Phoenix Zoo

Going to the Zoo is one of our favorite activities. With a Season Pass, it is affordable for a large family and everyone always enjoys seeing the animals. This time of year is a perfect time, too!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

At this Christmas time, we loved having Taylor, Bradley and Lindsay home for the holidays. Taylor has recently finished his training for EOD school and will be graduating in January. Bradley is finishing up his first round of internship back East and will be heading off to school again in January at BYU-Hawaii. Lindsay is loving school in Salt Lake City and will return to finish up after Christmas. Benjamin is at the MTC and will head off to Chile in mid-January. Brian is the only one at home now and is involved with school and LaCrosse. Our oldest four, Kelli, Richard, Larry and Kimber are married and are busy with their own families. We have 13 grandchildren, with # 14 expected in June.

Catherine received matching dresses for herself and her doll from Grandma and Grandpa

looks like Noah has lots of help opening his gift!

a super cool waffle iron for Larry and Melanie from Mom and Dad...

a manger and stars for the Nativity to Mom and Dad from Kimber and Ryan

Opening up their one Christmas Eve gift...

Taylor, Lindsay and Brian

Bradley always has a guitar in his hands and Taylor had to get in on the action

Lindsay opening her gift from Kimber on Christmas day... a Handmade comforter

Kimber opening gifts from Ryan

Robert and I want to tell all of our family and friends how very much we love you all at this Christmas season! We are so blessed to have each of you in our lives and we recognize the great blessing at this time of year of knowing that Jesus Christ was born and lived that we might know Him and follow Him as we go through this earthly experience. We appreciate having the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. It gives us direction and guidance, peace and assurance as we face daily challenges. We hope you will each have a wonderful Christmas and that you will be able to spend time with your family and friends as we will.
We love you all...
Merry Christmas!

our family picture from Christmas 2008

back row... Melanie & Larry Reeves, Taylor, Richard, Ryan & Kimber Hicken, Lindsay, Brian, Kelli & Adam Bishop
middle row... Catherine, Mason, Chealsey, ... Robert & Janet, Brooklyn on Janet's lap
seated in front... Ethan, Nickie & Kendyl, Sadie, Benjamin, Bradley, Alysa, Tyler, Vanessa, Chase and Ryan

A big thank you to Larry for the awesome picture!!

A Christmas Challenge

Our family Christmas message is the next post down, but my daughter, Lindsay, posted a challenge on her blog and I am accepting the challenge. I challenge any who are reading this to accept the challenge too, even though it's a little late to finish it before Christmas. This is the challenge...

1) document YOUR testimony of Jesus Christ...no matter how short or simple... and share it with the world on your blog, facebook, or other internet source...BY CHRISTMAS.
2) Once you have posted it, leave a comment on my blog or email me a link so that I can read yours! (jdr24byu@yahoo.com)
3) At the end of your testimony...call on all those who read your testimony to post their own testimony of Him on their blog, and leave YOU a comment when they are done.

My testimony is so much a part of who I am, sometimes it's hard to put it into words. I am so grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ. It is something that touches everything that I do everyday. I know that this church is led by Jesus Christ and that he directs it through his prophet, Thomas B. Monson. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that through Him, I can change my life and be more like Him. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he was able to restore the church to the earth. I'm grateful for the priesthood that was also restored, and am grateful for the blessing it is in my life. My testimony, as I said before, is so much a part of my life. It directs every decision I make and how I choose to live my life. Because of the gospel, I will be able to be with my family forever and that is one of the greatest joys that I have. I am so grateful for my family and they make my life worth living. I am thankful to Lindsay for giving me this opportunity to share my testimony with my friends and family. I love you all!

Lacrosse and Christmas Lights

Sometimes, Kimber will bring Penny over to spend the day...

Brian loves it... and we love her... she´s a sweet dog!

definitely time for a haircut!

We were taking care of Penny for the day, so she got to come to Brian's Lacrosse game with us.

Brian had a fun time this year putting up the lights...

because he got to climb up on the roof to put them up

they did a good job of the front door...

SUCCESS!