families) last year so I won't go into details again, but suffice to say I am Impressed with the organization and the scope of the program, from the putting together of thousands of boxes at the Virginia Horse Center thru the distribution to the various drop off points throughout the county to the many volunteers that take the boxes from the drop off locations to the individual homes. And so many families involved. At the VHC we watched children and teens joining their parents in stocking, boxing, bagging and stacking all that stuff, what a good thing to be doing together as family during the holidays. We also visited with several interesting people while standing in line waiting to fill another box – a horse women from Lexington that was having trouble getting her “new” horse to get along with the old one, and a couple that had retired from Connecticut to Florida and the settled on Lexington area because they missed the change of seasons. Back at the Buena Vista drop off point we loaded the Saturn to the hilt with boxes - added two teen age girls as my "delivery assistants" (the girls were –like – you know – like – non stop talkers – they even gave their opinion on the paint job on the corner building with the 3 grouches sign - ‘love the grey, but the blue trim, uck’) and away we went. Four trips and 20 some families later we were finished. Visiting each of these families makes me most thankful for my own and my family’s blessings, and also honored to assist – even in a small way- in making the season a little brighter for people that have some tough challenges in life.
By the way, have you seen the dancing Cottles and Millers on the Cottle family Blog, check out, among others, Sam’s moves and Theresa’s somber facial expression. It is a blast. And we have some new sign-ups this week. Welcome to our newest and youngest member – Bailey (thanks for the help Holly). So what are the rest of you waiting for, sign in today.
Last week we got an early Christmas surprise. When we came home from work there was a FedEx package on the step, noticing it was from the Craig Cottle family we debated opening it or waiting until Xmas. Curiosity got the best of us and anyway, we reasoned - the gifts would be individually wrapped inside – to our surprise and delight – it was a Yule log, a real log, cut by Craig and Sam and decorated by Kristin and J’Neil, with three holes in the top for three candles. Why is it so special? Some of you may remember that my father always cut a fresh Yule log each Christmas, and as the years went on he gave each of the children a log of their own, so thanks Craig and family from bring back some special memories.
The best to everyone as you all make last minute preparations for Christmas. Remember the most important things you do over the holidays are the things you do as a family.
Love Grandpa/Dad/Elder Cottle
Last week was a week of goodbyes. All week we have been saying adios to students headed home for winter break and on Thursday we bid Elder and Sister Wilson goodbye (they have completed their mission). We have enjoyed their company and will miss them in the days to come. On Friday night we met Randy and Theresa at Staunton for dinner and a visit to the Blackfriers Playhouse's Shakespeare like rendition of A Christmas Carol - quite unlike what you might expect from Shakespearian actors - it was a comedic blast. After the play we also said goodbye (for a while) to the Millers as they are headed to Canada for the holidays, all in all, a goodbye week.
Saturday we again participated in the Rockbridge Christmas Box program. I described this program (provides food and toys for needy families) last year so I won't go into details again, but suffice to say I am Impressed with the organization and the scope of the program, from the putting together of thousands of boxes at the Virginia Horse Center thru the distribution to the various drop off points throughout the county to the many volunteers that take the boxes from the drop off locations to the individual homes. And so many families involved. At the VHC we watched children and teens joining their parents in stocking, boxing, bagging and stacking all that stuff, what a good thing to be doing together as family during the holidays. We also visited with several interesting people while standing in line waiting to fill another box – a horse women from Lexington that was having trouble getting her “new” horse to get along with the old one, and a couple that had retired from Connecticut to Florida and the settled on Lexington area because they missed the change of seasons. Back at the Buena Vista drop off point we loaded the Saturn to the hilt with boxes - added two teen age girls as my "delivery assistants" (the girls were –like – you know – like – non stop talkers – they even gave their opinion on the paint job on the corner building with the 3 grouches sign - ‘love the grey, but the blue trim, uck’) and away we went. Four trips and 20 some families later we were finished. Visiting each of these families makes me most thankful for my own and my family’s blessings, and also honored to assist – even in a small way- in making the season a little brighter for people that have some tough challenges in life.
By the way, have you seen the dancing Cottles and Millers on the Cottle family Blog, check out, among others, Sam’s moves and Theresa’s somber facial expression. It is a blast. And we have some new sign-ups this week. Welcome to our newest and youngest member – Bailey (thanks for the help Holly). So what are the rest of you waiting for, sign in today.
Last week we got an early Christmas surprise. When we came home from work there was a FedEx package on the step, noticing it was from the Craig Cottle family we debated opening it or waiting until Xmas. Curiosity got the best of us and anyway, we reasoned - the gifts would be individually wrapped inside – to our surprise and delight – it was a Yule log, a real log, cut by Craig and Sam and decorated by Kristin and J’Neil, with three holes in the top for three candles. Why is it so special? Some of you may remember that my father always cut a fresh Yule log each Christmas, and as the years went on he gave each of the children a log of their own, so thanks Craig and family from bring back some special memories.
The best to everyone as you all make last minute preparations for Christmas. Remember the most important things you do over the holidays are the things you do as a family.
Love Grandpa/Dad/Elder Cottle
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Make-a-Flake
For anyone who loves making paper snowflakes, but hate cleaning up the mess, A friend directed me to this neat website that lets you take your christmas craft to the information superhighway. Make a Flake is a fun internet application that lets you cut out your own Digital snowflakes. Merry Christmas.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
O.K. I finally made it
Hey everyone--
I've made it to the family blog! Now Randy and Holly will be proud of me. So, I just finished teaching and I'm getting ready to start the data collection for my thesis research, so life is looking good. I have very much enjoyed reading what every one has written so far. It's fun to feel a little connected. Thanks Grandpa and Randy for setting this up. I'll write more later.
I've made it to the family blog! Now Randy and Holly will be proud of me. So, I just finished teaching and I'm getting ready to start the data collection for my thesis research, so life is looking good. I have very much enjoyed reading what every one has written so far. It's fun to feel a little connected. Thanks Grandpa and Randy for setting this up. I'll write more later.
December 10, 2007
We started the week with a most important Christmas event; the Institute Choir Christmas Concert. This year we did more advance planning. Since it is very difficult to find a date and location at SVU during December we tried a little different approach. After a little talking we convinced the stake president and the bishops (bishops were not hard to convince since this meant one less FHE activity to plan) to allow us to schedule the concert on Monday evening Dec 3, in Chandler (main performance center on campus). The big day finally arrived; Sister Cottle and the Choir had been practicing for months. The chairs and risers were in place, seven lighted trees, poinsettia, greenery and other decorations added a festive air. At 6:55 there were 30 people in the audience and we began to worry that the crowd would be small. By 7:03, all the seats were full and we were scrambling to set up another row of chairs. Students do not like to arrive until the last possible moment! We ended up with a great crowd (the promise of refreshments never hurts) of about 250 and the concert went without a hitch. And what a performance! Sister Cottle is such a good director and gets the most from each student. The Institute Choir gives students who otherwise might not have an opportunity the chance to display their musical talent. The program included both choir and individual numbers. The concert was a resounding success and I pay tribute to Grandma for her talent and willingness to share the same with others. All week she received accolades from all quarters. See photo of the Choir in action on the Cottle blog site.
Let me introduce the four Karn sisters (I think I may have mentioned them last year). Melanie, Sarah and Tasha are triplets and in their second year at SVU and this year they have been joined by their sister, Heather. The do most everything together and you rarely see one without the others being close by. They all sing in the Choir and all take an (the same) Institute class. So we see them often here and there. Last Friday they all crowded into our office for a visit and to talk about the concert. I showed them some photos I had taken of the performances and they finished of a bowl full of Hersey Kisses. Before leaving they ask us for directions to our apartment, and so that evening the door bell rang and the Karns, bearing a gift of homemade Peanut Butter Cups (yummy), burst into our tiny apartment. What fun we had for the next hour or so as they regaled us with stories of life on campus. We heard how hard it was to find an empty dryer at the main laundry because some students don't remove they clothes from the dryer and how funny it was when they decided to clean out a dryer and found it full of MEN'S clothing! "We come from a family of girls - we don't know about men's stuff." The confusion of trying to order at a Taco Bell drive through when everyone is speaking at the same time and all ordering different things. We heard about back seat drivers, early morning fire drills that caught some in the shower, exploding microwaves and so on. It wasn’t just the story - it was the telling - more than one girl talking at the same time, finishing each other's sentences and animation galore, with lots of giggles and outright laugher. They had as much fun telling it as we did listening. For a picture of the Karn's in action check the blog.
Last week brought an end to classes for fall semester with test week coming up.
Hope this finds every one well and happy and making preparations for the holiday season. And amidst all the shopping and other activities remember to take time to honor the one whose birthday we are celebrating, even one Jesus Christ, the son of God and savior of all mankind.
Love
Elder/Dad/Grandpa/Cottle
We started the week with a most important Christmas event; the Institute Choir Christmas Concert. This year we did more advance planning. Since it is very difficult to find a date and location at SVU during December we tried a little different approach. After a little talking we convinced the stake president and the bishops (bishops were not hard to convince since this meant one less FHE activity to plan) to allow us to schedule the concert on Monday evening Dec 3, in Chandler (main performance center on campus). The big day finally arrived; Sister Cottle and the Choir had been practicing for months. The chairs and risers were in place, seven lighted trees, poinsettia, greenery and other decorations added a festive air. At 6:55 there were 30 people in the audience and we began to worry that the crowd would be small. By 7:03, all the seats were full and we were scrambling to set up another row of chairs. Students do not like to arrive until the last possible moment! We ended up with a great crowd (the promise of refreshments never hurts) of about 250 and the concert went without a hitch. And what a performance! Sister Cottle is such a good director and gets the most from each student. The Institute Choir gives students who otherwise might not have an opportunity the chance to display their musical talent. The program included both choir and individual numbers. The concert was a resounding success and I pay tribute to Grandma for her talent and willingness to share the same with others. All week she received accolades from all quarters. See photo of the Choir in action on the Cottle blog site.
Let me introduce the four Karn sisters (I think I may have mentioned them last year). Melanie, Sarah and Tasha are triplets and in their second year at SVU and this year they have been joined by their sister, Heather. The do most everything together and you rarely see one without the others being close by. They all sing in the Choir and all take an (the same) Institute class. So we see them often here and there. Last Friday they all crowded into our office for a visit and to talk about the concert. I showed them some photos I had taken of the performances and they finished of a bowl full of Hersey Kisses. Before leaving they ask us for directions to our apartment, and so that evening the door bell rang and the Karns, bearing a gift of homemade Peanut Butter Cups (yummy), burst into our tiny apartment. What fun we had for the next hour or so as they regaled us with stories of life on campus. We heard how hard it was to find an empty dryer at the main laundry because some students don't remove they clothes from the dryer and how funny it was when they decided to clean out a dryer and found it full of MEN'S clothing! "We come from a family of girls - we don't know about men's stuff." The confusion of trying to order at a Taco Bell drive through when everyone is speaking at the same time and all ordering different things. We heard about back seat drivers, early morning fire drills that caught some in the shower, exploding microwaves and so on. It wasn’t just the story - it was the telling - more than one girl talking at the same time, finishing each other's sentences and animation galore, with lots of giggles and outright laugher. They had as much fun telling it as we did listening. For a picture of the Karn's in action check the blog.
Last week brought an end to classes for fall semester with test week coming up.
Hope this finds every one well and happy and making preparations for the holiday season. And amidst all the shopping and other activities remember to take time to honor the one whose birthday we are celebrating, even one Jesus Christ, the son of God and savior of all mankind.
Love
Elder/Dad/Grandpa/Cottle
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