Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours!

For those of you that I didn't get a Christmas card too for one reason or another, here is our 2008 Christmas picture.  I was disappointed to think I wasn't going to have a family picture for my card this year as we weren't all going to be together.  However, the Sunday before Thanksgiving a miracle happened and the kids were all home.  My Dad and Shirley were there also, along with Marlon's girlfriend Daniella and her daughter Dalene.  As you can see we had a house full but we have so much fun being together.  Thanks everyone for making this happen, I love you all!

For those praying for a "White Christmas" their prayers were answered.  This is what we woke up to Christmas morning.  If you look hard you can see the snow "blowing" by.  It was pretty ugly.  David spent most of the day on the 4 wheeler keeping us plowed out.  Our blowup Santa is buried somewhere.  I guess we will find him this spring.  We've had snow almost every day since and the roads are really a mess.  I had to take one of the neighbor girls home from church today and got stuck in front of her house.  After about 10 minutes of her dad pushing me we finally were on our way again.  It was a very slow trip up the hill and I wasn't sure we were going to make it without calling in the calvary to rescue us.  However, we hung in there and eventually made it home.

When I was a child growing up in California I always wanted to have everything flocked with the canned flocking stuff.  It so pretty to see everything flocked with the "real stuff".

We've got some pretty impressive looking ice cycles on the front of our home!

We were without power on Christmas day for 5 1/2 hours.  Kerry braved the winter storm and grilled us some steaks and chicken so we could have a nice Christmas dinner!  I'm glad I didn't have a turkey in the oven.

You can't tell it is dark in the house because of the flash, but we ate our Christmas dinner by candle light!

This poor little deer must have seen our fireplace burning and thought it looked a whole lot warmer inside than outside.  He was nestled right up next to our house outside of our Christmas tree downstairs.  

  I love being at home in front of the fireplace with the grandkids!

While the snow has been a pain to shovel and drive in, the kids have had a blast playing in it!

  

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

We woke up this morning to snow.  Not a lot, but enough to cover the ground.  It sounds like  a couple of more storms will be headed this way.  I used to hate the snow, but I have learned to love it as long as I don't have to drive in it.

The top picture was taken with a flash the next one without.  Sorry Mary and Stacey if our lights aren't straight!!!  (You'll have to read Stacey's blog and Mary's comment to understand.) I'm just always grateful when Kerry is down off of the roof safe and sound.  He has to put the ladder on the roof and it's too scary for me to watch.  Speaking of Christmas decorations, continue reading.

Every year at the doctor's office where I work, our office manager comes up with a contest for our "girl's" Christmas party.  This year we were given a tongue depressor, a pipe cleaner, 1 jingle bell, 2 small pompoms, and 3 small jewels.  Out of those we were to create an ornament for our Christmas tree.  I just wanted to share with you my creation.....a snow angel!  I took an angel face that I painted, glued it to the top of a styrofoam bell.  I cut the tongue depressor in half and glued feathers on the 2 pieces for the wings.  The pipe cleaner is her halo, the pompoms her earmuffs, and then I glued the jingle bell and jewels on the front.  I had some fur left from a sewing project so glued that around her neck and hem.  I'm not sure I'll win a prize, but I thought she turned out rather cute!  

A New Tree For Christmas!

I think for the first 25 years of our marriage I insisted on a real tree for Christmas. While I was always so excited for the experience of finding just the right tree, I know deep down inside Kerry dreaded the adventure.  One year, for some reason, we didn't get out as early as we usually did to get a tree,  and when we finally had a night to go out it was snowing so bad that we were hesitant to leave Tremonton.  Desperate, we ran into Alco and bought our first artifical tree!  It actually was quite pretty and we have really enjoyed it over the years However, I decided that it was time this year to make the next step....a tree with the lights already on it.  I love decorating the tree, but I absolutely hate putting on the lights.  Kerry and I were out for our Friday night date last week and ran into Michael's to look around.  One of the sales person's overheard us talking about the price of the trees on display and said "If you don't mind last years model, we have some over here for $99.00."  That was just in our price range.  The box had a sticker of $399.99!  It may not look like much from the picture, but it feels just like a real tree.  

Fun With Family!

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude for everything that I have been blessed with, especially our family.  What a great time we had with our children, their spouses, and grandchildren during the past week.  In addition my Dad and Shirley came for a visit and stayed with us for several days.   It's amazing to realize that in the past year we have added 3 new babies to the family, Marlie, Hudson, and Drew.  Marlon also brought his beautiful girlfriend, Daniella and her darling daughter Dalene.  Needless to say we had a "full house" but we made so many fun memories.  It was so hard to say good-bye and many tears were shed.  Below are just a few special moments.  I tried to find pictures that haven't been posted on my children's blogs.  

Tim, Kim, and Daniella around the "card table".

Marlon teaching is namesake, Marlie Rae, how to play the piano!

Grandma Shirley getting to know baby Drew.

Poppa Charlie and Mason sharing a "teaching moment".

Mason, Madison, amd McKayla all want to hold their new cousin Hudson.

Mason and Addie playing trucks!

Kerry, Cam, and Mary playing cards.

Marlon, Daniella, Dalene, Mason and Madison working on a craft project.

Mom's with all the kids at the mall!  Thank goodness for double strollers.

Recent Memories With The Grandkids!

I often say that being a grandparent is God's way of compensating one for growing old.  We have been so blessed with seven beautiful grandchildren and love them all so much!  This next week we are going to have the opportunity to have them all together for a day and we are so excited.

Life doesn't get much better than this!

Marlie loves her Grandpa!

Hudson plays "Patty Cake" with Grandma.

Addie and her "Papa".

An evening with Grandma!

Baby Drew on her Blessing Day!

NBC and the Paralympics

The above picture is Marlon with the doctor for the 2008 Paralympic team the night that he was injured running in the 100 meter event in Beijing.  He didn't really want me to take his picture, but being the persuasive mother that I am,  I was able to convince him that he would want a picture someday for posterity sake.  We are excited that NBC will air a 2 hour special about the Paralympics this Sunday, November 9th at 2:30 p.m. EST.  It will feature Marlon along with many other amazing Paralympians.  Hope if your schedule allows you will be able to view this program.  We have had the pleasure of meeting several of the athletes and are so touched by their stories.  We hope someday the Paralympics can get the live coverage that they are so deserving of.  Marlon seems to be doing well with his rehab and says he planning on London in 4 years!  Way to go Marlon, we are so proud of you!!!

Halloween Fun!

In our community, we do Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot as it is hard to do the traditional Trick or Treat in such a rural area.  As usual the kids couldn't wait to get all decked out in their costumes.  

When I was young I remember how excited I would be for Halloween, but as an adult IT IS NOT my favorite holiday and I REALLY DON'T enjoy dressing up.  I decided not to be a fuddy duddy however, and did my best to go along with the fun.  Kerry and I were going to be Beauty and the Beast but he couldn't find the head piece to his costume and decided to be an Army sniper instead!  Didn't quite have the same effect.  Oh well, the kids had a great time and that's good enough for me.