Annual Christmas party

We held our annual K.D.Crittenden Christmas party on December 19th. It was kind of fun having it in the old 4th. Ward building.

The kids had fun running around and playing with one another.
Here they are, captured in a quiet moment, but not for long.



The traditional meal at our party is a Mexican meal of homemade enchiladas, tacos and all of the fixings. I am reminded each year of the blessings of my mission and Christmases spent in Mexico.

Grandma Crittenden always had the grandkids dress up and act out the Nativity story. We have continued that tradition with the next generation of grandkids.

Over the years we have decided it's easier to dress them up and pose them. They are too restless to act out the entire story.
It's fun anyway. We hope they understand the significance of what they are doing one day.

Polar Express 2009

Every Year, Linda and I take the opportunity to work aboard the "Polar Express" during the holidays. A dress rehearsal is held at the beginning of the season to give the families of the volunteers an opportunity to ride the train.
We used to be able to take the entire family, but now we have to alternate years. This year it fell to Anna and Alisa's families.

Preparing to board the train.


Meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus

Kaily wants to be an elf next year.

Fun aboard the train.

It's All About Family

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." Desmond Tutu

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven."
Sir John Bowring

"There can be hope only for a society which acts as one big family, not as many separate ones." Anwar Sadat

"The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family." Lee Iacocca

"One Nation Under God"

Well worth the time to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IpRVwsm478
Here is a shorter version. Also very good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VUo8OuFaiI&feature=related

We all need to do more to help maintain the freedoms we have enjoyed our entire life. We need to get involved in politics and make sure our voices are heard.

Olivia's blessing

What a beautiful day !! We had the opportunity of having our 17th grandchild, Olivia Paige Nielsen blessed in our home.
Patricia and Jens came up from Blanding. Jens' parents were here already, so they decided to come up and bless Olivia here. It was a beautiful day. We had our November birthday parties earlier. The blessing was planned for later.
All of the family were there except for Kesha and Doug. Grandpa Crittenden and JoAnn came over. Jens' parents and his brother Kailen, along with his fiance, were here also. Bishop Berg came by so that the blessing was official. Jens gave Olivia a beautiful blessing. Everyone enjoyed cookies and ice cream after. We all enjoyed visiting after the blessing.

Check out my blessing dress! My Grandma Crittenden made it.

Neilsen Family



Crittenden Family



Grandma JoAnn takes her turn with Olivia.

Annual Halloween Party

We held our 4th. annual Crittenden Halloween Party on October 24th. This year the party was held at Jenny's house and we celebrated Kaitlyn's birthday along with the party.The family met first and had lunch first, macaroni and cheese with mummy dogs. Some of the grandkids came in costume, and the rest were dressed up after lunch. After lunch we set up the games in the backyard for the kids to play at the party.Kaityln had invited some of her friends and they came and joined in the games. We played bob for apples, twister, fish pond, ring on the witches hat, and duck pond rings. After the games everyone joined in the fun trying to break the pinata. It held up pretty good, but finally burst open to a shower of candy. Cake and Ice Cream were served as the party came to a close.

James' mission call

James was called to the Brazil Belem Mission on July 7, 2009. The mission is located n the NorthEaster part of Brazil, right on the Amazon River.
He was scheduled to report to the Brazil Missionary Training Center on Oct 21, 2009.

A letter came from the church on September 11, 2009, changing his mission call to the Brazil Teresina Mission. We discovered that this is a new mission, created from the Brazil Belem and Brazil Fortaleza Mission last July. This is the 28th mission in Brazil. It will allow many areas to be opened up that haven't had missionaries before.

James was still scheduled to fly out on October 20th, arriving at the Brazil MTC on the 21st. A week before he was to leave, information came from the church that he was to report to the MTC in Provo, as his Visa to Brazil hadn't arrived yet.

James entered the Provo MTC on October 20, 2009 at 11:30 a.m.
He's off to a great spiritual adventure. Weknow the Lord will bless him as he serves among the people of Brazil.