St. George

Ron and Judy invited us to come spend the week between Christmas and New Years with them in St. George.  We didn't have anything going on and decided it would be a fun week.  So we had the Jeep all packed and ready to go as we departed Maren's home.  We got to St. George about 6:30 and Judy had some delicious finger foods waiting for us.  We had a wonderful week shopping in Vegas and Primm, eating at In and Out Burger, and playing lots of bridge, watching football games and Criminal Minds!

 Judy and I were in Chico's shopping and the clerk asked our names.  Judy said, "Judy and J-9"  When we got back to the dressing room we both busted up laughing so dang hard.  The clerk certainly spelled it phonetically correct but entirely wrong on every level.  That certainly was a first!  Never seen my name spelled that way before!  Obviously, Susan was the clerk.

 You can see that we all scored big time.  After Christmas sales at the Vegas Outlets are the best!

 This was a decorated street in St. George that we could see from the freeway so we drove over to investigate.  Pretty awesome!

 Judy and I found some tennis shoes with bling all over them.  They were very expensive originally but on sale about $11.00  We couldn't resist.  I got pink (of course) and Judy got silver.  Just had to take a picture of them.

We had to go to the Bear Paw Café for breakfast.  It has become a tradition when we are down there with them.  Delicous and filling as usual!

 

Cute picture of Judy on her phone talking to her brother.

 I loved this saying.  Maybe I can get Jamie to make something like this for me.

 Judy, Ron, Neal and I just goofing around.  Maybe I will use our for our Christmas Card next year!

Making the Christmas rounds

We actually only had two homes to visit this year on Christmas morning.  Mindy and kids were in San Diego, Tucker's family in Kingsburg, Spencer in Colorado, Lyndsy single and the kids with James and Derek in China.  That left Lynda Ann and Maren's families.  So Christmas morning we headed out to Annie's house so see what they got for Christmas.  We got there about 10:00 and they were just barely opening their presents.  First time we've been there in the morning.  It was fun to watch them open their gifts and see how happy they all were with what they got.  Their tradition is to rotate, having each child open one present at a time so everyone can see what the other person got.  It take longer but actually adds to the excitement and makes Christmas morning last just a little longer.

Saint paying very close attention to Abby, his trainer.  From the looks of things you can see it was a Merry Christmas.

I would add here that Jeff and Annie had to repair their Suburban at the tune of $400.00, new tires for their little car, $300.00, and Annie's oven went out on them the day after Christmas so they've had to buy a new stove!  Isn't there a saying about things coming in 3's!!

We played a game of Shanghi until Jeff and Neal got a bit testy with each other at which time we decided that we should continue our journey to Maren's.

Maren and their family had been over at Cutlers and just got home when we got there about 12:30.  We visited with them, saw their Christmas and then headed off to St. George.

California Christmas Pictures

Tucker sent me these pictures of his family on Christmas morning.  I also noticed in the back ground the counted cross stitch I did for their family last year.  It made me feel good to see it hanging in their home.  We miss having them here for Christmas but grateful for pictures taken and sent so that I can fell a little bit a part of their celebration.  We sent the girls warms socks to wear around the house when it is chilly in the morning and evenings.

 Picture of the Maxfields in matching PJ's.  So cute!!  I love them!!  I want a pair!

 My favorite picture.  Tucker with his U of U football and Jamie with her gum balls.  You all know that Jamie chews a gum ball for about 2 or 3 minutes until all the sugar is gone and then spits it out and pops another one in her mouth.  Probably not so good for your teeth but oh so good for the sugar high!

Sneak Peek

Even though it is only Christmas Eve afternoon, our family has already had their Christmas and opened our presents to each other.  After everyone left last night and Neal and I had the house back together, I decided to go ahead and open my presents from Lila Mae and Susan and then be able to post everything at once.  Neal and I were certainly spoiled by our children.

 This is the Christmas Book that we gave the children this year.  Wonderful story with a great ending.

 Vienna Finger cookies came from Abby.  She always remembers how I loves these cookies.

 Macadamia candy from the Cutlers.  I think Neal had eaten nearly 1/4 of the bottle before the day was over.

Every year for my birthday or Christmas, Jeff always gets me a movie.  He knows the kind of movies I like and spends time looking for one to give me.  He scored huge this year.  I've not see this movie yet and am excited to watch it.  

 This present was from the Cutlers.  You will notice Tsunami gift certificate along with Market Street Grill.  When I saw the name Tsunami I was a little taken back and started to laugh thinking that it was a joke from Maren.  Remember 4 years ago when Lyndsy was pregnant with Desmond and Maren came up with the name Tsunami for Lyndsy to name Desmond.  Tucker took it from there and the family jumped in and the name just caught on with the whole family except for Lyndsy who didn't see the humor in it and didn't appreciate all of us naming her unborn son Tsunami.  We all got in a bit of trouble when we realized that Lyndsy wasn't appreciate of our humor.  I'm not exactly sure but I think the name came up around the time that there was a tsunami in the Solomon Islands. When Maren realized what I was thinking we both had a good laugh over that.  Of course we didn't share it with Lyndsy.  I think she is still sensitive about it.

 My boss gave me a Talbots gift certificate and a darling tree ornament that he made.  Last year he gave me a little elephant ornament.  I love them and was excited to get another one.

 Susan made me a set of dish towels.  I love them and the fact that she embroidered each one of them makes them extra special.  It is almost a shame to use them!

 These are darling note cards.  Also from Susan.

 Girogio from Susan along with two baby blankets that she crochet around and I can use for gifts.  So love them.

 Lila Mae surprised the heck out of me when I opened her presents and found the books, Polly What-her-name and The Wagon to The Star.  Both books that I read when I stayed with her during the summer and loved them.  It was because of Lila Mae that I love to read so much.  These books were published in 1939.

 I didn't know there were sequals so I'm so excited to get them and read them.  She also gave me the Daniel Pacheco CD.

 Neal and I also got a gift card from Mindy and kids for Market Street Grill.  The kids obviously know where Neal and I like to eat!

 Neal gave me these darling socks, which I have one pair on right now.  Love them.

 The bonus was a $200.00 gift card to Talbots!  Yahoo!!  Can't wait to watch for the sales and us this card little by little.

 This one from my boss for $25.00

 And Abby put together another year calendar with pictures of the kids.  Glad that she gave me one.  I keep them at work and see them every day.  Love them!

 Scarf for me to wear with my coats.  Love it.  Lynda Ann heard me say I was looking for one.

Aabby gave me these darling salt and pepper shakers.  Are they cute enough?!

It was a wonderful Christmas and loved having the children who live around here all gathered at the house to celebrate our family, Christmas and the birth of our Savior.  We are so incredibly blessed being members of the true church.
Merry Christmas to all!!  2017 is just about history.

The party

Neal got home from the emergency room just before the kids started arriving.  Greg, Maren and all the kids came and Jeff, Annie and all of their kids (except Mallory - of course).  Annie had a moment or two where the tears flowed and she missed her daughter being with us but she held it together pretty well.

We had dinner, read our Christmas book for this year, opened presents and then spent the rest of the time visiting and catching up.  I always love the chatter going on and it makes me happy to look around the room and see the different groups gathered together to visit.  Below are some pictures of the festivities.

When we were in Vegas early in the Spring, Neal spotted these fun toys for the boys.  They loved them and spent a lot of time putting them together.

 While the boys were putting their toys together the adults visited and reminisced about past Christmases.

 Notice Taylors new wheelchair.

 Saint and the new puppy, Tom trying to figure each other out and play.

 Brock, with his toy put together with the moving parts.  It was a great find and I'm so glad Neal happened on them.  The boys seemed to love them.  And Neal enjoyed helping them put them together.  They can go together in a dozen different ways.

Annie brought sugar cookies along with frosting and all kinds of sprinkles for the kids to decorate their cookies.  That was also a very fun activity for the kids.

Just before everyone left, Maren redressed her dads finger.  Nice to have a nurse in the family! 

 Just a snap shot of Greg and Jaden.  Greg was thinking about how happy he was that he still would get to run to Walmart after the party!!!