How The Grinch Stole Christmas

This morning we left for Stansbury where Emmi had arranged for the family to come and see How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  The fun thing is that we were at the theater before it actually opened and we were the only ones in the theater to watch the show.  Annie had breakfast casserole along with milk, chocolate milk and orange juice.  Tucker and Jamie brought doughnuts and sweet rolls.  We also had popcorn and soda fountain drinks.  It snowed during the night and the roads were not good.  Maren text us and said that they weren't going to make it after all because the roads were so bad in her area and she was only able to creep along at 15 miles per hour.  We were sad not to have the Cutlers with us but glad that they turned back rather than take a chance of being in a wreck.  Thanks, Emmi, for arranging such a fun event.  We should do it every year!

The show was absolutely darling.  After, we all drove over to Annie's and visited with them until about 1:00.  Tucker and Jamie needed to get on the road for home.  They left about 2:30.  I think they were going to make a quick stop at Maren's on their way out of town.  We loved having them here for the holiday and miss them greatly when they are gone.

 This picture of Brock and Peyton just makes me laugh.  I love it!

 This is the only picture we got of CJ and Domonie.  I'm sure glad that Jamie grabbed this one.

 Tucker got on Lynda Ann Face Book Account and posted this.  We all laughed so hard when Annie found out that she had been 'hacked'.

 My gorgeous Christmas arrangement that Jamie created!

 As I was going back in the garage after saying goodbye to my kids, I noticed my Y was upside down.  Wasn't too hard to guess who did that!  Tucker!!!!!

 They are on the road with Gam shedding a few tears.  :-(

 Lexie turned 15 today.  We love you Lexi and wish you a very happy traveling birthday!!

 Tucker gave this shirt to Neal for his birthday.

Projects for Jamie and Tucker

Friday morning, Jamie and I left the house about 11:00 and headed to Costco to buy a camera doorbell.  Amazingly enough, Costco was not all that crowded.  We didn't even have to stand in a long line.  From there, we went to Hobby Lobby.  I've wanted Jamie to put all new floral stuff in my hall basket upstairs and I wanted a large bow to hang on my upstairs banister.  We were able to get everything we needed and got some stuff that Annie need.  Everything in the store was 50% off including all the floral stuff!  Again, Hobby Lobby looked busy in the store but when we were ready to check out, we didn't have to wait in a line again.  We couldn't believe it.  We left the store with a boat load of this and that and decided we needed something to eat.  We pulled through Burger King and got a hamburger.  From there we actually went to Walmart to get a couple items that we had not been able to find any place else.  The nice thing is that we were after electronics so we were able to check out at in the electronic part of the store where again, there were no lines.  As we walked out of Walmart the lines to check out practically went out to the street.  We decided we had pressed our luck enough and headed home.

The evening was spent watching Jamie put together two beautiful arrangements for me and Tucker getting frustrated by the minute with the electronic devices he had to hook up.  I think his biggest frustration comes when Neal and I have no idea what our passwords are.  Thank goodness he was able to get everything set up.

 Tucker with a headache and frustrated with the whole process.  Gosh, Tucker, aren't you happy to have to helpless parents?  Just look at what fun you get to have setting every electronic thing up in our home!  We thank you for doing it.  You know how much we appreciate what you do for us.

More fun pictures:              Neal with his new Santa hat!  He will be wearing it when he sings "We Are Santa's Elves" at the ward Christmas party.

 A few Saturdays ago I was shopping and came across this long tube of gum balls and had to buy them for Jamie.

 The girls entertaining themselves with a video game of some kind.

 I was sitting a the table and notice that Jamie was on her phone, Jordyn Lyn was on her phone.  I glanced over at Lexi and she was on her phone.  What would we do without them.  Obviously, I was on my phone taking the pictures!

Thanksgiving Day Continued . . . .

After we finished bowling, the Gertsons and the Cutlers came over to the house.  We changed things up just a bit and decided to not have dinner right after bowling.  Instead we had everyone bring snacks to piece on while we visited and played games.  Lynda Ann made up a family fued game that was really fun.

 This was a hand game that Tucker taught the group and they had a lot of fun with it.

About 3:00 I started getting the potatoes cooking along with the carrots and corn.  We planned on eating about 5:00.  The turkey was put in the oven at 8:30 a.m. I think that is one of the things I love most about Thanksgiving, is the smell of turkey cooking.  While I was getting the turkey out of the oven and carved, Annie was working on mashing the potatoes and making the gravy.  Neal and the rest of the family were getting the tables set and ready for a delicious meal.  The Hintze family arrived right on time with CJ and Domanie.  It was so fun to have them with us and hope they will come often!  It was especially nice to have everyone in the family have a chance to meet CJ's wife and get to know her a little better.  She is darling and we all love her.

We visited for a couple hours and then the Hintze's headed home.  More games ensued until about 10:30 p.m. when the day began to catch up with all of us.  We said our 'goodbyes' and 'thank yous' for a wonderful day.  Tucker, Jamie, Neal and I stayed up until 1:00 just talking and catching up on events in their lives.

I have to add this here.  I was watching a show on TV and they made a toast that went like this:
"Here's to disfunctional families and to the holidays that force us to spend time with them."
So with that toast in mind, I will say that we had a fabulous Thanksgiving Day and that as disfunctional as our family appears, we are probably no different than every other family around us.  I love all my children and grandchildren and love having them gather at our home.  I hope there will be many, many more gatherings in the years to come.  I have much to be thankful for!

Thanksgiving Day Bowling

This year we did things a little different.  We all met for bowling at 10:00 a.m.  We put each family on a lane and Neal paid for each family to play 2 games.

Emmi's shirt came from Mallory.  It shows the Tennessee skyline,

 Cute picture of Tucker and Maren

Day 2, Wednesday

I got up Wednesday morning to Tucker and Neal warming up to workout.  Tucker had Neal doing pushups and stretches before going downstairs and working out with the weights.

Wednesday after the workout, Neal and Tucker went to Maren's to make chocolates.  Jamie and the girls went for the afternoon to visit with friends in Layton.  Annie and I met at Dave's to get our hair done.  After the hair appointment we stopped for a bite to eat and then I headed home and Annie did her shopping at Costco and picked up Jeffrey and headed back to Stansbury.  It was a busy day for everyone and a fun day for everyone.

Thanksgiving

Our California family finally arrived Tuesday evening at about 8:30.  We were so excited to see them drive in.  Hugs and kisses and then unloading the car and getting set up downstairs.  This year we bought an air mattress at Costco so the girls would have a more comfortable place to sleep.  Jordyn Lyn and Lexi has outgrown the couches.  After they got settled we gathered around the kitchen table and talked and laughed and talked.

We were so excited and so happy to have them here safe and sound.  Neal and I decided that we wanted to have the tree up and decorated before they arrived so Monday night we got the tree up and decorated.

Very nice to have most of the decorating done.  We also have Lamon Mack come Tuesday evening and get the house lights up.  All was ready for their arrival.

Some Thoughts

First of all, I loved this quote.  President Nelson was interview just recently and he said:

"If you think the Church has been fully restored you're just seeing the beginning.  There's much more to come.  Wait till next year and then the next year.  Eat your vitamin pills, take your rest.  It's going to be exciting."

Then Neal went to a special meeting held at the Salt Lake Temple and they were told there to "Buckle Your Seat Belts".

I don't remember who said this but I love it:

"None of us are ever unloved.  Each and every one of us is deeply known and cared for by a creator who cherishes us beyond any ability we have to comprehend."

As I've thought about Pres. Nelsons quote and the comment heard in the temple I thought about what President Hinkley said that fits with the other quotes:

"You don't build out of pessimism or cynicism.  You look with optimism, your work with faith and things happen."  I have a feeling we will need a lot of optimism and faith as we move forward with all the changes that will be coming.

President Monson told us that this was our day, this was our time.

We've started with changes in our Sunday schedule beginning the first of the year.  Two hour block schedule with added emphasis on teaching in the home.  The scout program has been taken from the church program and Sunday school will alternate every other week with Priesthood and relief society during the two hour block.

Hard to ignore the fact that changes are coming and coming fast.  We must hold firmly to the gospel truths.

More Projects

Annie had an extra long stretch of days without work.  I imposed on one of her days off to have her help me with some handouts for my RS lesson and make some letters for the Christmas Sacrament Meeting Program.  We started at 10:00, took a break for lunch and then back at it.  We worked until 4:00 and then I headed home a happy relief society teacher and a very happy choir director!  The Merry Christmas signs are for the choir program on the Sunday before Christmas.  The little turkeys are for my relief society and priesthood lesson this Wednesday night.  I'm also handing out the Tootsie Roll hand out that goes with my lesson on the Holy Ghost.

Along with my projects, Annie, of course, was working on many of her own.  She is making Christmas decorations.  The funny thing is that she says the kids keep taking the gnomes to their rooms because they like them so much.  She will be having a Danish themed tree this year.  Hanging the gnomes from the tree.  Can't wait to see it all put together.

On the way home from having lunch we past this car on the road and just had to take a couple pictures and send to Tucker.  We knew he would love it.