OUR DREAM VACATION GIFT

 I SAVED TO BLOG THIS LAST SINCE IT WAS SUCH A SURPRISE GIFT FROM OUR EAST COAST FAMILIES.   DON AND I DECIDED TO OPEN IT LATER ON CHRISTMAS EVE.  DON IS  TRYING TO GUESS WHAT IT MUST BE BEFORE HE READ THE MESSAGE.

 IT ENDED UP BEING A DREAM 3 WEEK VACATION THIS SUMMER THAT'S COMPLETELY PAID FOR.

 I BEGAN TO TEAR UP BECAUSE IT WAS SO OVER WHELMING.   IT INCLUDES FLYING IN TO DULLAS TO SPEND A FEW DAYS WITH TASHA AND HER FAMILY.

THEN THEY WILL DRIVE US TO THE OUTER BANKS FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL WEEK AT THE BEACH.  THIS IS WHERE OUR WHOLE FAMILY WILL ARRIVE AND BE AT THE BEACH HOUSE TOGETHER FOR A FAMILY REUNION.

NEXT WE LEAVE WITH DADRA AND HER FAMILY TO WITNESS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

THE FINAL PHASE OF OUR VACATION PACKAGE WILL BE A TRIP UP TO NEW YORK STATE.  WE WILL ENJOY NIAGARA FALLS, THE HILL CAMORAH AND PAGEANT,  THE SACRED GROVE,  AND OTHER MORMON HISTORY SITES.

WHAT CAN I SAY?  OUR FAMILIES SO GOOD TO US AND WE  HAVE LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SUMMER.

I'M CALLING TAMI  TO TELL HER ABOUT THE GIFT.  SHE IS PLANNING TO BE WITH US FOR THE WEEK IN THE OUTER BANKS.  SHE MISSED LAST YEARS TRIP AND SAYS SHE WON'T MISS THIS ONE.   LOTS OF THINGS TO DO AND THINK ABOUT.  WHAT A GREAT CHRISTMAS.

OUR CHRISTMAS BUFFET AT THE DOUBLE TREE HOTEL

 I LOVE THIS TRADITION AND GIFT FROM TAMI AND JEFF.  WE GOT AT THE HOTEL AT 11:15 A.M. TO TAKE SOME PICTURES BEFORE WE ATE.

 I DECIDED TO TRY THE MAKE IT YOURSELF OMELET.  I JUST PICKED  OUT THE  THINGS I WANTED IN MY OMELET AND THEY COOKED IT FOR ME.   IT WAS DELICIOUS.

 WE HAD A TABLE RIGHT NEXT TO THE PIANO THAT PLAYED SOME WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS MUSIC.  IT WAS LOVELY.

 SINCE IT WAS AN ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET, WE  GOT VERY FULL.  WHAT A GREAT TRADITION.  NO MEALS TO PREPARE AND NOTHING TO CLEAN UP.  ALL WE NEED TO DO IS GO HOME AND TAKE A NAP.  LOVE IT!!!!

WE ALSO TALKED TO ALL OUR DAUGHTERS TODAY.  THAT MADE OUR CHRISTMAS DAY COMPLETE.

OH NO!!!!!!! THE SURFING BIRD AGAIN!!

 LARA  GAVE HER DAD A "BIRD IS THE WORD" SHIRT!  THAT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH.  DADRA AND JASON FOUND A CHRISTMAS TURKEY THAT ACTUALLY SANG THE SONG.  THEY KNOW THEIR DAD LOVES THIS SONG AND COULDN'T RESIST BUYING THESE GIFTS FOR HIM.

 I HAVE TO ADMIT, DON LOOKED PRETTY CUTE IN HIS SHIRT WITH THE BIRD SINGING IN HIS EAR.

 AFTER THE 100TH TIME OF PLAYING THIS SONG I HAD ENOUGH!!!  I TRIED TO CHOKE THE BIRD BUT IT STILL SANG THE SONG.  OH WELL,  IT IS CHRISTMAS AND I WILL PUT UP WITH THIS ONE MORE DAY.  THEN DON MIGHT FIND THE BIRD MISSING.  I'LL JUST TELL HIM IT FLEW THE COUP!

CHRISTMAS EVE

 TAMI AND JEFF CAME OVER AT 4:00 P.M. TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS EVE WITH DON AND I.  IT HAD BEEN SNOWING ALL DAY AND THE ROADS WERE NOT TOO GOOD.

 SINCE DON WASN'T HOME FROM WORK YET, JEFF DECIDED TO SHOVEL OUR DRIVEWAY AND SIDEWALK.  THIS WAS SO NICE OF HIM. NOW  DON WOULDN'T  HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DOING THIS ON CHRISTMAS  MORNING.

 TAMI STARTED MAKING  OUR TRADITIONAL COOKIE BARS.  THIS IS A TRADITION AND THE ONLY TIME WE MAKE THIS  RECIPE.  TAMI LOVES DOING THIS EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE.  WHY SHE LIKES TO MAKE 2 PANS WORTH IS A MYSTERY TO ME.  SEEMS LIKE ONE PAN WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR 4 PEOPLE.

 WE GOT SUCH A KICK OUT OF SHADOW.  SHE SEEMS TO LOVE THE SNOW AND WAS SHOWING OFF FOR ALL OF US.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IS AFTERWARDS SHE WANT TO GET WARM ON OUR LAPS......YIKES!

 DON FINALLY GOT HOME AND THE TRADITIONAL PIZZA WAS DELIVERED.  IT ALWAYS TASTES  ESPECIALLY GOOD ON THIS SPECIAL NIGHT.

 THE MAGIC COOKIE BARS TOPPED OFF THE DINNER.  TAMI HAD PUT THE PANS OUTSIDE TO COOL AND IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG.  LOVE THIS TREAT.

 IT WAS TIME TO OPEN THE GIFTS UNDER THE TREE.  THIS IS ALWAYS FUN!
SOME MONEY IN A STOCKING FOR JEFF.

 MY BIOGRAPHY FOR TAMI.  I GAVE ALL OUR GIRLS ONE OF THESE BOOKS. ( I WONDER IF THEY WILL EVER READ IT)

 A NEW SPARKLY SHIRT  AND GREEN EARRINGS FROM DON.  IT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED TO WEAR ON CHRISTMAS DAY TO THE DOUBLE TREE BUFFET.

 MOVIE TICKETS TO LES MISERABLES.  DON AND I HOPE TO GO TO THIS MOVIE SOON.  OF COURSE, WE HAD OTHER GIFTS BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO  INCLUDE ALL OF THEM ON THIS BLOG RIGHT NOW.

TAMI AND JEFF WANTED TO LEAVE BY 6:00 SINCE THE ROADS WOULD BE FREEZING UP.  WE ENDED UP OUR EVENING WITH OUR TIMED PHOTO.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENING EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SHORTER THAN USUAL.  WE WERE RELIEVED TO GET THEIR PHONE CALL SAYING THEY WERE HOME SAFE.

THIRD WARD CHRISTMAS SACRAMENT MEETING

 TAMI CAME TO OUR SACRAMENT MEETING ON SUNDAY.  IT WAS SO FUN TO HAVE HER WITH US.  WE HAD A NICE PROGRAM ABOUT THE REAL REASON FOR CHRISTMAS WHICH IS THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR.  IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO BE REMINDED OF THIS EACH DAY DURING THIS BUSY TIME.

 AFTER SACRAMENT WE HAD THESE PHOTO'S TAKEN.  TAMI NEEDED TO GO BACK HOME TO BE WITH JEFF.  IT WAS SO FUNNY BECAUSE WE ASKED ONE OF THE SISTERS TO TAKE OUR PICTURES AND WHEN SHE LEFT WE CHECKED THEM OUT AND ALL OUR HEADS WERE CUT OFF........NOT GOOD.

 WE ASKED ANOTHER SISTER AND SHE TOOK BETTER ONES WITH THE 3 OF US.  THOUGHT I WOULD PUT THEM ON MY BLOG.

 TAMI LOOKS SO GREAT WITH HER WEIGHT LOSE.  I'M SO PROUD OF HER!
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO KEEP YOUR WEIGHT DOWN ONCE YOU LOSE IT.  I'M GLAD THAT I'M ABLE TO DO IT TOO.  I HAD GAINED 3 POUNDS DURING HALLOWEEN AND DECIDED TO GET IT OFF BEFORE THANKSGIVING , CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS.    I HOPE I CAN KEEP UNDER CONTROL.  IT'S GOING TO BE HARD WITH  OUR FAVORITE MAGIC COOKIE BARS THAT TAMI WILL MAKE ON  CHRISTMAS  EVE.  THEY ARE MY FAVORITE!!!

TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS EVE AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS!!

A FUN NEW STORE IN GRAND JUNCTION

 AFTER VISITING MEMORIAL GARDENS, TAMI AND I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT THE SHABBY CHIC STORE.  WE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO SEE WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT SINCE IT OPENED THE FIRST OF DECEMBER.

IT' WAS LOTS OF FUN.  THE STORE IS A LITTLE LIKE QUILTED BEAR WITH BOOTHS.  IT'S NICE TO HAVE A CONSIGNMENT STORE TO SEE THE TALENTS OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA.  WE ARE HOPING IT IS A PERMANENT STORE IN TOWN.

 I HAVE SO MANY DECORATIONS THAT I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING BUT  TAMI FOUND THESE ADORABLE CAROLERS THAT SHE WANTED.  I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THEM TOO EXCEPT I HAVE A CUTE SET ALREADY.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME SHOPPING AND BEING TOGETHER.  IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT  THIS IS THE LAST WEEK-END BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES

 ON SATURDAY TAMI AND I TOOK A LITTLE TREE AND ANGEL TO PUT ON THE EAMES MEMORIAL.

WE THINK ABOUT OUR LOVED ONES A GREAT DEAL DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR.  IT'S SO PEACEFUL AT MEMORIAL GARDENS AND WE WERE THE ONLY ONES THERE.  HAVING SOME SNOW THIS CHRISTMAS IS VERY SPECIAL TOO.

BECAUSE OF CHRISTS BIRTH, WE WILL SEE OUR FAMILY AGAIN SOME DAY.  THIS IS VERY COMFORTING.

WE LOVE WHERE THE MEMORIAL IS PLACED.  HAVING THE STATUE OF CHRIST OVER  LOOKING THIS AREA IS SO PEACEFUL FOR US.  DON HAD TO WORK ON THIS SAT. SO HE WASN'T WITH US.  IT WAS A WONDERFUL START TO OUR DAY.

TWO OF MY ANGELS ON EARTH

I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE MY 2 ANGELS SO CLOSE TO ME.  DON'S SUCH A WONDERFUL AND CARING HUSBAND.  TODAY HE TOOK THE DAY OFF TO JUST BE BY MY SIDE.  HE TOLD ME THAT HE ISN'T GOING TO LEAVE FOR A BIKE RIDE, WALK OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITY  JUST IN CASE THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT.  YES, HE TOOK THE DAY OFF BECAUSE OF THE MAYAN CALENDAR AND EXPERIENCE HE HAD IN GUATEMALA  AT  TIKAL.  WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME TOGETHER TALKING, GOING SHOPPING AND ENJOYING OUR HOME.  WHAT A WAY TO END THIS LIFE IF IT'S TIME!!

I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT DON  HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ME ALL OVER AGAIN SINCE HE READ MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY A FEW MONTH AGO.  I AM NOW HIS PRINCESS,  AND TODAY IT'S HIS MAYAN PRINCESS.  I GET SUCH A KICK OUT OF HIM AND FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM FOR MY ETERNAL COMPANION.

TAMI IS ALSO MY ANGEL.  SHE CALLS ME EVERY DAY TO SEE HOW I'M DOING.  WE HAVE SUCH FUN TOGETHER AND ARE BEST FRIENDS.  WHEN I SAW THIS PICTURE I LOVED IT BECAUSE SHE IS GLOWING.  I THINK IT'S HER HALO!

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING CHRISTMAS  EVE  AND CHRISTMAS DAY WITH JEFF AND TAMI.  WE WILL ALSO BE THINKING ABOUT ALL OUR FAMILY ON THE EAST  COAST  AND  WE WILL MISS THEM.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND ESPECIALLY A GREAT YEAR AHEAD!!!

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES

IT HAS BEEN AWHILE SINCE DOING SOME CRAFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.  I  WAS ASKED TO GIVE A CLASS AT THE DECEMBER RELIEF SOCIETY ENRICHMENT NIGHT.  I MADE UP A STORY ABOUT WHERE RUDOLPH GOT HIS LIGHT AND  WANTED TO GIVE EACH SISTER A RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER ORNAMENT AT THE END OF MY STORY.  I ENDED UP MAKING 68 SINCE I WANTED TO GIVE EACH OF MY GRANDCHILDREN ONE TOO.

 I REALLY ENJOYED MAKING SOMETHING CREATIVE  AGAIN.  IT SEEMS LIKE I HAVE BEEN DOING MORE WRITING INSTEAD OF MAKING THINGS  LATELY.  DON GOT SUCH A KICK OUT OF ME WITH MY GLUE GUN AND PRODUCTION LINE,
HE WANTED TO TAKE THESE PICTURES.

 DECEMBER 5TH IS WHEN I GAVE MY CLASS.  THIS IS THE SET UP I HAD FOR MY STORY.  IT WAS A FUN EVENT AND I  HAD MANY COMMENTS HOW MUCH THE WOMEN ENJOYED IT.

 I EVEN GAVE OUT A PATTERN FOR THE  ORNAMENT SO THAT THE SISTERS COULD MAKE THEM FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN.

 THE RELIEF SOCIETY MADE A WONDERFUL GLASS ORNAMENT FOR ALL OF US WITH A NAIL  WRAPPED IN A BOW.  IT REPRESENTED WHY CHRIST WAS BORN AND HIS MISSION ON EARTH.  THE SISTERS ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB IN ALL THEY DO.

 SOME HOMETEACHING PLATES READY TO BE GIVEN TO THEIR FAMILIES.   SUSAN REED AND I ARE A GOOD TEAM FOR MAKING PLATES FOR OUR HUSBANDS TO GIVE OUT.  WHAT WOULD THEY DO WITHOUT US?  SUSAN IS AN EXCELLENT COOK AND I LOVE WORKING WITH HER

PLATES FOR MY VISITING TEACHERING SISTERS.  THOSE THAT COULDN'T COME TO ENRICHMENT NIGHT STILL GOT SOME REINDEER WITH SOME GOODIES.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IS SO FUN.  I FEEL SO GOOD THAT I'M ABLE TO STILL DO THESE KIND OF THINGS.  I NEVER TAKE MY HEALTH FOR GRANTED.  IN FACT, TODAY I HAVE ANOTHER PAINFUL BLADDER INFECTION.  I THINK THESE COME INTO MY LIFE TO KEEP ME HUMBLE.  THIS IS MY 12TH BLADDER INFECTION THIS YEAR.  ANOTHER ROUND OF ANTIBIOTICS......WILL THIS EVER END?  AT LEAST IT'S NOT CANCER.

CHRISTMAS SEASON IS HERE!

 OH HOW I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.  WHEN I GET OUT MY DECORATIONS SO MANY MEMORIES FLOOD OVER ME.

THESE ADORABLE SNOW MAN AND WOMAN WERE MADE BY MY MOTHER.  THEY ARE 46 YEARS OLD AND STILL LOOK WONDERFUL ON OUR SHELF.

MY MOM WAS VERY CREATIVE.  I'M SURE  SHE PASSED THAT TALENT ON TO ME.  I KNOW THAT SHE MADE THESE IN RELIEF SOCIETY ONE YEAR.  I LOVE THEM.
DON AND I REALLY ENJOY GOING AND LOOKING AT THE LIGHTS AFTER GOING OUT TO DINNER.  THIS HOME ON  15TH STREET IS SO LIT UP EACH YEAR.  THEY STARTED PUTTING THE  DISPLAYS UP BEFORE THANKSGIVING.  IT'S A GREAT GIFT THEY GIVE TO GRAND JUNCTION EVERY YEAR.



DON'S AUNT MAUDI GAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL GOLD NATIVITY SCENE TO DON AND I OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS TOGETHER.  HER AND HER HUSBAND OWNED A FLOWER SHOP IN SALT LAKE AND SHE TOOK US TO THE SHOP AND TOLD ME TO PICK OUT ANYTHING THAT I WANTED.  THIS IS WHAT I PICKED OUT.  I MADE THE FIREPLACE IN THE BACK GROUND.  I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS MADE 46 CHRISTMAS'S WITHOUT BREAKING.  IT'S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DECORATIONS.

 IT TOOK ME 4 DAYS TO COMPLETELY PUT UP EVERYTHING.  THE TREE IS ALWAYS THE LAST THING I DECORATE.   WE BOUGHT THE TREE 42 YEARS AGO AND IT STILL IS THE PRETTIEST TREE WE HAVE EVER SEEN WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS   AND DECORATIONS ARE ON IT.

DON FINISHES THE TREE BY PUTTING ON TINSEL.  THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT LOOKS SO GREAT!

 WE LOVE TO TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS EXCEPT THE COLORED ONES AND PUT ON OUR FIREPLACE CD THAT CRACKLES AND MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ONE.  IT'S A GREAT FEELING.  IN FACT, IT MAKES US FEEL WARM AND COZY INSIDE EVEN IF IT'S COLD  OUTSIDE.

 I'M SURE ALL OUR DAUGHTERS REMEMBER THE STOCKINGS THAT MY MOM MADE FOR THEM.  THEY ALWAYS HANG ON OUR MIRRORS.  SO MANY  FUN MEMORIES!!
MY MOM HAD 30 GRANDCHILDREN SO THIS WAS NO EASY TASK FOR HER TO MAKE THAT MANY.

MY SHOPPING IS ALL DO DONE SO WHEN TAMI AND I WENT TO  K MART  ON SATURDAY IT WAS TO  JUST  LOOK AROUND.  THAT WAS A MISTAKE SINCE WE FOUND A WONDERFUL SALE ON DECORATIONS.  IN JANUARY I ALWAYS DECORATE WITH A SNOW THEME AND USE BLUES, SILVER AND WHITE.  I FOUND SOME LITTLE PORCH CHILDREN AND DECORATIONS THAT MATCHED THOSE COLORS SO WE BOUGHT THEM.  YES, TAMI LOVED THEM TOO AND BOUGHT HER A SET.  WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!!

HOPE YOUR DECEMBER IS AS GREAT AS OURS AND IT'S JUST BEGINNING. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL WITH CARDS, LETTERS AND PICTURES.