Christmas Eve Events

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The famous cereal exchange.  This is a tradition that started the second or third year that Neal and I were married.  I had asked each one of the children what their favorite cereal was.  I went to the grocery store and purchased a full case of each favorite.  Christmas morning when the opened their cereal to our surprise Tucker asked if someone wanted to trade a box for a box.  Thus began the cereal stock exchange!  Each year Neal and I buy five boxes of whatever sugar cereal is on sale.  They are wrapped and distributed by case.  The cases are opened and the exchange begins.  Depending on the cereal on favored ones you may end up trading two for one.  This year we shuffled a deck of cards, dealt them out and then with another deck turned over one card at a time.  If you had the matching card in your hand you could chose an unwrapped case or take a case from someone else.  This continues until the last card is turned over. 

 

There is a poem that goes, “I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me”.  Fits Emmi and Peyton to a tee!

 

Boston was sick during the holidays and ended up at the Insta-care. 

 

All of the girls sat at one table.

All the little boys at another.  I couldn’t get River and Andrew to sit long enough to get a picture of them.  Brock was the only one who would cooperate.

Tucker reading the nativity.

Finally opening the presents.

Christmas Eve – Andrew lost his first tooth!

Not only did he lose his first tooth but he swallowed it.  He came upstairs and Annie noticed his mouth was bleeding a little bit.  She checked and told him that his tooth had come out.  Andrew said, “Oh that is what I felt going down my throat.  It was quite distressful to him and he was sure that his tooth in his stomach was causing a stomach ache with a lot of pain.  It wasn’t long before he forgot about it and the tooth fairy managed to make a visit even though he didn’t have a tooth to put under his pillow.

Our California granddaughters finally arrived!

Tucker, Jamie, Jordyn Lyn, Peyton and Lexi arrived for our Christmas celebration on Thursday evening the 23rd.  I love how they run in the house all excited to see us.  I’m also sure they are very happy to finally be here after the long ride.  Peyton was disappointed that Emmi wasn’t here to greet her.  Those two bonded this past summer at our family reunion and are inseparable when they are together.  We are so excited to have them here and will take advantage of every minute we have together with them.

Visitors at our home

I was doing cleaning our wood floors and noticed under the grand piano this trail of sawdust piles.  I got down on my hands and knees to investigate and realized when I got close up that underneath each pile of sawdust was a little tiny hole.  As I looked more carefully around the house I found some more little piles in the entrance.  Neal called Ottley floor people who came right over and spent about an hour trying to find one of the little vermin.  But, no such luck.  What the determined we have is a beetle who lives in the trees.  When the trees are cut down and processed the beetles or larvae are destroyed.  But, sometimes, as in our case, they aren’t killed and eventually burrow their way out of the wood when they turn into flies.  Disgusting isn’t it.  We were relieved to find out that we didn’t have termites but are concerned that we have a bug living in our flooring!  Ottleys will watch it closely and if we have more out breakings they will have to come in and replaced the boards that seem to be a home for the vermin.  I actually investigated today under the piano and found two more little piles.  

 

 

Another GREAT home made gift - from Maren

For Christmas a couple of years ago, Maren made Neal and I some table leaf covers. We have four leaves to our table and she made four covers for them. The covers are great to protect the wood from being scratched while in storage. This was one of my favorite gifts.

December 23 at IHC Hospital

I took Neal to the emergency room around 4:30. I called Maren to let her know that we thought Neal had another kidney stone. Maren immediately called Camie. Camie is a nurse in the Emergency Room. We had only been sitting in the waiting room for about 5 minutes when Camie came out and took us right back to a room. We were so grateful for her quick attention to Neal. He was in so much pain. X-rays were taken to confirm the kidney stone which was about 2 millimeters. The stone passed from the kidney to the bladder while he was in the ER. Thanks to Camie our trip to the emergency room only took about two hours. The waiting room was full and I know we could have been there double the time had it not been for Camie. Thank you Camie!

Reading my book, "A is for Alibi" while waiting for blood and x-ray results to come back.

Another homemade Christmas present.

This was a dish that Lynda Ann made me when she was in 7th grade. Interesting to me how mother's hang on to these 'priceless' items from our children. In reality they are priceless because of the memories that come with them. I'm thinking that it was in 7th grade that Lynda Ann was leaving for school and her dad happened to still be home as Annie was going out the door. He noticed her tennis shoes were literally being held together by safety pins. She must have had 10 or 15 safety pins in each shoe. As she closed the door he turned to me (rather irritated) and said, "Can we not afford some nice shoes for her? Does she have to go to school with her shoes being held together by safety pins?" I informed him that it was the style and that she had plenty of clothes and shoes. I might add that Annie always had safety pins either in her shoes, or pinning the bottom of her pants around the ankle so they would be tight.

Notice that I use this dish to house my safety pins!!

Thank you Maren!

Maren called a couple of night ago and invited Neal and I out to her house on Wednesday night for dinner and to make gingerbread houses. I was so looking forward to spending some time with the Cutlers. When I got home from work last night I found Neal snuggled up in bed. He was running a fever and said he just couldn't get warm. So, I had to call Maren and extend my apologies. I felt really bad that we had to cancel but I knew that Neal didn't feel good and I didn't want to expose Maren's kids to anything this close to Christmas. About 15 minutes after I talked to Maren, I get a call back from her asking if she could bring dinner in to Neal and I so I wouldn't have to cook! I was touched by her generosity of food but more of her time. It takes about 80 minutes round trip for her to bring dinner in. Thank you Maren for your thoughtful offer to bring dinner into us. We are so sorry we missed the gingerbread house decorating and dinner.

Family Christmas Cards Created by Jamie.

2010

If it weren't for Jamie's patience, time and talent we wouldn't have a Christmas card every year. THANK YOU JAMIE!!

2009

2007

A Mindy Moment - I love her stories! She needs to write a book!!

This is an email that Mindy sent to me today and I just had to share it:

"You will laugh about this…

Sunday I walked in to church with Maddie about 10 minutes before the meeting was supposed to start so I could get the hymn numbers in the little holder thing (I’m sure it has a name, but it escapes this convert). The Bishop stopped me in the foyer and said, “I need to talk to you right now.” I said, “Ok” feeling a bit like I was being called into the principal’s office. Then he started talking to someone else, went into the clerk’s office and shut the door. So I stood there looking like a whipped puppy. Maddie even said, “Mom, are you in trouble?” I told her I didn’t think so, but then again, who knows.

A couple of minutes later, Bishop came out and led me by the arm into the chapel. He sat me down on the last row and said, “Because of your unique talents and gifts, I really need your help.” You can imagine what was going through my head. I think I may have lost a few “points in heaven” because of some of the four letter words I was thinking. Anyway, Bishop then says, “One of our narrators for today’s Christmas Program is sick and we need you to fill in.” Whew! Sigh of relief. I thought he was going to call me to be scout leader or something! I said I’d be happy to help. It was a great program!

Then I found out that the YW President has been arguing with the Bishop for 2 months about having me as the Camp Director. He won’t release me from either of my other callings. I have two callings – Music Chairperson and Visiting Teaching Supervisor and I don’t do ANYTHING as far as the VT supervisor goes because I don’t have any Sisters on my “list” to call!!! So, there you have it. I guess the Bishop really, really wants me to lead the music. He must know something I don’t. "

Sunday dinner at Lynda Ann's.

Lynda Ann's Christmas hall of fame. Jeff on the far left and Andrew on the far right got cut just a little. I just couldn't get them all in one shot. Lynda Ann hand made all the stockings except for hers. I made that for her when she was little. She has carried on the tradition with her children.
After sacrament our Sacrament meeting and after the Gertson's. We were invited out for dinner and to hear Mallory play her flute solo and also accompany the choir. She played Silent Night. It was beautiful. After the performance she came to me and said, "I can't talk in front of people, but I can play my flute." She stands up there with total confidence and not one bit nervous.

Bridge Christmas Party

Jim Frye - one of my favorite people!

We had our annual bridge Christmas party at Howard and Tibby's home. We got together at 3 p.m. and played bridge while grazing at the snack table. At 6:30 we stopped and had a delicious dinner and then back to bridge playing until midnight. It was fun and very festive and very, very fattening!!

Christmas Choir Concert

Julie, our famous and absolutely wonderful choir director. She can almost convince us that we are the tabernacle choir, only smaller!
Sally, our very talented pianist and a very good friend.

Our choir practicing for our Sunday performance. I sang in a trio with Sally (who sang Alto, Sherry (who sang Saprano) and myself (who sang the second). We sang Mary's Lullaby and it was beautiful. Fun to still be able to sing.

Neal's study group Christmas party - Mexican style

Kristy, Joan and Bobby in their Mexican wraps

Mike, Rick, Rod and Doug in their Mexican hats.

Lynn, Jim and Neal

Food was from Cafe Rio and was delicious. This is a group of East High student body officers, senior class officers and cheerleaders that have been meeting each month since graduating from high school.

An Andrew moment!

Jeff called me and told me that he went to a little Ginger Bread Cookie program at Andrews school. Their theme was the story of the Ginger Bread Man who says, "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me I'm the Ginger Bread Man!" So after the little program the kids went to their tables and proceeded to decorate their ginger bread cookie. As Andrew finished his up he put the Christmas tree in an obvious spot on his cookie. He turned to the little girl across the table from him and told her, "This is where the pee comes out" pointing to the tree. Jeff quickly told Andrew that we don't talk about that. I'm still chuckling over this one.

Homemade Christmas

I would have been 5 or 6. This picture taken in downtown Seattle. I don't remember the visit with Santa but I do remember the fur coat that my mother cut down to fit me.
I would have been about 7 years. This was also taken in Seattle at Macy's or Fredrick & Nelsen's Department Store. I also remember this coat. It was home made and had big brown buttons on it. If you look closely at the size of he button hole and the button above you can tell that it was cut down from a larger size. My mother was very frugal and never threw fabric or an article of clothing away that could be used.

Some of my favorite Christmas memories feature homemade gifts. When I was a little girl growing up in the 1940's and 50's, I remember the excitement on Christmas morning when I peeked at the tree to see what Santa had brought. It somehow never seemed odd to me that Santa's best gifts were always something my mother had created! I remember one year in particular, there was a doll bed complete with handmade sheets, embroidered pillowcases, and a coverlet. Another year I received a yellow and blue heavy cardboard doll case filled with a wardrobe for my new baby doll - every outfit from flannel pajamas to Sunday dress and bonnet to match - all hand crafted by my mother.

When I was older, I recall helping mother make homemade candy, fruit bread and caramel popcorn balls to give to neighbors and friends at Christmastime. I'm sure it never occurred to me that much of the motivation for my mother's creative generosity was economic. But because there wasn't much extra money to spend on extravagant Christmas presents, she found another way to be extravagant - with her effort and her love. And perhaps that was the lesson she taught me as I stood beside her making homemade goodies and tying red ribbons around them ready for delivery: time says love more eloquently than money.

Each year I make each grandchild a pair of pajamas. I remember my mother making me a new nightgown or pajamas every Christmas. That was the present I got to open on Christmas Eve. Oh, the warm memories of putting on those brand new soft flannel pajamas and climbing under the covers to snuggle down and wait for Christmas morning.

I think we treasure these gifts from hand and heart so much because it requires a sacrifice greater than money to create them. It takes time: time to think about what might please the receiver, time to gather the supplies, time to create the gift itself. I recall seeing a small plaque hanging in a friend's home that said, "Love is spelled T-I-M-E." And I guess that's it in a nutshell. When I open a handmade gift, it reassures me that Christmas is still about the kind of love that is counted more in hours than dollars. I'm glad I've come full circle and can carry on a tradition started by my mother so many years ago.

I have to say that I love my job at Environmental Health. The people that I work with are fun, diversified in so many ways and wonderful. Ashley has especially won a place in my heart. Last night I hosted the Christmas party for the office support staff and supervisors and Ashley came early and helped me get things put together and gave me this Christmas surprise. My heart was touched by her kindness, her thoughtful expressions and her example of gospel principles.

The most beautiful Christmas CD I've ever heard!

This little girl sang on America's Got Talent and was phenomenal! I had no idea she had a CD out of Christmas music until I was at Costco and spotted it along with Susan Boyle's CD. I don't think I've ever heard a voice like Jackie's and I've never had a Christmas CD that I couldn't get enough of. She only has four numbers on the CD but they are incredible. I would recommend this CD to anyone who wants to get in the Christmas Spirit - more on the spiritual side. It was only $6.99. Susan Boyle's is incredible as well. Both would be will worth the purchase.

Annual Christmas shopping and lunch

We went to Toys R Us and I saw this Lego display. The whole thing is built from legos. Amazing! Emmi loves legos so had to take a picture of it. What do you think, Emmi?
This is the best shot I could get of Lila and Susan. They refuse to have their picture taken. We had such a fun time. Shopped at many different stores and had lunch at the Olive Garden. We also exchanged our Christmas presents with each other. We don't open them. We have to wait until Christmas. Lynda Ann is usually with us but couldn't come this time because she was working at the hospital. We missed you Annie.

Another treatment and looking younger and younger!

Saturday was another appointment with Lyndsy. I'm telling you, she is absolutely in the right business. If she can put me to sleep then she has certainly become an expert at massage therapy. She has one more month to go and she will be official! Way to go Lyndsy!

My treasured, hand made by Jeffrey, pottery dish.

This is a piece of pottery that Jeffrey made me when he was in second grade. It is one of those treasured items that little hands made with love for mother. I think about the little hands working meticulously to form and shape what he has imagined in his mind. These are the gifts that bring tears to mother's eyes and pull at their heart strings. I love this little dish. Thank you Jeffrey - I love you! Mom
His initials on the bottom and the grade.

It is too small for a candy dish but found over the years that it is a perfect size to have sitting on my bathroom vanity to house my tiny earrings that I wear all the time. Every morning I see it and think of the little hands that made it so long ago.