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.

Uncle Shaun

Shaun is good with babies.

He was sick when John was born and didn't get to hold him until now.

Santa's Little Helper

John-John at 2 1/2 weeks.

I'm in Utah with Natalie and Robert taking care of the baby during their finals. I'm certainly not complaining!

I bought him this little Christmas outfit and hat before he was born. I'm glad I got the 3 month size because he will almost be out of it by Christmas. At his 2 week check-up on Monday, he had gained 1 lb. 1 oz. and grew 1/2 an inch!!!

I made this cute little flannel Christmas blanket for him. It has a brown background and brown jumbo rick-rack around it. It really makes the reindeer 'pop'. I couldn't resist when he woke up from one of his naps today, so the camera came out and we did a photo shoot.

Dang cute!

A Christmas Carol

Tonight we went to the South Coast Reperatory Theater in Costa Mesa to see the play "A Christmas Carol". It was amazing. The same actor has played Scrooge for 29 years. He is very good at it. Film is a great entertainment medium but there is just something so very unique about theater.

We went with some friends. Duff decided to stay home and continue to get better since he has finally turned a corner with this asthma/flu/bronchitis thing. So it was Christine and I with the Kleins. True to form, I got car sick on the way up. I should have taken the Dramamine before we left. Bumper to bumper traffic will do it every time. Even in the front seat. So by the time we got to Jerry's Deli for our dinner, I was not well. I did order, but the smells coming from the kitchen weren't helping things. And I LOVE a good old-fashioned deli. It brings out the German in me from my childhood.

A trip to the restroom brought 'relief'. One always feels soooo much better after that. I was able to eat half my meal and the brisk walk from Jerry's to the Theater did the trick. Plus, the Dramamine I took after the fact to help settle my tummy kicked in.

We had a wonderful evening and it was a great way to begin the Christmas Season. Dicken's story is a classic uplift and motivator.

Johnny Sequence

From This:

Could Nats belly get any bigger?

To This:
Check out that roll on his neck and those chub-a-lub legs at birth!

To This!
He's a KEEPER!

A Round Of Applause!

Christine decided about 6 weeks ago to try her hand at the cello. She has been playing the violin for 5 years and is a beautiful violinist. Duff and I were not keen on her changing instruments since we already own her violin and she has invested so much time with it.

But we reluctantly agreed to let her 'try'.

This afternoon we got a phone call from her right after school:

Chair tests were today in orchestra. Everyone has to take the test to determine where you are/sit. She is now 1st chair cello! Guess we need to invest in a cello now.

Congratulations, Christine!

Shaun received a letter telling him he is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society!

Golden Key is the world’s premier collegiate honor society, recognizing outstanding academic achievement and connecting high-achieving individuals locally, regionally & globally with lifetime opportunity, reward & success. Membership is by invitation only.

Congratulations, Shaun!

Going Home

Lots of miscellaneous things today to get ready to fly home tonight.

Took an afternoon trip down the canyon. When Duff, Mike, Josh, and Christine left on Sunday, none of us thought through the details of me staying for a few extra days. Duff forgot his briefcase, all his meds, and they left Darla with me. Which was fine EXCEPT I had no airline approved carrier for her. Down to Orem I went. Got the least expensive one I could find at Petsmart and would you believe, I like it better than the higher priced one we've been using all these years!

One thing about going down the canyon for errands: you get as much done as you can. So I dropped a bag off at Deseret Industries (love their drive-through!), and also stopped at Costco to pick up some Christmas presents. They had the best price for the items I've been looking for, and it reduces my shopping anxiety to be able to cross them off 'the list'.

Robert took me to the airport and I made it with plenty of time to spare. Everyone who had booked had checked in, so we boarded and left early! Loved that, and got in to Long Beach 25 minutes ahead of schedule. Duff and Christine picked me up and it was heaven to be with them.

Dorothy got it right: There's No Place Like Home.

Fa La La La La

Grandma and Grandpa left this morning. They are feeling better--not 100%--but Gpa was anxious to get home. I got sheets washed, blankets washed, beds made, cabin picked up and cleaned, and finished holiday decorating. So now I get to go home and do that all over again! I listened to Christmas music all day while I worked and it just set the mood magically.

I will admit that I am tired. I think it's just normal tired, and I'm hoping it's not leading to getting sick like everybody else has been.

I'm hoping for some snow by the time I get back next week for babysitting John during finals! Better me staying home with him than they taking him out every day to campus. Especially with all this seasonal and swine flu going around. Natalie's professors have been GREAT with her. They have rescheduled her tests and given her special compensations for just having a new baby.

Shaun's finals start next week too. I think we are all looking forward to Christmas vacation.