Tis the Season

Whew, what a busy last couple of weeks I have had around here!  I am just now feeling like I can take a breath!  Awhile back the church was offering tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert with special guests--singer David Archuleta and actor Michael York.  They were giving tickets away (lottery style) and I was lucky enough to receive 4 tickets.  So, John and I went with Riley and Brynn.  My sister Monica was sweet enough to take Jace and Haley.  It was an ULTRA QUICK trip to Salt Lake City and back.  We went down on Saturday the 18th and came home the next day.  It was a fun, quick trip with just the "big kids".  The roads on the way down were so scary that I felt like I was going to have a full blown anxiety attack.  Is anyone out there quite as bad as I am in the car with slick roads and fast traffic?  I KNOW that I was driving John crazy, but I just couldn't help it.  There were cars sliding off the road every where.  At one point the car in front of us went flying off the road.  Luckily they were not hurt, but that just about did me in. 

We spent our time in Utah going to the Church Museum, shopping, seeing the lights on Temple Square, eating out, swimming in the pool, and going to the concert.  Can I just say that the concert was AMAZING.  What a great way to start the Christmas season.

Visiting the Church Museum



Riley is posing like she is giving quite the sermon.



The size of the sleeping quarters for those that traveled to America by ship.

The picture above is of President Brigham Young.  I don't quite know how to explain it, but every time I see his picture, I feel like I know him.  I know that sounds completely crazy, but I feel some kind of a tie to him...almost like we are related.  You are thinking, wow, this lady is nuts!  I guess I will find out someday why I feel that way.  I do know that my great grandpa worked closely with him helping the saints cross the plains.  So, while visiting the museum I had to take a picture of him.



Love this saying!

Love this saying too!





The lights at Temple Square we just beautiful!



I can't believe how many people were at Temple Square going to view the Christus. 
What a great thing to see at Christmas time.

The choir, dancers, orchestra, bells, etc were AMAZING!

President Monson came to the concert and when they announced that he was there, people gasped and stood up quietly while he walked in and sat down.  I labeled the picture where he sat.



My girls had LOTS of energy.  I thought the trip would be quiet and peaceful without Jace and Haley.  I guess I forgot to figure in all the energy these two girls have.  They were like the energizer bunnies!

We made sugar cookies on Christmas Eve day to leave out for Santa.  I think that Haley had more flour on her dress then on the cupboard.

We spent Christmas Eve night at my mom's house.  We sang songs, and acted out the Nativity.  Due to the number of grandchildren we had SEVERAL angels, shepherds, and other participants.  It was a bit loud and hectic at times, but what can you expect with that many kids!  They all seemed to have a great time.

My sister Monica sat in dad's place and read Luke 2 to us. 

Santa took time out of his busy schedule to pay us a visit.  Most the kids were VERY excited to see him.  Some of the little ones were a little frightened.  I was so busy taking pictures that I didn't take the time to sit on his lap this year.  He was good to me anyway on Christmas day.

Riley and some of her cousins were coming up with some crazy things to ask Santa for. 
Funny girl! 



We had a program that night and Riley played the piano.  She didn't really want to, but her mean mom made her.  Brynn played a violin song and Jace sang along with her.  I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it because I was helping Jace sing.  He was a bit nervous to do it alone.

Stan read one of the Christmas stories that dad usually read.  It was/is a tradition.

My sister Lori and her husband sent Christmas cards with bracelets for EVERY family member.  So there are 50+ people walking around with these bands on.  I loved the idea.  There was a scripture included with the bands....

Helamen 5: 6-7

6--Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

7--Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.

It was a very different Christmas without my dad.  We still carried on all of the traditions, but it just wasn't quite the same without him here.  We sure miss him.

Merry Christmas From Heaven

Merry Christmas From Heaven

I still hear the songs.

I still see the lights.

I still feel your love,

on cold wintry nights.

I still share your hopes,

and all of your cares.

I'll even remind you

to please say your prayers.

I just want to tell you

you still make me proud.

You stand head and shoulders

above all the crowd.

Keep trying each moment

to say His grace.

I came here before you

to help set the place.

You don't have to be

perfect all of the time.

He forgives you the slip

if you continue the climb.

To my family and friends,

please be thankful today.

I'm still close beside you

in a new special way.

I love you all dearly,

now don't shed a tear,

'cause I'm spending my

Christmas with Jesus this year.

My sisters friend gave her this poem with an angel Christmas ornament.  I just love it.

Busy Week

It seems like I have had a busy week....and all of this on top of trying to get ready for Christmas.  For some reason, I just feel a little behind this year...mostly just in the shopping.  It is so hard to make sure that my kids get at least a few things they want (especially the older they get), and to also make sure that one kid doesn't get a lot more then the others. 

It certainly is feeling like a different Christmas season to me--without my dad.  I cannot say enough how much he loved Christmas.  He sure knew how to get into the spirit of giving at Christmas time.  MAN COULD HE SHOP!  He liked to buzz from store to store picking things out.  He loved to buy clothes for my mom.  He loved the color red, so he would pick out red dresses, suits, shirts, etc for my mom.  He always seemed to enter a store and have something picked out in no time flat.  He wasn't so much into "shopping around" and he had no problem making a decision.  This trait has not been passed to all the members of the family however.  Some of my sisters crack me up when it is time to make a decision on something.  It can be shear comedy watching them mull over a purchase (which is more a trait from my mom).

Riley and Brynn both had concerts this week that we attended. Brynn had her orchestra concert Wednesday night. She is playing the violin (this is her 2nd year).  

I was sitting in the very back of the auditorium, so I put on my large camera lens to take this picture. It looks like she is looking right at me.

Riley's concert was a choir concert and it took place on Thursday night in the same auditorium. Riley and two of her friends tried out for a special musical number and were chosen to perform it. I was very nervous for her. I know that she was nervous and wanted to do a good job. It is a lot of pressure when you are singing in a full auditorium. Their little trio sounded great!

My sweet little mom accompanied them on the piano.

After the concert we rushed over to my sister Lynette's house to watch her son open his mission call.  He was called to serve in England.  There were a lot of people both there and on the many different cell phones to hear him read his call.  What an exciting night!!  It is so much fun to watch a missionary open the call!  Congrats Austin!

Phone calls from my Dad---Christmas Caroling

A couple of weeks ago I turned the big 3-9.  39 years old, wow!  When my mom called to wish me a Happy Birthday, she told me that life begins at 40.  So, I guess I have something to look forward to next year.  My mom is always happy to turn another year older.  Her older sister Shanna was killed in a airplane accident, along with her husband, when they were in their early 30's.  The had 3 beautiful girls that they left behind.  Since then, my mom thinks that every birthday is just a blessing.  I guess it is a good way to look at it.  My sister Heather just recently found a homemade card at my parents house that I had made for my dad when he turned 38.  It was fun to see the card and what I had written to him.  I must have been around 7 or 8 years old.

The evening of my birthday, I received many phone calls from my brothers and sisters.  While I was talking on my home phone, my cell phone was ringing.  I happened to miss a call from my brother Kevin.  When I went to see who called, the cell phone was showing that I had 2 new messages.  The first message was from my dad.  For some strange reason an old message on my phone had come through as a new message.  The call took place when my dad was in the hospital.  He said many things, and that he was wondering what was happening at home.  The next message was the new message from Kevin.  I had to call my mom and tell her that dad had called me from heaven to wish me a Happy Birthday.  I cannot figure out how that old message got put in with the new message, but it was a nice surprise.
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Last night we had our annual Christmas caroling hay ride. We have been doing this for many many years.  My dad has almost always been the driver of the hay ride.  Last year he insisted on driving, even though it was a very cold night and he wasn't feeling all that well.  I thought a lot about him last night. 

It was a good night to do carol because it was warm and the roads were dry. We met at my sister Lynette's house. We had a good time visiting and eating dessert before we headed out to carol.  The kids were full of energy and we all had a great time.

After caroling we came home and went to bed.  During the night I had a dream about my dad.  I dreamt that I was standing in the kitchen and the phone rang.  It was my dad on the phone calling me from heaven.  As dreams are--half the time you can't remember all the details when you wake up.  But, I do remember that he sounded very happy.  In the dream he said to me 2 different times how wonderful the funeral was.  He also said to me 3 different times in the dream, how he couldn't believe how great his legs felt.  I called my mom this morning to tell her about my dream.  She teased me that it wasn't fair that he called me and not her.  I told her that he would probably be calling to talk to her soon.

The ALL night wrestling match

Haley LOVES, LOVES, LOVES sleeping with her stuffed animals.  She especially loves this big tan dog.  It is so funny to go in a check on her, long after we have tucked her in for the night.  It seems like more often then not, we come out of her room laughing.  Sometimes she is on top of the dog, and sometimes the dog is on top of her.  I wonder if she is waking up tired from her all night wresting match.  We sure love our cute little Haley.

I think he is getting the best of her here.  I had to take him off her sweaty head.



Two little buddies

It is so cute to watch Jace and Haley play together.  They sure do enjoy hanging out together.  I am certainly not trying to say that they always get along, and never fight.  That would be a big load of crap.  But, most of the time, they are just two little buddies.

These pictures are of Jace playing his Nintendo DS and Haley watching him.



Total excitement!



Friday Flashback

This flashback takes us back to when Haley was 3 years old. 

One evening we were driving to my sister Monica's house.  (On the drive to Monica's house, you pass several buildings that resemble the hospital here in town.)  Haley asked if that was the hospital where she was born.  We told her that it wasn't the hospital.  Haley replied, "Well it looks like the hospital!"  John said, "Haley you are very astute."  After John said that, Haley yelled, "I'm not STUPID!"  To Haley, the "astute" sounded like "stupid".

We all had to laugh.  She has always been such a little smarty.

Pictures

Recently, I took my kids pictures.  I guess I got a little carried away...I think I took about 400 pictures.  I just love taking pictures, especially pictures of my kids.  We took pictures in my backyard, and we also went to the sand dunes.  My kids ended up doing some hard core playing and rolling in the sand.  Oh, and did I mention, they were in their "good clothes".  Oh well, they had a great time.  We were out taking pictures and playing for several hours.  Time went by very quickly and before we knew it, it was getting dark and time to head home.  It was kind of like one last hurrah before snow.  And yes, we now have snow.

Haley is a cute little monkey.  I could just eat her up.

She got so excited when the wind started blowing the leaves around. 

Brynn is getting older.  I think she is getting really excited to start going to Young Womens soon.  She is also excited to start Junior High next year. 
She sure is growing up!

This picture kind of cracks me up.  Jace is just a fun kid.  He is a little embarrassed about his LARGE 9 year old teeth.  You know those awkward years where you had those great teeth.  Well, that is where he is now.  He smiled like this in a few pictures.  I think he felt better about not showing his pearly whites.  He looks like he is about to bust out laughing.

Riley is as tall as I am now.  I would be happy if she passed me up.  I always wish I was a little taller.

Haley

Last night Haley accidentally jabbed her gums and they were bleeding a little.  She kept asking me if she needed to go to see her dad at the office.  I told her that she would be okay, and that she did not need to go.  Haley kept telling me that it tasted so gross.  To get her point across she said, "This tastes like old gum stuck to a pole."  Oh boy, I hope she is not speaking from experience.

HuMoRoUs

This morning Haley was watching me get ready for the day.  I was looking in the mirror putting on makeup.  She asked me why I was putting makeup on.  (I'm not sure why she was asking because I do it everyday.)  I told her that I was going to the school to vote and I didn't want to scare anyone.  This intrigued her and she started asking questions.  Are they voting for you?  Why are you voting?  What are you voting for?

Then we got back on the makeup subject.  Haley told me it was a good thing that I was putting makeup on.  She then attempted to imitate screams from the people if I went to vote without makeup..."She is HIDEOUS!"  Thank you sweets for letting mommy know that it is important to wear makeup and not go out in public looking like Quasimodo.
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Today I went with John to lunch.  During one of our different conversations we got on the topic of being liked as a person.  John said to me, "Everyone likes you".  He questioned me on how I am able to get everyone to like me.  I joked and told him in a funny voice, "I am just a likable person".   Even though I know that this statement is a bunch of cow manure.  I know that not everyone likes me, and I guess frankly I don't really care.  I is what I is, baby.

John then went on to compare me to a cat.  He said that everyone is saying "here kitty-kitty" and everyone wants to pet me and hold me in their lap.  And every once in awhile I will scratch them with my sharp claws, and they will still try and pet me and be nice to me.

Then John said, "I am just like a dang dog...jumping up on everyone, trying to get them to like me---and they are saying, "Get away stupid dog."  He said that he is always trying to be nice to people and they still don't like him.  (Hog wash, I tell ya--people love John).

I told John that maybe he is one of those "farting dogs"---you just can't get too close because you will asphyxiate.  We both laughed about him being a farting dog.

Funny analogy sweets.
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5th Sunday Lesson

Yesterday was the 5th Sunday of the month, so they combined the Relief Society / Priesthood for a lesson.  Normally I would miss this, because I would be in Young Womens.  However, yesterday the bishop and his counselors were meeting with the youth so I was able to go be an "adult".

A man in the ward gave the lesson.  He is a lawyer here in town, and the lesson was about Living Wills, etc.  It was all good information.  When he started his lesson and announced what the topic was going to be about, I thought to myself, "Good thing I am not feeling emotional today".

While he talked my mind went---I thought about meeting with my mom and dad's lawyer before and after he passed away.  When he was very very sick, I went to a meeting with two of my brothers and parents.  My dad was making sure that all of his affairs were in order.  During the meeting, I sat and watched my dad wondering what he was feeling, wishing I could just make it all go away.  I was embarrassed that I couldn't contain my tears as I sat and listened.  And shortly after that meeting, meeting again with the lawyer after my dad passed away.

So much for not feeling emotional during the lesson at church....I could feel my face getting warm and tears welling up in my eyes.  So many of the things that he was saying, just made the emotions flood back.  I was wishing that I was sitting in the back of the room, in the corner.  But no, I had chosen a seat in the front side of the room, so that I was facing the majority of the people in the "L" shaped room.  Nice.  Hopefully I was able to be somewhat discrete as the tears began to fall.

Good heck, I miss my dad.