WELCOME MASON!

Mason Brayden Eliason joined our family on April 9, 2010. His parents are Brayden and Allison Eliason. He weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 inches long. He seems to be a very happy baby.

A picture with Grandpa Scott illustrates how tiny Mason was!

Grandpa Scott and Uncle Glenn

Mason with Mamo....

Great-Grandpa Mackay.

Grandma Alaine and Mason

Grandma Alaine, Mason, and Allison

Never a Dull Moment

It seems like there is always something going on around here.

In January, Glenn and I spent a day a Discovery Mountain skiing - well Glenn went snowboarding. It was a beautiful day, not too cold and and hardly anyone on the slopes.

In February Jessica Anderson and Jamie Parke hosted a baby shower for Allison. That gave her a good reason to come home for a visit. It was over President's Weekend.

Allison and Alicia.

Kenzie and Katie

Allison had to sit down to put on the 'cowboy clothes' for one of the games.

Alaine tried to 'lasso' the baby bottles with a cowboy hat.

Allison had way too much help with the gifts. Kenzie, Katie and Weston were very excited too!

One of our Valentine's traditions is to decorate sugar cookies. We had great fun with all the helpers.

Katie

Weston

Brayden, Kenzie, Katie and Allison.

My Dad - Boyd Wright Woodward

“Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones shines down to let us know they are with us.”

I have often wondered how I would react to the passing of one of my parents. I could say what I would do or say, but that sometimes doesn’t hold true when you get in the situation. Well, I recently found out. My father passed away January 20 at a care center in Twin Falls, Idaho. He had been there since the fall of 2009. His quality of life had deteriorated for sometime and it became hard for him to take care of himself. It was even harder for Mom. He was enduring to the end, but didn’t know how soon the end would come. Dad was a working man – always busy. But he received his wish – to go in his sleep. I am thankful that he was able to go that way. I am thankful that he was able to move on. Now he can be busy again and his mind can be active. I know that we will be together again. Brett sent me a card and wrote inside “…I hope all will be well as we move on with grandpa watching down.” I know that it will.

HAVE YOURSELF A MACKAY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Christmas at the Mackay house was wonderful this year. It is hard to figure the words to express everything so rather than do that, pictures are worth thousands and thousands of words. Enjoy our Christmas slideshow.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This is such a wonderful time of the year. We want to wish a Merry Christmas to our family and friends. When I ponder the Christmas season and why we celebrate it, I am reminded of a quote from President Gordon B. Hinkley in December 2000:

"This is the wondrous and true story of Christmas. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea is preface. The three-year ministry of the Master is prologue. The magnificent substance of the story is His sacrifice, the totally selfless act of dying in pain on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of all of us.
The epilogue is the miracle of the Resurrection...

There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.

For each of you may this be a merry Christmas. But more importantly, I wish for each of you a time, perhaps only an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God. Our joy at this season is because He came into the world. The peace that comes from Him, His infinite love which each of us may feel, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that which He freely gave us at so great a cost to Himself—these are of the true essence of Christmas."

Love,

The Mackays

The BIG "Hunt"

Since we have been in Montana, we have realized that the Friday after Thanksgiving is a part of the hunt - for deer and elk, or Christmas bargains. In recent years, our annual hunt has been for our Christmas tree. We enjoyed sharing the time this year with Allison, Brayden and Glenn. The guide for the hunt is our dear friend Norma.

Allen and Jenny went with us four years ago when Ethan was a baby. Since then have cut and shipped a tree to them each year. (We 've even shipped trees to Amber when she was in Texas.) Ethan called the other day and asked if we could please get them a tree. When asked whether to get it as big as he is, he said no. We needed to cut it as big as his daddy, that he was only four and his dad was 18! He said it would be the "best Christmas tree ever." We agree!

Thanks for Thanksgiving

I have admired the 'corn shock' of a neighbor for many years and

so this year for the first time created one of our own from the corn
grown in our garden.

The Thanksgiving holiday is coming to a close and we had a wonderful time together. I enjoyed the challenge presented on Facebook to post something that I was thankful for each day. I've decided that since this is a 'living journal' that I would like to re - post those as a part of my blog.

I am thankful for:

1. The freedom that I enjoy in this country and for those who have served and sacrificed to preserve it.

2. My health - I realize that I am over half way to a hundred, but despite a few aches and the need for a little more sleep, I am healthy - I have my vision, my hearing, all of my organs function and am disease free.

3. Great friends and neighbors . We live in such a great community among wonderful people.

4. Warm home and the many comforts of life that I enjoy - I am grateful to live in a time when we have electricity, modern kitchen appliances, computers etc

5. Employment in a place that I feel that I can contribute and help others. I have great people to work with - they are almost like family to me.

6. My heritage - my ancestors who lived before and paved the way in so many ways. They sacrificed so much.

7. Extended family - I have been made to feel a part of the Mackay family and love them all so very dearly.

8. Education and the opportunity to learn. There is so much to yet to learn.

9. Music - it is good for my soul, even though I only participate with my ears.

10. My garden - it was such a fun adventure to plant and then realize the law of the harvest. We still have tomatoes ripening in the basement!

11. Chocolate - I am so glad that it has been determined to be healthy!

12. My grandchildren - I love being a part of their lives - they make me smile even when we aren't together.

13. My children - I am so grateful for each one and the good lives that they lead. I am grateful for their love.

14. My 'children - law' - I so appreciate Julie, Jinni, Jenny, and Brayden. I am grateful for their being soul mates to Wes, Brett, Allen and Allison

15. My husband, Scott - I am thankful that he loves me. We are the best of friends.

16. My Savior, Jesus Christ - I am grateful to know him, for his sacrifice for me, and that I feel his love.

17. For Thanksgiving and the opportunty to realize how very blessed that I am.