Van Natter - January

Already one month down in 2014. Hope you all started the new year with a bang!

Our year started with Addie's new haircut which got rid of the straighter ends and left a mass of gorgeous curls. I've been amazed at how many people have asked if they are natural!!

John and I got a new group of 14 year olds in Sunday School. They are so different from our last group. Much quieter but good to participate. They just don't talk over each other all the time! Those boys last year could NOT be quiet! They are a good group. We have a girl who was just baptized at Christmas-time, so we gear the lessons for her understanding. She didn't have scriptures so we got her a set. We also have a boy whose family has just gotten reactivated and he was ordained a Teacher just last Sunday. If we can keep those two coming, and not lose any of the others this year, we'll call it a success! We do love teaching Sunday School. These Come Follow Me lessons are amazing. We are having them do journals this year so they have a place to keep all the papers we give them.

Season 4 of Downton Abbey started! Something to look forward to watching again! Do you love it? This photo is misleading though isn't it, since it shows Matthew and Sybil. Why?!?!

Neil turned 6 months old! He is sleeping better but he is a bit of a fuss-budget when awake! Reminds me very much of Ian as a baby - he was seldom happy, until he was 3 years old!! Neil giggles, mostly at Addie's antics, and there's no sound like that! He 'talks' a lot, which is adorable. He still sleeps in the car most of the way to and from Provo which makes the drive to preschool a bit easier on Emily. We just adore this little guy and realize what a gift it is to get to see him every single day of his life so far.

Addie wakes up early, runs all day but hardly eats, adores her daddy, is beginning to think Neil is okay, wants to help us no matter what we're doing. She has spent hours in this box - sometimes it's a plane or a boat or the Octopod (from Octonauts on TV) but usually it's her art studio where she paints the walls and floor, puts tape everywhere, then starts again. She has the adoration of 5 adults here and we just can't get enough of her excitement about life.

John and I celebrated the 37th anniversary of getting engaged, January 23rd. He ALWAYS remembers before I do and almost always brings me flowers. The silly boy even went to get me some even though he'd torn a ligament in the bottom of his foot (he didn't know that yet) but he was hurting so bad he had to leave the store.

Yes, John's limping around with a torn ligament he got from using the cement stairs a whole bunch over a couple of days at work plus overdoing it in his workouts. He has lost 70 lbs!! I am so proud of him. He sets an amazing example of self-discipline since most days he doesn't eat during the day except for dinnertime. He still works out - they have a gym at work - but he avoids the treadmill now.

I'm keeping busy with digital scrapbooking, lesson preparations, and time with the little ones.

See you next month!

Moulton Dec/Jan

Thot I better post some pictures before more time passes. We had a busy December as I'm sure everyone else did too! Things have slowed down considerably and it's nice to enjoy a quiet evening by the fire! Jess is the master at peeling grapefruit! So that's a fun treat we enjoy most nights too!
Jess' High Priest group was in charge of the Christmas 'Party' for our ward, along with the Sunday School presidency and the Ward Mission Leader. We decided to host a "Night in Bethlehem." Several on our committee had attended one before. We had not but I've always been intrigued with the idea so we ran with it! Jess and I were in charge of booths. We originally were planning on setting up in our Cultural Hall but it was simply too small. We used "Easy Ups" for the booths. Luckily, we were able to schedule the Stake Center which easily had double the room plus a stage so we were in business. These were some of the booths at our activity:

 This was ours: Bar Jonah's Bakery: We had 10 diff flavors of bread.

 Peter's Produce: This had mainly fruit and cheese chunks.

 This was Sarah's Sweet Shoppe: Of course, this is where you could get dessert!

 Ruth's Rentals was for anyone who didn't bring something 'Biblical' to wear.

 Philip's Fun Shoppe was a hit with the kids. Jess made lots of old fashioned toys and we had old fashioned candies too.

 This was Delilah's Deli: She served Salads, deviled eggs

 This was our Bethlehem Inn for those who couldn't sit on the floor

 This was the entrance into Bethlehem. They had to pay their taxes (canned food donation) before they entered the city and also visit the Money Changers to get their 'gold' to pay for each food item.

 Jess' counselor made these trees! I'm convinced we ought to rent them out! I'm pushing for a Johnny Lingo Party this Summer!!! There was a large ladle on the side of the well with water inside for thirsty travelers.

 This was our Stable. Mary and Joseph were walking around the 'city' looking for a room while others ate dinner. Wish I had a picture of the Missionaries. They were our Roman Guards. They had silver spray painted football pads on, feathered helmets and pvc pipe spears in case anyone got out of hand.
We had a narrator who read the Christmas Story. Little children were the sheep with our shepherds and the Wise Men brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

I left off the Main Dish: Canaan Cafe. They served a chicken dish and rice on flatbread with this amazing tomato cucumber relish stuff as well as roast beef. Yum! We also had a Winery open for parched patrons!

Jess recorded some awesome 'Jewish' music which we played while people were milling around the city. It was really cool!We had only some dim lights over the stable and each booth had twinkly lights. We asked everyone to bring their own lanterns which really added to the cool ambiance!

The only down side to this evening was that Salem received 8-12 inches of snow that day. I couldn't even get out of the driveway. Thankfully, our bishop saw me and came to my rescue. Then when I got to the Stake center, and he miraculously showed up there too and got me shoveled out close enough to the door to get me inside! Whew! Almost everyone dressed up! We were amazed. And the snow didn't seem to keep anyone home! It was really a fun activity! Since we were at the stake center, we had more people from diff wards begging us to leave our set-up for THEIR parties! Great way to start the Christmas Season!

Christmas was wonderful with all the kids home. We had our annual Family Christmas Party. The appetizers were divine as usual! We added a new Santa Sleigh Derby (thanks, Linda) and young and old seemed to really have fun! Bryce/Amy/Avery won the event! (I think! It's been a few weeks!) Scott flew in just in time for the party. So fun to have him home. Marianne had flown in with Baby Grant a few days prior and Nic drove in the day before the party so all my kids were there. Everyone left with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Sadly, no pictures! What's wrong with me???????

It was a treat this year to have Packer's come early on Christmas Eve. We shared our traditional dinner of ham, cheddar bacon potatoes, Stephanie's homemade rolls, salad, grilled pineapple, deviled eggs (Scott loves them!),  Amy's green bean casserole and lemon passion. After dinner, we all piled in cars to go to the cemetery. It's tradition in Utah County (and actually started in Salem) that everyone lights a candle/luminary next to their loved ones' grave. So we set up several next to Jess' mom's headstone and drove around enjoying the twinkly lights. Dozens and dozens of luminaries line the cemetery's entrance. Really beautiful! It's a magical, almost reverent feeling. We love it!

Santa was good to everyone this year! It was relaxing and so much fun to watch the little ones discover what Santa had left them!

The next day, we went to get family pictures.

It was sad to send Scott home since we're not sure when we'll see him next! Marianne got to stay 3 weeks so we could really be in misery when Grant left us. We adore our grandchildren! What a blessing each one is! 

It's a New Year! Hope it's a goodie for everyone! 

Love, Jess and Annette

Van Natter November & December

How did we get so far behind??

NOVEMBER
November was a bit of a blur. Emily continued taking the kids to Provo on Monday and Wednesday so Addie could attend Heidi's preschool.

Baby Neil rolled over. Still waiting for him to roll back.

John got a new hobby: installing a "Comfort and Control" system. First one was Iris, but when the new Staples one came out, he switched. It's much faster. We can control lights and furnace from our devices. He is having way too much fun with this! We can install remote control blinds in the living room window and open/close/adjust them from our tablets! I doubt he'll stop till we're fully automated and then he'll just keep upgrading!

Pretty much the whole family got sick but were better by Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving at Annette's. Always a fun and happy time. Next year we plan to have it at Emily's new home in Farmington. Annette won't have to host for once! And we won't have to drive for 90 minutes each way!! Win-win!

My camera died so I have no pictures. Just imagine everyone smiling.

DECEMBER
December began with more sickness. Baby Neil ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. We knew something was wrong when all he would do was lie on our chests and nestle under our chins. Emily even took him to the Urgent Care and they said he didn't have strep or flu and sent them home. When Jacob came home from work he didn't like the looks of things and took him to the emergency room, where he was admitted for 24 hours. Emily has photos if she ever catches up!

During that week I was trying to write a talk for Sacrament Meeting while babysitting, etc etc. There was some definite divine help because I found all the resources I needed to put the talk together easily - like butter! And when I timed it the first time, it was exactly the length it needed to be. That never happens! I always over-prepare and have to cut/cut/cut. Tender mercies!

Emily and I braved taking both kids out at the same time and hit World Market and Trader Joes in SLC for stocking stuffers, etc. The kids were great and we had a ball just getting out. Emily and I never ever go anywhere together because of the kids, so it was a special moment.

Although it wasn't a typical December ( I only put out a handful of nativities, baked one thing only, very little decorating of any kind, etc.) I tackled a project called 24 Days of Giving that I learned from the site "Daily Closer to Christ." It was fun to look through my little cards with ideas on them and decide which thing I would do that day. So I sent some $ to missionaries who wouldn't have had a Christmas, paid for someone behind me in line,cheered someone up, lifted a heart, and remembered a forgotten [new] friend by giving her the ring I'd worn all year- "Light" - that reminded me of my word for the year. When I learned on a message board that she had chosen that word for this year I offered her my ring. So a gal named Debbie is wearing it in Gilbert, Arizona! It was a very do-able, Christ-centered project despite the craziness of life with babies. (I feel for you young moms!)

The family party at Annette's on the 22nd was fun as always. The appetizers were delish and varied. I made Funeral Sandwiches (or ham and swiss sliders) which were easy, yummy, and well-received. [recipe to follow] We had the little ones do their own White Elephant exchange and that was such a hoot trying to get them to sit in a circle, pass the gift around while the music kept playing... Luke was the essence of patience with the three 3 year olds: Sophie, Avery, and Addie. This was the first time that I actually had the hot chocolate and I now bow to Annette's wisdom in making it from scratch instead of using powdered mixes like I always suggest. John and I drank it driving back home and it was just super-duper yummy! [Yay, Annette!]

Christmas Eve we changed up our traditions, dropping the Bethlehem Supper we've done for so many years (decades!) and instead having cheese fondue. Easy, delicious, and many thumbs up!

Christmas Day was just perfect. Neil took a long nap at the right time, Addie was delightful and happy to play with each thing she opened - so even after we were all done she still had unopened gifts and didn't even care! John surprised me, thanks to Annette telling him I had pinned this, with a beautiful origami-looking nativity.

Our kids surprised us with a travel bag full of treats and books, and then an envelope stuffed with cash!! Lots of cash! So we can take a trip. No idea where we'll go but they have certainly taken the edge off the pain of paying for a trip.

I'm sure there are lots of details that I have missed, but just know we are enjoying this time with the kids here. Of course we look forward to having a clean and tidy and quiet home again. But when that happens we'll be missing them so much. Good thing they will only be 20 minutes down the road. [In case Emily doesn't update they are scheduled for an April or May move-in. Depends on what the winter holds.]


Our love and best wishes to all of you for a wonderful, happy, prosperous, healthy, exciting and delightful 2014.
love Kathi and John (recipe below)

FUNERAL SANDWICHES
Ingredients
For the sandwiches:

• 24 King’s Hawaiian Rolls
• 24 slices deli slice Honey Ham
• 24 slices deli slice Swiss cheese

For the glaze:

• 2 sticks butter, melted
• 4 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons mustard
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tablespoon finely minced onion (or 2 tsp. dried minced onion)
• Poppy seeds, for sprinkling

Instructions
1. Cut the rolls in half. Lightly oil or spray baking pan with Pam. Line the bottom of a baking pan with the bottoms of the rolls. Layer the ham slices, then cheese and place the top half back on.
2. In a medium bowl mix together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar and onion. Pour the entire concoction over the buns, drenching each one. Sprinkle each sammie with poppy seeds. Cover tightly and marinade anywhere from 4-24 hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, uncovered or until cheese is melted and bun tops are a bit golden. Serve warm!

November and December Greg Cottrell Family Update

 

On Oct 30 Greg accept a Director Operations Support in North Platte, NE. We spent many days painting, decluttering, organizing, taking down pictures, cleaning, boxes up many shelves of food storage and extra “items.”  Had a handy man come repair a few things in the house, brought in the “stager” for pictures, took pictures, and listed our house with a great realtor.

 

(Basement Before)

(Basement Packing)

Dad, Greg, and Lindsey made trip to North Platte to look at house and learn more about the area, while Mom C. babysat the kids. The homes in North Platte are “older” although there are some newer and new construction homes south of the town. Some of the homes made us really realize how truly lucky we were to have the home we do.

Within a week of our house on the market we had two showings. Greg started work in North Platte November 25. The plan was for Lindsey and kids to stay in Omaha until we found a house in North Platte that would fit our needs, which was going to be hard.

On November  23 we had an open house, which three people attended, and also managed to have smallish early birthday party for Sarah. She had 5 friends over and we had pizza, did a couple crafts, frosted cupcakes, and opened presents. We showed the home again the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Sarah’s Birthday

Sarah’s Birthday Lunch at School with Lindsey

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Des Moines with all the Cottrell Family. The food was wonderful as always, Mom out did herself. Of course we enjoyed the pies to, I think we had 13-14 pies this year.

Black Friday Julie and Lindsey did some shopping and in the evening surprised Mom by taking her out for Peppermint Hot Chocolate at Starbucks. (We did that last year to and now it’s become a tradition) The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins and going to see Frozen with Grandma and Grandpa (Adam preferred to stay at home at watch football).

On Saturday was Sarah’s 8th birthday so we had some “cookie cake” , opened presents. We put trick candles on it and Grandpa thought the smoke detector was going to go off.  We also  went to see Santa at the Merle Hay Mall before heading back to Omaha.

Greg headed back to North Platte the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

On Dec 4, after three “real” days at his "new" job last week, Greg decided that it wasn't a something he wanted to do.  He wished he could have done a job shadow to get a better understanding what he would be doing. The job description didn't include a lot of things. He will admit that he made a mistake in accepting the job. The good news is that he was able to stay with Union Pacific in the finance department, but in a different group under a different director. He is currently working in an audit group ,so he does have a new job, just that we will be staying in Omaha!  Adam also had an orstatra concert on Dec 4, he did a great job on cello. Unfourntally he decided not play anymore. Greg and Grandma C surprised him by showing up for the concert.

After the concert we went to McD’s and had dessert and also told the kids and Mom C that we decide not to move. The all thought we were kidding at first, but were all very happy.

We’re glad he figured it out now instead of in three months or after we've moved there. We took our house off the market Dec 5.

Once we know were staying in Omaha we decided to make part of the basement into a “playroom” and move our food storage area to a different part of the basement and do some reorganizing. We’ve spent many hours of organizing and unpacking but things are coming along. It’s amazing how much stuff we’ve been able to donate to goodwill, and more to go. The kids are loving their new area, along with a craft table, and more space for Legos.

               (New Playroom, it’s a little messy)

The beginning of December we finally started Christmas shopping, isn’t online shopping the best!!! By December 14th we finally got our Christmas tree and decorations up.

We also decide to baptize Sarah on December 21 so Lindsey parents could attend. Mom and Dad H arrived Dec 19. Lindsey loved being able to spend some time with them: shopping, going to lunch, and getting ready for the baptism Saturday.

A big storm due to hit Iowa threw a little wrinkle in baptism plans and we had to move Sarah’s baptism up to 2pm instead 4 pm when 3 other kids were also being baptized. Thankfully we were able to reach a bishopric member so he could attend, find a key to the church and baptismal font  so we could allow enough time for it to be filled and set up the Relief Society room. It was a little crazy busy, but everything fell into place. Thankfully. Dad C. preformed the baptism and Dad H confirmed her. Mom C gave a wonderful talk and Julie and Mom H did a great job with music.

That evening we took  Mom and Dad H. to Bass Pro Shops and the Gingerbread display at the Trail Center at Winter Quarter.

(My ward’s Gingerbread Display)

The next morning Mom and Dad H had to leave a day early to beat a snowstorm going to hit Wyoming.

We had wonderful Christmas. Hope your families did to. It was great to have Mom and Dad C, and Grammy here for few hours too.

Gingerbread Houses

Christmas PJ’s

Candy Sled Races

Bethlehem Dinner

The last year have been a roller coaster ride, especially the last three months, but our experience have taught us a lesson of gratitude and put thing into  perspective. 

Our goal this year is to spend more enjoyable moments as a family.