No Pictures Today

--Good Sabbath.
--Church. Great talks and lessons. Learned a lot.
--Ham, augratins, peas, salad for dinner. I did make some regular boiled potatoes too with some ham gravy. Ham gravy in our family is flavored with brown sugar. This is what I grew up with. No one in my own family likes it except Duff, Josh, and I though. They were craving it and I obliged. It is a combination of sweet and savory together, and you either love it or hate it. I didn't know anything different when I grew up, and I still love it.
--Mike and Adrianne went to Draper to visit their friends, Brad and Nic.
--Pizookies for dessert.
--Cold and festive.

Snow Play

Josh gave Meredith a new camera for Christmas. She is loving it. Here are some pictures I borrowed from her today.

Lots of pretty snow.

Adrianne and Chris.

Ditto.

Meredith and Christine.

Sledding was a bust. Too much powder.

But the playing was fun.

Maybe the tobaggon would have been better.

Then a trip to the hot springs, which are pretty hot! Love the contrast of snow and hot springs.

Sherlock

Today, we all slept in and then went to the matinee of the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

It was good; I liked it, but it didn't wow me. Robert Downey Jr. was very good in his roll though. It all tied together right at the very end. And they left it wide open for plenty of sequels.

The baby is fussy. Natalie and Robert stayed home with him. I think he might have some acid reflux going on. Any suggestions?

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Please scroll down and turn off the music, so you can enjoy this simple Christmas message. So sweet!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009!

Love,
The Duffy Family

New Moon

Christine got the New Moon board game for her birthday from Meredith and Josh.

We brought it with us. And played it Tuesday night after the game. It's pretty fun, I will say.

And the best part is, I won! I am very competitive at board games. My family knows this about me. And I haven't even see the movie yet, and it's been ages since I read the books. You can either start as a werewolf or a vampire. I started as a werewolf. Everyone else chose to be a vampire. Score one for Team Jacob.

KNEADERS

Yesterday, Wednesday, Meredith and I ran over to Park City. Walmart held some little last minute items. Why are there always last minute items?

We also visited the Tanger Outlets.

Carter's store and the Oakley outlet where Mere found a great pair of sunglasses that fit her narrow head for an amazing deal.

Then we headed to find the new Kneaders. They just opened one in the Newpark center by the bowling alley and theaters and all those FUN little one of a kind shops. I have heard so many good things about this little bakery and cafe, but have never had a chance to got there. We loved it. We got a turkey and artickoke heart panini. It was so delicious! It was snowing outside and the Park City wind was a-blowing and we sat there chatting while we ate and people watched out the window walls. Quite quaint. We got a dessert to go. Bread pudding. I am a recent convert to bread pudding. I've always thought even the thought of it was disgusting. Not so. It is one of the most delectable desserts on the planet! Meredith got cinnamon and I got raspberry. Warm with vanilla sauce. Oh, sweet, divine goodness!

I got a gift basket for Nancee (who takes care of our place when we aren't here), and while the gal was wrapping it up, we were talking about where I was from, and I asked her how we could get a franchise in southern California. She said yes, that they have had a lot of requests for the Newport area. That is close, but not close enough.

People, we have to do some serious campaigning!

Cougars. Yeah, Baby!

We prepared and watched and cheered for the Las Vegas Bowl on Tuesday night.

BYU vs. Oregon

We won handily: 44-20

It was a great game.

Robert made sure John was with 'the guys' for his first bowl game! He even slept through most of the loud cheering. Good baby. We had an indoor tailgate party pre-game. Lots of football food. We wore our Cougar game day best.

Tradition. Tradition. Tradition! (As Tevya would say.)

Do you see this?

...and this?
These equal no menfolk to take out the garbage.
WHY? you may ask.

Because they are all on computers reading and listening to everything post-game. Cougar sports talk. CougarBoards. KSL talk radio. All the interviews. All the comments. Every article posted within seconds and the subsequent hour after the last second of the game clock.

Just a peek into our world of BYU football!

Stormy Weather

It snowed all day so far. At one point while we were wrapping, we noticed a cloud just hanging there.

I played with some different settings on my little point and shoot. I learned that there is a beach/snow setting. Notice the difference in the two pictures.

I love this picture. When snow falls it really is peaceful.

Wrap, Wrap, Wrapping

'Santa's workshop' has been very busy. We've been wrapping away. We started in earnest on Tuesday afternoon and got over half done.

Meredith beginning the process.

The necessaries.

The best dang inventions. I sprang for these this year at Costco. It was worth it. Not that they are expensive, but I usually don't like to spend any extra if I don't have to. Especially at Christmastime. Mere likes to keep hers on her hand, but I use it on my wrist. Pre-measured and cut little pieces of tape all ready for you. The little paper-cutting wand thingy is awesome too! You really should add these to your gift wrapping supplies. Really.

John even came down and hung out with us in the swing. Isn't that just the coolest swing?! It is the travel one I talked about in an earlier post. My friend, Lindsey, recommended it to me and she was right. It's great, especially for Gramma's house.

We had Christmas music playing on the ipod dock and it was snowing, snowing outside.

Norman Rockwell sent it to us.

Hahahahahaha!!!!!

F. I. N. A. L. L. Y. !!!

Duff was really sick with his asthma/bronchitis/sinus infection when John was born. He never got to touch or hold him. Sunday, he drove Shaun back up after the first hour of church because he didn't feel good. Mere and Christine and I went to SSchool. After RS and YW, Shaun was waiting for us in the parking lot. That seemed odd. Where was Duff?

When they pulled in to the cabin, Rob and Natalie had just arrived. They were unloading their car and John was on the couch fussing. Papa Duff went over straight-away and the rest, as they say, was history!

He didn't even change out of his suit. They cuddled like this for hours.

FINALLY.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

This is very easy AND very good!

4-7 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 large bottle russian salad dressing

1 large or 2 medium jars apricot/pineapple apricot preserves

1 envelope dry onion soup mix

Thaw chicken breasts and cut in half, lengthwise.

Spray 9X13 pan with Pam.

Place chicken in pan.

In a bowl, mix russian salad dressing, apricot preserves, and onion soup mix together. Pour over chicken.

Bake at 350* for 35-45 minutes.

Serve with rice and green beans.

*Variation: you can add some drained pineapple chunks and cut red bell pepper. Add to the dressing/preserve mixture.

RUDOLPH

A bit of Christmas Trivia for today:

Have you ever wondered where Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer got his start? Believe it or not, this holiday hero owes his existence to Chicago-based department store Montgomery Ward.

For years the store purchased and gave away coloring books to their customers at Christmas. In an effort to save money, copywriter Robert L. May was asked to come up with a Christmas story to use in a booklet that would replace the coloring books.

Montgomery Ward gave out 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph booklet in 1939 alone, and by the end of 1946, 6 million copies had been distributed. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer was printed commercially in 1947 and debuted in theaters as a nine-minute cartoon the next year.

The Rudolph phenomenon really took off when songwriter Johnny Marks developed the lyrics and melody for a Rudolph song, which was recorded by Gene Autry and went on to become one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time, second only to “White Christmas.”

I didn't know that!

Grandma Goodies

Meredith and I headed down the canyon to do a bunch of errands today. But we got them all done and were 'spent' by the time we were done. So the 3 guys took the holiday grocery list and did the 'divide and conquer' in the market. In the meantime, we gals took care of the baby (such a 'chore'...), started laundry and got organized.

Did you know that there are goodies for Grandma's? And they are more fun to buy than when it was for your own kiddos. Why is that?! I bought our first Pack 'n Play, a swing, and baby monitor for the cabin. It was a lot of fun, I have to admit. It was good I had Mere with me, because with all her nanny experience she was invaluable in helping me choose. The swing came in a travel version for 1/2 the price of a full size one, and we went with that. Only difference is that is is lower to the ground and folds up to just about nothing. Meredith was very patient with my methodical process of elimination, and I'm very happy with our choices.

When we got home, Papa Duff started assembling. It's been a long time since he's had to put together something at Christmas time! and it was with excitement now and not with sleep deprivation and a Christmas morning deadline. Again, Meredith was the assistant assembler. Thank goodness!

We had sweet and sour chicken--Mere's recipe--and it was delish. I will post the how-to next. It is a great fast, go to dish, and SOOOO easy!

I should be wrapping, but I'm not. I'll regret that come the 24th......

Kelland!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLAND!

We send our love and hope your day is fantastic in every way.

I remember your mom saying how wonderful it was to have a newborn right before Christmas. How much you brought the spirit of Christ with you to them.

HAVE A HAPPY DAY!

...and some more

Duff commented last night as he was settling into 'his' chair, that it is interesting how it only takes a very few minutes when we get here to feel like we've never left and it is 'home'. Not our home-home, but you know what I mean. We pulled into the garage and came in and Shaun had a fire going and all the garlands and tree were lit. Darla was running around waiting for her dish to be filled and grabbing every toy from her kennel and dragging them out to play.

Shaun and Christine ran to get us something quick for dinner while Duff and I unloaded the car full of Christmas. Josh and Mike had brought over all their various gifts for the trip up since they and Adrianne will be flying after work on Wednesday. I'm seriously surprised we got it all in, but Josh and Duff used their expert skills and found a way.

I hung the stockings. This is important, you know!

Christine and I were excited to go to The Store--our very first grocery store!--to grab a small list of things to get us through the weekend until we do our BIG holiday shopping on Monday. It is the quaintest dang store. It is about the size of a Trader Joe's and has a full deli, bakery, meat department, great produce, and a cozy sitting area complete with fireplace and flat screen to enjoy whatever you want I guess. Every square inch was well thought out, and prices very competitive.

In their homegoods section was a bin full of the most fun Christmas wrapping paper. At closer look, I realized it is the same paper they sell at one of the longest-lines-ever booth at Swiss Days! I was NOT going to stand in that line this summer, and here I got to pick my paper after all! Score!

Duff and Shaun went down to SL to pick up Meredith, so we met at the dumpsters at the park (we have to pack our trash out--no garbage trucks come up here) and I took Darla and they took Christine. Mere changed into her jammies and scanned and sent off all the rest of her finals projects that were due by midnight.

We had family prayer, Duff went to bed, Chris fell asleep on the couch and Shaun, Mere, and I stayed up until 1:30am chatting. Those two were so excited for Christmas it was like they were 10 years old!

It's all good. Oh, don't misunderstand. I don't have one thing wrapped. I didn't get anything to my Cali neighbors this year :( :(. I didn't even get visits made to the ladies I visit teach. Yeah, they're getting something in the mail, but I didn't get to them in person. I didn't send cards. Ouch. But I did the best I could considering I was only home 9 days out of 18 for December! So now it is time to enjoy Christmas and the family.

It's taken 30 years, but I think I've finally started to be able to let go of some things and not fret about them and enjoy what's really important. And that changes from situation to situation. SO. On to the holidays!

Aaahhhhh.

Good Passengers

Our goal was to leave at 6am. We left at 6:30. Not too bad! Especially for me who is not a natural early riser. But Josh and Duff had the car entirely packed last night and all we had to do was get up and throw some clothes on and brush our teeth.

It was filled to the brim and there was only a small place for Christine to sit on her seat. She was such a trooper and Darla camped out on a pile of boxes covered with jackets and blankets.

Here they are snoozing. Couldn't resist a picture.

The trip was good and seemed faster than normal.

Lots of white glistening snow. It is beautiful. The lake isn't totally frozen over yet, but getting there. The water isn't blue anymore. It's like a dark gray color. Does the color of water change as it's getting ready to freeze????

Christmas is coming and we are ready! Well not 'ready' ready--details to finish--but ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We are feeling it in the seriously cold Midway air!

09 Newport Boat Parade

Last Wednesday night we were guests of the Hobbins again for the annual Newport Beach/Balboa Island Boat Parade. They are part of the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. This year we all potlucked crock-pots of soups, bread bowls, salads, and desserts.

It was all delicious and perfect for an evening on the ocean. The weather was not as cold as it has been in other years, but it did still require a coat.

I was using my newish camera on the night setting but the water just kept rolling. The boats and houses in the bay were all lit up and decorated in their holiday best. It was brilliantly beautiful.

The snowman on the back of The Hobby.

One of the boats in front of us.

The people on the docks and beachfront clapped and waved as we went by and we all wished each other a Merry Christmas.

It was a really good evening. I didn't take any pictures of our 'crew' and 'passengers' because I was so busy visiting and oohing and ahhing at the sights. We had Josh and Meredith with us this year, and they had a good time too. Lots of young couples that they had grown up with and now they are all married.

Thanks, Hobbins.

Abby!

Happy Birthday to our family fashionista!

See you soon.

Love, Your Cali Cousins!

To Facebook Or Not To Facebook...

...that is the question! Everyone keeps bugging me to sign up.

I just don't think I can bring myself to do it. I would spend way too much time on the computer. I spend enough time on it as it is doing blog posts.

What are the pros and cons?

Convince me.

I'm Losing My Marbles...

I'm losing my 'marbles' lately. I'll blame it on getting ready for the holidays. But I have Kelland's birthday wrong--it's the 20th, not the 10th (how did I mistake that???), and I've been wanting to introduce you all to:

It is Adrianne and Meredith's etsy shop!

www.sweeturchin.com

Check it out. Along with their regular items, they have a Christmas line right now that is adorable.

You'll LOVE what you see.

I PROMISE!

Heather's Business

Hi Family:

Just got an email from John H. about Heather's business blog. It is pretty fun, and becoming VERY successful. Go to: http://www.lovetheyesgirls.com/ or scroll down to Sites I Visit for the link as well.

Our little neighbor girl is all g r o w n up!

In The Register

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA-- Young adults from Rancho Santa Margarita and the canyons collected more than 1,000 items for Christmas gifts for a Veterans Hospital in Long Beach this holiday season.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints and Cub Scout Troop 727 participated in the Veteran Box Project.

Men and Women of the church, along with Cub Scout 727, delivered the Christmas boxes on December 12.

"We received over 1,000 items including 57 combs, 144 lotion bottles, 288 sanitizers, 14 books, eight crossword puzzles, 105 pairs of socks, 66 pairs of toothbrushes and toothpaste," said Pat Brokaw, Young Men's leader at Live Oak Canyon congregation.

The volunteers made about 400 boxes--the scouts made 100, and the church members 300--according to Dannee Clyne with the Veterans Box Project.

About 200 veterans received 2 boxes each, Clyne added in an email.

The Live Oak Canyon congregation represents Rancho Cielo and Robinson Ranch communities. The project was sponsored by the American Legion post 862.

This was in the newspaper! Of course, there are some needed corrections like 'youth' from Santa Margarita, and 'Boy' scouts instead of the cubs. And our ward also includes Walden, Dove Canyon, and Live Oak Canyon and Silverado Canyon communities. Christine is in the very small picture above on the left just about center with a gold package.

It was a wonderful project and Christine learned a lot. Thanks to the leaders and all their diligent work with our youth. You are awesome!

Nicky!

Happy Birthday, Buddy!
Keep singing those primary songs.
We Love You--
Your BYU Family
It's okay if you cheer for the U. I love you anyway...

Reindeer Blanket

I've had a lot of feedback about the little reindeer blanket I made for John.

You need to know, that I am not an accomplished seamstress, but I can go slow and get it done. That being said, the skills I learned as a girl come back to me quickly, and it reminds me everytime how important it is to me that girls be given this opportunity to get behind a sewing machine and learn the basics.

I am generally a traditionalist. I like my Christmas colors in the good old-fashioned reds, greens, burgundies. When I decided to make this holiday blanket I looked everywhere at the 'traditionals' and nothing was satisfying me.

I decided to just 'look' at the trendy fabrics, and fell in love with this. MY dilemna was how to back it. Do I use some shade of this 'new' Christmas green? Red? White? Brown was not my first choice. The methodical me (haha!) had to lay them all out on Joann's cutting tables and put together every possibility. (By now, Lisa is rolling her eyes...Yes, I can see you.)

The brown made the reindeer 'pop' and there I had decided. Nothing traditional about this at all, but it's working!

With that out of the way, here are some pictures. My camera didn't really capture the brightness of the fabric, so go to http://duffydoings.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post_4302.html (I just wanted to type the word 'here' and be able to go to the link. How do I do that???) to see the true fabric color.

I used super jumbo rick rack. It kind of fits in with the current style.

Wash and dry the fabric. I get 1 1/2 yards of each. I like to make them around 44-45" by 44-45-50". This should leave enough leftover fabric for a burpcloth. But you can make it any size you want!

I trim all the frayed edges, lay the fabrics on top of each other matching all edges and cut to the size I want. Then I take a salad plate and put it on the corners and trace the rounded shape on the material. Trim the square off. I like the softness of the round corner, plus it makes putting the rick rack trim on easier.

With the right side up of your print, sew the rick rack on. If you are using jumbo, lay one edge of the rick rack points on the fabric edge and stitch 1/4 inch in around it. If you use super jumbo, you need to let it hang off the raw fabric edge about 1/8" and then sew 1/4" around.

With right sides together, fit and pin both fabrics together. Stitch 1/2 -5/8 " seam allowance all the way around, leaving a 5" opening to turn it right side out.

Turn the blanket right side out. Pull out rick rack points. Press seam and rick rack, pressing the opening as if it were stitched. Top stitch 1/4" from seam edge, including opening. (This will close it.)

The finished blanket.

Another view.

I didn't put rick rack on the burp cloth. I just used a kidney shape, wrong sides together, stitched a 1/4 inch and then another 1/4 inch from it (2 rows of stitching), and then cut the raw edges about 1/4 inch just up to the first row of stitching. I dampened it and then put it in the dryer and it looks like a cousin to those frayed, ragged quilts. Nice and soft with a bit of a frayed edge. I've never done that before, but I saw it and thought I'd try it out. I don't know how the frayed edges will last, but we'll try it out. I liked the softness of it against a baby's face.

There you go.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment, or email me.

Currently

Christine woke up this morning at 11am. She obviously needed the sleep. She was dragging a bit still, but her throat didn't hurt anymore, and by the afternoon she started rallying. Yay! I haven't seen her this sick for a long time.

Finished 2 more gifts. Oh Happy Day! Laundry almost done. Darla went to the groomer and is all spiffed up for the holidays now. When she got home, we put on her red collar, red sweater, and Christmas scarf. She is stylin' and ready for Christmas.

It was a beautiful day out.

AND, I am truly enjoying our 'new' tree this year. Christine, who was one of my staunch opponets, has exclaimed that she just loves 'the tree', and can't wait to turn it on straight away! It has so many lights it looks like a burning bush!

I've listened to Christmas music most of the day and it just sets the mood perfectly. I'm getting so E X C I T E D! ! !

To Christmas card or not to Christmas card. That is the current question. I have no picture yet. Just can't get everyone together. Even just the 4 of us, and am running out of time. Hmmmm........

My Poor Girl

Christine is still really sick. If she isn't better by tomorrow afternoon, I'm taking her back to the doctor. She has spent the day on the couch pretty miserable.

So I stuck around home and got laundry going, things organized, sent Duff off with a small list which he did splendidly! Worked on some Christmas presents. It seems everyone I have talked to today is sick or has been sick with this 'dreaded gomboo' flu thing. OH, I am crossing my fingers I don't get it! And this isn't even the swine flu, just the seasonal flu.

Duff brought home the newest Harry Potter movie. I was going to save it for Christmas, but he can't resist his 'little girl', and they spent the afternoon watching it together.

21 Inches And Counting

Photos courtesy of Shaun, who is shoveling, shoveling, shoveling...

Beginning of storm.

21 inches by Sunday morning at 7:15am.
Notice: You cannot see the steps to the porch or any part of the driveway or street! The plow hadn't come by yet.

One of the front pine trees.

It's still snowing, and it's a wet, heavy snow this time. Lots of moisture in this storm.

Good deal.

Cozy Family Evening

We had a few gray clouds that turned into a beautiful blue sky this morning. We need a break from the rain so it can soak in and we can dry out a little. Everything is pretty soggy.

Christine took her meds and got in the shower and they promptly came right back up. I forgot to have her eat something. She's still running a fever, and asked if I could stay home from church with her. I made some blueberry muffins, and we all watched the Christmas Music and The Spoken Word. It was really good. Then the Christmas broadcast from last year. Duff had the Messiah numbers cranked up full volume and pretended he was directing the choir! He left for our block of meetings and I made sure she was settled before I got myself in the shower.

We had Josh, Meredith, Eric, and J.T. for the afternoon and evening for dinner. Meredith asked Josh for some tacos, so he helped me make that for our Sunday dinner. Christine is resting on the couch inbetween doing some homework. Eric and Mere are working on homework too. J.T. is being my big helper and licked the brownie spoon clean as a whistle. I don't think there was a smidge of batter left on it! We read a new Christmas book about The Last Straw. LOVED the story.

Whew, What A Day!

We woke up late.

We jumped out of bed, threw some clothes on, and got Christine to the church for the youth service project. They have been working on collecting and now taking items from the community to take to the Long Beach Veterans Hospital for Christmas. She had a really good experience.

Duff and I decided since we were out, we would get some shopping done and cross off that list a little more! The stores were virtually empty that early, and we got in and out in a jiffy. We did see some people from the ward who obviously did the same thing we did after dropping off their youth. We were home by 11am. Josh and J.T. were here when we got back. J.T. has so much 6 year old energy! So we got him involved in Saturday chores and decorating the front door and he loved it. Mere is studying away as is Shaun and Natalie. Robert is done with finals and so is Mike. Mike and Adrianne went early to the LATemple for an endowment session with Adrianne's sister, Autumn, who is getting married next week. Josh and Duff took the grocery list and did the weekly shopping while J.T. and I finished up. Then I put them away and they took J.T. and went to get haircuts. Meredith had done all she could do and came over for a break and to work on the gifts she is making for Christmas.

This is the year of the blankets!

Adrianne and Meredith have added fleece blankets to their crafting repertoire and between me and them our dining room and kitchen tables and entry floor can tell many tales of love in every cut and tie.

Christine came home and was not well. She got worse as the afternoon went on. So I took her in the pouring rain to the urgent care. At first the doctor thought it was strep, but the test came back negative. So he diagnosed accute tonsillitis and a sinus infection. We got her meds and on the way home came upon a terrible accident that had just happened. A gal in a mid-size truck spun out in the heavy rain and crashed into a corner firehydrant. It was spewing gallons of water like a geyser while cars stopped and ran to pull her out and lay her on the ground. So many good samaritans were doing all they could to help her and direct traffic to avoid any other incidents before the emergency crews could get there. I thought about how people are naturally GOOD and willing to help each other. That led to pondering about how we are all brothers and sisters in the gospel, and so on, and so on. I was interupted when all of a sudden the rain and fog were so heavy that I could hardly see to drive myself and the car began hydroplaning. Everyone literally stopped on the toll road. Dangerous, but this moisture truly is heaven sent.

When we pulled into the driveway more cars had found their way over and we walked in to a festive hustle bustle. Mike and Adrianne had come over and brought Autumn and Drew. Duff had a big pot of chili on the stove and Meredith had made a pot of Broccoli Potato Cheese soup. Adrianne had cornbread in the oven. A fire was in the fireplace and all I had to do was the condiments for the soups. We gave Christine her antibiotic and parked her on the couch. J.T. had happily changed into his holiday pajamas. We ate and visited about all the wedding details. Mere and I cleaned up while Adrianne did a dry run of Autumn's hair for her wedding. It looked really beautiful.

Girls worked on blankets. Mere and I had a good visit, and then I watched a Christmas movie with J.T. so Meredith could make some headway on her project.

Whew. Everyone is gone now and I am staying up until the fire is all the way out. It is still raining. Shaun has kept us posted on the snow amounts, and Natalie and Robert and John are hunkered down for the weekend. Robert is so faithful with his primary calling, but Nats will stay home with the baby tomorrow since they don't want to take him out yet in this weather with all the winter germs.

Good times.

Where Is Heaven?

I flew home last night. As Shaun and I came out of Parley's Canyon towards the airport you could see it. The next wave of winter storms. I LOVE them. Since I don't live them full time, I can say that, I guess! He dropped me off, we hugged, kissed, told each other we loved each other and I told him to skedaddle back to Midway to hopefully out run it before it started dumping. He did make it. But my flight was delayed almost an hour coming out of New York with some weather complications.

Drat. We had Friday night plans and I was anxious to get home. It was definitely a bumpy ride coming into Long Beach due to the rain they'd been having all week. Much needed rain. Mike and Adrianne came to pick me up which was a great surprise because I thought it would be my handsome hubby. When I got on the plane in SCL, Adrianne sent me a phone picture of Darla moping on the bonus room sofa. It was so funny, because I never get to see this since she only acts this way while I'm gone I'm told. She won't even eat for a day or two until she finally figures out I'm not coming back for a few days. They brought her with them and when she saw me and heard my voice she just about jumped out of the car into the rainy street! Mike grabbed her to thwart her determined efforts to get to me. Silly furry heart invading 6lb. bundle of unconditional love!

It rained hard on us and we had a delightful drive catching up. When we pulled in, the house was all lit up with Christmas. Christine was back and forth with Follow The Star, Seminary class party, and another birthday party for friends. So fun to see her enjoying a Friday night full of good teenage things to do. Josh and J.T. were here and Meredith soon came for a break from finals studying.

One of Dad's all time favorite primary songs is Where Is Heaven. It felt like that when I walked in the door. Just missing Shaun, Nats, Rob, and baby John.

The Elf On The Shelf

"Have you ever wondered how Santa could know

if you're naughty or nice each year as you grow?

For hundreds of years it's been a big secret.

It now can be shared if you promise to keep it."

...and so goes the tradition of 'The Elf On The Shelf'.

(google it to find where you can get your OWN family's elf)

So family, where is OUR elf watching from right now????

Let me know and get an extra something in your stocking!

Love, Mom

Winter Wonderland

Starting last Monday when I landed, the snow dumped and dumped. It got worse as we got closer to Midway/Heber. Shaun spun out at the corner of River Rd and the 40. I screamed, but he recovered and we didn't end up in the Provo river!

I even figured out how to use the 4wd and 4wd low on the truck and drove in what I consider a blizzard down Provo canyon and back up that day and night! There was only 1 lane and very few vechicles. The fastest you dared to drive was 10-15 mph. Maybe 20 mph in just a couple of places. You could not see any pavement at all. We followed each other single file with about 50 yards between each car. A 30 minute drive took me over an hour. I didn't realize how bad the weather really was until some of the locals here told me they had cancelled appointments and plans in order to not have to go out in it.

It has been VERY cold. This morning it was -13 at 8am. Yesterday it was -16 when we woke up. It was -14 the day before. The highs have been in the single digits. We had a drain pipe freeze up on the north side of the deck and leak into the bunk room because the heat cord shorted out. All fixed now.

More snow expected starting tonight through Monday. That means the temps will be going up some but not much. It sure is pretty, but I'm California spoiled with the warm weather. It is nice to come and have true winter in 'doses'. I wonder if I could do this for a whole season????? But then again, we do what we need to do wherever we live, right?

In the meantime, I'm enjoying it.