Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning were very quiet at the Galler household this year.  This is the first time that Steve and I were alone for most of the holiday.  It seemed different but nice.

Steve and I enjoyed a yummy steak dinner for
Christmas Eve.  It was quite delicious!

Here's another view of our table from a different angle
on Christmas Eve.

After dinner and dishes were completed, Steve and I
enjoyed listening to this beautiful story narrated by
Walter Cronkite.  It has always been a favorite
Christmas story of ours. We also watched a movie
called "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" with
Jimmy Stewart and music by the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir. 

After listening to our story and watching our movie, we
opened our scriptures to Luke 2 and read the
story of Christ's birth.  The older I get the more I
realize just important His birth was to mankind.

We opened one gift together on
Christmas Eve.  I prodded Steve to
open the picture he's holding above.  I
have wanted it for some time as it reminds
me that Christ is next to me at all times
even if I don't always recognize that fact.
The picture is entitled "The Road to Emmaus"
inspired by the story from the New Testament
in Luke about two men who are walking to
Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Christmas morning Steve and I unwrapped our gifts.
Both of us received Lenovo laptops. 
We are very excited about them.

About 12:30 on Christmas Day we headed
for Summerlin Hospital to visit our sweet
grandsons who are still in the Special Care
Nursery.  We dressed them in the little
sleepers pictured above and waited for Santa
to arrive for more pictures.

We couldn't be prouder as grandparents!

Aren't they precious?

Santa finally arrived, and we were able to
snap a few photos before he left to visit
some of the other children in the hospital.

The nurse convinced Steve and I that we should be
in one of the group photos, so here's our moment
of fame with Santa and The Ellsworth family.

Steve and I stayed at the hospital for about an
hour and then we headed for Sacrament Meeting.
After church The Ellsworths arrived at our home
so we could celebrate Christmas with them.
Everyone opened gifts.  Cali was
especially happy to receive "Lily."

Ashton liked his new PJ's and was enjoying
his new monster trucks and baseball tee as
well.  He's a very sweet little boy.

After all the presents were opened we had a nice
Christmas dinner.  Everyone was happy and in
good spirits.  We enjoyed pork roast, potatoes, beans,
jello salad, french bread, and brownie sundaes.  It turned
out pretty yummy if I do say so myself.

After dinner we had a pinata for the kids
to play with.  Both took a number of turns
before it fell apart to reveal all kinds of
yummy candy.  It was fun to watch them
having so much fun.

After The Ellsworths left for home, Steve and I headed for Kim and Linda's house.  We played a fun board game and then had crepes with yummy toppings.  It was fun to be part of the Sutton family as Christmas Day came to an end.  When all is said and done, Christmas is about the Savior and recognizing what His birth and life means to each of us.  It is also a day to spend with family and honor those eternal relationships that are made possible through Him whose birth we celebrate this day.

New Pictures of Melanie and Ryan

What a cute couple!
(Scott King Lake; Ardmore, Oklahoma)

Ryan's favorite hobby is fishing, so
this picture seems appropriate.

Happy Couple!

Santa is in Town

Yesterday afternoon Thomas, Natalie, Cali, Ashton, Steve, and I went to Bass Pro Shops because we heard Santa was in town!  We weren't disappointed; he wanted to talk to all of the children and have his picture taken with each one of them. 

After waiting in line for awhile it was finally Cali and
Ashton's turn to talk to Santa.  They told him
what they wanted for Christmas.  Now we just
have to wait and see if they've been nice enough
to get all those presents they want.

Grandpa had a chance to relax at Bass Pro Shops while
we waited for The Ellsworths to arrive.

It seemed like everyone who came through the
doors of Bass stopped and had their picture taken
by this pretty fireplace.  The Ellsworths were
no exception.

Cali and Ashton are standing
by one of Santa's elves at Bass
after speaking to Santa.

Everyone had fun playing the games
 at Bass even Grandpa.

Doesn't she look cute sitting in a winter wonderland?

Ashton enjoyed looking at the big
fish tank next to the Bass Pro Shops.  The
big ornaments were so colorful and pretty.

Two happy grandkids by the fish tank!

Santa stopped by our house yesterday to drop
off two early Christmas gifts for the twins.  He left
a note saying he would be at the hospital on Sunday
to visit and take pictures of them too.  He's such a
nice guy to remember all the children even the
ones that can't be home for Christmas.

More Hospital Pics

This was my first official day off from school as it is winter break.  I spent the afternoon at the hospital and Christmas shopping with Natalie.  It was fun, productive, and relaxing.  I love holidays, and I love my family. 

The nurse told us today that both babies now weigh a little more than five pounds.  We were visiting when the doctor examined the babies.  He said that he did not think the babies would be home for Christmas, but they are gaining weight and slowly starting to nurse a little more each day.  Santa will be at the hospital on Christmas afternoon.  We are looking forward to his visit and being there for the twins first pictures with Santa.

Cali likes to hold her baby brothers.

Grandma likes to hold her grandsons.

My hand may help you see how
small this little boy is.

One more hand shot

Ben's name tag on his crib.

Weston's name tag on his crib.

Here's another hand shot to get an idea of his size.

Grandpa came to the hospital too to visit his
new grandsons.

Natalie's hand on a very relaxed, peaceful baby's tummy.

Back to the Hospital for Bathtime

I've been sick for the last two weeks with a bad cold, so I decided not to go to the hospital until I was feeling better.  Today was the day that I finally got back to see the twin boys.  They still look so small, but they are off the ventilators and doing much better.  They still require feeding tubes as they are not nursing much, but each day seems to make a difference.  Steve took Cali and Ashton to Costco while I watched Weston get his first bath by a therapist who was teaching Natalie and Thomas how to wash a preemie.  It was fun to be part of this monumental day.  Tomorrow Ben will get his first bath.

Weston is in the back while Thomas gets him ready
for his bath.  Natalie is holding Ben.

Natalie and Ben

Ben sleeping away; he looks so nice and cozy.

Natalie, Thomas, Ben, and Weston

Here's Natalie, Ben, Weston, and me.
This was the first time I have held the babies.  In the
picture I am holding Weston.

Natalie has her arms full holding
the twins.  She looks so good already
even though it's only been two weeks since
she gave birth to these beautiful babies.  Ben
is in her right arm, and Weston is in her left arm.

Steve went to Costco with Ashton and Cali while I stayed
at the hospital with Natalie and Thomas.  Steve brought
pizza and drinks for us.  We are outside the Special
Care Nursery where Ben and Weston are hospitalized.

Steve and I took Cali and Ashton for a
few hours this aftenoon so Natalie
and Thomas could go to the show.  We went
to the park and to McDonald's while Natalie and
Thomas had a little time to themselves.  It was a
fun day spending time with  our sweet grandchildren.

Ashton had a lot of fun playing on all the
exercise bars at the park.  I bought both of
them matching green turtles at the gift shop in the hospital. 
They hauled them around the entire afternoon both at the park
and then at McDonald's.  The turtles definitely
were a hit for Cali and Ashton.

A Little of This and a Little of That

Here's a post with a combination of items.  Julie and Jace came for a week from Washington so Julie could attend Leah Schlauder's funeral and be part of the activities surrounding the birth of the twin boys.  We didn't take too many pictures while Julie and Jace were here.  I was sick and out of commission for some of the days they were visiting.  However, we spent the first three days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, in good form attending the viewing and funeral for Leah and attending to The Ellsworths.  I know Natalie was happy to see Julie because Natalie cried when she saw Julie in the ICU at Summerlin Hospital. I definitely think the girls have strong bonds that tie them together through thick or thin.  It's nice as their mother to see the love the girls share for each other.

Julie's first look at Weston Clark Ellsworth

Here's Natalie and Julie in the ICU at
Summerlin Hospital.  Weston is in the incubator
behind the girls.

Julie and Natalie are standing by
Ben Steven Ellsworth's incubator.  I bought
matching blankets for the incubators.  It looked so
sweet to see them matching and to have
them say "we're twins" without using words.

We were hoping the arm would show just how small
this little guy really is!

Natalie's hand is inside the incubator to help us
see how small little Weston was at birth.

One day I came home to find everyone
outside our house climbing on
the plum tree.  I always think it is
cute to see the grandkids in
the tree.  It's a good size for
practicing climbing skills.

Jace had a great time.  I can't seem to
get him to look at the camera, but
he was having a lot of fun.  He kept
saying it was his turn on the ladder.
He's learning to share as is Ashton.

Jace is contemplating his next move.

I couldn't believe how high Cali could
climb.  I was wondering how strong
the branches were up that high.

There are lots of shadows, but you can see both
Jace and Cali have mastered the task of tree climbing.

After Julie and Jace left for Washington
and the week was over, I headed to the
temple to complete my last bridal attendant
assignment.  It was peaceful and a beautiful day.
As I was leaving, I decided to walk around to
the side of the temple to take a picture
of these statues.  I was there all by myself,
and it gave me a moment to contemplate
the birth of Christ and the birth of our
twin grandsons.  What a precious moment!

When Steve and I were
in Missouri over Halloween
weekend, we attended Heather
and Chad's stake conference.  The
stake president challenged everyone
to read the Book of Mormon in 90
days as a way of expressing love
toward the Savior.  Steve and I took the
challenge, and we are about 30 days into it.
We are hoping to be finished reading by
Valentine's Day; a day to show love
for those who have done so much
for us.  Christ would certainly fall
in that category!