Oh, the weather outside is. . .

Brrrrrrrrr...cold.

Can't believe that it really gets that's cold here...what was I thinking during this convo with my sis-in-law about dinner tonight. "Hi, do you guys want to come over and eat Posoli with us before Justin leaves for school today?"  "Sure," I said. "We love Posoli and I know that Ash wants to see him before he goes. That sounds good."  "It is beautiful out and the sun is actually shining today," Lisa replies. "Oh wow, I haven't  been out yet but glad we got home and the weather is cooperating now. You should have seen the snowstorm we had to drive in coming home from Tahoe!" states Kathy. "Really, it was that bad?"  "Yes, Nef was white-knuckled most of the time and said he had muscle pain in his back from the stress of the weather. You should have seen those flakes-they were huge and coming at us at what seemed to be a 1,000 per second. You really couldn't see the road, only a few feet in front of us and definitely couldn't see the lines and know where to drive. Nef basically had to follow the car that was a 1/2 mile in front of us to know where to go."  "WOW!, exclaims Lisa. Bet that was scary!"  "Nef said he thinks it was the worst snow storm he has ever driven in! Hope we don't have to do that again." Kathy replies. "Oh, don't worry, the weather here is suppose to be nice for the next few days. In the upper 20's and not much snow." Laughs Lisa.  "Oh, good, Kathy says, "guess we'll be nice and toasty" (with a smirk on her face.)  "Ok, we'll see you soon. Will you bring the tortilla's?  We are just about out." Lisa asks.  "No problem," stated Kathy.

So a few hours later, we are getting ready to go and the temp in the car reads 20 degrees. Yep, just as Lisa stated. In the upper 20's and now it is getting late-- so we better get goin', school back in session tomorrow and kids need to get things in order for the week.

WAIT!!! 2 hours later. . . and it is just a mere--

12 degrees!!!!!

We weren't expecting that! Oh my gosh, this is why I remember that I wanted to stay in Las Vegas the rest of our earthly life. What were we thinking...that's right our brains can't think when it is this cold outside.

Needless to say, the company, food and game time was fun. We enjoyed the time we had with Justin before he had to leave and it isn't like he is really that far away. 

Justin is , of course, the tall one in the back. Of which none of my children got any of those genes.
They all had fun playing a Scene It-Disney game they got for Christmas. Hadn't opened it yet and thought it would be good to see what it was all about before he left for school. They played it for over an hour and didn't want to stop to go home...I know, school, smool. Don't want to do it-don't have a choice!!

Can't believe that 2008 is gone and we are into a new year now. True to say that yes 2008 was a GREAT year. We had so many blessings and so many things to be grateful for this past year. Let's see-maybe I can name a few:

• A home full of love and fun times
• A family that will be with me forever
• Son of mine that makes me laugh all day and night!
• The gospel of JC in our lives-most important of all
• A F in H who really, really knows me and loves me
• Good jobs that let us live a life of wonder
• Opportunities of a life time with friends of a life time
• A life worth living, loving and being present in
• Family: vacations, reunions, dinners and dances
• A 16 yr. old who is really a fun person to be around-{most of the time}
• Sweet 12 year old who melts your heart every time you look at her
• Most of all-a caring, devoted dad, father, friend, confidante and husband
  

Boy do I have a lot to be thankful for. I could really go on and on. I have soooo many friends who help pull me through thick and thin and the list goes on. 

THANKS FOR A GREAT 2008. . .

LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF MINE IN 2009...

Shhhh...... it's a secret! I did so good at keeping that secret too. Along with all the other secrets I kept too. I put this that I printed from the internet up high so they wouldn't see it right away and after they were done opening all the other gifts, it was actually Christian that looked up and said, "What is that up there? Looks like that one show that you guys went to see in LA a few years ago." The girls looked up and said, "What? Do we get to go see them again in LA or New York?" I don't know go and see what it is-I love it when they do the reading and discovering....

So much more fun. WICKED is actually coming to SLC!!! I can't believe it. My dear friend Julie Olsen actually saved the day by calling me and giving me a code to call in and get tickets a day BEFORE they went on sale. Otherwise I would have never got them. They were sold out in minutes and most of the tickets were already gone by the time they did go on sale. Season ticket holders, special people, etc. That would be us this time. Thanks JULIE!!!

I can't wait to go see this Broadway Play again. I loved it. Whoever thought of it was a genius. It has an amazing story line. Do YOU know where Dorothy was before the tornado? Do you know why the witch is green? You too can find all this and more out when you see WICKED!! But be sure to watch The Wizard of OZ the night before you see this. It will explain it all so much better. I can't wait. We have tickets for April. Always nice to have something to look forward to.

MERRY & BRIGHT!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...

We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas Day! We have been having a great time today and love the thrill that Christmas brings. I can say that this was one of the funnest and funniest Christmas' ever in our home. Santa was very clever this year and really "got" each of the kids. It was the best. Mom was good... they all had such a fun and different reaction to the gifts they received. We have a rule in our house that you can only lie on birthdays and Christmas. Well, I did a great job of lying this year and it was soooo worth it. The look on their faces as they each opened something that they were told was either: 1. NO where to be found and we'd have to wait to find it, or 2. out of stock, or 3. just plain sold out and couldn't be bought this year!!! was beyond PRICELESS!  Wonder what Christ thought about the gifts the wisemen brought to Him on that early morn in Bethlehem? Wonder if Mary and Joseph were ever so grateful for the thoughtful gifts they received? Must have been a glorious day when they all saw the gift that HF gave to each of us: His Son! Makes us all believe that we are worth it. Nice to know that He values us just as much as He values anyone. I love the holiday season and wish that every part of the year was just as special to us as this time is. 

This was my letter to Santa-do you think he liked it?

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL . .

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