Christmas Eve at the Manwarings

We love our family and friends, and we hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

The Duke of Christmas says, "Let the festivities begin!"

(As far as dogs go, Apollo is a sell-out!)

The most wonderful time of the year!

These were taken at our Ward Christmas party...Nate cried when he sat on Santa's lap.

I love this picture of Lauren!


We had lots of fun making the gingerbread house...I do believe that's chocolate on Nicholas face.

Gratitude

I think for most of us, this time of year gets us thinking what we're grateful for. This year I feel especially grateful for the blessings we've received. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for healthy, beautiful children and a husband who's willing to work multiple jobs to support his family.

My heart is full when I think of the valiant men and women serving this country, so that we may continue to be free.

Many of my extended family members and friends have lost every possesion they own, except for each other. The amazing thing I have found, is that they are still happy because they know what is most important in this life, and it has nothing to do with possesions.

I'm grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I'm also grateful for the personal life lessons I've learned over this last year; it has changed who I am forever.

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” Elisabeth Foley

It was so wonderful to see one of my closest friends, Terri last week! I've had so many wonderful friends that move away, but every time I get a chance to talk with them, it's as if we've never been apart.

Veteran's Day at the Farm

This was a baby calf that had just been born an hour earlier.

The Unfriendly Cactus

Clark had a campout with his troop almost two weeks ago in the Superstition Mountains. They had a friendly night time game of "capture the flag", and Clark tackled a Barrel Cactus instead. He had literally hundreds of cactus needles that had to be pulled out...a bloody mess. Well, we thought all was taken care of, but a week later clark came home from school and said he was having terrible pain in his shin. I checked out his leg, and felt a cactus needle almost an inch long embedded deep inside his leg. Fun times. He had to have minor surgery to remove it!

In this picture, the cactus needle is next to the cut.

Sorry if this is too graphic! Clark was a total trooper.

We're back!

Sorry it has been a few months of no posts...we've had some computer troubles, and have had to wipe out our machine a number of times. I will attempt to be consisitent again.