The West Family: His Eyes How They Twinkle...

I finally got all of these pictures scanned into my computer ... It's almost Easter ha

Yesterday Amy was looking at this picture I had hanging on our fridge. She said pointing to Santa, "who is that ?" Without thinking much about it I answered "That's your Great Grandpa West!" (He dressed up and played Santa for many, many years). Her eyes got big and she said " Really?? Oh wow! That's SO EXCITING!!!! I'm related to Santa Clause!" Her eyes were just twinkling thinking about the magic of it all! :) So sweet...I hate to think that we don't likely have much more than a year or two left of that magical wonder.

Kevin's sister, Kim, put together that cute card. The pictures are of Kevin's Grandpa West (John D. West), aka Santa Claus around 1978. The kids in Kevin's family had a tradition of putting on a play for their parents and grandparents every Christmas eve. That particular year they recreated the story "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Grandpa West was more than willing to come to their house, while Mom Dad were out of town, for a photo shoot. The pictures were made into a slide presentation and Kevin narrated the story on a cassette tape! Grandpa West had taken jewelry from Grandma West's (Amanda West) jewelry box and fastened them to his hat. He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot. His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! The beard of his chin was as white as the snow. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly!

Santa and his reindeer

Kevin, Grant, Kelly, Kim & Kristie

Up on the roof top

He filled all the stockings

Milk and cookies for Santa

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!!

Kevin's Dad & Mom took up the reigns as Santa & Mrs. Claus when Grandpa West "retired".
When he wasn't busy at the North Pole, Santa worked for the Deseret News. He tells us about when he went to the Monson's house for their family Christmas party. Pres. Monson (who wasn't Pres. at that time) sat on Santa's lap and and Santa said "Well, hello Tommy. Have you been a good little boy this year?" :)