Merry CHRISTmas!

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?

It came without ribbons.

It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled "till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before,

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

Black Friday

Erin, start saving your money for next year!

Where is Waldo? I mean Jake? He is in the back seat of the car!

We wore comfy clothes - tennis shoes and sweatshirts. We didn't get the memo to dress up! I couldn't believe how dressed up everyone was to shop at midnight! Now I know their secret! They can dress like that, because they shop Black Friday at Park City!

We went to Park City Thursday night and stayed at the Holiday Express Inn - very nice! We arrived at about 9:30 p.m. and decided to take a nap before the midnight shopping started. Scrap that, we decided to go to the outlets early to see if there were stores open. We were shocked at the steady stream of car lights. The parking lot was full already! WHAT WERE ALL THESE CRAZY PEOPLE DOING?

We did not stay long because of the masses of shoppers! Some stores were wall to wall people. After a while, they had a a person at the door of the store, and when someone came out, they would let someone in! You couldn't look at the Merchandise, because the lines were wrapped through the whole store!

We went back to the hotel about 2:00 a.m. and thought we would sleep and get up early. THINK AGAIN! We had Jake with us! Never a dull moment with him!

When he is awake it is as Morgan puts it - dance parties, riddles, random shouts of excitement etc.! So why would it be any different when he is asleep? It is not!

He is as crazy asleep as when he is awake! We are all just starting to snooze and He starts talking! It was Jibberish, but we could understand some of it - and then wham he elbows Morgan in the eye! OOPS he thinks he as the the store and someone is trying to take something from him (I think a blanket) and he is not going to let them - so he elbows them! Only it is Morgans eye, and she is asleep! We hear a thud! Oh, it was not funny - but we were so sleep deprived that we laughed until we were crying. As crazy as Jake is, he is also sweet - he was really sorry and apologetic. Thanks Jake and Morgan (good sport) for the entertaining night!

We did get up and shop shop shop! The masses were gone and the deals were Great! Was it worth it! YES YES YES! The sweet deals and the sweet memories!

I think this was the 6th year we have done this and hope to continue - Jake was on his mission a couple of years, and Paige is away at school this year, but that is why we have traditions, because you can always count on next year!

Thanksgiving 2009

The table with the beautiful flowers sent by who? The Turkeys on our plates made by Cooper & Spencer!
I understand Derek helped too! Good Dad!


The Huge family gathering!


The workers! Derek is the master potato masher!

Big brother Cooper helping Spencer put on his coat, so they can go outside and run!!!

Sadie, wondering why she can't come in and eat with us!

Thanksgiving has come and gone!

I was worried that it was going to be Sunday dinner on a Thursday. We did not have a huge family gathering. It was Jay and I, Morgan, Jake, Derek, Erin, Cooper & Spencer. Paige and Phil could not come from school - finals this week for Phil!

I should not have worried, because there is something special about the day of Thanksgiving! It must be because we pause in this crazy fast paced world to be Thankful!

Getting Ready - Kinda!

I went to the DI to drop off A LOT of things we aren't needing anymore! I took a quick walk through and did not leave empty handed. I bought a cake pan to add to my growing collection!
It was a $1.00!!!

I also bought this dresser- changing table! I should be cleaning and cooking to get ready for the big day, but instead I am painting! It is all done, but needs some cute glass knobs!

Had a request for the color - it is Behr paint from Home Depot - Palace Rose, interior flat. The stain I put on it is Miniwax special Walnut 224.

Don't you love to put olives on your fingers and eat them? Spencer sure does!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!! (I have a lot to be grateful for)

M&Ms, a sewing project and a pattern!

Another fun get together with the M&Ms. Missionary Moms - and yes the missionaries are all home and we are still friends. We were going to cut quilt squares for Hope Squared, but instead we WORKED really hard at visiting!

A realtor walking through our house, made fun of my pull down ironing board. He said, " I bet this gets used a lot." and he laughed. Little does he know - it gets used everyday! It is an odd size and I couldn't find a ironing board cover to fit. The one I made is cuter anyway!

I am seeing a pattern in my behavior - I take pictures of the sky, the trees, the flowers and the mountains a lot! I must like them!

This is what I look at every day! Ben Lomond

P.S. Today I am going in for the dreaded colonoscopie! Nothing is wrong, it is just when you turn 50, they recommend you have one! Well the day Jay turned 50, he made an appointment. Me, I am 53, it took me 3 years to decide I really could do this! Wish me Luck! Oh, and I have had a lot of crappy jokes!

Just Because!

You know I had 3 girls, before Jake was born. We were a very girly house, and thennnnn, the girls left! Now I am out numbered for the first time in my life and I am adjusting to a very boy house! I am getting used to ESPN on all the time, and rough housing. Jay and Jake like to push each other around, having fun, until someone gets mad. What is really weird, in 2 seconds they are over it! Not like girls!

It used to be 4 girls and 2 boys!
Now it is 4 girls and 6 boys! We added 2 son-in-laws (the best) and 2 grandsons (the best)

It is a good thing, Jay & Jake are so nice to me, or I might cry !

Spring!

Is what it felt like this weekend, in sunny St. George. With green grass and flowers blooming, I forgot it was fall!

I made some new friends too! When you put 50 people on a bus for 7 hrs. coming and going, your bound to bond!

This trip was a board & spouse retreat for the Davis Chamber, and it was GREAT!

One of the best parts, was while the board members were meeting, the spouses played! A few of us went on a hike, and it was a hike! 5 hours later, I returned to my room, tired and happy! We walked the sand and red rock up to the top, and found a cave!

We ate, played games (washers) ate, went to a dinner show in Mesquite, ate, visited, ate, ate, ate. The funny thing is we were at the Red Spa resort, and you could only get healthy food, very good food, but when the bus pulled out and stopped for a break, everyone bought junk food!!!

Too Cute! (This one is for Paige)

I was babysitting these two little stinkers and they were loving the weather and the leaves !

Spencer is taking a break! Ha Ha, too cute!

IN LOVE!

I finally got around to painting the green shelf in my pantry, and WOW I am in LOVE with it!

If your interested , the paint is from Walmart. Latex Flat Wall, Color Cosumal Aqua - # 91402. I was not too happy with the quality of paint (like water), but the end result was GOOD. The stain I put on after, is Minwax brand - Color Jacobean #2750.

Gotta go, I can't wait to paint some more furniture!

3 doors!

(This picture was taken from my back porch)

A challenge given in a great talk!

Before you speak, run what your going to say through these 3 doors:

1. Is it NECESSARY?

2. Is it TRUE?

3. Is it KIND?

I have a feeling, it would be a much quieter world if we did this!

I am going to take the challenge!