Christmas Joy

Christmas has pretty much come and gone.  We enjoyed a leisurely morning opening presents.  It was missing the fun noise of Rock  from last year, but we had fun.

Santa wanted to make sure Marissa got in some difficult nursing skills.

The girls asked for posters of their favorite hot men.  Here is my contribution to their wall.

It's been great having the college kids and KC home.  We've enjoyed their help and spirit.  We did miss Aaron and his family, and we also missed Lindsea and Travis.  In three weeks we will get to be together for one fabulous event.  Can't wait!

Christmas night Doug brought prime rib over.  We provided potatoes, salad and rolls.  Desserts were plentiful and rooms were filled.

We made time in the dinner to sing to Nicholas.  His request was his favorite beverage (Travis' also) in a lemon cake.  It was moist and delicious.  

This book was well enjoyed.  It is The Night Before Christmas.  My favorite part is that the voice that I kept hearing as many opened it was my dad's.  Many times I have listened in person to my dad reading that story.  I love that I now can hear his voice with all the many great inflections over and over.  Thanks to all who had a part in this!!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Relaxation

Can you tell I'm not in snowy Washington?  I get to spend some time in sunny Florida, but looks can be deceiving, it is not hot.  I have been relaxing in my hotel room typing addresses, playing with photoshop trying to create a wedding announcement.  Fun Stuff!!!  I enjoy this part with no distractions.

Lindsea and Travis were both singing in the Candlelight Processional at Epcot.  I waited in line, but the best I could do was a bench in the back.  So I spent 20 minutes playing Where's Lindsea and Travis?  Can you see anyone you know?  Yeah, it's not her.  She's blonde but not her.  Erase those 20 pictures.

Look again.  Can you see her now?   Unfortunately I had about 40 pictures of her, plus a video.  Yes, I do know what Lindsea looks like.

Can you find Travis here?   I was sure it was him in the back row.

Trace Atkins was the narrator.  It was with a picture like this that I finally found someone I knew.  Look above Mr. Atkins' head to the right.  It's kind of dark, but suddenly I knew for sure where Travis was.   If Travis was in green and not yellow maybe Lindsea could be there too.

Once I found her I felt foolish.  Of course this is my Lindsea.  How could I have thought she was the other two blondes in the group?

  I loved listening to this program once I could relax and not worry where the two singers I knew were.  Trace Atkins read from Luke 2 with songs interspersed.  My favorite was Away in a Manger.  I love the arrangement and the reverence with which it was sung.

After their first program I went and got my favorite meal at Disney - a turkey leg.  I sat in the cold on a padded chair and listened to the second show.  Even then I felt the spirit of their production.  I loved how Christ-centered it was and brought the real presence that should be with us all.  

To prove to all that they both were pretty close to the narrator.  Lindsea says she is close enough to touch him.  I never did see that, however.

On our way out we took advantage of the Kodak photo op.  They are a very cute couple.

Lindsea insisted having one with her mom.  I think you can see the tired of walking look in my eyes.  Lindsea is flirting with the cameraman.
One fun day.  Having a great time!!

Thankfulness Randomly

Of course I am grateful for my little boys, especially when they get my heart pumping.

Having them close enough to play with often is definitely something I am so grateful for.

Having supportive parents is appreciated to epic heights.

I enjoy the relationship my daughters are enjoying with their grandparents and their cousins.

I appreciate the strong young man here.  I haven't enjoyed church meetings as much as this last week when I heard TJ and Nate speak.  What a great spiritual feast.

It's great to have Nate back.

I am very grateful for a sister that has made me a better person.  She taught me to quilt, something that has given me great joy.  She has taken in a son and treated him as her own.  She feeds and cares for my college kids so well that I'm surprised they ever want to come home.  

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Smile, Random Thoughts

All our kids have played or just sat in the fireplace.  What makes this different?  We just sat and watched him.

He even helped in the cleanup.  Well, sort of.

How can you not be happy looking at such cute little guys.

There is a tree in our backyard that is a brilliant red.  I 'm not sure you can get the full effect of its brilliant redness in this picture, so trust me it is red.  I love sitting in the kitchen at the table looking at the yellow leaves of the birch tree and as I turn to the left there is this bright red tree.  It's absolutely beautiful and just leaves a great feeling inside.

A Grammy Moment

I love the fact that this little guy can come spend time with "Dale" and Gramma Rae.

He sure adds excitement to a quiet household.  I'm excited to get my hands on the other little guy this weekend.




I'm so glad grandmas were invented.

Credit Where Credit is Due

I forgot to thank the patient photographer who took all our wonderful family pictures.  Thanks! to my brother Rob!  We've really enjoyed some great photos.

Labor Day Weekend Reunion

Of course a weekend cannot be complete without my favorite little guys.

Ryker made friends with Kelsie.  She did a great job keeping him sleeping.

Rock loved having Alyssa at his beck and call.  She became his best friend.

We enjoyed the hospitality of my sister, Sherry.  She let 13 people crash in her house.  We had all our kids together and enjoyed the visiting.

Ryker loved the round tables with people all around to cuddle and enjoy his vibrant personality.

With us all together we decided a family picture was a must.  How do you get everyone to take it seriously? You'll see who the main culprit is.

A wonderful group of people.

The kids insisted we try and do a basketball photo shot.  Don't you love the cute managers?

They produced some wonderful shots.  It's amazing how cooperative Aaron was when it was his family pictures.

But, that cooperation was short-lived.

When did they grow up?  As my brother-in-law Larry was saying, It seemed like yesterday that Sherry and I were buckling kids into carseats and chasing kids.

Summer Memories

Sigh.  School starts for me on Monday.  Part of me is excited to get back to work and see the mostly eager faces, but another part of me still wants to be vacationing and relaxing.  I decided I would write down my top ten favorite moments of the summer, (in no particular order) so when I'm overwhelmed I can come back here and revisit my great relaxing summer.

Favorite Moment #10:  Singing the alphabet song with my friend Carter.  We were in a souvenir store at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  There was a nice soft couch in one corner with instruments for sale.  Carter handed Tiffany a ukelele, I had a drum and Carter grabbed a different color of ukelele.  I think we asked him what song we were going to sing, and he said very matter-of-factly - The ABC song.  So, with our great store instruments and extremely brilliant singing we performed the ABC song, complete with "won't you come and sing with me" twice.

Favorite Moment #9:  Sitting at Kimo's on our last night in Maui.  The sun is setting, the workers at the restaurant are taking down the window on the ocean side to give us an unobstructed view.  We are eating with Brian, Mo and Desmond.  The meal is the best I've had all summer: teriyaki chicken, filet mignon and fresh steam veggies - all with teriyaki.  Tender, juicy with a Hawaiian sunset for atmosphere.

Favorite Moment #8:  Toy Story 3, with family in Utah.  I enjoyed being with KC, Mom, Dad, Sherry, Ashley, TJ and friends.  Movies are always fun to watch with KC.  We can laugh loud and cry hard, and I did a lot of both.

Favorite Moment #7:  Having a great book series to take up a lot of the summer.  Legend of the Guardian King.  It was with me through a lot of the summer and by the end I wanted to read it again.

Favorite Moment #6:  Shopping with my daughters in Florida.  I needed something to wear in the water in Hawaii.  They gladly took me from store to store boosting my morale and helping me to find many outfits that would work.  What normally is a frustrating disheartening experience became a great moment of mom compassion.  Thank you girls!

Favorite Moment #5:  Learning to read the price tag before committing to a purchase.  About 33 years ago when I was in Hawaii with the family I got a pearl from an oyster and had it made into a ring.  I've never been able to wear the ring because I was allergic to the silver setting.  When we went this summer I wanted to get another ring with a gold setting that I would not be allergic to.  I got a nice pink pearl and found a setting that I liked.  We went shopping in other stores while they attached the pearl to the setting.  Upon returning and they gave Dale the price I was quite shocked.  I now have to take very good care of my ring.  I'm just glad I didn't like the $800 setting I saw on the way out.  I do love the ring, but I did learn to check things out before committing.  Can I just say how grateful I am that Dale is patient with me!  Hawaii was great with him around.

Favorite Moment #4:  Chauffeuring Mom and Dad while visiting in June.  Through the years they have done so much for me and our family that I liked the feeling of being able to give back.  It was a great relaxing two weeks with them that I'm hoping becomes an annual event.

Favorite Moment #3:  Visiting Harry Potter world.  I love Harry Potter.  I like saying it in my awful English accent.  I love the books, especially Deathly Hallows.  I love the movies (coming November 18!!).  I loved being able to visit a place dedicated to the fun of Harry Potter.  I know I've already complained about the heat and the abundance of people, but being with Lindsea and Travis made it all worthwhile, and of course
 Whitni and Marissa.

Favorite Moment #2:  Having the time to go visit and play with grandkids.  I enjoyed feeling free to go help Aaron and DeAndra by watching the boys.  There's nothing I'd rather do than see their fun faces and enjoy their great personalities.

Favorite Moment #1:  Having half my kids home for the summer.  On my way into the church this morning after saying goodbye to Marissa and Whitni I felt very lonesome for my kids.  Despite all I say or do or not do I love having my kids and grandkids around.  I will miss the flopping on the bed late at night just to visit, watching Nick coo and cuddle with Ryker, and listening to stories of work or cute guys at concerts.  It all gets sorely missed in the quietness of home.

This is not a conclusive list. There are so many great things that made this summer memorable.
Goodbye summer, hello fifth graders.