something merry & bright

Christmas traditions

We have created many Christmas traditions over the 20 years Ian and I have been together. Some have died off and some are still going strong...we have even thrown in a few new ones.

At Christmas we have a day of baking, putting together treats for our neighbours We sometimes even muster up enough courage to carol while we deliver them one evening close to Christmas eve





We have a small box of straw that we use to symbolize our gifts to the Christ~child.
Each member of our family puts a piece of straw in the empty manger every time they do a kind deed for someone the months leading up to Christmas. The manger is filled with soft,cozy straw by Christmas eve to comfort the baby.

~before we began~





We read from a special book during our morning devotional. It consists of a verse from the scriptures,a song and an inspirational story ~ Our dear friends the Davies gave it to us about 12 years ago.

We are invited to a friends home for a special Christmas FHE. We enjoy a little Christmas themed talent show, some wonderful food and Old Saint Nick even shows up!


We spend Christmas eve with dear friends,talking and laughing and of course eating.


Christmas Morning we wake up.

Mom goes downstairs and turns the fireplace,music and Christmas lights on.

After unwrapping the gifts~this is a special gift Aaron received,his baptism blanket (comforter to represent the comfort the Holy Ghost brings us) Hey I know it is a year late ~but at least he is not heading off on his mission which is when I thought it would be finished by.......

We sit down to a traditional English breakfast
~Yummy~ Then we head off to visit Grandma/pa Puddicombe's. All 7 children,
4 in laws and 14 grandchildren....it can get a little crazy but my favourite part is when everyone gets into their PJ's the lights are dim the Christmas lights are twinkling and Grandma reads from Luke ~then we sing the carol that coincides with the verse.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

We have had a wonderful year, full of joys and frustration, hopes and achievements.
Ian and adrienne's business is growing strong and Ian continues loving the choice he made to follow his dream of owning his own business.
We have been released from the Relief Society and Elders Quorum Presidency and hit the "big Times" we have been called to the nursery....If you have never had this calling you won't understand what is about to be said "BEST calling ever"...no really at first I was nervous...really me in nursery? But WOW!!! we are loving it. These children are amazing & we love being with them.
Emma is graduating this year from High School. We will have a graduate, she is trying to decide what comes next, school ,which one and where? Major? She eventually wants to be a primary school teacher.(which we believe she will be amazing at!)She is busy right now with friends,choirs,being Laurels President, dating and driving.
Jon is finishing off grade 10, he is busy with friends, Ninjitzu, piano and of course trying to figure out how to keep his curly locks under control.
Jared is busy with choir, robotics, library help, safety guard, friends and how to build the most amazing snow fort with his best friend & little brother Aaron.
Aaron is forever busy with his friends,He is outside as much as he can possibly be. He is loving grade 3, cubs and his primary teacher.
They are all growing up so fast. It is so enjoyable as their parents, to watch them grow and develop their personalities, talents and self esteem. The older they get the more we understand our roles with them; to guide them, watch them, teach them, be a good example then let them figure it out on their own (wow, that last one is hard)
We hope you and your family are happy and healthy looking forward to the new year!

We are a happy family......(set to music)

We had a lot of fun having these shots taken. Jon was keeping us on our toes with his usual jovial wit and commentary ~ enough so that the photographer had to tell him to stop talking and get a little more serious (too bad he is so very obedient)



This site is an old farm house, the actual home stead was swept away in the 50's when a tornado "blew past these parts" ~quote taken from the local farmer who stopped plowing to come share with us the history of the area. Our children guessed he was close to 90 years old ~ just to help with the image
The location was very rustic and had a neat feeling to it (though I think our next choice will be an old red barn ~ I love that look , especially with the white snow and the deep red of the barn) Our photographer http://www.spiritualbirthblog.com/ was amazing especially considering she was 9 months pregnant (due any day) And had to deal with the cold day and our shenanigans. We hope you enjoy the pictures as it tells the story of the adventures we had that day!

Emma is one year older and wiser too.....happy birthday to you xoxoxo

Emma-leigh Elisabeth Puddicombe born September 27th 6'13 21 inches long!
WOW! Was that really 17 years ago?
We have learned much as parents, but we think one of the most important things is that these children are only on loan. We often observe Emma and wonder how old she really is! -she was born that way 'a wise old soul,' my father had commented the first time he held her - He also advised us not to squash her spirit! I certainly hope we have succeeded in this area of letting her discover who she really is and what her purpose is here.
Often comments are made by friends when in a conversation with Emma and I "who is the parent here?" She just has this quality of knowing the right path to take and making the best choice. She has a wonderful relationship with her Heavenly Father and earthly father - (is it inappropriate for me to say she has both wrapped around her finger?)
Emma is now trying to decide which college to attend and where....It only seems like yesturday we were preparing her for her first drive home!
Here are some pictures of her 17th birthday

Liam Patrick Stevens

I know I am sorry I have not been great at keeping on top of this blogging thing....actually it is the whole computer thing lately I have lost interest in
( I wonder if when phones first came out, some pioneer women somewhere said the same thing?)
Anyway I digress...
We have had wonderful news Ian's sister Melissa and her wonderful husband have given birth to a bouncing baby boy....OH HE IS SO HANDSOME!.....Liam Patrick Stevens arrived just in time for Thanksgiving!
Take a look ...






He is one of the lucky ones he has been sent to a family who will love him and care for him ...I am excited to watch this sweet boy grow and develop ... I also love observing his mom watching him xoxo so grateful for little miracles and how they change our perspective of this world!

Where it all began

We have this great tradition - Every July we head down to Palmyra New York to join thousands of other LDS and Non LDS to participate in North Americas largest outdoor Pageant
We camp (well we stay in a cabin) we enjoy family time together,swimming,playing games frog hunting etc
Though my favourite time is on Sunday morning when we head over to the grove of trees where it all began
Where on one spring morning a young 14 year old boy knelt in a grove of trees and prayed aloud to find out which church he should join
As a young boy in 1820, Joseph Smith wanted to know which church was true. As he searched the Bible for help, he read that he should ask of God. Acting on this counsel, Joseph went into the woods near his home and prayed. Suddenly, a light shone above him and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. When Joseph asked which church he should join, the Savior told him to join none of the churches then in existence because they were teaching incorrect doctrines. Through this experience and many others that followed, the Lord chose Joseph to be His prophet and to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church to the earth.