Good-Bye 2010

After all the weather events in the last week, we are being party-poopers tonight.  Just staying home here, watching some movies in our jammies with a fire in the fireplace.  The weather was difficult again today, so Meredith stayed in SL at her sister's last night and came back up this morning when I80 was easier to drive.  The guys met her at the bottom of Interlaken and drove her back up.

I have begun a counted cross stitch project.  A Christmas pillow to add to the collection for next year.  It has kept me busy and relaxed.  I love doing handwork like that.

We made a relish plate of cold veges and some hot cocktail weinies and by the time we were finished with our appetizers we weren't hungry for dinner.  We toasted in 2011 at midnight with some Martinelli's and danced along to Train, Lady Gaga, and The Backstreet Boys on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Pillowcases

We had a cozy Christmas gift waiting for us when we arrived at Cougarhaven.

'Little' Josh, who goes by that only because he is younger than 'big Josh', made the family gift this year.

A set of soft flannel pillowcases.

Aren't they cute?

He did an awesome job in his sewing class.

THANKS SO MUCH!

We love them.  They are perfect for those snowy winter days and nights.

It May Look Like Lace, BUT--

there was too much of it too fast.

We got a text yesterday morning from Nancee (who takes care of the cabin) asking how we snowed in people felt about it.  Haha.  It is a very romantic notion, you know.

The plow didn't come and didn't come.  Finally Nancee's brother, Mike, came with his tractor and got some plowing done, but as fast as it was plowed and shoveled it came right back.

The guys got the truck cleared off.  Mike told us if we needed to go anywhere now would be the time so we could get back up.

Yeah, right.

It had been up over the bumper.

 The switchback by the 'gingerbread house'.

It had just been plowed, and did NOT look like this on our way back, since we had to walk it.  Yes, you heard me, we had to carry the groceries and walk up the road for the last 3 switchbacks....

 Meredith and Christine trying to shovel the road so we can get back up.

Didn't work.  As fast as they could shovel, it fell again.

Josh and Shaun took turns shoveling also while the other one kept trying to make it up.

Now, the Black Pearl--aka:  truck--is 4WD and has snow tires.  Guess we need to get chains.

 Yeah, this says a lot.

I do have to say, Shaun is amazing in the snow.  He knows how to handle the truck well.  Just couldn't get enough traction on that steep slope.

 This is the barrel of sand that we couldn't get to and use because it was buried.

Finally home, safe and sound.

I am still laughing as I type this.

I can't believe we had to leave the truck down at the bottom and hike all the way up.  Carrying bags of groceries.  While the snow was dumping.  My black leather purse is not well.

Now THIS is an adventure!

(I can't remember who said our mudslide was an adventure, because it certainly wasn't.  It was a tragedy.  Not getting up the mountain and having to hike in the storm with groceries is a memory to laugh about.  Nothing laughable about the mudslide.)

Lace

We woke up to a wonderland.

It hasn't stopped snowing all day.

We got 30 inches in 20 hours.  Yep.  A LOT.

It is like a blanket of the most precious lace.

We Decided To Go

The rain storm came and went and the hill held and seemed to take the additional moisture so Duff and I decided to go to the cabin afterall for a few days.  More rain is coming tomorrow but we are confident Mike and Adrianne can handle what comes up.  They say it's just supposed to be like the one on Sunday to Monday.

It is beautifully white with snow.  Cold and cozy.  The rain they predict for Cali is supposed to start tonight here as snow.  Happy Day.  I could use some time to just hunker down and be still.

Jan and Ann picked us up and we stopped at Jan's to get the truck and visit for a bit.  The kids all had a good Christmas and Christine enjoyed spending the night with the cousins. Meredith's sister, Kristen and her family were here and everyone all went on the Heber Creeper to Soldier Hollow to go tubing for the afternoon.  Duff and I and Shaun stayed and regrouped.  Yesterday they had all gone ice-skating down in the outdoor rink in town.  Jan and Ann came up to bring the cousins and go with them.  They all had a really good time. 

Mrs. Wells Jingle

"Clean up, clean up.  Everybody, everywhere.
Clean up, clean up.  Everybody do your share."

Mrs. Wells, (our most favorite kindergarten teacher at Sequoia Elementary in Westminster who has now passed away), sang this with the class at clean up time.

This was my motto today and that little jingle went through my mind all day long.  Christmas clean up.  Boxes divided for trash and to save until next year.  Laundry done.  Christmas china put away.  Clean sheets on beds.  All the bathroom towels and rugs washed.  Stray things back in place.  OH.  That my house could always stay like this!  Haha.

Outside clean up.  Wash mud off the undercarriage of the cars.  Then wash it down the porch and driveway. Sweep the mud and silt down the gutters.  The sidewalks.  There is dirty gunk still all over.  Not as much as before.  I think we will be cleaning mud for a long time.  Work crews from the ward have been down shoveling mud out of our neighbor's homes.  This has been warmly received.  The majority of our neighbors are not members of our church.  How do you help someone who is going through this.  Words don't seem like enough.  Shovels don't seem like enough.  Food doesn't seem like enough.  I still have my house and my possessions.  Survivors guilt, I guess???

My house is quiet without kids here.  I'm enjoying it but missing the hustle and bustle and the comings and goings. 

Back To Bed

The kids left for Utah and the cabin this morning.
We stayed behind to tie up loose ends and see how we weathered the next rain storm.
I am tired.  I have a sore throat.  I got up and got ready to shower for church and realized that it wasn't going to do me or anyone else any good to go, so I climbed back in bed and slept until 11:15am.  That is SO out of character for me.  Guess I was tired after all and needed it.
Quiet day.  Lots of reflection.  Feels good.

Merry CHRISTmas!

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And sudden there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."      ---Luke 2: 10-14

Christmas Eve 2010--Part Two

Acting out the Nativity.

 Richard was the innkeeper.  He made himself a nametag that said:  Courtyard Marriott.

Richard is a Marriott super-duper Marriott rewards platinum member.  Haha!

 Josh as a shepherd and Meredith as the angel.

At one point, the shepherd turned and said,  "Gee.  That angel is pretty Hot."  And then he kissed her.

 Adrianne was the star lighting the way to Bethlehem.  Shaun as a wiseman.

 ...with his gift:  a liahona.

 Mike and JT as the other wisemen with Erik as Joseph and Christine as Mary and Kit (American girl doll) as the baby Jesus.

 The curtain call!

The whole cast.  Including Christian as a sheep.

 Now to the reading of Luke 2.  A little more reverent.

Our annual video of Mary, Did You Know?, family prayer, and dessert.

All is wrapped.  Off to bed.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

Christmas Eve 2010--Part One

Santa arrived and passed out the beautiful bells of the North Pole.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way.

 Kat, Patti, and Adrianne.  JT was this years Santa helper to pass out the suckers and candy canes.

 Duff, Meredith, and Christine.

 Shaun, Richard, Mike.

 Josh, Christian, JT, and Erik.

Christian let Santa know that he already had 2 Lightyears and was hoping for a Woody.

 Miss Darla.

Listening to Santa's stories.

Welcome Sunrise

We woke up to the sun streaming in our windows.

Such a welcome sight from the last week of rain and the flooding and mudslides of the last few days on our street.

 I walked by the dining room on my way to the kitchen and the warm sun was shining right over the Nativity scene.

 This nativity set is the one i grew up with.

I don't know when my mom got it or where she got it, but Duff and I didn't have one and she had gotten a new one and asked if I would like it.  I just love it.  It is old and a little worn, but has lots of gentle feelings and memories of Christmas holidays past and present.

After this stressful week, it's good to be reminder that it's all 'about the baby'.