Christmas 2008

And He puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "Doesn't come from a store."

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

This holiday season has been a wonderful one. I love everything about Christmas...the music, the traditions, the decorations, the family time. But the one thing that I love the most about this time of year is the spirit of Christmas that is in our home. To know in our hearts of the Savior and the real meaning of his birth! Jesus Christ has brought "Joy to the World" and I love to read about it, share stories with my children and build each of our testimonies of this wonderful event that has brought so many blessings to our lives. The gift of our Savior is an eternal gift for everyone. Even though this Christmas season passed quickly, I still enjoyed the extra feeling of charity and gratitude in our hearts. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas...and of course, I hope everyone will have a Happy New Year!...

We started off our family parties the monday before Christmas. This party was with Steve's family and everyone was there including Barbara and Eric and their family. It was a fun party and it was good to see everyone and feel all of the excitement in the air. Greg played his guitar for us, we played some games and Barbara and Eric even danced a little for us. It was a fun night.

We have a traditional Christmas Eve party up in Huntsville at my mom's house and this year it was small and quiet. My Grandma was there along with Christie and Brooke and Daniel. Christmas morning was exceptional! I love to see everyone's face as they open their presents, we had a great Christmas and we are so blessed. After the opening of presents, we traveled over to my Dad's house for Christmas breakfast and then to Steve's parents to enjoy the afternoon with his brothers and sister and their families. But the best part was coming back home afterwards and spending some quiet time with just us. We all got into our Christmas pajamas then played with all of our new things.

Merry Christmas

Everyone has a big job to do every morning...but sometimes when you work together, things get done faster. Sunday morning, the girls figured out a way to get their hair done faster...Sydnie is doing Lyndsie's while Lyndsie is doing Brinley's. I was proud of their creativity in getting things accomplished!

Another competition for the Cheerleaders...

The Cheerleaders did a great job today down at the South Town Center at the COA competition. Everyone tried their hardest and cheered their loudest...Great Job SJH!

Hooray for LaRoca!

Brinley's soccer team took the championship game for indoor soccer today. They played a great game! This is Brinley's new soccer team...in the spring, she got moved up to a different team. It didn't take Brin long to get to know her new team and now she loves to play with them. This is really an U11 team, but they moved up to play against U12 girls and they are doing a super job this year.

Go SJH!

It is the season for competition! This competition was at Weber High School and many other junior high schools were there along with high schools. The cheerleaders have worked so hard for this moment. You can never say that cheerleading isn't a sport! I can't believe all of the hard work that goes into this 2 1/2 minute routine. All of the girls did so good and they deserve a huge pat on the back! Great JOB!

Happy Birthday Sam

Sam had a great day celebrating his birthday. He turned 7 today and I can hardly believe it. It really does make me sad to see my little buddy growing up and becoming more independent. I know that having children who are independent is a good thing, but it also is sad to think that my baby is getting old. He is such a fun little guy, he makes us laugh all of the time. Just the other morning, he was getting out of the tub while I was doing Brinley's hair and then he got onto the toilet and started talking politics with us. I was in a hurry, trying to get him to move a little faster, so I didn't stop to enjoy the moment until later in the day. I laughed so hard, I almost started crying. He was talking about voting for John McCain verses Barrack Obama. He was talking about how Obama is going to raise taxes and give to the poor and how he didn't think that he was going to pay those higher taxes. Thinking back on it still makes me laugh, he was talking like he was a grown up and the funniest thing is that he was on the toilet, just sitting there, talking about important things in the world.

Sam is in the first grade, his teacher is Mrs. Thomas and he is finally liking to go. Early on in the school year, Sam was having a hard time going because the days were just too long. Sam loves to be outside. He loves playing basketball or football, loves riding his scooter or bike and most of all...when he sees Adam Crosby out there playing with his friends, Sam loves to go out there and play with all the boys. And they are so good to him, always letting him join in on the fun. Sam loves his family, his sisters are his best friends and he is happy playing with any one of them...especially going out on the tramp and jumping with them. He is happy most of the time and is always willing to help out. If I ask him to do something, he usually jumps up and says "sure mom." I love him so much! He gives me hugs all of the time and tells me he loves me and best of all...if I ever do something for him, he always will say "thanks Mom!" He is so funny and sweet, always trying to do his best!

In the late afternoon, Grandma and Grandpa Jeffs came down to go to Hungry Bear for Sam's Birthday dinner. Here are some fun pictures of Sam's day...

Over the River and Throught the Woods...

Thanksgiving at Grandma Lois'...The kids and I went up to Grandma's house on wednesday to help with all of the baking. We made salads and some pies and the best of all...homemade cinnamon rolls. Everyone helped out, we ate lunch, and Sam and Brinley played non stop with Jessy (Grandma's dog).

The cinnamon rolls just need to rise!

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving day was wonderful and I got so full. My eyes have always been bigger than my stomach. Grandma Lois is the best cook ever and Thanksgiving dinner was delicious! Christie came up too, but Brooke and Daniel was with Glen this year. I hate it when they are not there, it never seems right with them gone. Matt and Tami and their family were there too and best of all...Grandma Thompson. I love having Thanksgiving up in Huntsville.

Grandma Thompson had a birthday on Wednesday, November 26. She turned 96 years old. She is the greatest Grandma ever. When Christie and I were little, we were so lucky to spend a lot of time with her. She taught us how to bake, garden, sew, read, and a lot more. I remember spending my sick days with her too, when Mom was at work and I was too little to stay home alone. I remember one time while I was sick, Grandma made me a Christmas train with graham crackers and frosting, gumdrops, candy canes and swirling life savors. She always made me french toast in the morning because it was my favorite breakfast. Christie and I would sleep over at her house a lot too. She would bake goodies and then have us deliver them to neighbors. She taught us how to embroider, made us quilts, we even quilted with her. Even now that she is 96, she still keeps herself busy embroidering on pillow cases and making monkeys for all of her great grand children! The thing that she has cherished the most throughout the years is her family. I am so greatful for my Grandma, she is a great example to me and I love her so much!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

I can't believe that it is Christmas time...I am so excited, I love this time of year. I've been tagged by Julie Dillman and it is a Christmas edition, just in time to help us get into the spirit of Christmas.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? for Christmas presents, definately wrapping paper!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? the weekend before Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? the week inbetween Christmas and New Years
5. Do you like egg nog? not so much
6. Favorite gift received as a child? skis
7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, a few. I am hoping to inherit a navitity scene that my Mom painted some day!
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad
9. Easiest person to buy for? Sam and Brinley
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I mail Christmas cards but not every year!
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? none
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Wonderful Life
13.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? my Mom's cinnamon rolls
15.Clear lights or colored on the tree? both...clear lights upstairs and multi lights downstairs
16. Favorite Christmas song? Have a Holly Jolly Christmas or When Christmas Comes to Town
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel to all of the Grandparents house
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes
19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? none
21. Favorite ornament theme or color? I don't know, I love it all!
22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Turkey or Ham.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Everyone to be happy
24. Who is most likely to respond to this? Stephanie
25. Who is least likely to respond to this? I am not sure

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas season this year. One that is enjoyable and relaxing! I am sending this tag to Stephanie, Kim, Tiffany, Donita, Mom, Christie and Marla!

My Bowling Team...

This year I decided to join the bowling league that Kim and others in the neighborhood have been on. It has been so much fun. It is something that I look forward to every week. I have the most awesome team too...

Kim and Char

Here's the next one...Sweetheart Tag: Answer questions about your sweetheart.

1. What is your husbands name? Steve

2. How long have you guys been married? Eighteen years. Wow! It will be 19 in June

3. How long did you date? 1 1/2 years or so

4. How old is he? OLD...44

5. Who is taller? Steve

6. Who can sing best? Steve, although I am the one singing all of the time.

7. Who is smarter? Steve

8. Who does laundry? me, Steve is not allowed in the laundry room because he will wash things and then forget that they are there!!

9. Who pays the bills? Steve

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Steve

11. Who mows the lawn? Me, I love to be outside mowing the lawn. It is a great job to get done, because when it is done, it always looks so pretty.

12. Who cooks dinner? me

13. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Steve

14. Who kissed who first? Steve kissed me first. I was just to shy!!

15. Who wears the pants? I am not sure about that one, we both take our turn.

I've been tagged...

Question and Answer: Answer the following questions with one word answers and one word
only! Then pass it on to seven others. Here are the questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your hair color? red
4. Your mother? hard-worker
5. Your father? funny
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? nothing
8. Your dream/goal? marathon
9. The room you’re in? kitchen
10. Your hobby? nothing
11. Your fear? storms
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you’re not? mean
15. One of your wish-list items? new carpet
16. Where you grew up? Huntsville
17. The last thing you did? laughed
18. What are you wearing? p.j.s
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? fat
21. Your computer? on
22. Your mood? happy
23. Missing someone? yes
24. Your car? dirty
25. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? target
27. Your summer? short
28. Love someone? family
29. Your favorite color? yellow
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? last week

Hazen Pictures

Lyndsie had Hazen pictures taken with the clearfield cheer squad. She looked so beautiful...I just loved how the pictures turned out.

Sam

Sam brings a smile to everyones face as soon as he wakes up...One morning, after we had been toilet papered, Sam came up into our room early and said to me, "Mom, I have bad news...we've been P.G.ed!" I thought that it was so funny because what he really meant to say was T.P.ed. When we finally all got up to look outside, he was the first one out the door willing to help clean it all up. And it wasn't his friends that did it!

A Favorite Quote

I love this quote out of the October Ensign, Visiting Teaching Message...

"The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind...We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith"Margaret D. Nadauld