Clever and very fun Christmas present

I met with the 'that old gang of mine’ (the tobacco staff of years ago) for lunch.  After lunch Brittney said she had a little gift for me so I followed her to her car.  Below is a picture of her gift.  She said she dreamed it and had to make it for me.  It was going to be for Mother’s Day but with a new baby and other responsibilities in her life she didn’t get it delivered.  Thus she said it became Mother’s Day, Birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas present.  I love it!  Thanks Brittney for your very clever gift.  Brittney commented that she thought Annie would love the idea!  As you can see, there are five gift cards to eating establishements along with five Wendy’s gift certificates for the junior frosties.  The center of the flower is a huge chocolate kiss!

False alarm! Jeff’s surgery postpone for two weeks.

His blood sugar was 350!  The doctor told him they wouldn’t operate on him until he had his blood sugar at a safe level so he has to work on it for two weeks and go back in.  He was disappointed but we would rather be safe than sorry.

Lots of gifts. I have very thoughtful children!

From Jeff and Mindy, Neal and I were given a gift certificate for a movie, free popcorn and free drinks.  Great gift.  Neal and I went to see Mission Impossible and enjoyed the movie and the treats.  From Jamie and Tucker we got a book of pictures from our visit to California for Lexi’s baptism.  I also got note paper and pen along with a soap dispenser – which I love! 

Lila Mae gave me the statue of “Sisters”.  There is a lot of meaning that goes along with the figurine. 

Maren and Greg  gave me this beautiful book of the life of Christ and a gift card to Barnes and Noble.  Who wouldn’t love a gift card to a book store!  Wonderful gift!

Lyndsy gave me a gift certificate for mink eyelashes!  Yes, mink!  She also gave me some wonderful smelling shower gel.  I’m already using it and love it!  I’ll let you know in picture how the mink looks on my eyes!  This note came along with the gift certificate. 

Jeff and Lynda Ann gave me The Wizard of Oz, Eagle Eye and an MP3 player that Jeff is loading all my favorite songs on so when I go walking I can listen to good music.  Neal and I watched Eagle Eye Christmas Eve after everyone left – that’s why I don’t have a picture of it.  It was a great, fast action and suspenseful movie!  Thanks Jeff for picking that out for me.

The Tucker Maxfield Girl's Jammies!

Thanks for sending the picture of the girls in their Christmas Jammies. I can't take pictures anymore because enough people look on my blog and then there is no surprise. I'm finding that even the grandchildren check on Gam's blog enough that I can't put pictures of holiday stuff on early.

Christmas Day Visits

Our Christmas morning started with a call from Derek wishing us a Merry Christmas, which in China they had already celebrated and were nearly on to the next day!  It was good to hear his voice and know that he is doing well.

Christmas Day was clear and sunny.  We started the day by going to Neal’s singles ward where I gave the Christmas message.  As I was sitting out in the foyer waiting to go in the chapel, I looked up and there was Mindy, Jeff and their children.  I said, “What are you doing here?”  Mindy laughed and said, “We’ve come to hear you speak!”  It was an emotional, happy moment.  She then asked if anyone else was there and it was then that the reality of all the kids being told that I was speaking came to me.  Lyndsy came in just as the meeting was starting and Maren came while I was speaking.  Thank you all for coming. 

After sacrament meeting (which only lasted 45 minutes) Neal and I stopped at Lyndsy and James home to see their Christmas.  Lyndsy had fixed Café Rio food and it was delicious!  James’ parents were visiting from Arizona.

Next stop was Jeff and Mindy’s home.  We visited with them and got to see what the kids got for Christmas.  Grayson was very excited that he got a guitar and his Uncle Rick was going to teach him how to play it.  All the children seemed happy with their Christmas presents.

We decided that Maren and Greg’s home won for the most after Christmas looking front room.  When we walked in we saw Jaden on the couch and Brock standing in the middle of the room looking a bit confused.  We had a fun visit with them.  Maren had worked Christmas Eve night and had to go back Christmas night.  Quite a sacrifice for her to come in to hear me speak.  Thank you Maren. 

Our last stop was to Lynda Ann and Jeff’s.  It is fun to visit and have the grandchildren show us what they got and see the excitement in their faces.  Emmi got a BYU pillow pet from her friend Derek.  Apparently, pillow pets are the rage!

Jeff and Lynda Ann decided rather than spend money on Santa gifts they would use that money to take the family on a three day vacation to downtown Salt Lake.  A “staycation”.  They have reservations for one of the downtown hotels where they will swim, play, eat out and hang out.  They are also going to the zoo to see the zoo lights.  Each child has a gift certificate to go shopping when they get back to buy something they want.  A fun and creative idea.

We had a bite to eat, played a game and then headed home for a long winter’s nap! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

The Traditional Christmas Eve Family Gathering. Christmas morning we got a call from Derek!

The typical modern family.  I had to laugh.  I came downstairs and there was Jeff, Mindy and Maddie all intently involved on their electronics!  Notice the huge new platter that Neal bought as another addition to our Spode Christmas dishes.

Some of this years pajamas. 

Four of a Kind reunited after 18 years.

We all met at John Jackman’s home on Friday afternoon.  It was 2 1/2 hours of  talking, laughing, taking pictures and the four of them singing.  It was amazing to me how well they still sound together and that they could actually still remember their individual parts. 

Neal and Jeannine, Richard and Kathy Torgersen, John and Michelle Jackman and Ed and Kathy Bates.