A little Christmas in Tucson

After getting home from the cruise we had a few extra presents from Nonna and Papa to open at home. Three Christmases for these kids!

 Jay was so excited about Mouse Trap! I remember loving it too as a kid.

 Jay was a good helper and helped Amaya unwrap her gifts too :)

Here are a few pictures we took with Santa at the airport. It was a pretty cool setup!

Back on Land, Miami

After getting off the boat we stayed 2 days at a beautiful hotel that Lynn got for us at an incredible price! The hotel was so beautiful and it was fun to finally check out Miami. I had never been before.

 Looking through pictures and videos of the trip :)

Cousins!

We love Grandma!

Pool time!

A yummy treat :)

Then it was time to say goodbye. We were so sad to leave. We had such an amazing trip and just wish we could be with these people we love so much more often. We love you all!! Thank you for the incredible vacation :D

Jill and Lynn's Words of Advice

Jill and Lynn decided for Christmas they would give all of us their "last words of advice." The words of advice they want us and their posterity to have, things they have learned throughout their lives. Happily we don't have to worry about these really being their last words but we are so grateful to have them!

Family as I read recently Lehi’s last words to his children

 I wondered, what would my last words be to our children:

Hmm…I began to write--

·      First, hold to the iron rod, daily pondering, repenting, seeking good, feasting on the wisdom from the scriptures.

·      Without trite repetition, open up your heart to Father and share, talk, commune, listen morning and night on your knees.

·      Stay far far far from evil or anything that is not pure and uplifting.

·      Be wary of wasting time on trivial unimportant time-wasters.  There are too many IMPORTANT things the Lord needs us to learn and to be his hands.

·      Serve family.  Serve extended family. Serve in your wards.  Magnify your callings, serve neighbors and community.  Make a difference in the world.

·      Be kind to ALL.  Don’t put yourself above others.

·      Oh be wise. Oh be wise. In all things carefully choose, especially in what you think about.

·      Negativity is poison.  Stay away.  In thought and word.  “Never speak guile.”

·      Make the temple your second home.  Record questions, impressions, inspirations, lessons learned, prayers uttered and answered, even the people you do their work for.

·      “Perfect brightness of hope.”  My motto.  Develop your faith and trust in God.  He knows the beginning from the end.  Trust.

·      Beware of complacency.  “Wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!”

·      Follow the prophets.  Read, study, ponder their words often.  Even daily.

·      Soften your hearts, humble your souls until you have the Pure Love of Christ for ALL, no matter the situation or who they are.

·      Forgive.  Forgive.  Forgive.  Forgive. Forgive.

Be as Nephi, “I did frankly forgive them ALL that they had done…”

·      “Open your mouth.”  Share the gospel with those around you. Be a walking testimony of Christ.

·      Keep the commandments.  Keep your covenants.

·      And finally, laugh, giggle, feel JOY every day. 

What would I say to my grandchildren

if I were to die soon? 

Or die in 50 years?

·      The first thing I’d tell them is that almost every day I have prayed for my little ones to do one thing:  HOLD ON TO THE IRON ROD!  Never let go—listen to the teachings of your parents—they will continue to teach you righteous principles. Stay close to your parents.  Honor them. They have sacrificed much on your behalf.  Pray for them.  A little secret---they will actually give/allow/trust you more if you do just a little more than required (come home five minutes before curfew, volunteer to help with extra duties, be ready for school and church five minutes early, be extraordinarily patient with siblings at difficult times).  It works.  I know.  I’m your mom/dad’s mom!

·      Love your brothers and sisters.  Friends will come and go, but it’s family we want to be with at important times.  SACRIFICE TIME for each other.  BE TOLERANT.  BE FORGIVING.  Let go of JUDGING.  Just love…and love is a verb—so DO for each other.

·      Keep ALL the commandments and your covenants.  Strictly observe the Word of Wisdom.  Never ever satisfy your curiosity regarding drugs, alcohol, tobacco or sexual promiscuity.

·      Follow our prophet.  Read and know what they want us to do.

·      Read your scriptures daily.  Ponder a word, a phrase, a verse—let the words wash through you to change you. 

·      Pray, talk to Father every morn, every night, Listen to the ideas the Holy Ghost puts into your mind.

·      Laugh, giggle, feel JOY every day. 

·      Finally, refer to your parents “last words to our children.”

  

Dad and/or Grandpa’s Advice to

our Children & Grandchildren

·      Don’t get into debt unless it’s for a house or schooling.

·      Put in a full day’s work for a full day’s pay.

·      Make an extra effort to let go of judging our family members—JUST LOVE THEM.  (They are exempt of certain things.)  Be extra tolerant and forgiving of family.

·      Who you choose as friends provides the most accurate forecast of life altering habits and choices: drug and alcohal abuse, good grades, discipline in taking care of your body, view of everything.

·      How you deal with disappointments or challenges in life will determine your success and happiness. Focus on the solutions not the problem.

·      Decision making: The immediate outcome has little to do with whether the decision was wise.  (Roulette wheel, Harvard insurance story, U.U. stock market story)

·      If you can’t be on time, be ten minutes early.

·      Look at the cup half full, not half empty.

·      Don’t get your panties in a bunch.

·      “Nose papers” are vital at all times.

·      Don’t eat yellow snow.

·      Just cuz you can, doesn’t mean you should.

Day 6, Mexico and more cruisin'

On our final cruise day we stopped in Cozumel, Mexico. A few of us went diving while Jill and Megs watched the babies. They were so sweet! We don't have many pics because we couldn't take the cameras diving. Here we are all geared up though. It was Martin's first time and he did so well!

Here are some more fun pictures of the cruise :)

Chocolate dessert night!

 The movie player was a lifesaver!

Day 5, Christmas!

Day 5 was a day at sea so we found a little chapel on the cruise ship, hijacked it and had our Connelly family Christmas. It was so fun because we had all previously drawn names and this year everyone made their Christmas gifts for each other. It was so fun to receive the amazing homemade gifts but I think it was even better to GIVE them after all the work we had put into them!

 Singing our opening song, "Once there was a Snowman." Chosen by Jay :)

 Celebrating our recent graduates! Rob graduated from the U of U with his Bachelors in Economics. Megan received her Associates from BYUI and Martin received his Bachelors in Spanish Education. Way to go guys!!!

 The kids got to go first. They got a few gifts from Grams and Gramps that weren't homemade :)

 Rob made a cool fort kit for Jay. It was complete with blankets, sheets, safety pins, clothespins and more! Jay can't wait to make some awesome forts with his Uncle Robbie.

 Jill made this INCREDIBLE wall hanging for Megan. It probably took her hundreds of hours!

 She made this adorable wall hanging for Melis too :) I'm so amazed and jealous of her sewing skills! I know it has taken plenty of practice and a lot of talent too. 

 Jay's gift to Rob. We took some cool old records, heated them up then molded them into art!

 This present is a picture of Jay and Rob we modge-podged onto canvas.

 Reed got a cool shoe shine kit custom made in a GI Joe tin lunch box.

 We also made him some cuff links out of Brazilian coins!

 Lynn made Melissa a bird house!

 Melissa made me a cute jewelry hanger with custom knobs. I love it!!!

 Reed gave Mike two cool picture frames with pictures of our family in them to put on his desk at work.

Martin and MiMi made Amaya adorable little puppets to go with a cute children's book.

Since Martin just joined the family he didn't get a homemade gift (we didn't have time to plan!) but he did get some yummy Giorgio Armani cologne.

I made Brookie a block with the temple on it that says, "I'm going there someday..."

I also sewed her a playhouse that goes over the top of a table. It has 4 sides; school, garden, shop and house. It took me SO long but it was so fun! I hope she loves it :)

Melissa (wish a little help getting pictures from the other kids) made an adorable calendar for her parents. It was a Merry Christmas for everyone!