Family Christmas Countdown

Holiday time

2011-12-27T14:58:00.000-08:00

I'm very very glad to be off work this week. It feels nice to have a break from insanity of one kind for insanity of a different kind :)

The day after Christmas Laura's Dad came to town, and I think that he's here through Thursday morning, and then Cory and Joanna's family are coming up on Thursday through Sunday.

We will be going to the bowl game to watch BYU play this week on Friday in Dallas!! We got tickets for both Joanna's and my families... so it should be fun with all 9 of us there. It will be Lydia's and Lucy's first BYU game! Go Cougs!

I'm just real tired from all the pre-holiday deadlines at work, the pre-holiday prep at home, the holiday itself, and now the post-holiday work that's got to be done before I go back to work next week, including a freelance project I do for a local high-school. But I am also very glad for the rest that comes from being able to be at home with my family. I love them each dearly. Eating more than my fair share of chocolates, fudge, turtles, caramels, caramel corns, and candies, cookies, and cakes. I should probably lay off all that goodness since the holiday is over. It's time to go back to being a responsible-eating adult.

Alli is loving playing with her new soccer goal in the backyard, and Lucy is loving her new bike, zooming around the cul-de-sac whenever she can get an adult to go supervise her out there. It's been less rainy this week, and a welcome bit of sun in a dark season. Temperatures in the mid 50's most of the week. We finally lost most the leaves on our tree out front, and our grass has finally lost all it's color with a few freezes this season already.

Tuesday next week I start back at work, and also start teaching seminary again, hopeful to finish out the school year in teaching the Old Testament.

I'm looking forward to having the Ellis family up to visit. I love having them closer to us. It's nice to know they're close enough to be around for important times- and for our kids to get to be close as cousins.

I love each of you very much. Hope each of your breaks are somewhat restful, and I'm praying for the Alaskans to all stop puking and get some rest from that nasty bug :(

-happy holidays-

Another Christmas on Howard

2011-12-24T22:32:00.000-08:00

It was the Christmas when he had been gone on storm to Houston for like three months. I'm guessing I was in fifth grade? Or maybe sixth? We waited to get the tree until he got home (on the 23rd?). There's a picture of us somewhere hanging ornaments on this Charlie Brown sort of tree while wearing our PJs. our main presents were things he brought back from Texas/Mexico. We all got carved leather shoes. And I got this beloved little blue and cream transistor radio that just transformed my life. I would fall asleep at night still wearing the earphones, get all twisted up in the middle of the night. We had the pink silk tablecloth that Aunt Evelyn had brought with her from Japan on our table for dinner. That's all I remember

Alaska 2011

2011-12-24T03:20:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas Eve to all of you. I know you all feel as I do that there is a big gap in Christmas this year with Grandpa Ted being gone. This is a new phase of my grief - I guess it would be passing into acceptance but the main thing I keep thinking is just how weird it is to not have him here. Like Sandy, I have been thinking alot of Christmas past and how each one was different. Too late to write them all here tonight... but I can see them all like they are inside little different snow globes on a mantle.

We are all coming down with somekind of bug so it will be a very low key weekend for us. We are making Monkey Bread for our Christmas Eve meal ... with of course, bacon and sausage and eggs and juice and hashbrowns. And this year Alicia and Brian are into experimenting with pies so they have plans to bake pies all day tomorrow. We'll see what all they come up with. Pictures will be posted after the baking.

On Christmas day, we have a giant beef roast that a friend bought for us this fall that we have been saving. I had a friend on facebook ask this week what people did with left over prime rib and I just said, What ?? how do you get leftover prime rib.... at our house, we put it in the fridge after dinner and then in the night it disappears.

And of course, this year, I am so focused on the Oregon Fighting Ducks playing in the Rose Bowl, that I am sort of bypassing Christmas and focusing on New Years. QUACK !! QUACK!!

Hope you are all safe and surrounded with love. Our hearts are with you all..
Love, Charlotte

Moose Christmas

2011-12-19T23:03:00.000-08:00

Just a picture of Mya in the snow, so that this wouldn't be a pictureless post :)

I've probably already shared this story a bunch of times, but I've been thinking about it, as I always do at Christmas, and thought I'd share it in case its new to someone. The year we moved to Alaska we got here in the fall, after dad had been here all summer fishing. So we had a freezer full of fish, but no meat. We had always lived on what we could hunt or fish, but we weren't able to bring out meat with us. So we were living on the fish, with a little bit of other meat as we could afford, which wasn't very often. So we ate fish. Pretty much every day. Every Day. We even ate salmon spaghetti, which was horrifying enough that after almost 18 years I can still remember it. It was some sort of white spaghetti sauce, nothing tasty like alfredo, much more spaghetti'ish than that.

But anyway. We were eating fish, and lots of it. It was Christmas eve, 5 months into the great fish-o-rama. We were making our usual Christmas eve dinner of breakfast (sausages, eggs, cinnamon roll, etc), and I still remember I was setting the table, mom and dad were cooking, and we were just hanging around, trying not to be sad our first Christmas in Alaska. As we were standing there the phone rang, and it was the dispatcher calling to see if we wanted a moose, and that we had moved up the list because it was Christmas eve and no one wanted to go out after a moose. We had no such reservations! We turned off the burners, found our knives and went to work. It was just around the corner from our house, and we got the whole moose. It wasn't a big moose, but it was the most wonderful Christmas gift ever. I still remember the joy of that night, and the overwhelming gratitude I felt.

Whenever I'm at a party or visiting this time of year and someone asks what my favorite Christmas was, this is the first that comes into my mind. The second would be the last Christmas we were in Joseph when Blake came home for the last time. We had a great time just farting around, we rented a video game set up from the video store in town, and we went to the little shops, and watched movies, and just had lots of fun.

This year hasn't been a very good year for us, but we've been trying really hard to keep a positive outlook and to keep pushing ahead. Thursday night, or early Friday morning, we got a call from the dispatch asking if we would be willing to get a moose that was less than 2 miles from our house. Another Christmas miracle, and I'm very grateful for that, and for the gift of love and kindness it is to us, and to me.

We made it to Germany

2011-12-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

Johanna and I are just headed off to bed after being up for the last 28 hours, so please forgive any spelling mistakes etc.

So far everything has gone pretty smoothly. Flights on time, luggage showed up, busses were easy to find.

The rooms weren't quite ready when we got here, so we hopped the bus down to the Christmas markets. It's pretty crazy with people jammed into the streets. We bought a couple ornanets and some ginger bread. A local choir was singing Christmas songs on the steps of the church, so we listened for a bit. But we were both tired and a bit cold, so we headed back to the ship.

The dinning hall is all set for large tables, so we were forced to talk to the other passengers instead of being our normal anti social selves. :)

Any way the people seem nice and the ship nice. Tomorrow we tour the Nazi rally grounds and are going to the Toy Museum.

Christmas the year Earlene was born

2011-12-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about the Christmases of childhood lately, I think cuz of Dad being gone.
Anyway, I thought I would start with Christmas 1955, the year Earlene was born. We were still living on Ashland Avenue. I'm pretty sure mom and Earlene were in the hospital for 2 or 3 days, so it would have been the 22nd or 23 when they came home. We waited to set up the tree and everything so everyone could be there. There was a big drama because Baby Jesus was lost in the process of setting up the manger. We found him , but he had a chip. We covered him up w a little blanket so it wouldn't show. That year Earl and Eileen gave the three kids (5, 3, newborn) a real slate chalkboard--the easel kind with two sides to write on. I still have the santa in a silver slipper that they tied to the board as decoration. I remember our talking about how special it was that we had a little baby at home, born so close to Jesus's birthday. . .

Christmas is real in my heart today.

2011-12-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

I went to the temple last night here in Dallas, and when I was there, I read in the bible in Romans chapter 5. I loved the verses, and they put me in the Christmas spirit.

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

I thought I would share this for family- and let you all know that I'm glad for the spirit of Peace and Love that I feel as I think of each of you and as we unite as family. I Love You each very much.

Love, Jed

Christmas Cruise

2011-12-12T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hey all

For our Christmas this year Johanna and I are taking a cruise down the Danube river from Nuremberg to Budapest.

http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/rivercruises/danube-nuremberg-germany-austria-budapest-christmas-2011/itinerary.aspx

We are going to see the famous Christmas markets.

http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/

After our cruise we'll be stopping in Amsterdam for two days to see the canals and check out the Van Gough musuem. We're leaving this Friday and we'll be back December 29th.

I'll try to post pictures as we go. We'll see how good the internet access is on the ship.

Our Home All Decked Out

2011-12-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

We are rarely real serious about decorations outside our home, because it's hard to climb up on our 2 story roof to put the lights up there, and we've yet to make that kind of an investment of time and money. But, we love to deck out the inside of our home from top to bottom.

We always have holiday matroshka dolls from Russia all over the home-

Decorate the chandelier and doorways with garland and poinsettia flowers

Put out the Nativity Set.

This year we added the beginnings to our own Christmas village. I always loved Grandma and Grandpa Whisler's Christmas village, and to me- no Christmas was complete until we went to go visit them to see their village. So I decided to get some pieces to start my own village and hope to add some to it each year for a while.

Then there's decorating the mantle and fireplace...

I didn't get any good pictures of our tree up close, but you can see in this wide shot... we actually have 3 trees in the living room (and another one upstairs).

Hope you enjoyed a small tour of our downstairs decorations :) Hope each of you are basking in the warmth of love that the Christmas season is all about.

Love Jed, Laura, Allison, Lucy and Lydia.

The Works

2011-12-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

Our tree has a little bit of everything on it this year, new ornaments, old ornaments, tinsel, beads, glitter, shiny, colored lights, everything we could throw at it (literally we threw some of the tinsel at it). The only thing we didn't get on was the new topper I got on clearance last year, the tree was too tall, but that's okay, Justin was able to kind of toss the end of the light strand at the top of the tree and it caught, so it's lit all the way to the top, which is cool.

I would have posted this under my login, but I don't have it with me right now, so I'm posting under mom and dad, but this is Alicia posting. :)

Adding Names to blog

2011-12-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

for some reason, I just noticed that on this blog, it doesn't say who the post is posted by - so perhaps we can remember to add our name in our hello or goodbye. Love, Charlotte

Our tree 2011

2011-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Feeling sentimental this year, we all felt the need for a real tree this year. We have thousands of tiny seedlings that we have been nurturing for the past 18 years. Our land was totally bare when we bought this land so we have worked really hard at becoming tree farmers.

So Justin snowshoed out into the back and found this beautiful tree. It is over 10 feet tall and perfectly symetrical. Alicia put up a perfect mix of new red /gold balls and a select few family ornaments. Also, colored lights this year instead of white.

Christmas Time

2011-12-09T08:15:00.000-08:00

I'm glad this year that Christmas is coming closer. I always look forward to this time of year.

This year we got our 4 fake Christmas trees out the day after Thanksgiving. We lit the trees, put up lights, and all the decorations in one day. I also started this year to do a Christmas village like Grandma always does. Hers is a lot bigger and cooler, but I started with some pieces, and will hopefully add another item each year for a while.

I'll take some pictures soon- and post them hopefully. The issue now may be that our kitchen ceiling will need to be ripped up a little probably before Christmas. We found a leak from our master bathroom upstairs (which is directly over the kitchen) and the way we figured it out was that when someone is upstairs using any of the bathroom drains, that there's a dripping sound in the ceiling. Fun times, Fun times.

The old saying that when it rains, it pours...

We've had a lot of blessings this year, but also a lot of drama. So to me this Christmas has to signify hope that things will be less dramatic next year- and that I'll be more in control of some of the situations I find myself in.

I thought I was crazy to have a lot of Christmas shopping for my kids done this year in July and August- but now I'm happy I did. I don't have time, energy, or money to do so- so it's good that we had a LOT of that done already before our baby got here.

Lydia is really starting to learn to smile. It's cute. She doesn't smile for long periods of time- but her quick little smiles are sincere and genuine.

She is also trying to make noise (talk). It's funny because if you sit and talk to her, she moves her mouth open and closed, and sticks her tongue in and out at you- she is watching your lips closely, and its almost as if you can see the wheels in her head turning as she carefully ponders just how is that dude making those sounds with his mouth.... hmmmmm.

I'll try to post more as the season goes along.

This Christmas we are spending at home in TX. We had thought of making it up to NM this year, but without a reliable long-distance car, it would be a bit of a stretch to make it that far. We'd probably be ok. but it's no good testing the limits that way with a newborn and no space in our tight 5 seater car... so it's a homey holiday at home this year.

Love you all.
very very very much.

What to eat

2011-12-09T02:30:00.000-08:00

I think we discovered the most expensive treat we make at Christmas is ChexMix. It shouldn't be expensive -it's just cereal and nuts and crackers, but we get the different parts at different stores at different times.... usually wait for the traditional coupon for the cereal; buy the nuts at Costco or someplace like that. So the overall expense isn't the problem. The problem is that because we never end up with all the parts home fresh from the store on the same day people around here decide to eat their ChexMix deconstructed. In fancy cooking contests, deconstructed dishes are all the rage, but around here, it just means that somebody decides to have a couple bowls of cereal in the middle of the night; or someone gets a craving for nuts or crackers; and voila' - we are short about half the ingredients for ChexMix so have to go repurchase them.

yesterday coming home from Anchorage, we stopped at a couple different stores and ended up with all the parts in one place at one time, so Alicia and Brian whipped up a big batch today. We added Wheat Thins and Cheezit crackers, pretzels, nuts, cherrios, chex and double the spicy butter. Very Very yummy.

Early Christmas 2011 report

2011-12-08T21:34:00.000-08:00

I was happy to get our tree up Thnksgivng weekend and have been enjoying it every night. And I am happy for it not to be drying out from running the heat every night, etc. The gas furnace w the blower in a lot more drying than the old one was. But I miss the liveness of the live ones.

Still haven't done my mantel--maybe this yr. And maybe we will even post some pictures.
I've started driving around on the way home looking at the houses that are decorated. Some blocks don't have any, and some have 4 or 5--more each day.

Wish there wasn't so much to do at work, so I could enjoy the runup more. . .
Love you all, S

Christmas 2011

2011-12-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

Looks like I'll be the first to post this Christmas. I got the idea from Blake on Grandpa Ted's facebook blog that we should be sure to post together about Christmas this year. It is weird to not have him here to oversee our Christmas preparations and fun. He did love Christmas so much and did keep it in his heart all year.

This year we felt the need to have a live tree instead of a plastic one - so Justin snowshoed in our back property and then took the dogs and his snow machine out back and got a perfect Christmas tree. It is over 10 feet tall and is the most symetrical, perfect wild tree any of us has ever seen. Not decorated yet.

Our Christmas Lights

2010-12-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

Ok- so we didn't go all out this year with the Christmas lights- in fact we didn't get them up outside at all....

But some people in our friend's neighborhood covered enough lights for the whole city- so we didn't have to.

Here's the link on YouTube that I just uploaded from our family light-viewing excursion last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Fu-Z9y6M0

-Jed

So looking forward to our rest in Inverness

2010-12-16T08:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.motelinverness.com
birds, rain, good food, books, oh, and don't forget sleep.
The do not disturb tags on the rooms say
Guests are Resting.
That will be our motto, Guests are Resting
Great to just slow way down and be at peace at the dark of the year.

Looking for moments of joy in all the craziness

2010-12-15T22:16:00.000-08:00

It's always so hard, trying to even fit the holidays into all the end-of-year busyness at work, and all the extra traffic, and the rain, and, and.

So I have been taking 10-15 minutes every night to drive around the neighborhood looking at holiday lights and decorations before I go home. And being sure to plug in the tree and turn on the gas fire and the holiday music, even it I am bustling around all evening.

I really support Alicia's post about having a smaller holiday--Susan and I don't exchange gifts anymore, or even necessarily buy a joint present for the house--our present has been our two days away--we are going to Inverness again this year, in the Pt. Reyes Seashore (the same place we went last year).

Love to you all, and to all a good night.

Christmas in frozen northland

2010-12-15T13:47:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas season! :)

We are doing a low key Christmas this year. Everyone is getting something nice, and we're going to have some good food, and some relaxing hopefully. The last few years we have been having smaller Christmases. It started as a financial thing, but it felt so great to be free of the pressure of spending so much money, and became a quest to really focus on each person, and what would be the most meaningful thing for them.

This year we didn't do a tree, well I should say that. We didn't do a complete tree. I set up several nativity scenes, and got out the small tree intending that it would go somewhere fun and we'd have two trees, but then it ended up being our only tree, and I think we're all okay with that. Its a cute little tree, and its very brightly lit up.

I am experimenting with making butter cookies this year, trying to recreat those Danish butter cookies that come in the tins. So far, I've done one recipe and they were tasty! Oh, and Justin and I recreated a little of our childhood and made paper chains, and hung them with some led christmas lights. Looks very festive!

Merry Christmas everyone! Looking forward to seeing lots of posts :) Love you all, Alicia

Cinnamon Steamer

2010-12-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! I wonder if anyone has looked at this blog yet this year. I challenge everyone to post at least once this season. I'll start. I wanted to share this yummy, easy recipe for a hot holiday drink.

Cinnamon Steamer

2 cups powdered milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flavored, powdered coffee creamer (I used Vanilla Caramel, but Hazelnut would be good, too, I think)
1/2 T. cinnamon

Mix thoroughly. Add 1/3 cup mix to a mug of hot water for a yummy winter drink.

You can make the mix up and give portions away in cute holiday mugs, mason jars, etc. Be sure to include the directions for making one cup-full. This makes enough for about 10 servings.

So, what are you all doing to enjoy the holidays this year? We love you all and send our love your way!

Christmas mental health tip

2009-12-18T01:03:00.000-08:00

If I get too stressed to enjoy Christmas, I just remind myself that Christ wasn't really born in December, so if I totally freak out and miss all the Christmas stuff because I'm too tired or too broke or too crazy -- I just make plans to celebrate again in April.

We also have this great saying around our house for those that freak out about the actual holiday itself.....

"IT'S JUST ANOTHER DAY - WITH A BIGGER (BETTER) BUFFET"
works every time.

I was reminding Alicia that Saturday is Fruit Cake day - the day she makes fruit cake with her dad - and they always love baking together. At first I just said it would be fruit cake day - and she seemed to find that humorous on many levels.....

ENJOY and stop stressing. The holiday will come whether you are a mess or not, so don't let it make you into a mess. Lots of LOVE.

Snowy blizzard girls

2009-12-18T00:12:00.000-08:00

Here are our girls enjoying the snow storm. They really love the snow!

Christmas Cookies

2009-12-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

Alicia, our wonderful Christmas elf has been very busy this month. This week she is making cookies and now candy and caramel corn. We came across these cool bowls in our local warehouse store and bought all of them to fill with goodies for our neighbors and home teachers and such. Even bought a couple for myself. They were about the same price as those plastic snowmen and santas that we usually buy. They will make wonderful trifle bowls and I'm sure you all know my obsession with finding the perfect trifle bowl and recipe..... even though I've actually only eaten trifle once or twice... So we put our Clementines in one and they look really pretty.

Alicia's "new" mixer getting broken it - I think I see flour on it ! ! !

Real eggs - just like Martha Stewart uses

Stacks and stacks and trays of cookies. Today she made chocolate cookies that look just like these ginger snaps. We watched a Paula Dean cookie special and learned a new way to cool these cookies in a roll and then slice and roll them. Much quicker and better looking than the old way we have always done them of scooping them by hand and then rolling them. A REAL time saver, too.

The bowls turned out to be made by IKEA ! ! ! Since we don't have access to an IKEA in Alaska, it was so exciting to have something from the coolest store in the nation without having to go to the biggest store in the nation to find it. double score.

no time to think.

2009-12-14T11:44:00.001-08:00

I don't have much time to really stop and think about it, but today I got test results back to say that my gallbladder is completely normal and functioning. No stones, no inflamation of the gallbladder, or the bile ducts- They were able to get clear pictures, and everything on the sonogram looks quite healthy.

They did find a small (tiny) kidney stone, but said it wasn't something I would necessarily even feel, and it should pass (and it wouldn't be linked to my symptoms either).

So that's good news. Not really holiday or Christmas news- but it's the only news I've got so I thought I'd share it here on our family blog. Luckily I'm not really feeling the same kinds of pain now, so I can just imagine that this was all a bad dream. If the pains come back, however, I'll have to really try to figure out what the issue is.

This week I've got so much going on that I'm really not feeling in the holiday spirit... more like a rushed panic that I'll never get work done.

Trying to keep fear away with Faith, keep sadness away with Service, and keep Hope alive all season long as we continue to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. Hope this week is a satisfying week for all of you as you strive to make crazy preparations for the holidays.

Love you all-
Jed

Our Tree 2009

2009-12-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

When I get up in the mornings, the light shines in on the Christmas tree and it is so pretty, I always think, "I should have Alicia get a picture of that". But this year, in my effort to become more independent and active, I thought, I should get a pictore of that so I grabbed the camera and I even put the pictures into the computer and cropped them, all by myself. Baby step, I know, but I'm kind of proud that i could do it myself.

I tried some of the pictures without the flash to capture the light coming in from the window and then some of them I took some with the flash to show the cool ornaments. Last winter when we when to Anchorage for medical tests right after Christmas, we went out to a remote Walmart and found these cool giant silver and blue ornaments at super clearance prices and then this winter found the tiny one inch size. We have been working on this collection for about 10 years it seems and I think we finally have the perfect mix of small, medium and large.

A little Alaska note : Getting after-Christmas clearance prices doesn't happen in Homer. The Russian community have their orthodox Christmas 7 to 10 days later than western religions, so anything that is left after our Christmas or Easter is then snapped up by the Russians ( who outnumber the rest of us by about 2 to 1) so after holiday sales don't happen down here. There is never anything left to sell.

Let the Yuletide Yowling begin

2009-12-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

What cat doesn't love a giant empty box in the middle of the living room ? ? ? Scruffy has to be in the box during the entire set-up of the Christmas tree. As soon as the box is taken upstairs and he discovers the tree sitting in the corner, he crawls under it and stands looking at the wall and the yowling begins. He usually isn't a yowler and this corner always has big plants in it so it isn't someplace we have taken away from him so this behavior is just so mysterious to us. He doesn't play with the ornaments or climb the tree - he just stands under it and yowls. It is so funny.

waiting.

2009-12-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

A few nights back, I had a strange attack of some sort in the middle of the night where I felt very nauseous and had a feeling like a tightness in my chest. I also was burping a lot... I called a nurse in the middle of the night, and she listened to me explain my symptoms and told me to go to a doctor first thing in the A.M. I got tested for H. Pylori, to see if I have stomach ulcers, and will hear back the results for that soon. I'm also waiting to hear back from the doctor's about whether or not my gallbladder is doing ok. I had an ultrasound of the gallbladder area this morning. I'm hopeful to hear back before the weekend. I don't want to have to wait to hear the results. I'm also on medicine for reflux in case that was what caused the issue. Since the one attack, I've felt very tired, and a smaller version of what happened the first night happened the next two nights as well.

I'm tired, busy beyond belief, and trying not to get vastly overwhelmed by this all. Last night I had a blessing from the elder's of our church, and felt some comfort from their faith and blessing.

I hope this weekend isn't too bad. I have a LOT of work to do this weekend to catch up from the missed time I've had this week trying to get this diagnosed.

My wife and kids are being very helpful to me, and very loving. I'm so grateful for the kindness and care my wife gives me.

Hope you all are doing well this week. I know that life gets crazy and hectic with the holiday season. I'm trying to remember the reason for why we celebrate, and concentrate on that some each day.

Happy Friday everyone.

-Jed

thoughts

2009-12-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

I'm very glad to have Mom here for a few days to visit. It's been very good for me to have a little time to be with Mom. It's also fun to have our first house guest in our new home. I have been quite bummed that this year we are not going out of town for Thanksgiving or for Christmas, and that I'll be working much of the break while my co-workers are in exotic locations like the UK, the Panama Canal, Florida, New Orleans, etc.... (anywhere but here). I think that for some reason, my attitude has changed a little the past few days, and I'm more excited to enjoy our home holiday. I will miss all of you, but hopefully will make some great memories with my wife and little girls.

I'm grateful for this crazy crazy year we've all had. I think we're coming out stronger because of it. Although I'm not there yet, I imagine that someday when we can look back with hind-sight, I'll be really grateful for the things I've learned in this year.

I love you all- and really do miss you all. I think that's the most important part of Christmas- our LOVE.

-Jed

Actual countdown to Christmas 2009

2009-12-04T23:24:00.000-08:00

We are sort of in our post-Thanksgiving hurry up and wait phase.

The prime rib for Thanksgiving was a great hit, but there weren't any turkey leftovers for sandwiches and middle of the night protein to balance out the pie eating. So that did cut down on the pie eating and we ended up with lots of leftover pies (I know we made way too many, we just couldn't all agree on what flavor we would want to go with beef).

And for the record, I saw leftover prime rib leave the table but never saw it reappear so I think some mice of the male presuasion had some midnight snacks.

so this week, we had to cook a turkey because I was really craving some turkey sandwiches. It was a tiny 10 pounder we had gotten free last year and it turned out really good - moist and just enough leftovers for a couple sandwiches and then it was gone. didn't have to suffer thru turkey soup, casseroles and pot pies, ad nauseum

We are still debating Christmas dinner, but I'm voting for ham and since I usually plan the shopping, I'll probably win....

Alicia and Charlotte went to the annual Christmas party for Relief Society (which is the women's organization of our church ). Alicia made a beautiful set of Christmas pillowcases for her gift and in the melee' that is our gift exchange, she got them back for me. I felt a little bad because she didn't want to exchange the gift I had, but I really wanted those pillowcases. I actually had her take them back from a little old lady, that is how cut-throat this party gets. Those women are brutal.

The week after Christmas, one of our pretend grandchildren is getting married in Utah. We really wish we could come down and see our family and go to the wedding, but it isn't going to happen this year. Wish we could see all of you.

Had a huge snow storm this week, finally. We had less than an inch of snow this year so far. then it started to snow and in 5 hours we got over a foot of snow. It is so beautiful and clean and white and with the full moon on it, makes everything so winter wonderland-ish. And last night, the kids were walking the dogs about midnight, in the full moon, and here came a great big wolf trotting down the highway. Thankfully Justin saw it first and had our dogs hidden so they didn't see the wolf and he didn't see them. But Alicia and Justin watched him for a bit before he heard them and took off out of sight.

What a year for wildlife - our neighbor across the street called a couple months ago because her husband was out of town and 2 great big black bears were trying to get into her front door. YIKES. They ran off and haven't been back and none of these animals have bothered our little farm here.

Still didn't get my tree up yet. There is that window Thanksgiving week, and then it is gone until well into the middle of the month of December, and I had that silly flu Thanksgiving week again.
We hope we have paid all of our homage to the H1N1 for this year and that it will leave us alone for a while. Love, Charlotte

the holidays in Texas

2009-11-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

Well- I can't believe it's already almost Thanksgiving!!! Whew, that year was stressful and fast.

This year, it's our plan to be home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think we're actually going to a friend's home for the actual Thanksgiving feast. We're in charge of the ham and a pie.

So- this year we have a lot to be thankful for. I think that having the entire world in financial/emotional turmoil this last year has made a lot of grouchy ungrateful people. I have to admit I've probably been in that boat a few times too many this year. I've been trying to really focus on what matters and to meet life's storms head on. I think that gratitude is one of the key differentiators between those who are happy in their circumstances and those who are unable to find that happiness.

We've started putting up decorations for the holidays. Our trees (yeah, we got 3 smaller trees this year in a garage sale, and have the one main tree still (is 4 Christmas trees too many?) have begun to come up. We were going to wait longer, but realized that with all we have going on, we should at least get the trees up and start on the lights before we get too crazy. I think it was a good idea, because we had issues with lots of the lights not working this year, so we'll have to work on that to get it all up and running.

Overall, we're grateful this holiday season that we've got good support from family and friends. We're very grateful for our new home. We're grateful for a sense of calm that we can have in the walls of our home, and the peace that we feel when we stare in the eyes of our little girls. I know that things have been rough this past year for many of us. In facing our challenges, I know that we've become stronger, even though sometimes it may feel otherwise.

Down here in Texas, we miss you all dearly, and hope you are all having a good beginning to your holiday season.

Thanksgiving plans

2009-11-22T23:52:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd do a small post and ask what everyone's got in mind for their thanksgivings? We're going quietly here, and we're also skipping turkey and having a prime rib instead. Found a really great deal at IGA in Kenai on a prime rib, and we're all excited. We used to have this friend that said there was no reason to ruin a perfectly good holiday with turkey. :) But I don't know if we'll miss having turkey or not. Anyway, it'll just be me and Justin, and mom and dad - quiet and low key, and all about the food as usual. :)

So what are you guys up to? And how long until you put up your Christmas trees? I'm aiming to have my tree up by the end of the week. I think mom wants to get hers up this week too, but I'll let her answer herself.

Fourth of July = almost Christmas

2009-07-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

Doesn't it feel like it was just Christmas?! Well, we're actually closer to Christmas 2009 than we are last Christmas. Crazy!

This is actually just a quick post to muse on how quickly time goes by. My mom and I were talking over the Independence Day weekend about how by the time the Fourth rolls around the rest of the Summer zips by - followed by a quick and busy fall and before you know it we are starting (and ending) a new holiday season.

So before I wish you a Merry Christmas, I encourage everyone to find ways to soak up the now and do what you can to live in the present.

Bowl Season Over

2009-01-09T06:20:00.001-08:00

So, seeing as I don't have TV, I have to admit to not having actually watched a single bowl game. I keep up with a lot of college football by reading about it online the day or two after. If I really care about the game, I might have ESPN real-time game-tracker on the computer and check the score now and again. Here are some of the highlights (for me at least):

BYU lost to Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl
TCU pulled off a slim victory over Boise State
leaving Utah the only undefeated in the country (and national champion) with their win over Alabama
the Sooners should have won last night and I would have been the winner of the family Bowl Pick 'em Game

and while it is no bowl-season news... BYU will be playing Oklahoma in the Dallas Cowboys brand-new, huge stadium for their season opener next season. We have to hope that BYU doesn't humiliate themselves too much...

So, until another college football season...

2009-01-05T08:06:00.000-08:00

I am not the master of anything. I have always dabbled in too many things. My goal for this year is honing my skills at one or two things and not be going in so many directions. I am concentrating on my drawing skills with led pencils.I got some for Christmas. I am getting rid of some of my stamping stuff. Not all of it but if I haven't used it since I have been in her it is history.
BEV and I are reading the Doctrine and Covenants and studying too. this is our 3rd time but we are still being edified by reading it.
I am working on my clutter issues. It is important when I am is such a small space.

STAND IN HOLY PLACES

KEEP THE FAITH

FEAR NOT

lOVE MOTHER, GRANDMA MAARILYN AND mARILYN

Addition

2009-01-03T18:26:00.001-08:00

I should have said I am picking up my Russian reading where I left off a few years ago. I've had War and Peace and Anna Karinna sitting on my shelf for 15 years now and just haven't got around to opening them.

I've read "A day in the life of Ivan" and "the Gulag Archipelego" and "Crime and Punishment" and "Fathers and sons"? and some Pushkin. I've studied Russian history and Russian art and culture and some literature. And I've taken 2 semesters of Russian in college so I have a smidgen of Russian language - and of course, we live surrounded by Russians. I think personally knowing the Russians has helped to understand the things that I have studied. So I appreciate the warnings about "War and Peace" but unfortunately, it is time for me to dig in and tackel Tolstoy. I actually like what I have read of his before. I'm not that big of fan of Pushkin, but I don't like poetry, so that probably contributes to that.

Challenge for 2009

2009-01-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

We come from a very intelligent family. I think sometimes the frustrations we face in life come from boredom and a lack of intellectual challenge in our lives.

So here is my challenge to each of us this year: Pick a subject and focus on mastering it.

(I'm still working on collage and altered books in my art life and I also plan to attack the Russians in my reading - I'm starting with War and Peace. Spiritually, I am looking to attack the writings of Isaiah. They totally mystify me - no, that's not accurate, they CONFUSE ME and I just don't get them ! ! !)

SO : What talent will you work to improve?

What book will you read next?

What subject will you conquer?

NY Day celebration

2009-01-02T21:31:00.000-08:00

We had our friends Dick and Greg over to have our goodluck meal of blackeyed peas (cooked this year as a bean soup sort of dish with sausage, beef broth, lots of garlic and thyme) and home-grown mustard greens and red kale. It was yummy. Susan made cornbread.
Then we all went together to see Milk, a very good but sad movie. Sean Penn was astonishing.

Now our celebrations are over and we are working on our end of year accounting. Oh joy.

Love to you all and best in the new year, Sandra and Susan

Happy Day

2008-12-31T11:45:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years everyone!
We love you all. Alicia & Justin

Sledding Pictures

2008-12-31T08:50:00.001-08:00

I am eventually going to upload our sledding pictures to our blog - but figured you might want to see them. Check out this link here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11964&l=94547&id=1352962459

Pictures of our Christmas festivities

2008-12-31T08:45:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve:

For the last several years we have spent Christmas Eve with our good friends the Springers. They like to be home for Christmas so we have made a tradition of having dinner together the night before. We have stuck with my family's Mexican dinner theme and had different tasty Mexican meals over the years. This year we had our own Cafe Rio type burritos, chips and dips from Chili's, and peppermint pie for dessert. I also made these for the kids to eat for dessert (they were so messy though that I didn't take a picture....it was too embarrassing).

In the past we have had a pinata - but we decided to skip it this year. Cory always spends SOOOO much money filling the pinata (last year it was FULL of chocolate!) and we all eat way too much. So this year we decided to skip it. I was a bit sad as we've done a pinata every year since I was little. Then we let the kids open a present - our boys got jammies. It was late so we drove around to see a few Christmas lights and came home. The boys got in their new jammies and got to open another present. The last couple of years I've been adding to our Christmas book collection. I want to give them a nice Christmas book each year with their new jammies. But this year, as with most everything, we cut back a little and I just got them little books from Walmart. They didn't know the difference and had fun with it. We made Santa up a plate of goodies and wrote him a letter - you'll have to read the letter - it's word for word what Gabe told me to write. Then after reading the Christmas story (Gabe loves the fact that the angel that visited Mary is named Gabriel - he thinks that is pretty great) we tucked the kids in bed and got busy with Santa stuff.

Christmas Morning:

Cory is just like a little kid with Christmas morning. Anytime after 6:00 am is fair game. So I think around 7:30 we were up and at it. When Gabe came out he was a bit disappointed that Santa didn't bring him the Geotrax stuff he wanted - but he got over that pretty quickly when he saw all of the cherry candycanes Santa brought! We always have our stockings first, check out the tree and what Santa brought. Then we'll take a break for breakfast before we do more presents. This year we made cinnamon rolls (from a can - blasphemous huh Tammy?) - but Cory was in charge of them, and they didn't quite get cooked enough.....but we ate them and some cheesy scrambled eggs. After breakfast it was time for presents. Gabe had a ball this year and was much more into it than ever before. We tried to stretch it out (since we didn't have any other plans for the day or people to visit) - but we got done pretty quickly. The boys loved their presents and my favorite thing to hear was when Gabe would open something and yell, "That is exactly what I've always wanted!!!" Gabe was pretty sure that he was going to get a Geotrax Barn and when he opened that very last he was thrilled that he got everything he asked for.

We snacked on food during the day, took it easy, cleaned up (Cory likes all of the Christmas goodies put away immediately), talked to family on the phone, watched a few movies and just hung out. It was a really kicked back and relaxing day - and we loved it. We missed seeing family more than normal, but we felt their love and know that another year we can spend together.

My traditional pre new-years festivities

2008-12-31T00:57:00.000-08:00

It's 12:50AM, I just got home of the last BART train from the city. I went with my SIL Linda and nephew Dan to a Phil Lesh and Friends/Bob Wier and Ratdogs double concert. It reminds me of all those pre-New Year shows for the Grateful Dead for years and years. It's easier now--the venues are smaller, and the crowds are smaller, and you don't have to stand on line for so long in the cold. But it's still fun. Susan is always relieved when I find someone else to go with--it's too loud and noisy and crowded for her. But I love it. I love the music, the songs, the mellow crowd, the sense of hope and joy that I always get. It's painful to leave when they will probably play music for another hour, but that's the price of taking BART instead of hassling with driving and parking. Good choice, but painful.

Then tomorrow we will go to our annual brunch with a group of friends, and then we stay home on NYEve usually.

May the new year bring each of you renewed dreams, new love and wisdom, and many many moments of joy. Love to you, Sandra

2008-12-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

I am still enjoying all my Christmas gifts, letters and those of you I got to hug.The 12 days of Christmas were so much fun. Knowing you guys, I half expected a Partridge in a pear tree to show up. I had a blast with the antlers. All my friends are anticipating New Years eve noise makers.

I thank each and every one for your thoughtfulness as each gift was just the right one.The gift certificates and cash are wonderful too as it gives me choices.

The photos I love too as they keep me cheerful and feeling warm hearted. Phone calls all added to a great Christmas.

I have never seen so much cold and snow as we have this year. I was feeling down about the cold and snow and remembered I would go to temple square and under neath the snow were pansies just waiting for the snow to leave so they could do their thing.

lOVE GRANDMA MARILYN

Great Christmas trip to Monterey

2008-12-27T21:47:00.001-08:00

We had a great trip to Monterey. Of course, we forgot to take the camera (or the binaculars!!!), so there's no pix. Sorry. The weather was beautiful and sunny. Christmas day was really windy, but yesterday and today were perfect. We didn't leave the house til about 1:30 or 2 on christmas day, so we mostly just drove down there, but got to our hotel in the dunes before sunset so that was nice. We had packed a little dinner and ate it in our room with the wind howling outside and the fire sparkling in the room. The next morning we ordered the breakfast basket and sat in bed looking out at the ocean and eating fruit, muffins, youghurt, etc. (we passed on the sugar frosted flakes). we went out to the beach for a little while and then spent the day in the Monterey Aquarium. My favorites were the otters and the jelly fish and the wonderful little pink and orange corals and anemones that live in the deep ocean. We went on a "behind the scenes tour" that was interesting. Then we went out to dinner at the wharf (Dungeness crab cocktails, then we shared a platter with a baked crab, scallops, and shrimp) and found our cheaper hotel. This morning we got up and went to Point Lobos, down below Carmel. It was just gorgeous to hike along the bluffs, climb down on the rocks, watch the otters and seals in the aquamarine coves, etc. We had a great morning. Then we drove along the coast and had lunch in Capitola, a little town I had always been curious about. We bought a new silk hanging lantern to hang over our TV in the living room. And then we came home, took a short nap, and went to the store to buy the fixings for tomorrow. It's Betty (my mother in law)'s birthday, and when we were discussing which restaurant to take her to at Christmas, we ended up volunteering to host a simple family get together. We are having vegetarian chili and cold cuts.

Then on Tuesday I am going with Linda and Dan to a Grateful-Dead type concert in the city, and Wednesday we have our annual NYEve Day lunch with some old friends. Whish before we know it it will be Jan. 5.

Much love to you all, Sandra

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

It's snowing today, which I think is fantastic for my only day off during Christmas break. Justin and I are working all day everyday, except today, out at the tubing hill. We have 3 "kids" although they're not really kids, working for us, and they are doing a great job, they're all hard workers. So today we're just enjoying a quiet day. Pretty quick I'm going to make some eggnog to go with the cinnamon rolls. Mom mentioned on her blog that we've abandoned some traditions this year, but one that I just could not let go was the Christmas morning cinnamon roll/eggnog breakfast. mmmmmm. Dad made the dough for me, while I was at the tubing hill working yesterday, so then when I came home all I had to do was the finish up work. I appreciated that very much. I'm trying to decide what I should make now to take to the dinner, dad and mom made pies, and a blueberry thing (yummy no bake cheesecake type thing). I'm thinking chocolate pie, but not sure if that's what we'll do.

We opened our presents last night, as usual. It was really fun. We just had a few things. Justin made me the most beautiful jewelry box out of maple, with brass hardware. Then he carved on it, and engraved it with my name, and when it was given and everything. I'll take a bunch of pics, and post them later. And he got me a pink .22 rifle. Its so cute! Its a bright pink, lever action, single shot rifle, and its the cutest thing. Its made by the "Davy Crickett" company, so cute. Its even got a little cricket on the butt of it. Mom and dad got me a couple of cookbooks, and they got us the second Chronicles of Narnia movie. Blake gave us some great truffles, and a game for out Wii. It was really nice. After we opened presents we were watching TV, and there was a show with some classic tractors, and we sat around talking and sharing stories for about an hour, it was really wonderful to just sit and enjoy each other's company - wish we could have that opportunity with everyone, but since we can't, the blog makes a nice substitute.

Well, I better go make eggnog, I'm starving. Merry Christmas everyone. We love you all very much, and hope you have a wonderful day! Love Alicia and Justin

Christmas Eve in Alaska

2008-12-24T23:43:00.000-08:00

It is late. Judy Garland is singing "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in St. Louis. The children are all nestled snug in their bed and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care. Pa isn't in his cap or his kerchief, but he is in bed and wouldn't hear a clatter if it hit him in the head...

We had a lovely ham dinner with twice baked potatoes, deviled eggs, whole wheat rolls. It seems like there was more than that but I can't remember and we all got so full we didn't eat any of the desserts (until now, I'm sampling the pies).

We had lots of breaks with tradition this year. Usually we have a breakfast for Christmas Eve but this year we had a wonderful ham dinner instead. (It was a whole, bone in ham with GREAT flavor, and Brian put water in the bottom of the pan and the meat was so soft and juicy. I have to say it was the best ham I've ever eaten.)

A friend at church loves to make whole wheat bread and she and Brian go back and forth on storing and grinding and using wheat - it's a huge, long-standing joke between them and half the ward. Anyway, this summer, we finally bought a bit of wheat and I forgot that I had bought a little hand operated mill. a couple weeks ago, Brian decided we better get a wheat mill (BOTH of us forgot we had bought the small hand mill) and he ordered an electric mill that should be here any day.

So our friend brought Brian a loaf of her wonderful whole wheat bread last week as a congratulations gift for his breaking down and getting a grain mill. It was so good we decided to try to make whole wheat rolls for our dinner. Brian was a trooper and ground the wheat in the little hand mill. He says it will have to be some heck of an emergency before we use that mill as our daily flour grinder... but he got enough to make the dough. He is a master of making bread dough in our bread maker. We wore out 2 other bread makers, but this one has a faulty bake cycle so we don't use it very often, but it is great for making dough and he makes wonderful dough combinations in it. So he made the dough and then I used my brand new Pampered Chef 13 x 9 inch pan which I bought specifically to bake rolls in. They turned out PERFECT.

sometimes when you go to a party or a demo and see a product and get sold on it and them come home and are so disappointed. Well, I am not disappointed in this pan at all. The rolls come out completely and more importantly, the pan has even heat, so all the rolls are the perfect amount of doneness. The glass pan I have used for 30 years has hard rolls on the outside and doughy ones in the middle... and I hate that. So I am happy as a clam with this purchase.

So the kids are exhausted. They have been working 14 hour days, 7 days a week - and of course the tubing business is very physical and outside in the cold and wind a lot which is so tiring. They got home around 6:00 and we had dinner mostly ready. Alicia thru some finishing touches on the eggs and finished the potatoes. Justin set the table. Before they came home, Brian had started a sweet dough in the machine for Alicia to make into the Christmas morning roll and she thru that together before we ate and it rose during dinner and the presents.

The other break with tradition is that Christmas day we are having dinner at the inn. We never leave home on Christmas day - at least we haven't for about 20 years. They are cooking prime rib and all our friends from church are coming and doing potluck again. We have dessert duty again. Brian made pies and we worked together to make a blueberry cheesecake dessert kind of thing. We will make some more stuff in the morning, I'm sure.

It was fun for Brian and I to work together in the kitchen again. We paced it out all day and built in rest periods and finally I had Brian bring my walker in so I could sit and work at some tasks, like peeling eggs and chopping potatoes. So much of the work and cooking that I used to do has fallen on him and he never complains and I really appreciate him taking over and it was very nice to be able to work together.

We had a lovely evening and we are thinking of you all. It was a humble Christmas in our house - more love that money was spent, but we are learning to like that kind of Christmas better. We are so grateful to be celebrating the greatest gift of all - the gift of a Savior who was born to redeem us, to pay for our sins, and to save us all. There isn't a better gift around than that...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL. Love, Charlotte

Christmas eve in the rain

2008-12-24T14:49:00.001-08:00

We are bundling up for the hr drive to Linda's house in Castro Valley (where Susan's sister lives) for Christmas eve Indonesian saute and gifts. It's raining, but that's a good thing--we need the rain. It might clear tomorrow afternoon, which would mean that we will have partly sunny skies for our two days in Monterey. Hope springs eternal. The leaves on the bottom third of my ginko tree have STILL not fallen off-- an all time record, I think.

I am carrying you all in my heart and wishing you a lovely holiday period and a new year full of opportunity, love, joy, laughter, and new learning.

And I have a special prayer for my mom, spending her first Christmas at the Villa.

Love and joy, Sandra and Susan

Christmas in Texas.

2008-12-23T12:49:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm about to leave work today, and thought I'd spend a second to post some things about our Christmas season so far.

First off, I am sorry that I've been behind on posting much of anything on this blog. I have been so busy with work, and then with freelance work after work. It seems that the freelance projects never come at convenient times for me, but who can say no to paying jobs in today's economy? I know I have a hard time doing so. I finished my freelance work this last monday, and today is my last day at work until the 5th.

I look forward to taking off from work for a week and a half, and spending some time with the girls.

Before I got seriously busy at work I was taking a flash design class to learn some more about website design, and although I've forgotten much of what I learned already, I worked with a coworker to make a short online Christmas card for our family. Paste or type the following link into your web browser to see the card.

http://rhiens.com/Welcome.html

Laura's Dad got into town yesterday, and we are happy to have him staying with us this Christmas. I will probably make some Borscht tomorrow, and we still need to go get a Christmas piniata to break with the girls on Christmas day. Lucky for us, there is a mexican party store just down the road a little that has some sweet looking piniatas.

Laura has planned a turkey dinner for Christmas day itself, and we look forward to going to see a huge toy train exhibit that we saw last year.

We had a very nice weekend spending time with some friends for a waffle brunch on Saturday, and for an early Christmas diner on Sunday with some other friends. It was very nice to have some time with our friends (now that we've moved, they live about 15 minutes from where we do, and we don't see each other as often.

We hope you are all enjoying the season. We hope you all stay safe and warm. We wish that for this one week, we could have a little snow, but alas, this is Dallas we are speaking of. We only get 33 degree rain, and there's plenty of that to go around this week.

We love you all, and hope you are all having a great Christmas season.

Seeing Santa (for the 3rd time...)

2008-12-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

Saturday was our ward's children's Christmas party - Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The night before we were out with friends when we remembered that we were supposed to go the next morning. We talked about it and 8:00 am for a Saturday seemed to be REALLY early - especially with the kids.

Unfortunately (for me) - I was WIDE awake at 5:00 am Saturday morning. That seemed like it was going to work well because we could go (I'm generally the one who takes the longest to get ready, and I'm also the one who wants to sleep in more than anyone else) - but the boys both decided to sleep in until almost 8:30. Once they were up we decided to run into the party before it was over. We made it in time for Santa - but didn't get much to eat (which was ok).

Gabe was SO cute with Santa. He wasn't nearly as nervous as he had been the first time this season (where he was SHAKING and totally speechless) and was excited to talk to Santa. When Santa asked him who his favorite reindeer was he piped up "Rudolph - and I even know a song about him!" So he sang with Santa and it was so cute. Hunter wasn't jumping up and down to get in Santa's lap, but he sat with me next to Santa and didn't even cry when I put him on Santa's lap. We're making progress!

College Football Game

2008-12-22T01:10:00.000-08:00

For those of you not tapping in every day, let me update you on the College Football Bowl Game contest.

Paul: 47 points 2 out of 4
Alicia 4 points 2 out of 4
Brian 4 points 2 out of 4
Blake 2 points 1 out of 4

Charlotte - the college football addict who watches EVERY single college football game no matter who is playing: 0 points. 0 out of 4.

ZERO out of four. Nada. Not ONE single game right so far. #^&!??*$*$)##__)($((*$@@

Sorry for my French. I just don't get it. I hope this pattern doesn't continue into March Madness.

(oh, yeah, I also picked Tebow to win the Heismann)

Dec. 20

2008-12-20T19:50:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Earlene ! ! ! !

Candy Cane Cookies

2008-12-19T13:43:00.000-08:00

Now most years I haven't made these cookies - because I can't seem to master them like my mom has. I'm one of those people who want things to turn out great the first time around, and don't like to work at them (for instance - when I started gymnastics I was pretty ticked on the first day when they didn't teach me how to do a back handspring - what a waste of a lesson!)

Anyway - this is probably the 3rd time I've made these. This year I was feeling extra nostalgic and wanting to work on passing on traditions from my childhood to my children. As I looked through a Christmas cookbook that Mama Rhien put together for us I saw the Candy Cane Cookie recipe and thought the idea of making cookies for my kids that my grandma had made for her kids was pretty cool.

After I made them I called my mom to talk about things I coudl have done differently, found out that hers haven't always been perfect, and laugh. She mentioned that Nicole had made these recently and had made them skinnier than my mom makes them, but that Paul had said they turned out. She said, "I don't know how she did it - she made 4 dozen cookies from the recipe". So I counted my cookies.

19 cookies.

Apparently mine were a bit 'chubby', Nicole's were a bit 'skinny' and I bet when my mom makes them later this week - they'll be 'JUST RIGHT'.

Anyway - here are our cookies. I had to take picture of the broken ones and the ones that (all-be-it chubby) turned out.

(Side note - as I ate one I thought, "Wait a minute - I don't even LOVE how these taste - why go to all this work?" I guess it's all about the tradition.)

Christmas is...

2008-12-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few of the sights of Christmas found around our house this time of year. Hope you are all enjoying the season. We love each of you and enjoy sharing this holiday blog. I just wish it would all slow down a bit so that we could savor and enjoy it more.

Pig and a Goldfish

2008-12-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

here's our stockings, with my new tree stocking holders. I've been scoping out holders like this for over a year now, and found these for 75% off - $4! I was excited.

See my half painted wall? We had a counter here, but took it out for the entertainment center (see below). Not the furniture I wanted, but also not $800! :) I had to compromise the one I wanted, for the one I could afford. At least its better than what was there!

Some of the nutcrackers. A couple more are on a side table

We got our tree done today. Our house has been in a state of chaos and mess for a while now, and we kept talking about putting up a tree, and just couldn't take the idea of one more mess to look at or make. So we put it off, and put it off, and then finally we just buckled up, and did some projects we'd been putting off, and cleaned some stuff up, and put some stuff away (sort of, does stuffing it in a closet like area count?) and I said I HAVE to have a tree. So we got our entertainment center set up (We took the dresser from my old bedroom and took it downstairs, and converted it to an entertainment center - works beauty!). And then we were going to get a real tree, but we didn't want it dumping its needles down the back of our tv and our new entertainment center. So I asked Justin to stop at the all purpose store in town and get a short fake tree ($18). Its so cute!! I can't wait to use it for years to come as a second "fun" tree when we have more space. It's a cute tree. My new ornaments for this year were a little glass pig, and a glass gold fish, because the idea of a goldfish on a Christmas tree just made me laugh, same with the pig. So here's our tree for the year. And even as tiny as this tree is - I got most of the ornaments on anyway! Pretty cool.

Bowl Games Start on Saturday

2008-12-18T21:51:00.000-08:00

For those participating in the bowl game challenge, don't forget to put in your picks by Saturday morning.

Sorry - check out my blog

2008-12-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted our holiday stuff here. I am trying to figure out a way to post on both blogs without having to type it all out twice. So until I get my act together - check out the posts on our blog:

Gingerbread houses

Things we've been doing this holiday season

Caramel Corn

Gabe's Christmas Carols

Now I'm off to make MORE caramel corn....

2008-12-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

It looks a lot Like Christmas here. Great decorations, some outstanding music and the 12 days of Christmas!!Wow! I love it. I am feeling great and having fun.Thanks for all your blogs and additions to the Family Christmas Countdown.

This next is hoot. When my life was down in the pits I took a class on making wooden items on a band saw. I felt so powerful pushing the wood through that baby. That's when I started taking back my life. Well Brian Charlotte,Alicia and Blake must have laughed till they fell on the floor at what I made them for Christmas. I made yard ornaments for them. Bigger than life size geese.!! I think Brian said they weren't going up in HIS yard and I recall some remark about shooting. This was in Oregon. Now looking back they must have wondering What is She thinking?? The were ugly. I made them from a pattern in one of the woman's magazines.
Along that same line I once gave Sandra yards and yards of gold velvet cloth. I have no idea what I had in mind on that either.

Merry Christmas Mother, grandma Marilyn and Marilyn

Rejoice and Be Merry: Nativity Play

2008-12-14T19:32:00.000-08:00

Mormon Tabernacle Choir's latest music video (I didn't even know they did music videos :) ).

It just wouldn't be Christmas without their Christmas music (among others - Mannheim Steamroller, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Feliz Navidad, the Carpenters, etc.) - especially in recent years - it seems they get better and better

MoTab 12 days of Christmas

2008-12-14T19:23:00.001-08:00

Join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for a daily video with background to
"The Twelve Days of Christmas."

The choir offers a song each day, a unique video and symbolism behind the song's words.
Bookmark this link and check back daily!

Let the yowling begin

2008-12-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

You might notice that there are not decorations or danglies on the bottom 2 feet of our tree. No, we don't have a toddler in the house... We have a cat who misses the great outdoors and a dog with a big tail.

The cat is the biggest problem. This evening, he was sleeping upstairs during the tree decorating and didn't eve notice it was there when he came down. He was sitting on my lap at bedtime and Alicia unhooked the lights and they clanked together and he sprang off my lap and ran across the living room to the tree. He instantly remembered that sound.

He walked around the tree several times and then sat next to the trunk and began his annual yowling. It sounds like that wolf in Jack London's books.

And then begins the climbing and shaking of the tree to make the pretty sounds that beautiful ornaments and lights make when they clank together repeatedly.

We usually put the tree as far into the corner as possible and that really gives him a place to yowl from, but this year, since the entry way is so open and has the grand new tile, the tree is more out in the middle, so he doesn't have a specific corner. As near as I can tell from the shaking and wobbling of the tree, we are going to maintain our post in the center of the tree, near the stump. It isn't even a real tree - it is plastic. And sitting under a plastic tree and yowling for the great outdoors is just silly and kind of embarrassing.

At least when we do get toddlers in the house, we will have the no ornaments on the bottom decorating pattern down pat. I suppose at some point we will have to wire it to the ceiling. I seem to remember that tactic from somewhere in my past... (silver tree, very expensive purple balls??? flying off the bookcase in Billings? )

Carper's Tree

2008-12-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

We had a big open house at the church today, called the Festival of Trees, and we had over 15 Christmas trees that people brought and decorated, then we had booths about stuff the church believes. It was pretty cool. But I came home yesterday from being down there setting up and I was completely motivated to get the trees up. I don't really have anywhere to put my tree up downstairs, so I started with mom and dad's. This year they wanted the blue and silver tree and I put a twist on it this year, and added some blue lights, so it has blue and white lights, and blue and silver ornaments, and fancy chains. I think it turned out pretty spiffy! But I don't know if the pics will show it that well. But I was trying to get some shots of it with the light on. Then there is a picture of the stairs. We're not done decorating the stairs yet, we have some painted santa's and stuff to put on there, but they're only half painted, os maybe this week. Now that the open house is over, that gives us back some time. We've been working on that a lot. But anyway, short story long, here's mom and dad's tree. Oh, and you see the mexican star on top of the tree - that's for dad. Mom hates those, and dad loves them, so I compromised for them, and bought a silver one for mom's tree, and dad compromised by it being silver with white lights instead of gold with multi colored lights.

2008-12-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

I have been thiking of my most favorite gifts from Christmas.

1. A beautiful red coat when I was about five years old. My Mom and Dad stood me up on the bed and thy were so happy and so was I. I have never figured out how Santa came down that
little black chimmney.

2. A set of painting supplies .Oil panits , brushes and a great box to carry every. I thought it was magic and still had it when I moved here to the Villa.

3. Roller skates when I was 8. Then about a month later we moved from San Francisco to a farm 3 years out of the sage brush in Vale Oregon. OH!My! no sidewalkes.

4.We worked very hard on the farm and we all had chores to do. My cousins lived a mile down the road from us. One year for Christmas Day ____only__Our Dads let us take one of the
huge farm work horses and hooked it on to on to the sled used for carrying big cans of milk. My cousins were older and kind of onery and love to tease me. So we just had a big board to sit on and the cousins,my brothers all got on and I was the last one to get a seat on the board. We all went Dashing Thru the snow. Yelling and Laughing all the way! Every time we hit a bump I fell off. All of the others laughed and so did I. 8 eight times I fell off but it was a wonderful day in my life.
Merry Christmas !!!!

More pix, I hope

2008-12-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

View of last yrs Christmas (I hop

2008-12-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

So I am using my new computer, and I am going to try to figure out how to upload some pixs of last year's tree and mantle, which look stunningly like this year's tree and mantel (or I assume that will be the case, when we get the tree and mantle done!)

Work is total crazy with so much going on before the end of next week. And Susan has AGU (a big conference in the city) next week, so we will both be leaving early and coming home late and working like madwomen. Ahwell.

Love to you all

Surprise!

2008-12-08T11:48:00.000-08:00

A friend and I decided on Thursday night to make a VERY quick trip to Salt Lake City over the weekend. The trip was on again off again a few times between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. But, we finally left for Provo at about 6:00 PM on Friday evening. My friend, Diana's husband and son came with us. They dropped me off at a hotel in Provo at 1:00 AM on Friday night/Saturday morning. I got up early the next day, rented a car, did some shopping and headed up to Salt Lake City. I walked in to mother's room at the nursing home wearing a Santa hat and bearing small gifts. She was working on making Christmas decorations for her door when I came in and she had her back to me. Boy was she surprised when she turned around! We laughed and cried, opened presents and enjoyed a treat from the bakery. What a whimsical, fun day!

By going to Utah I missed the annual luminarias at the college here in Farmington. It is my favorite day of the year in Farmington. So, I was a little sad missing it. But then I decided that I could make up for that by seeing the lights on Temple Square in SLC. So, I headed down that way just as the sun was going down. Me and a million other people. Downtown is pretty torn up right now and there is TONS of construction and not enough parking. I FINALLY found parking and enjoyed a beautiful hour on Temple Square/Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Ahhhhh! It had been several years since I'd been able to see the lights on Temple Square. It was a wonderful treat.

From there I headed south and visited with Dad and Carole for a couple of hours. I think they almost didn't let me in, 'cause it was dark and they weren't expecting anyone at the door. But, when they heard my "ho,ho,ho!" and saw my hat, they decided to open the door and let me in. Fun stuff!

What a serendipitous and magical day it turned out to be for me. We came back on Sunday, arriving back in Farmington just before 4. A very quick, but very fun weekend. Here's a parting shot of Mom in front of her cheery holiday door...and a wish from her to all of you (She could sure use a better videographer, huh?)

Merry Christmas, from the Rhiens

2008-12-08T04:25:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Holiday baking

2008-12-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

I must admit - my version of "holiday baking" generally consists of opening a box of Duncan Hinze or Betty Crocker brownie mix (the ones with Hershey chocolate chips in them) - baking according to package - and proceeding to eat the entire tray myself because of holiday induced stress.

Ok - too big of a glimpse into my life....

But really - Cory doesn't love sweets (especially chocolate) - and so I eat way too much of whatever I make. As our kids get older I plan on doing more - but to this point I haven't done much.

But I'd love any recipes that you all make. I'd love to hear what people's favorites are, what they make every year, and I'd love to hear if you tried something new this year.

THANKS everyone!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

Justin's holding our friends baby Gavin

There's me and Justin in the back there. And dad in the middle of this one.

We went to a friends for Thanksgiving, I'm sure we've already told everyone that, but it was fun. We took a bunch of pictures, but I won't put too many on since most of you don't know any of them. I'll just pick a few that have us in them. It was a good time, lots of food. We ran after Karaoke got into full swing. We're not big Karaoke-ers. :) Good job on mom for bringing and using the camera. I'm too shy to take pictures, I'm a chicken at big events. If its at home and just us, sure no problem, but out with other people mmm not so much. :) I was sure I took a picture of mom, but I don't see it now, so guess I didn't.

Cookies

2008-12-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

I have been in the mood to make Christmas cookies for a few years now, but I wanted to make something different, no the usual cookies. So we got a new Taste of Home magazine the other day, and there was a bunch of good looking cookies, so I made some cookies yesterday. They were all really good, so thought I'd share the recipes.

Choco nut balls:

1 cup butter (need to be real), softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 cup flour

1/3 cup baking cocoa

1 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and cocoa, gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well Stir in nuts. Roll in 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 for 14-16 minutes. Cool on pans 1-2 minutes. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar. Roll again after about 10 minutes if desired.

Lemon Lover's cookies:

3/4 cup butter softened

3 TBL sugar

2 tsp. lemon juice

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 tsp. grated lemon peel (optional, I left it out because I don't like the texture, so I put in a little extra lemon juice)

Lemon Frosting:

1/4 cup soft butter

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp. lemon juice or a little extra for tartness, or to taste

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in lemon juice. Combine flour and cornstarch (and lemon peel if desired). gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Shape into 1 1/2 inch roll, wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Unwrap and cut into 1/4 inch slices. PLace 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden, don't over bake. Cool completely on pans, or granite/marble top. In small bowl, beat butter and sugar together, with lemon juice. Spread over cookies. I did this while they were still slightly warm, and the frosting was just a hair runny, then it made a nice glaze.

Peanut butter cup cookies:

1 cup butter softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

1 pkg Reese's miniature cups

Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Roll into 1 1/4 inch balls. Press a miniature peanut butter cup into each, reshape balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to racks or plates to cool.

The tree is up

2008-12-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

We finally ventured into fake tree country, but I don't think it turned out too bad.

It took a bit to fluff the branches out so they looked good.

Holiday plans?

2008-12-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Thought I'd start a thread about what everyone's holiday plans are. We're still not totally sure what we're doing. It's a scaled back Christmas for us this year so likely we'll just be at home and spending time together for the majority. Oh - and trying to figure out creative new ways to make money...any suggestions :) ?

Tomorrow Cory and I are on a committee at church to help put on our Relief Society Christmas party. It's a HUGE dinner and the biggest event our ward does each year. We're still wondering how we ended up with so many responsibilities with it - but we'll manage. I can tell you I'll be thrilled when I wake up Saturday morning and it will be over :)

So what are your plans? Any trips, fun parties or outings? Share!

Thanksgiving update from our house

2008-12-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

We had a good, if uneventful Thanksgiving. The dinner turned out great, it was nice to have Susan's family with us, the weather was beautiful, we served 14 radishes we harvested from our garden on our relish tray. Friday afternoon we did actually go to our local Target (there's a new store opened in Richmond, and we are trying to shop there as much as possible to keep the sales tax in our town). We scored a wonderful 5-6 qt crock pot for $15! I used it last night to cook up (almost) the last of the turkey with black beans, barley, hominy, carrots and celery, fireroasted green chilis. I also got a chance to paint silk, and that always makes me happy. We were going to put the Christmas tree up, but we didn't. Ah well, later, later, later. . .

Much love to you all,

Sandra

Thanksgiving fun!

2008-11-30T17:33:00.000-08:00

Paul and his cousin, Robert
4 generations of Rhiens
Julia, Me and my niece, Aleasha
Paul, Nicole and Taylor
Our family, minus Joanna, Cory and the boys
Some of Mama and Papa Rhien's great grandkids
Cute little Lucy
Julia, Jed and Paul
Laura and Lucy
Dad and Alli
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week and had the rare opportunity to see and spend time with all of our kids and their spouses and all of our grandkids in one week. It was sometimes hectic and chaotic...but mostly it was wonderful. We are all exhausted, but hopefully happy. I know I am.

Thanks, Cory, Joanna, Gabe and Hunter; Jed, Laura, Alli and Lucy; Paul, Nicole and Taylor; and Julia for making our week wonderful. And thanks to all the rest of you in our extended family, for your love and support. We wish we could have seen all of you and spent time with each of you collectively and individually. Just know that we thought of each of you, and love and appreciate you. I think that I felt more of a sense of gratitude than I have ever felt before on Thanksgiving. Just such a sense of fulness and richness in things both tangible and intangible.

We had dinner at Scott's parents and enjoyed time with the extended Rhien family. There were somewhere around 30 of us, including quite a group of little ones. We ate and laughed and had a great time. And then we all gathered in the living room and went around the huge circle and expressed our gratitudes. It was so cute to see the little ones that could talk participate. And then we sang Christmas carols while Nicole played the piano...and the children danced and danced in the middle of the room. What fun!

Paul had arranged a fun activity for our family earlier in the day. He had made a little turkey without feathers and put it on a bulletin board. Then he gave us each 8-10 feathers to color, and we wrote down things that we were thankful for on the feathers. Then we placed them around the turkey. What a fun activity. Joanna and Cory and the boys weren't there for that, because they were with the Ellis' for Thanksgiving, but Paul made feathers for them as well, writing down gratitudes they had expressed on their blog earlier in the week. Here's our little turkey...pretty fun, huh?

Some of us got up EARLY the next day and joined the crazy Black Friday shoppers. Oh my! I ended up at Target 4 times Friday, with different people. Not to mention the other stores we went to. I would get back home from a shopping trip with one group and someone else would say, "Hey, Mom...do you want to come to _________ with us. I need your opinion on __________. So, we shopped and we wrapped and had a good time. But, boy were we beat by the end of the day. We were all trying to get as much of our shopping and wrapping done as possible this weekend, so that we could send our gifts back with each other. What a day!

Julia had to go back on Saturday morning. We were sorry to see her go, but it was great having her home for a whole week...and she'll be back in a couple of weeks for the Christmas holidays. She got to work a few shifts at the radio station, so that was nice. And they are scheduling her to work during her next break as well. She will be done for the semester on Dec. 12...coming right up.

Then Joanna and Cory headed down for a VERY quick trip from Utah. They got here Saturday afternoon and left this morning. They hadn't seen Jed's family or Paul since last Thanksgiving, so they didn't want to miss out on that opportunity. Paul and Nicole had to be back to Los Alamos by today, so they left after visiting with Joanna and her family for just a few hours. And then everyone else left this morning. Good times were hopefully had by all, although I know we all ended the weekend pretty exhausted. Thanks for coming, guys!

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope that you all have a good day, safe travels, fun with friends/family, and great food! We love you all. Love Alicia and Justin

2008-11-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

What are the signs that the holidays are coming?
You know? they kind of snuck up on me this year. In fact, I first realized a few days ago that y'all have been posting on here for a while - I had a lot of posts to catch up on.

This is of course our first year in a few not living in Idaho, and the lack of cold/winter weather I am sure is part of not feeling like the holidays quite yet.

The increase in advertising... the city starting to put up their decorations... the Christmas music (which I've been listening to off and on for a week or so now).

One big sign (kind of a funny one) for me... the end of the college football season, and the BYU-Utah game (the discussion of this year's game ends here - sad day). I can start to feel the bowl games coming on.

What are your favorite things about Thanksgiving?
Having time to relax together. Having time off of work.
Being together and visiting and laughing with family.
Playing games or putting together puzzles.
The Macy's Parade - it's not Thanksgiving without
And you can't forget the delicious food that comes just once a year
(among my favorites: pumpking pie, rolls, stuffing, etc.)

And who is shopping where on Black Friday?
We've been combing through the ads, making our lists/plans.
I am sure that we'll hit up Target and Walmart. The store we
don't usually hit on Black Friday, but we will tomorrow is Big 5.
(they have a deal on good Australian wool slippers.)

Well, we're headed out to dinner in just a bit.
Wishing everyone a Great Thanksgiving!

love, Paul, Nicole and Taylor Rhien

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T07:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here in Seattle.

What are YOU grateful for?

2008-11-24T09:55:00.001-08:00

Since this week is Thanksgiving I thought it would only be appropriate if we all list 10 (or more) things that we are grateful for. You can list it in a new post - or just answer in the comments. Oh - and try (if possible) to list DIFFERENT things than everyone else lists.

THANKS!

Christmas lights

2008-11-22T00:13:00.000-08:00

I know the holidays are coming when I get the yearning to put up Christmas lights and decorations, although this year if I had the money to give the electric company I would have put them up weeks ago. I think the tree that I covered in blue lights will still work this year, so I'll plug that in at least. I chose blue lights after seeing the Temple Square trees last year and all their single color trees. I still really want to make a giant (like 12 foot) snowman frame out of metal, and then cover it in lights. I might still do that. It just sounds fun. I also was cooking for a potluck this afternoon, and had an almost overwhelming urge to make fudge, so I know the holidays are here, I'm not even much of a fudge eater. I like it for about the first 2 hours after I make it, then as soon as it cools I'm done. :) Oh well, still fun to make, and better for my hips if I don't eat it.

Happy travels to everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving! Love you all. Alicia

Bowl Game Picking Challenge

2008-11-21T21:03:00.001-08:00

(sorry for the cross post)

I've set up a Yahoo group for picking the college football bowl games. If you are interested use the link below to join the group. If it helps encourage those standing on the sidelines, let me assure you that none of us are very good at picking.

the password = go ducks
(include the space)

If you know anyone vaguely family related or just friendly, everyone is welcome.

Group

If you don't have a yahoo account, you'll have to create one first before joining the group.

Hmmmm...my favorite things?

2008-11-21T13:09:00.000-08:00

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and my mittens...

Oh wait! You wanted to know what my favorite things were about Thanksgiving. So, here goes:

*the immense feeling of overall GRATITUDE that just sort of setttles over me each November. There is just such a feeling of richness and joy. Not temporal richness as much as emotional and spiritual richness.

*FAMILY--whether they are sitting around the table with us, or across the country from us, we pause to think about each of you on the holidays. I love it when we hook up on the phone with those we don't actually share the holiday with physically. I know that this doesn't always happen, because everyone's schedules are different. But, it is cool when it does happen.

*The FOOD...although the older I get the more it is about the people and the less it is about the food. My favorite parts of the holiday meal include: the cheese spread stuffed celery (which we usually eat at home, before heading over to the relatives), the homemade cranberry sauce, the stuffing and the pumpkin pie.

*The growing feeling of EXCITEMENT that the holidays are upon us.

*The beginning of the HOLIDAY MUSIC, MOVIES, etc. (although I have actually been listening to Christmas music off and on for a few weeks now)

*The signal that it's now OK to put up the CHRISTMAS DECOR. I was actually planning on having the trees up this year before the kids came for Thanksgiving, but then I decided that might not be a great idea with two little ones around that might have a hard time leaving them alone. I'd hate to have Taylor or Lucy pull the tree down on top of themselves.

*Thanksgiving means that it is almost time for the LUMINARIAS at the college, the Christmas parade, and the luminarias down by the riverside. Hooray! My favorites!

*The HOLIDAY BLOCKBUSTER MOVIES--we usually all go to some movie during Thanksgiving break. A couple of years ago we went to see The Lion,The Witch and the Wardrobe and it was nice and toasty warm and I was tired from holiday preparations, and I fell asleep in the previews and missed the WHOLE movie--woke up during the final credits.

What signals that the holidays are upon us? The decorations and music in the stores, the upcoming events I talked about above, and well, just a general feeling of excitement that seems to start building about now.

Will I attend the Black Friday shopping frenzy? Probably. I always do. Why? Who knows? It's just fun to be part of all the excitement. Like Joanna said, I'll miss Cory this year. We almost always go together. Even when no one else wants to, like last year. And we are usually up late the night before, pouring over the ads and planning out our agenda. Scott has even gone a time or two. I have subscribed to the Black Friday ads on-line and am already looking at picking up an item or two.

I love you all and will be thinking of each of you during the holidays ahead. Can't wait to see some of you!

Earlene

Thank you, JED

2008-11-20T01:13:00.001-08:00

Thank you , Jed, for manning the blog for us all and thank you for adding Alicia and Justin.

She will be on to add to the Family countdown and thank you herself, but right now, She is on a self-imposed blog boycott this week as she was spending too much time on them and is trying to wean off to have more time for the holiday baking and crafts. She already broke and read Blake's Top Chef blog, so we'll see if she can go a whole week.

Anyway, Thanks. We appreciate this great forum to all be together. It's like we are all together in one place, but nobody is trying to shove a pecan up your nose, so it is perfect. And everyone, please remind me to cover my pumpkin pies this year, all of a sudden, my cat has developed a liking of human food.
He doesn't get up on the counters, but I can still see those cat prints right through the middle of those pumpkin pies in Medford.

Our BIG Thanksgiving this year

2008-11-20T01:01:00.000-08:00

For several years, we have been avoiding the BIG family thanksgivings -- but this year, we were like, what the heck, let's go. So we are going to the Anchor River Inn for thanksgiving. They close the Inn and just have our "clique" from church come over and potluck. Both families of our "grandkids" will be there and they all love "Gramps" soooooooo much, he will get a kick out of being there with them. We are bringing pies and stuffing.

(ps. I used to call them my "imaginary grandchildren" until one day I was visiting my psychiatrist and used that phrase and he started madly scribbling in my file. I said, "WAIT, they aren't imaginary children - they aren't really our grandchildren, they just call us that." One must be careful with phraseology when in conversation with a pyschiatrist. hahahaha )

Nothing tops Brian's pies. He has some secret ingredients he has developed over the years, I just heard about this week as Alicia was unloading the holiday cooking groceries. He and I used to split the pie making with me making all the crusts and he making all the fillings, but now I have turned the crust making over to Alicia --- who is an outstanding baker and fully capable of making much better crust than I do.

There will be at least 35 people there, last I heard. That is a BIG crowd for me, especially since Thanksgiving isn't my favorite holiday, but I think we will have a good time.

What I like best about Thanksgiving

2008-11-19T16:36:00.000-08:00

Posting my gratitudes on Joanna's blog
the smell of Thanksgiving dinner
Pie
My special sugar free cranberry sauce
Stuffing
my SILs cranberry jello salad
Burning the fireplace (on the rare Thanksgivings that is cold enough to do that--about 1 out of 5)
LEFTOVERS!
Family
More gratitude

Love to you all, Sandra

What really starts the season for me

2008-11-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

When my MIL Betty asks "who did I draw for Christmas this year?" (Except it's been known to happen at 4th of July!)
Pumpkin pie
My first carton of silk soy eggnog
The golden leaves fall off my ginko (which sometimes doesn't happen til mid December)
I suppose if we actually manage to put our tree up Thanksgiving weekend this year (since we now have a fake one), that will be a trigger too.

Happy to be back on the blog--thanks for your help, Jed.

Love you all, Sandra

In need of a really good book.

2008-11-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

We've got a tradition that our family has had these past 5 years. We read a book together at Christmas time. We read it outloud in the evenings and on our trip in the car. This year, we haven't yet chosen a book to read, but would like some suggestions of good reads. They don't have to be Christmas oriented necessarily- but they can be. I think past books we've read were Maniac Mcgee, The Bronze Bow, The Christmas Jar, and the Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

This year, we've thought of expanding our tradition to include one family book, and one that Laura and I read together that's more just for us.

So, let us know your favorite ideas for good literature, and be sure to include some shorter kid-friendly stories too so we can keep Allison entertained as well.

-Jed

PIE!

2008-11-17T18:46:00.000-08:00

I agree with Joanna that Pumpkin Pie is a big part of the season.

We had it twice this past week for desert. Mmmmm.

Laura is trying out some gluten-free ideas for crusts, and made a crust out of pecans, coconut, crushed corn cereal (kix), and butter. It's quite tasty for the people in our home who can't eat normal crusts. (Alli and Laura).

Joanna's answers

2008-11-17T16:35:00.000-08:00

What are your favorite things about Thanksgiving?

Family. Pie. Pumpkin pie squares (mom - could you post that recipe here if you get a chance?) Thinking about gratitude for the whole month. Truthfully I think the whole thanksgiving feast is a bit of a waste.....I like the food and all, but it is SOOOO much work for one meal (yes - and leftovers - so I guess it's technically more than one meal.) I do love seeing family though, and I used to love going to the movies as a family after stuffing ourselves. (I don't think we've done that since kids though...) To me Thanksgiving reminds me most of Farmington - since we would almost always have Thanksgiving celebrations in Farmington growing up - so when we aren't there I do feel quite homesick. Oh - and one more thing that I love about Thanksgiving, and this probably sounds ridiculous - is cold A&W rootbeer - it reminds me so much of Thanksgiving....the combo with turkey is tasty! (Mom - where did that tradition come from?)

What are the signs that the holidays are coming?

headaches, anxiety, lots of creative ideas - but not nearly enough time to complete them in.....Christmas lights, great sales at Robert's Crafts and the local grocery store's open house (which I missed on Friday - and was totally bummed about). Also - as soon as I start smelling those HORRIBLE cinnamon pinecones that they sell everywhere - not only do I get a migraine - but I know Christmas is coming soon. The holiday season I worked at Walmart they had a display of those right by my register, and I would seriously go home ready to die with the worst headaches - now the smell makes me cringe and get nauseated. Hearing Christmas music on the radio too.

And who is shopping where on Black Friday?

Ugh. I like this less and less every year. We never seem to go shopping for other people and gifts when we do this, but end up buying stuff that we totally don't need - but Cory is convinced we need because it's on sale (case in point - the Wii bundle we bought last year and have played approximately 5 times in the past year....) Cory loves it because he enjoys crowds and mass commercialism - but I don't love it as much. I do like going later in the day and getting some stuff like kids games and other small things on sale (they are great to have on hand for birthday presents and stuff) - but I'm not a big planner or anything like that. This year we'll be up in Park City with Cory's family at a cabin - so I don't know if we'll be going or not. We might just need to escape the craziness that will be going on at the cabin - so we might go for it. We'll see.... (Who would Cory go with though - Mom's not around - he likes to go with her). I might jump in on the cyber Monday shopping and do some online stuff (SO much easier!)

2008-11-17T15:37:00.000-08:00

We've been SO busy lately and not getting anywhere near ready for the upcoming holidays. I guess that's not my focus yet this year, but at some point this attitude is going to get me in trouble when I realize that there's not that many more days left before Christmas.

I have a lot of projects to do this week, but one of them was to make sure to get a family snapshot taken before Lucy got too old.

This is a photo of us in front of our home. It's finally feeling like fall here in Texas.

Black Friday

2008-11-14T18:21:00.001-08:00

I have to admit, we don't go out on Black Friday. Brian was almost trampled in a blue light special in a Kmart at an after Christmas sale once and he is not a fan of crowds in after holiday sales.

We spend the day after Thanksgiving making Christmas candy and watching college basketball games. Someday, we are going to watch the Maui Classic in person. We might someday go up to Anchorage to watch the Great Alaska Shootout, but not very many good schools come here now since they have the exotic tournaments in tropical places at the same time.

Clark Family

2008-11-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

Have a request for whomever it is that manages the Family Christmas blog - could you add Alicia and Justin as contributors? It will make them feel like they are adults now. Thanks..

Signs that the holidays are coming

2008-11-12T21:32:00.000-08:00

This will sound weird, but the panic sign I notice that it is time for Christmas Rush is when they start advertising champagne-like products on TV. We saw the first one tonight and I was like "OH NO - it's time for Christmas shopping." I don't drink champagne-like products, so I don't know why that is my trigger, but Jed or Laura asked so here's my answer.

I think it is because they are advertising mostly for New Year's Partys and obviously, you can't have a New Year's Party until after you have had Thanksgiving and Christmas, Right?

I'm so wanting to be in Hawaii for Christmas this year - good one on you Blake and Johanna. We'll be thinking of you.

Happy holidays

2008-11-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would put up a post for the Holidays.

Three questions:

1. What are your favorite things about Thanksgiving?

2. What are the signs that the holidays are coming?

3. And who is shopping where on Black Friday?

New Mexico Fourth

2008-07-06T14:18:00.001-07:00

P. was glad to get an extra couple of days off this weekend. We came up to Farmington (just 3-1/2 hrs. away) on Thursday morning and made it to a fun community concert by the river (that our cousin Rachel was singing in).

We enjoyed the city's fireworks on our friend's, the Buchanans, lawn (which has a great view) where T. loved their yard toy and the grass. Julia and her friend Candace went out and bought a $20 pack of fireworks that we set off in front of the house (and cleaned up the mess for Dad).

Friday was fun, including a vegetarian BBQ (black bean or veggie burgers), fourth of July fruit salad, corn on the cob, and s'mores (over the grill... mmm). We got downtown for the glow-in-the-dark parade where we were surprised how much candy came to us (usually it's out in the road for the kids to go out and get). Dad stayed home with T.

N. and I got out for a nice workout on Saturday morning. I think it's easier to breath down at a mile-high :). I ran 8 miles, and she biked a little further (to get us some Gatorade). I think I'll be fine for the marathon in 13 weeks.

Saturday evening, we spent some time with family that were in town for Farmington's annual triathalon (my cousin Taylor won his Male 20-24 division!). We had homemade ice cream and cookies out at Mama and Papa's.

and tonight we will celebrate T.'s 1st birthday (see our blog) before heading home tomorrow.

It's been a nice time - I'm glad we live close enough to do this.

I appreciate our country and annual celebrations of what it means to be Americans. It would be fun to be all together, but this blog will be the next best thing :)

Our 4th of July

2008-07-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

Well since we aren't close to any family (location wise) I always get a little sad on holidays like the 4th of July. I wish I was with everyone in my family having a BBQ, or something fun like that. But this year we were invited to spend part of the day with our friends and their families (most of their family lives in the area). We started out the day riding in the parade. Our friends own the Polaris dealership in town and so we all rode our rangers in the parade. Then we came home in the afternoon, relaxed, had our favorite bacon cheeseburgers (courtesy of our favorite hamburger joint Brad's Food Hut - YUMMO!) It might have seemed a little weird to BUY our lunch, not BBQ it ourself, but we enjoyed it. I even took a nap - which happens like maybe 2 times a year.

Then in the evening we went to back to spend time with our friends and their family - the Haltermans. They live clear out in the country - it's really quiet and nice out there. In some ways it reminds me of Mama and Papa's area - but more secluded. In their family there are 3 siblings, their spouses, kids, and then Vicky and Randy - the parents (at least that live here, there are a few others out of state). So it was a crowd, but lots of fun. We had a tasty BBQ with kabobs, salads, corn on the cob, desserts etc. Afterwards we did some fireworks, the kids broke a pinata, and we came home. On the way home we got to see the fireworks start and drove over to where they were doing them. We were RIGHT there, and enjoyed the show. Hunter slept through the whole thing - we were amazed!

Gabe spent the 4th of July in Logan with his Grandma Tammy and cousins. It was sad to not have a part of our family with us - we missed him, but know he's having fun with everyone else.

Sounds like you all had a great 4th - love you all!

Five Years

2008-07-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

We've been married five years. The funny thing was, I've been thinking it was our sixth. To think I was saying we've been married five years for at least six months now! (: So we are having our second fifth anneversary.

So we have a lot of fun stories, but I thought I would put up the day Jed told me he loved me. We just came back from a trip to Utah. Jed went and saw a play at BYU with his roommates. The lead had pretty gold brown hair (so I heard). Well, let me back up a bit first. We weren't really dating yet. I think we both wanted him to get back into the dating game and normal life before we dated, but we still really liked each other. I actually loved him, and he me (but we didn't say anything). So Jed's attempt to keep things slow, and keep staying simple friends was to stay casual and talk like we weren't an item. So he would tell me about his date the night before, or joke about finding his future wife in some choir class. Which would have been totally fine, except it made crazy jealous, and caused me to think if I was losing my chance with him.

Now back to the story, the one with the pretty gold-brown-haired woman. Jed was telling me all about the play and mentioned that he always thought he'd marry someone with that color hair. Well, my hair isn't brown, or at least it wasn't at the time. It was more red, strawberry blond; and I knew that was how Jed described my hair color. So I hit an all-time upset. I went home, vented to my cousin. Then Jed said I left a pair of shoes in his car, so I went other there to pick them up. Of course I could hide that I was livid, thought I tried. I was too quiet, and walking too fast, and had too little of a smile for Jed to think I was my usual self.

Jed inquired, and I tried to say it was nothing, but this guy can read me like a book. So what does a girl say? I can't say, "Oh, You're HOT. I'm in love with you, and I haven't even told you I was in-like with you. You're wonderful and I don't have gold-brown hair! It's only been two months, and I feel like I've been keeping quiet for years (well, I guess I sort of did, since he was on a mission before). I just want to disappear, but you are in my one class I have every day, so I HAVE to see you, and every time I see you I want to say I love you, but I can't. ugh." Of course I didn't say anything near that! I really probably sounded stupid.

I stumbled around saying something like, "I'm really sorry, I'm being childish; but could you just refrain from telling me about girls with beautiful brown hair, and your dates; I know we are just friends and all, but I get jealous. Ok, ...uh...now can I go home?"

Jed, being the sweet person that he is, almost laughed. I'm sure he thought it was something much worse. He smiled and said that I couldn't go home yet. We went on a walk. He proceeded to tell me why he's talking like that, and that he loved me. It was all very romantic. That night he held my hand for the first time. We walked a long way and accidentally ended up in our spot that we had before his mission. I never felt like that when holding anyone's hand before. I still get butterflies when I hold his hand. Cheesy, I know. (:

What Jed didn't know at the time, was I was pretty sure I wanted to marry him that night, but I never told him that until after we were married! (:

WHisler Newman 4th of July

2008-07-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been trying to post for two days, so this is the third or fourth time I have written this post. We have our big celebration tomorrow at Susan's sister Linda's cuz its Dan's 18th bday and Drew's bday too. We are having bb2 flank steak, mac and cheese, potato salad, antipasto, green salad, 4th of July fruit salad (I went to a special farmers market to buy my 16 peaches so they would be ripe for the salad), and choc cake. Today we are having a quiet day at home, except that we went and bought a new tv! We are trying to eat a red white and blue dish all three meals. So far we had blueberries and strawberries on our cereal, raspberries and blueberries on cottage cheese for lunch, and I don't know what we will do for dinner--maybe put berries and white cheese in the salad or something. And corn on the cob.

Love you all, Sandra

Happy 4th of July to all!

2008-07-04T11:20:00.001-07:00

Well, I already posted about the 4th of July on my blog and invite anyone who would like to to go over there to share favorite 4th of July memories.

But, Blake specifically wondered what we were making to eat...so, here you go.

I just finished making a big ol' batch of 4th of July fruit salad and a big bowl of potato salad. We also have watermelon and corn on the cob. However, since we have been eating mostly vegetarian for the last year and a half or so, we are going to barbeque veggie burgers and black bean burgers. Yum! We also have the fixings for s'mores, but I don't know if we will have room for those.

We are making homemade ice-cream tomorrow, to celebrate with all the Rhien family. Paul, Nicole and Taylor are here for the weekend. Fun for all!

Love, Earlene, Scott and Julia

4th of July

2008-07-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

HEY Blake - what a great idea to get everyone together in the middle of the summer.

Like Alicia said, we bought some beautiful rib eyes to BBQ but we didn't wait until the 4th. They were SOOOOOOOO good. We have a lot of fruit to munch on tomorrow and will probably make the potato salad. We bought brats and polish dogs, too.

Brian has to work on the cable barge out on the spit so he won't be home and the kids are hauling literally tons of firewood. They rented a dump trailor from Soldotna for the week and are taking advantage of having it here. They also plan to start work on the goat barn this weekend, I think.

Our ward has a potluck at a home in the middle of town that is right next to the parade start so traditionally most of the ward spends the afternoon of the 4th at the Evarts house. Anchor Point is famous for their 4th of July celebration. Our favorite part is the duck race - you buy little rubber duckies and they race from the bridge to the campground and you get prizes and the profits go to the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce.

My very favorite part of the 4th of July for years was the Boston Pops on PBS, but since CBS took over - it has been so disappointing. I really miss it. I'll bet you guys who used to live in Provo area really miss that majestic celebration at Cougar Stadium.

Love you all, Charlotte

4th of July BBQ

2008-07-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's the 4th of July weekend and the BBQ is getting fired up. We're pulled pork and potato salad for our BBQ. What is everyone else making for their weekend?

Happy New Years

2008-01-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

We haven't posted in a while...

Since Christmas, I had a few days off, but I did go back to work some as well. I've also been busy finishing up an extra project I've been doing at home. I was less than enthused when I found out that their deadline was hinging right around the Christmas/New Year holiday. Anyway, now that is over, and I'm enjoying a quiet uneventful day at home. It's nice to just relax and do very little. It's 3:25, and I just got out of my pajamas. I haven't been this lazy in a VERY long time.

Here's a little rewind of our holiday events.

For Christmas Laura's Mom, Cherie, came to visit us here. It was a great time! We went to the Arboretum and saw all their Christmas decorations. They had a huge mansion there that was filled with Christmas trees lavishly decorated, puppets and other figurines from fairy tales, a whole huge room filled with Charles Dickens figurines depicting the Christmas story... it was really fun. Alli saw Rudolph the red nosed raindeer, and frosty the snowman that day.

Alli has been very attentive to the advent calendar we have this year, and every day we would do the countdown to how many more days until Christmas. We had even explained what Christmas Eve was in advance, so she would be ready. So, on Christmas Eve morning, we asked her, "what day is today?" She got very excited with a sparkle in her eye that said, "Oh, I know this one!" and then exclaimed proudly, "I know! It's the 3rd of the Night!" We still don't know what the 3rd of the night is, but we sure got a good kick out of her answer :)

On Christmas Eve, we went to see Santa. Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She said, "a pink toy pony". Then Santa said , "what else do you want?" Alli had only requested a pony all season long, so my ears perked up when she said she also wanted a toy train. Then I turned to Santa who asked AGAIN, "what else do you want?" I was thinking... he'd better not keep this up... when my adorable little daughter said, "that's all, I don't need anything else." I was so proud of her, and a little miffed at the Santa for continuing to prod our little daughter with "what else do you want?"

We also got to see a HUGE toy train exhibit that day, just before we saw Santa. There were hundreds of toy trains, whizzing around cool diorama scenes of mt. rushmore, out west, New York, Dallas, The White House and other national monuments, including a huge statue of liberty. There was a huge section that had the golden gate bridge and a version of San Francisco.
It was the coolest toy train exhibit I'd ever seen!

For Christmas Eve, we had our tradition of eating a Russian meal. I made Borsch (a very yummy beet/vegetable stew), and Blini (crepes).

Christmas day we shared a pinata with some friends, opened presents, and had another yummy meal, this time, Laura's creation. We had duck with an orange glaze and a tart apple stuffing. It was delicious!

We Love you all very much, and have been glad to have this blog to get to know all of you closer this season! Hope you all have a very happy New Years!

-Jed