Must Be Santa

 

Oh how I love our Santa pictures each year!  I love that all my teens (except Connor away at college) do this HUGE thing for me each year.  I want to keep the pictures up forever.

 

 

 
And not to be outdone by all the kiddos-  Bridger (Ben and Susie's dog/kid) was pretty terrorized by Santa!  Really, I can't quit smiling!

Christmas Eve- Snicky Snack

Best Snicky Snack Dinner- foods too numerous to mention.  Cheese fondue and every kind of appetizer.  Chocolate almond fondue with blackberries, raspberries and Rice Krispy treats for dessert plus all of Doug's wonderful candy.

 
 
Best Save- when Ben's smoked salmon appetizer hit the floor.  5 second rule.
 
 
 

Best Jammie pictures- 5-way tie!

 Ryan and Marci's bunch

below- Ben and Susie and their kid/dog Bridger

 Tanner minus Brooke, Annee and Peyton

 Brandi and Doug's Bunch

 Travis and Tenille's bunch

 Grandpa and the boys

 Grandma and the girls

 

 

Best New Game-

 

Had to be Pie Face.  We laughed our heads off.  Although we did have some other favorites I'll share another time.

 

 

 

Best Carolers EVER-
10th year in a row- The Wilson's.  They keep growing faster than us!  Oh how we love them!

Best Nativity-
Ours from 2009 is always a hit.
But if you haven't seen The Southland Christian Church's kid's nativity- go to YouTube.  We had to play it over and over and over and over.

Best lines-  "He's gonna be our best friend."  "He will save the world."

Best Christmas Day- I LOVE when Christmas falls on a Sunday.  Our sacrament meeting was combined with Little Cottonwood Ward- and the musical numbers were fabulous- and friend Kent Norton gave the Christmas address.  Oh!  the music.  And the Spirit!  And the sacrament on Christmas!

Christmas is just plain happiness!!!

When Things Don't Go Exactly As Planned

  In 2009, we had a great Christmas home evening- where we shot one of our favorite nativities- one that we actually showed this year.  It is such a treasure.  But rereading old postings showed the behind the scenes of that night:

 

 Mary- pregnant with twins!

 

 

(note:  it was the year that we had two baby Jesus'- Nash and Noah.)


I would post more pictures of our two babies but frankly, it was a long night. Think major chaos. Think pandemonium. Think wild children, frantic moms and grandma, think camera that keeps running out of battery. Think men who are suppose to be watching half the children who are not yet in costume. See men talking and watching sports on tv. See men oblivious to children running through the house like thundering camels. See Brandi looking at me shaking her head. "What was I thinking?" I was thinking idyllic. I was thinking peaceful. I was thinking Hallmark card. I was thinking that 3 men could easily handle 4 kids at a time while we were taking pictures. I was dreaming. I was dreaming of a warm bath. I was dreaming of quiet. But we still had dinner to get through. I quietly put away the nativity puppet show that was going to take place. I quickly dismissed the idea of Santa Advents we were going to make. I did what only a desperate grammie does in that situation. I hauled out more candy. Gave those kids more sugar so they were really wound up. REALLY big suckers. Ice cream bites. Then we sent all those wild Israelites home with their parents. I won't even mention the one child that was left behind. Aren't family home evenings great!!!

Lazy People

Okay, I have been searching for hours on the computer looking for lost pictures- a lost nativity - and found this post from 5 years ago.  (I did find the pictures and Nativity- it was on a secret back-up file- go figure....)


Lazy People- December 2011

Brandi shared with me a quote this morning ....to make me feel better. I think she saw it on Pinterst and it said,


"Organized people are so lazy! They refuse to spend all those hours looking for things."


Yesterday I was high-five-ing myself when I finished the grocery shopping and the present shopping and all the deliveries and was home in great time. The sun was shining, the air crisp and I have felt "so on top of things" this Christmas season which brings me peace and joy.


All I wanted was to get in my jammies by dark (5:00 here!) and watch Christmas shows and wrap presents.

I got out all the bags for the kiddos Christmas jammies and, being a little smug, since I bought them all in October- waaaay ahead of the game- and started putting tags and sizes in the correct bags.

One nightgown gone. I remember taking one out of the bag and showing it to Tenille and her sister Heidi to see if it was "okay."

Who knows WHERE IN THE HECK it ended up...certainly not in the bags with all the others.

Truly it could only be in 4 rooms. I've searched and searched and searched. There was nothing peaceful or joyful about it.

I tried to make it into a scavenger hunt. I like those. And this is what I found:

A TON of kiddos things. I have a new lost and found pile that EVERYONE is going through when they come tonight for snicky snack dinner.

I found a wedding card for Brooke and Tanner. They have almost been married for 3 years. Yes, he still has "stuff" in his closet. The wedding card had a $50 gift card in it! (I hope there isn't an expiration on it!)

I found a book of Forever stamps. Just in time for holiday card sending. Except this is the first year ever I've not sent Christmas cards. Somehow that just didn't happen. But I LOVE reading all the ones we get and especially seeing everyone's pictures! The mailbox is a treat every day.

I found a Christmas present I got for my MIL last year. Yahoo! Guess what she is getting this year!

I found my mom and dad's "hats" they wear when they come (in the guest closet.) Now I'm really homesick for them....


No nightie.

So I had to hop in the car, this morning and head to the store to see if possibly/fingers-crossed/can't believe it would be there/and in the right size/whew! the traffic!

The store was closed. Had to go hang out in another store until the first store opened. Can I just mention that I always wonder at Christmas time (or anytime) why Target has 24 cash register lanes and only 5 open. Walmart had 10. Yesterday at Shopko, they had 3 open with about 12 lanes. AT least 6 people in a lane.

Just wondering.....

Not that I'm complaining. I received my Christmas miracle. The nightgown. The size. Last one. I'll take it.

With time to spare. And I was able to do some errands for Brandi and scored on them. (I even made it to Costco. On a Saturday. On the day before Christmas! Crazy!) And now, although I don't think I'll get in my jammies, since it is 1:00 p.m.- I'm going to find a Christmas movie and wrap presents. And drink some Cranberry Mist. And feel some peace and joy.

Love the season. Love the reason.

When I'm sure my kids won't be on this site, I'll post our nativity. I loved how it turned out. (I wish I were smart enough to do a music slide show here.)

I hope everyone is breathing. I hope everyone is happy. I wish I were a lazy person that never had to search for anything.....

life would be so calm...

Crossing the Finish Line

 

My favorite part of barrel racing is when the cowgirls go around the last barrel and make a dash across the arena going a hundred miles an hour....to finish!!!!!  Woot-woot!  I feel like that as I've made my LAST trip to the store (if I had a brain I could have cut the trips in half...)   and now!  It's just put the final touches on things.

This Christmas season has been wonderful!  So many sweet miracles and occasions and friends and family and doing #Lighttheworld and having some sweet meditative time about the reason for the season.  That is a great blessing at this age- time for quiet reflection.

Thursday night was our Christmas Girl's Night Out at BFF Cathy's home.  Cathy and Terri hosted.  Everything was so beautiful and we went around the table and everyone shared the best and
 the worst of this past year.  Tender and uplifting.  Love these friends that make me laugh and cry and feel so loved.  We've been together for about 35 years! 

 


Last night David and I got to work on our annual strata project.  We always had strata when the kids were growing up for Christmas breakfast and now I send it home with each family on Christmas Eve for their Christmas breakfast.  So yummy!

  Got most of my neighbor gifts delivered.  I do a traditional gift each year but a few new ones.
Most people get the paper goods to help with their dishes!  I love Hobby Lobbies- since they are in sets of 20.

 This year I decided to make some Copy Kat Chilies salsa.  It is delicious and the easiest dish on the planet.  Recipe on the cooking blog.

 Oh the sweet neighbor gifts we've received- all sorts of yummy foods that we'll share tonight at Snickie Snack dinner.  Apple bread, fudge, caramels, chocolate popcorn with peppermint and Christmas crack, lumberjack mix- on and on goodness!  We are blessed!

It is such a season of love and sharing.  I have loved praying every day to be able to help those that I can.  Have had some sweet experiences.  In September we had our Stake Women's Conference and I missed it because I was at my dad's but Jan England shared some thoughts of it in a talk in church.  President Monson's personal secretary for the past 35 years is a gal that lives in our Stake and she spoke and shared some beautiful experiences with the prophet.  One was a promise he made to the Lord when young- "God, if you have something that needs to be done, send Tommy Monson."  I want to be like that.  Willing.  Available.  It is such a joy during the Christmas season and every single day.

Merry Christmas to my posterity that might be reading this- and anyone else who drops by.
Isn't God's love a miraculous thing! Celebrate!

Parenting Tip for my Kids

My Stay-vacation

 
A week ago, David left for Las Vegas to see the National Rodeo Finals.  It goes on for 2 weeks but the second week is all the World Series Roping for a week so David got to see both.  Also a lot of clinics and all sorts of Cowboy stuff.  I had a plane ticket to fly out on Thursday and we were joining Lynn and Laurie Barnson- but things came up and Laurie and I decided not to go.  Travis actually flew up so he could hang with his dad and Lynn.  David's brother, Lyndy, roped in the World Series but didn't win anything this year.  This was the roping that David qualified for but that particular roping was on Sunday and David doesn't rope on Sunday.  It was kind of a bummer but of course the best choice.

So I had a WHOLE week alone!  And alone it was- Cathy was in Georgia almost all week, Brendalyn in Hawaii- bummer! 

70% of the week was lovely.  I did some Christmas wrapping, watched Hallmark Christmas movies (they always end with a kiss- lol), did some service, got a facial, got my haircut, made a big salad for a funeral (our sweet June D., 100 years old died!  She was our Grand Marshall in the Granite parade this year!), spent some time with friend Penny- then Bucket and a cousin's lunch!  So I guess I wasn't alone ALL the time! 

Bucket was at Libby's whose home IS ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS from around the world.  Libby served a Danish meal (she and her husband served over the Danish mission years ago.)

Meatballs and gravy, glazed carrots, red cabbage and bread and a wonderful fruit pudding served with cream and gingersnaps for dessert.  We also do a small gift exchange so we come home with all sorts of goodies- homemade turtles, homemade peach syrup with pancake mix, bread, - just lots of love!

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, a cousin, Patty Conn was in town from Montana and met Zella and I for lunch and browsing at Gardner Mill.  They decorate the whole village with elves and things- it's a little cold to hang out like we do at Witchie Days.  Love these cousins and that we finally get to hang out a little together!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Wednesday is my regular temple day which was lovely- then Friday night Nilda C. called and had hurt her arm and needed a substitute for Saturday.  A part of me wanted my last day alone- but then I realized what better thing could I do during Christmas (or anytime) than serve the Lord in the temple.  And Saturday was LOVELY! Heart be still.


I love the simple pleasures of the season.  The grosbeaks come about this time of year and I love to watch them pop the hawthorne berries into their mouths.  We have a herd of deer that live at our house and every time I come home, they have to decide if they want to get up from laying on the grass and act nervous or just lay there.  Since we don't have dogs, they feel pretty safe.  We are getting lots of snow in the mountains!  Yay for all my skiing family!

So glad that David got home safe and sound last night and that he had such a fun week. But he did come home sick- I do not want his cold!!!!

Tried a new recipe this week- homemade hamburger buns!  In less than an hour!  Mostly I just wanted to play with my cool measuring cups that Charm Girl Fay gave in her gift basket this year.  These are made by Weight Watchers and are rubbery and collapse!  Really I could play forever with these ....
 

 

 

Recipes for the Danish foods and the hamburger buns on the cooking blog. 

Light The World- Family Party

Brandi and Doug hosted the kiddos family Christmas party/gift exchange.  We usually do this at Snicky Snack dinner on Christmas Eve but Ryan and Marci and family are going to Guatemala over Christmas and won't be here.  Brandi and Doug are the best hosts ever. 

First we had a taco bar- really a burrito bar.  I took shredded pork and taco hamburger and tortillas and everyone else brought all the fixings.  Brandi made dessert tacos.  So cute!  She spread Egg-o waffles with ice cream and carefully folded them and froze them.  They were served with homemade hot fudge sauce and Christmas candies.

 

 
After dinner, Brandi had put together a Light Up The World Activity.  It was marvelous.  Kind of a service scavenger hunt.  We divided up in cars and the task was on.  Brandi made a cute graphic at the top (and on the envelopes) but it wouldn't copy in my document. 
 
 

(Here is the text minus graphic) 

#Lightuptheworld 2016

You have 45 minutes to complete these tasks.  It is not a race, but try to do as many as you can while making sure your acts are meaningful!  Use the hashtag #lightuptheworld on any notes you write or leave!  Have Fun!!

·       Return 5 shopping carts

·       Tape this popcorn and a sticky note on a Redbox machine (If there is already one there you cannot leave a second one)

·       Buy a candy bar and when going through the checkout ask the cashier and/or bagger their favorite candy and buy them one and give it to them after you purchase it.  Take the second candy bar to a pharmacist or bank or drive up window and shoot it up the tower or give it to a random stranger.

·       Hold the door open for 10 people and give them a warm, holiday greeting.

·       Have each member of your group write a thank you note to someone (a grandparent, coach, teacher, leader, parent, friend, neighbor, Bishop, ect.)

·       Take your $5.00 and buy a treat or item to go into Grandpa Darley’s Stocking

·       Take $2.OO and buy as many candy canes as you can, candy cane bomb a parking lot (attach to windshields)

·       Put $1.00 in a salvation army bucket

·       Wash 3 windows at a gas station while people are pumping their gas (ask for permission first)

***************************************
When we all got back to the house, each group got to share pictures and funny stories that happened.
David, Ben and I had Peyton (age 5), Addi (10) Elijah (11) and Noah (9).  This is at a Maverik  store where they asked the tellers what their favorite candy was- then the kids bought it and gave it to them.  The guys insisted on a picture!!!

I had Peyton stay in the truck with David and Ben because I was worried he would be run over in the excitement.  When we got back to the truck, David and Ben were laughing.  Apparently Peyton had said, (and this is soooo him.)  "All those that need to go to the bathroom, raise their hand."  They look in the backseat and there he is with his hand straight up. (Another time, at our house, Peyton came into the house and said, "Grandpa, if someone came in to the house and they were cold, they would want hot chocolate."  David said, "Peyton, are you cold?" and he said, "Yes!") 

I wish I had the picture of Susie trying to drive a motorized cart in the parking lot.  Lots of good laughs and the kids loved doing the service.

(Note:  we put 5 $1 bills in each teams envelope and each team had to have $5 to contribute (for my Dad's gift.)  Those bills are what was used for all the activities.

When we got back to the house- the kiddos had their gift exchange which is always crazy fun. 

Love this girl of mine that works so hard to make everything special.  She has been so sick for over a month- still having to work- having cat scans and MRI's- and yet with a blinding headache still did all of this for us.  Love all our kids and kiddos.  We were all there except Connor who is still in Alaska.  29 people to love!!!!!