Christmas morning

Christmas morning was a fun time. The boys were suprised with their presents. Mike wanted an ice fishing shelter and he got one. He and the boys also got ice fishing poles and now this will be their Saturday excursion activity for the rest of the season.

Piano Doll

Christmas has come and gone hallelujah, where's the Tylenol? My parents came to our house on Christmas eve and we opened presents. My mom and dad gave me this piano doll. They have one identical to this and my sister Lori and I try to talk our dad into giving it to us quite often, so to cure this he searched and found each of us one for Christmas! I heart her, she is precious, (I also received said See's chocolates from earlier post that I was wishing for, thanks Dad, Viva la Rum Nougat!).

Christmas Spirit

I can finally say I have the Christmas spirit...
I have had many emotional memories mostly of my Nanny and Papa pop into my head the last few days and I have had many tearful joyful moments thinking of them, but while driving to Kohler's to pick up a prescription at CECIL'S pharmacy (Shout out to Cecil, I will never go to Walgreen's again for my prescription needs, your the man Cecil)
I had an overwhelming urge to purchase ingredients to make fudge. I came home, made the fudge and now Christmas can come.
My boys are excited for Santa and I know they are thankful for the gift that they each have received from the baby Jesus too.
We are off to see a movie and then tonight we will celebrate with my Mom and Dad. Merry Christmas to everyone. Wish you were here sister.

What will you give the Savior this Christmas?

Mike and Tristan at the party, amazingly Tristan isn't making a face!
However, Mike is.

Saturday evening our family attended our ward Christmas party. Each family was asked to decide together on what gift they would give the Savior and bring a wrapped gift to represent that gift. We put the gifts on the table as a centerpiece.

We had a wonderful dinner and a beautiful program about the Christ child. Cotton performed O Holy Night on his trumpet.

We brought our gift for the Savior home and put it under our tree.

Service

This morning my family had the opportunity to serve in the Draper Temple. We arrived at 8:00 a.m. and began cleaning to prepare the temple for the General Authorities of the Church to tour the Temple tomorrow. Mike first took us on a tour and showed us the facility rooms with everything that goes on behind the scenes to keep the temple in working order. We then saw the baptistry, the bride's room, sealing rooms, endowment rooms, the celestial room too. This temple is beautiful. We cleaned for 5 hours and I enjoyed being there with my family. We are very blessed. If you have the opportunity to attend the open house for the Draper Temple in January and February you will be glad you took the time to go. The colors are beautiful, the wood is beautiful and the lighting is amazing and it is The Lord's house.

Christmas wishes

Wow, Christmas is one week away and I haven't wrapped a single gift! I better get in the spirit pronto. I love this picture of me and Huck looking at the toy turtle I received last Christmas and I must say it has been my favorite gift.
My Christmas wishes for 2008 are:
1. My mom and dad will enjoy their retirement together.
2. I will get the sewing done that I am working on.
3. My boys will enjoy their Christmas break.
4. My husband will enjoy his Christmas gift.
5. Someone will give me the gift of See's chocolates.
6. We will have fresh white snow on the ground Christmas morning.
7. Everyone reading my blog will enjoy their Christmas.
8. My husband will travel to work each day safely.
9. Cotton's ear will get better.
10. Wallace will stop eating the tree in the backyard.
11. And a partridge in a pear tree.

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today is my mom's Birthday. My Dad had a party for her last night with a sweet 2 layer white cake with Strawberry filling and yummy cherry chocolate chip ice cream. He gave her a dozen beautiful red roses and perfume and Estee Lauder make-up. I'd dare say that is all she could have asked for. My Dad loves my Mom muchely, and she is his sweetheart. I hope when I have my 64th birthday that my sweetie will give me a dozen red roses and I hope I am as beautiful as my mom too. Happy Birthday Mama!

Believe

I believe I am going to Archiver's tonight to scrapbook with Carolee. This is a highly anticipated event and I am ready to let lose, relax and have a joyful time. You will all be in my thoughts as I drink a Diet Coke, munch on carmel corn from Popcorn Poppin', and give the hostess of Scrapmania a hard time when my number doesn't get drawn for a prize. Laura and Erin, you will be sorely missed and I hope we can all do it again in January. Peace.

Goofs

Tristan and Justus are a couple of goofs. I can be downstairs in the afternoon when they are home from school and here the sound of a herd of elephants stampeding and at the same time giggling, this is how I know they are having fun chasing and hurting each other. Why do boys think that is fun? This is one of the sounds that makes my heart happy, hearing my boys in their own way, expressing love through violence and mockery. Love you boys.

Scentsy Christmas Party

Last night was our Scentsy Christmas party and we had a lot of fun. The gal standing on the chair is Raelyn who made Director in November. I wanted to make sure everyone saw her and I like teasing, therefore, the chair. I also want to tell Erva In PA. congratulations on becoming a Director of her own team in November as well.

The other pics are Raelyn and Kristie, Jess and me, Cassie striking a pose, she is always put together from head to toe and a table full of my Scentsy peeps. I love these ladies and I feel very happy knowing they are my friends. Have a 'Scent'sational day.

Count your many blessings

After being unemployed for almost 10 weeks, I am so happy to announce that my husband Mike started his new job this morning at the Draper, Utah Temple. In a matter of days last week Mike applied, interviewed, prayed extremely hard and accepted his new job.

The temple will open to the public before dedication in January. I love knowing that my husband is 'at the temple'.

We have been blessed again.

O Christmas tree

O.K. Here is our Christmas tree. My favorite ornament is one I received from my great-grandma Jones when I was about 3 years old. My great-grandma gave my sister Lori, my brother Todd and me each an ornament, and she always let Lori pick first. I was angry because Lori picked the one I wanted and I bit all the red sequins off of my cute little snail ornament in anger (life is rough when you're 3). Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

My Mom

My mom is a a wonderful gal. We spent Saturday together Christmas shopping. She has 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren to shop for and we did it all in one day.
She surprised me with this beautiful Kaleidescope quilt that she has been working on for months. When she first showed me a block she was working on this fall I told her I would love that for a Christmas present. Surprise!
Like my dad, my mom is talented as well. she is always working on a quilting project and does lovely work. Thanks mom!

My Dad

This is my Nativity. I took a picture to my Dad this week of a creche that goes with the Nativity and asked him if he would make me one. He found some old barn wood and made this beautiful creche. My Dad has made other beautiful pieces for me including a spice cabinet, a hall tree, a pie safe, a cabinet for my bathroom and many adorable birdhouses. Whenever my Dad makes something for me he will go ahead and make one of the same for my sister and Mom too. I love my Dad and he loves me too. Thank you Dad!

Wise Men Still Seek Him

On our drive home from Thanksgiving in Phoenix we saw a Christmas display that said 'Wise Men Still Seek Him', My 13 year-old Tristan commented on how the wise men sought after the baby Jesus and went on to say "That means we are wise too." I couldn't think of a better thing for a 13 year-old boy to say out loud. I hope I can be wise for the rest of my days and always seek Christ.
Now is the easiest time of the year to seek after Christ, he is around us, sometimes we just need to seek. Merry, Merry.