Christmas 2009!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas.....well, we're still celebrating around here. Lyndsey got the barrel racing saddle that she has been wanting for a while. We actually surprised her somehow! She didn't have a clue! Although, she did go Black Friday shopping with Marty and I this year, and Jace milked out all kinds of information from her. We shopped exclusively for him that day!

Jace was less than thrilled with his Christmas presents this year. Marty insisted on getting him TOOLS! He didn't want, or ask for tools. During his routine "shaking of all the presents" that he does everyday until Christmas, he found out he was getting tools.....not just a few tools, but A LOT of them. Needless to say, we had a hard time dragging his butt out of bed this morning. He was less than excited.

We did however get him a gun safe, (that he knew about, but couldn't find....it was 15 feet from his bedroom for over a month!) and a nightstand that he needed. He will be giving the "borrowed" nightstand back. Jace robbed Josh's room immediately after we dropped him off at the MTC to serve a 2 year, full time mission.

Marty gave me some gorgeous Montana Silversmith jewlery, shoes and money......the kids gave us a camera to take on our cruise. I'm glad I got it for Christmas......It's gonna take 6 weeks to learn how to use it!

I'm awaiting 6:00 pm. I get to hear that sweet voice I haven't heard since Mother's Day. We get to call Guyana, and talk to Josh tonight! Then, finally, my Christmas will be complete. I can't hardly stand myself! I've caught myself crying on and off all day waiting for this phone call. It will be his last from the Mission field......unless.....President Gamiette calls and tells us to come and get him immediately............he's went AWOL. Doubt that will happen with two months and six days left! ;) Happy Holidays!!!

Old farts....

Tonight Marty and I are getting a glimpse of what it's going to be like when we get to be old farts, with no kids prowling around the house. Jace is at the high school basketball game...go Juab....Lyndsey is babysitting, and Marty and I are sitting on opposite couches looking at each other.

I suppose we'll have to find a hobby to keep us busy later in life....or else, we could have another baby! NOT! That's not going to happen! Should I take up knitting? boondoggle? chinese checkers? snipe hunting? Any ideas?

12 more days!

As I was sitting here messing around on the computer today, I happened to look at the date on the calendar, December 13, 2009! Only 12 more days until I get to make that twice a year phone call to my missionary who has recently been transferred to Guyana.

I need to be more on top of my game this time. We had put $200 on a phone card for our Mother's Day phone call..... and, well, as International calls would have it, we kept getting disconnected! After getting disconnected the first time I dialed the number direct, without going thru the calling card number. That sweet phone call costed us a whopping $491.90 cents! That wasn't one of my smarter moves! (Mind you we had already spent $200 for the card!) Maybe on Christmas I will let Marty do the dialing! What price we won't pay to hear the voice of someone so far away!

Release date: March 4, 2010!!!!!! Two months, two weeks and 4 days!!!!!!-----and YES....I AM COUNTING!

Bah Humbug!

Okay, so it's the 6th of December.....where's my Christmas spirit?

I finally got my Christmas decorating done, and thanks to Jace and Lyndsey for all the help! I haven't felt like dragging out all the crap knowing that in another month I have to try to smash it all back into the closet under the stairs, and slam the door before it all falls back out. What's happening to me? I've lost the "Peace on Earth Goodwill toward Men" feeling. Yesterday as we were shopping at Costco I felt like running people over with my shopping cart! I was on a "mission" and I wanted to get in and get out....but there were a ton of Holiday Shoppers strolling the isles of the store acting like they had all day to find that perfect gift....and then I come up behind them and want to run them over because I had to shift gears! Holy Hannah! I must be related to Ebenezer Scrooge! Maybe he's my dad!

Hopefully I will get into the spirit of the season, slow down, and enjoy the Holidays. Could this have something to do with my family not being able to be all together yet again? Next year at this time I will have all three kids here with me even if I have to drive to the other side of the country, hog tie them, throw them in the trunk and hold them hostage! We will all be celebrating together!

I got my last email from Trinidad this evening. Josh will be moving to Guyana this week to finish out his mission......or to die, as they say. I'm excited to hear from him on Christmas! Less than 3 months left! Whoo Hoo! Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!.....yah right.

Thanksgiving 2009

Wow! We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. My family is healthy, and for the most part we're happy. My missionary is doing great and is due home in about 3 months.

A Senior couple from Arizona is providing some of the missionaries with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner! I'm so appreciative to those who are looking after my son for me. I hope all the missionaries and service men and women have a great Thanksgiving, even though they are far from their loved ones.

My brother-in-law had surgery yesterday, and he seems to be doing amazingly well. Thankful for that! He is a go-getter, and you just can't keep him down!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend. I don't know that I can endure "Black Friday". I value my sleep, so we'll have to see!

Thanksgiving

We had an early Thanksgiving celebration this year. Because of some unforeseen circumstances our family chose to celebrate Thanksgiving on Sunday. We had a great meal thanks to mom who always goes above and beyond to make things special for us. She lets us all converge on her house each year and no matter how much corn, turkey or gravy is spilled on the floor, she smiles and lets us have our fun!

We went to a park here in Nephi and took turns taking family pictures. We were the only one minus a body in our family picture......but the positive side to that is .....he will be back with us the first part of March!

Kamarie's husband Frankie is due to have surgery on Tuesday of this coming week. They will be taking his thyroid out. We wish him the best! He is such a neat person. He never complains. And believe me, he's had a lot he COULD complain about lately, but I haven't heard one negative word come out of his mouth!

Lyndsey and I did have a change to get our family Christmas cards ordered this past weekend! Here's a preview of the photos we choose for our cards. They are in a collage form. We're not goofy.....we did this on purpose!

How did I forget the post about the glasses?

I went to the University of Utah today for my annual eye appointment that I haven't been to for 6 years. Does that still make it annual?

According to Marty, I'm all but legally blind! He's been telling everyone that I can't see to drive! LIE! He's lying! I'm a good driver......ask him who got us to the appointment with 25 minutes to spare! Yup! That would be me!

I suppose I shall never look the same. I will from here on out be known as "four eyes". Ask me if I feel bad about all the people I called that when I was younger. Life has a way of coming back to "BITE YOU!".