Monday, December 23, 2013

Happy 12th Birthday Kate

Today is the Day!  Kate has been waiting for months...maybe years for this big day.  Kate is 12 years old and now a Beehive in Young Womens.  To celebrate we had a huge family dinner with all of Kate's favorites.  Things like Ben's fettuccine, honey lime chicken enchiladas, parmesan cheese toasts, etc.  Everything starchy that Kate loves.  (We did have a few vegetables as well).

And CAKE and ice cream.


Grandma Jackson made a cuddle quilt that Kate absolutely loves!


Kate is haBEE to be 12!


Kate wishes to thank you all for the great gifts and for helping her have such a nice celebration dinner.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Christmas Deadheads!

Stacy sent pictures of one of the Jackson traditions...or at least the John Jackson traditions.
Grateful Dead t-shirts for everyone!






 Ben looking awesome on his water polo team.  Merry Christmas from San Clemente!


And from Fair Oaks.


Nice trip to Oregon.  Need the details Mom and Dad!




Thursday, December 5, 2013

December 2013 News


We are finally settled in our new home! We moved at the end of August to Cottonwood Heights and we love our new home and the area. We have been staying busy with work and our new callings. I'm in charge of the Ward Newsletter and Noah is an Elders Quorum teacher. Finn has been making wonderful progress lately. He started rolling over and can hold his head up all on his own. He also has been more alert and aware of his surroundings, he gives us lots of smiles and laughs and loves to be around people. He absolutely loves music, I'm convinced he will be some sort of musician one day. We haven't been to many doctors appointments lately and we're taking a break with testing and it's been so nice. It seems like since we've stopped, he's been progressing a lot more. We're letting him do his thing. 

We're looking forward for Christmas in our new home. We've already got all our decorations up and our Christmas shopping is done. We are on the ball this year! We love you all and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Zemkes


A favorite Christmas Tradition among the John Jackson family is receiving Grateful Dead shirts from Grandpa.  I don't know when the tradition began, but for years John has picked out Grateful Dead t-shirts for everyone in the family.  As the family has grown, and Grandpa has started to lose track of who already has what shirt, he has started to vary in his gift giving.  But everyone in the family owns at least a few Grateful Dead shirts that they fondly remembering receiving on Christmas from Grandpa Jackson!

Staci Jackson
stacijackson2@gmail.com






Check out the Jackson Five blog for the "Grandkids 12 Days of Christmas"  What a great idea Staci!


Hi guys!, This is Kate Chatfield.

My choir has been practicing hard for our big concert! We are singing with B.Y.U vocal point in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle! We are also singing with about 200 other people! The concert will be televised on National T.V.! I am so excited! i will make sure to tell you guys when it is and where it will be on T.V.! On Dec. 2 i will be aditioning for my schools play called Cinderella! also that evening i will be going down to a retirement home and singing for them! it will be lots of fun! in December my birthday and the forbiden carols are coming up too! lots of things! But that`s always December for everyone is`nt it? well happy thanks giving and up coming christmas!

As u all know its now December! Yay!! Well not for us! (or at least me) It was all snowy! (Dec. 3,2013)
This is Kate! To day i am very happy i got in my play today we did call backs i might be Cinderella the godmother or the girl mouse!
yay me!!! I am so happy! But all of us don`t know until friday who got in and what part happy winter!

love Kate Chatfield

Sunday, December 1, 2013

A Celebration of Christ-Kate's Performance



Kate's Hobble Creek Choir was invited to take part in an Interfaith Christmas performance at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.  The girls got to hang out with Vocal Point (BYU's premier nine-man a cappella ensemble), Jenny Oaks Baker (one of America's most accomplished violinists and daughter of Elder Oaks), and a whole host of amazing, talented professionals.  Was a beautiful and inspring way to invite the Christmas Spirit into our December. 


Once we arrived at the tabernacle we were ushered to the "Talent Entrance".  Kate said she had never been referred to as the "talent" before.  It was kind of nice.


Foundation 4Life organized the whole event and provided all the performers with several meals and a great place under the Tabernacle to practice.  It was called the "Horseshoe".  There were many halls, rooms and probably a whole host of other things we didn't see...all under Temple Square.  I've heard Dad talk about the tunnels he used to play in as a kid under the Temple and also under the Capitol.  



For the next 5 hours all the performers came together and practiced for the upcoming matinee and evening performances.  (The girls did have about a 45 min. break to walk over and shop City Creek...that was fun.)


Kate was extremely impressed with Vocal Point.  Her choir was invited to come to their dressing room for a private practice.  Kate said all nine guys sang to the girls in the choir.  Swooning aplenty! 


 The tabernacle was sold out for all performances.  Kate and the choir loved the whole day of "Celebration".



After the performances we were able to enjoy the lights at Temple Square.  Beautiful.


Thanks to Grandma Jackson for hanging with us from 8:30 in the morning till 10:00 at night.  It was fun to have her clapping and cheering all the while.