Celebrating with Mom and Dad!

Happiness is being married to your best friend. These two have always been best friends!

They started dating in high school and my mom waited 2 1/2 years while my dad served a mission in Germany. They were married 6 weeks after he returned home.

Everyone enjoyed looking at the memory book mom made highlighting different events over the last 50 years!

I really couldn't have asked for better parents than these two. I admire them for the wonderful example they are in marriage and just for the way they show love to everyone.

The original Holladay family all grown up!

Adding in our spouses is the best part of growing up! (Missing Matt)

We celebrated today with a nice dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building downtown.

The beautiful window view of the temple right outside the Jade room.

Wedding Day...1965 - Aren't they so adorable?

All the granddaughters sang "Do you Wanna Have a Party" (to the tune of Do you Wanna Build a Snowman). I rewrote funny lyrics reminding mom and dad of some fun memories that the grand kids remember about them. Mom and Dad loved it!

My favorite cousin, Steven, was almost like another brother to me. Every summer he would come to California and stay with our family. We used to pretend that we were twins.

After a wonderful program of toasts and tributes,

 Kim presented the gift she made from all of us.

Family is really what life is all about. Making memories with them throughout the years makes me the most happy! :)

Alli and Makell made a special trip down from Utah State to be with Grandma and Grandpa tonight. 

Although, we missed our two missionary guys that are serving missions in St Petersburg & Johannesburg.

Happy Golden Anniversary!!

My parents have been married 50 years today! I am grateful for their pure example of true love! Happy 50th anniversary Mom and Dad!! Their wedding date was Jan 29, 1965. They chaperoned my junior prom in 1985 when they were married for 20 years. Now 50 years later they are still happily in love! (1965-2015)

Saturday in Salt Lake

These two girlies make me so happy and they were so happy to finally get to do baptisms today at the Salt Lake Temple!

We couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day for January. I'm sure the couples getting married today were beyond thrilled for warm winter weather too. Such a nice place to be!

Walking around to the special entrance that leads down to the baptismal font. This dad is so enamored by his girls and treats them like princesses. I am so thankful for the great example he is in our family!

Madi picked dinner at the Spaghetti Factory in Trolley Square. Talking around the table together is part of the best memories of the day!

Where We Eat Like Kings - For Real!

This group just keeps getting more and more grown up. 

Happy Three Kings Dinner #7.

Such a fantastic tradition.

Berkeley, Alli and Derek worked on assembling the shrimp cocktails while Kayli and I arranged salads. Wendy's homemade rolls are the very best!!

 The sorbet girls - dished and served all 24 of us!

 Elder Anderson and Elder Butters came too. So nice to see cardboard Jake finally with a companion.

Our theme this year...What will we give to the Savior? 

After four other courses, it's time for the Main Course!

What is on everyone's plate this year? Rosca de Reyes Mexican bread. There are three plastic baby Jesus' hidden inside and as tradition goes...the ones who finds them gets to host the next party on Febraury 2nd, where people come and eat tamales.

If you find one of the babies in your bread slice, you are considered to have good luck for the year.

Ironically, Erika and Kayli each found one in their slice. I wonder what kind of luck this will bring for the coming year? Erika just got married to Michael a few weeks ago. That's Lucky!!

 Kayli has always been the one to help fill the shoes with goodies and treats. This year she has some great helpers.

Storyteller Dayton kept all these people entertained for most of the evening. He captivates all ages with his humorous stories and I'm sure he reminds these girls of their older brothers who are so far away.

It's always fun to light the lanterns and see just how high they float until their flame burns out.
 

Thanks Everybody. What a wonderful night!

Happiness is Holding a Puppy

A big part of our holidays was spent visiting the new Puppy Barn that just opened in American Fork. I think my girls have been here at least 10 times and Derek and I joined them for two of them.

I guess this is what it feels like to be in "Puppy Heaven"!