Saying “Goodbye” is the hardest thing I do.

Lexi and Pa have a quiet moment together.

 

Breakfast before heading to Manti.  Notice all the boards on the counter.  Jamie discovered Wood Connection.  A crafters dream!

 

Jordyn Lyn had written a note to Pa and I and Pey Pey did not want to be out done.  I realized for the first time that she is a South Paw.

Saying “Goodbye” is hard to do.  I know we will be seeing each other soon, so I don’t think it is the time in between.  For me it is the initial separation that takes place as we have family prayer and then hug each member of the family and them watch as they pull out of the driveway. 

  

We love you too, Jordyn, Lexi, Peyton, Tucker and Jamie.  Thank you for coming for the holidays and making them complete.  We LOVED having you with us.  We loved the family gatherings created because you were here.  And, I LOVE my talks with Jamie!  Be safe and we will see you soon!

One of my ‘old age’ moments

Emmi wanted to have a sleep over while Tucker and Jamie were here.  It was arranged that her dad would bring her in with him on his way to work.  I would meet them down town at his office and pick her up.  They would arrive at Jeff’s office at 7:00 a.m.  I got up at 6:15, dressed, grab the car keys and ran outside.  Neal’s car isn’t parked in the garage and it had snowed during the night so his car was dusted with snow.  I pushed the remote to the car to unlock the doors and tried to open the door, but to no avail.  I went around and tried all four doors and they were frozen shut!  I couldn’t believe it.  I pushed the remote again just to make sure that the doors had unlocked but they would not open.  I must have been out there for about 5 minutes and finally decided I was going to either have to get Neal to figure out how to unfreeze the doors or wake Tucker up and get him to move his car so I could get my Jeep out of the garage.  However, if Neal’s doors were frozen then the likelihood of Tucker’s car doors being frozen was 100 per cent.  I went back in the house and heard Neal moving around so I ran upstairs and told him what the problem was.  He dressed quickly and came outside and he couldn’t get the doors to budge.  All this time I had the remote in my hand.  Neal suggested that I get the hair dryer.  By this time I’m a bit frantic because I don’t want Emmi to have to wait for me.  I grabbed the hair dryer and Neal found a long extension cord and I began blowing the hot air on the driver’s side door to see if we could get the ice to melt from around the door.  After a minute or two I handed the remote to Neal and made some comment about “keep trying to unlock them”.  Well, he pushed the unlock button on the remote and tried the door and it opened right up.  We couldn’t believe it!  Then we discovered that I had been pushing the lock instead of the unlock!  The doors were fine all along and certainly were not frozen shut!  Good thing I married a man who is patient and a good sport.  I have to add that I wasn’t a complete idiot.  In comparing our remotes, my unlock is at the top – just opposite of Neal’s.  So maybe you can give me credit for it being an honest mistake?  I was only 5 minutes late picking up Emmi so she didn’t have to wait too long.

Christmas morning visits

Our first stop was Jeff and Mindy’s.  From the looks of things it was a happy Christmas at the Hintze household.  Maddie was showing off her new cell phone.

 

Check out Grayson’s stance while playing his electric guitar.

 

Next visit to the Gertson’s.  We would have gone out to Cutler’s but Maren was already at work.  She had to be to work by 7:30 a.m. and worked until 7:00 p.m. 

By the time we left the Gertson’s, Mallory had already knitted a cap for Peyton with her new knitting machine.

 

Lynda Ann had to work but not until 6:00 p.m.

 

Andrew’s Criss Cross Crash from Santa.

 

Of course we had to play as many hands of Six Handed Rook as we could get in.

 

This is one of my favorite pictures.  You need to look closely, but you can see the girls are playing scrabble.  What you need to notice is that the board is turned one way while the words they are putting on are going in another direction making it impossible to score.  However, I don’t think they were really keeping score.  Unlike the adults, they were just enjoying being with each other and weren’t worrying about who was winning.

This was the finished scrabble game.  The letters are not only going in the opposite direction of the board but you must do a bit of hunting to find the words.  They are there if you look carefully.

Some end of the year thoughts for 2010

Last night, feeling a happy glow as the Christmas celebration winds down, I was thinking about why I love Christmas so much.

Why do I rush about, sometimes becoming frustrated about the bustle and the time and money spent, and yet I secretly love every shining minute of it?  I decided it is because at this season, old and young alike come closer to living our Savior’s teaching - :Love one another” – than at any time of the year.  It seems there is concentrated love being generated in homes all over our land and could create a glow in the sky like the northern lights.  Everything we do for Christmas is an expression of love:  when we make a gift, as we take each careful stitch, or stir, or paint we think with tenderness of the one for whom it is meant.  As we decorate our homes, inside and out, we are giving the gift of beauty to all who see.  As we shop for the just-right present for each one on our list, each minute of time spent is a gift of love too.  When we address Christmas cards, we are sending a little bit of ourselves to say, “I love you.”    The smiles we give as we hurry about and say, “Merry Christmas!”

It is too bad our message of love can’t last all year.  But how wonderful that we dedicate ourselves to spreading His love for this one joyous season that brings family and friends nearer.

I’m am thankful for Christmas time to celebrate the birth of the Savior who loves us and spent His life teaching us to love one another.  I am grateful for my children and my grandchildren.  I am always grateful for the times that we all gather together as a family to catch up on happenings, experiences, lessons learned and especially watching the love that is extended between each family member.  I am blessed with a posterity that knows how to give from their hearts. 

Thank you all for making my journey in life so fulfilling and complete.  I love you ALL!!

Lyndsy’s birthday celebration

On Tuesday the 28th we all met at the Cheesecake Factory for Lyndsy’s birthday.  It was fun to visit and enjoy some adult time together.  Happy birthday Lyndsy.

Lots of wonderful Christmas presents – Yes, I’m spoiled!

Movies that I LOVE from the Gertsons

Home made door knob hanger and refrigerator magnates from Jordyn Lyn and Lexi.  Jordyn made the magnates and Lexi made the door knob hanger.

Body cream and blush from the Cutlers.  If you’ve never used Spa Blends Body Butter then you are missing out!

 

Lip gloss from Lyndsy.  I’ve never used it before and I love it.  Great choice Lyndsy. 

My, aren’t I clever with the camera!

A beautiful hand made shawl from Nita. 

Dish towels embroidered by Susan along with a necklace and bracelet.  Lila also gave me The DVD of Anne of Green Gables that I’ve wanted for some time.   

Grandkids wall hanging created by Jamie.

A necklace – just my color – from the Hintzes.

Our family

I usually don’t think of myself as being ‘old’ until I see a picture of myself.  Sigh . . . . . . .

 

 

We are missing Jeff H. because he was on call and, of course, got called to the hospital.  Jamie’s expertise will Photoshop him in behind Mindy.  Notice the two pictures of River at the bottom of this post.

    

I have to add these two pictures of River at the bottom.  We were outside taking the family picture and notice River inside looking out and obviously not happy that he couldn’t come out with us.  You can see part of our relfections in the window behind him.

A gentle reminder

Jamie gave me this sign for Christmas. I chose to hang it above my back door. It will always serve as a gentle reminder that I need to say my prayers before leaving home. Thank you Jamie, what a beautiful gift.

Down memory lane

I just had to post this picture. It totally reminded me of when I first married Neal and Derek wouldn't leave my sight. I remember so many times going into the bathroom, closing the door and having Derek sit outside the door every few minutes asking me "When are you coming out?" This picture is of Peyton sitting outside the bathroom door waiting for Emmi to get out of the shower.

A special gift to a special girl

Tucker was interviewing art students for his “Watch Me Draw” after school program.  One of the artist showed him this picture that he had drawn and shaded with a pencil.  Tucker thought of Mallory and bargained with the artist to get it for Mallory.  Neal took it down to Cambridge to have it framed and Tucker gave it to Mallory on Christmas Eve.