Christmas Day 2016

Where to begin...Christmas started with Church.  Church started at 9:00 so we did that first.  I do LOVE going to church on Sunday.  Jack and Nick didn't want to go, but we always go to Church.  And it was a nice way to start off the Christmas.  Church was a mix of testimony and Singing.  Plus it was an hour.  Love it.

Plus there was a HUGE snowstorm.  Andrew got stuck in the driveway leaving, but we did make it to church.  On Time.  I think we got over 12 inches of Snow.  It was fun because other than our usual trip to Sam Pan for Chinese food, we just stayed home and watched it snow.

The first event, was Jack was up to open a present..  He got a present, started opening it, and threw the present, ran upstairs, slammed the door, and yelled "F@@@ you, Dad".  Well, Merry Christmas to all!  He had opened a basketball and it was pink.  I think he didn't like that.  I told him he could return it for a different one or Nick would trade him.  Nick also had a basketball that was grey and white to open next.  We left him alone, and eventally he calmed downand came back.  Funny, he had basketball practice later this week, and he could hardly wait to take the pink basketball....

Abi got some Calloway golf clubs...since she is on the WX Golf team.

Jack playing the Pie Face game

The Jelly Belly game, Banboozle...where it could be Ear wax or strawberry shortcake

This was my highlight gift!  Nick, hands this to Chilly Wily with a Merry Christmas.  It was funny because it was a 6 pack of Coke, with three missing.  They were all attached together, with 3 empty spots.  He said he drank the other three!!!  Chily said he saw Nick downstairs the night before just drinking them and wrapping presents!!  Soo Funny

Got this Pie Face game....Here is the action

Maureen and Jack...guess we were watching something!

Can you do this?

This is a Ritz Cracker.  The top has been scraped off with your teeth and just the bottom is left.  It is quite a feat of skill..Brooke and I have been trying to master this task for a while.  We have been into eating Ritz crackers lately I think because we always have them in the house since we have been buying them at Costco.

Try it.  It is harder than it looks.  

Food Bank

We had our annual volunteering appt at the Food Bank.  We showed up at 3:00 and they gave us the assignment of sorting Bread.  We took this bread and put it in boxes so they could freeze it.  The bakery that donated it wanted their racks back so we had to take it out and freeze the items.  It was really pretty easy.  We have been going to the food bank as long as we have been Christmas Cruising.  We volunteer for about an hour and a half, and we feel all warm and fuzzy.  We feel soo good about ourselves for that small sacrifice....actually I am not sure why we don't volunteer more.  Michelle looked into volunteering some more...so maybe we will see if we can do more...

Usually we are on the sort table, but this time they trusted us to do another task.  Yahoo we have graduated from sorting.  I like the sort table.

One thing that was interesting is that there is a sign that says this sorting room was donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Wow.  Think of what that cost and how the Church donates and helps out everyone.  I was listening to the radio and some homeless shelter said that they provide over 1000 meals a day.  And that the Church of Jesus Christ donates over half of their operating costs.  WOW.  That is terrific!  I wish people realized how much good the Church does instead of constantly criticizing all the time.

After we went to Crown Burger for dinner.  Nothing like a Crown Burger.  It was soo Yumm.  33.00 of Yum for 4 of us.  Oh and the XL milkshake that Nick got.  An XL is like a 44 oz milkshake....

I don't think I have any pictures of Crown burger...

Christmas Eve 2016

Another successful Christmas Eve ...We had our family party on Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  So Christmas Eve we venture to Temple Square and then to In N Out.  I forgot my phone so I can't upload pics until someone sends them to me....It is really a nice thing to do on Christmas Eve.  It was pouring rain so we got a bit damp.  Not too cold until the Manger Scene that I made everyone stay and watch.  That was when we decided it was too wet.  But we were suppose to have snow and it was just rainy...Snow might have been better.

Off to In N Out.  That is the only place that we have ever found open.  Plus it is perfect.  There is not room to decide where else to eat because there is no where other than at home.

Then here is part of my work...there is more but still somewhere else...

This was the solution to my headache this afternoon...and a nap and a coke

The candy up at the top is to share...what are the odds that they will share

After my Santa Treat...they left the coke out for Santa...Santa added the empty bag of Reeses clusters

After my work was finished, this was on TV.  Professional wrestling.  I LOVE professional wrestling.  Mark and I watched all star wrestling every Sunday before church!  Couldn't have asked for a better show...well, maybe Its a Wonderful Life, but other than that.  I had already watched Catholic Mass on TV!

Here is the snow I woke up to!

Christmas Eve Eve

We have been busy today.  Gym, Old  Navy, Smiths, Dicks and Maverik.  That was even before we showered.  Cleaned out the garage so we could put another car...got a warning on the car last night for parking on the street...took about an hour...good job getting garage sort of cleaned out.  Now, folding, wrapping, and watching Dr. Phil.  I LOVE being home.  I have wondered if I was a stay at home mom if I would have been bored?

We are going out shopping again for one last time...sick of it.  Then off to wrapping...

I really want to sit and drink hot chocolate (and I don't even like hot chocolate that much) and watch ELF or a Christmas Story or the Santa Claus instead of go shopping again!

Christmas Choir Concert

Andrew, Abi and Nick all had Christmas Concerts.  Brooke and I went to Andrew's Choir Concert.  Here are some Pics.  We saw Abi there also.  It was a very nice concert...of course.  They had 3 different concerts because so many people attend.  We got tickets to two of them.  3.00 each...so, 12.00 for my Andrew.

Andrew and Brooke

This is Andrew and his Boyfriends.  Parker, Boone, Easton and Andrew

3rd Annual Christmas Cruise

Wow that sounded cool.  Christmas Cruise...for 3 years now, we have participated in the Christmas cruise on the Provo river. I think it is a branch of the Provo River (since it isn't moving or at least not very fast)  It is a hilarious cruise.  We drive an hour to get there, get on our boat, and the director, uses a rope tied across the top to trees and pulls us along the river.  They have put up lights and he plays music...There are decorations of Jesus and Santa Clause.  Oh, and Santa Claus comes to visit in a canoe and brings you a piece of candy.  Then, the tour guide says he wants to share a special moment and plays Silent Night while he pulls you along and you watch a display of Jesus and the Manger.  Nothing compares to our first cruise when he says "I want to share a special song for you" and we are just approaching the Manger Scene. . .he accidentally plays Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer....It was sooo hilarious!  I think that is why we Love the cruise because of that very moment .  It has never happened in the two years since we have been going.

Maureen, Jack and Chili Willy

Maureen, Santa, Jack and Chily Willy

Andrew, Santa, Micaela, Blake

My family..pic not so great

Here we are at the J Dawgs after...Love it that they have two choices.  Hot dog or polish dog.  makes it easy!

Our Family from the Outside

So I have been thinking lately, mostly on Sundays, what our family looks like from the outside to people.  What we appear to be to others.  We are always at church and on time.  There are usually a few of us sitting there, and then Nick and Andrew join us after the Sacrament.  Then I go to Primary to teach the 5 year olds.  If you surveyed most people at Church would they think we are just one nice happy family.  Most of them probably would say that they don't even know who we are.  But the people who don't know us, probably would think we have it all together.  They have absolutely no idea about our struggles or our past.  (which is neither good or bad, just the way it is)  Even the Bishop had no idea some of the details of our past....which got me started thinking about this....

Well, interestingly enough, that isn't the case we don't have it all together.  I should be homeless and hateful.  I am neither one.  I am full of regret for how things should have been, choices I made that should have been different ...(even though I am grateful for how they are too if that makes sense) I have done my best to keep my family functioning and doing all those things that normal families do.

I have learned one thing, that like us, we appear to be together (for the most part).  However, one never knows what anyone is going through or the extent of their troubles.  We bring our best public self to church and work (usually) and school, and compare others public selves to our private selves.  And that, my friend, is hard.

We have quite a bit of baggage as a family.  We really shouldn't be functioning as well as we do.  I keep it together as best as I can.  They are worth it.

Peanut Butter Heaven

We love all things Peanut Butter.  And all things Chocolate.  So I made this peanut butter ball...
It had peanut butter in it, along with chopped Reese's Peanut Butter cups, then it is rolled in Reese's pieces.  It really was pretty good.  We used those graham cracker sticks and vanilla wafers for dipping...Might bring it to our next family party,although i'm not sure they are peanut butter lovers like we are!!!

Peanut butter Ball

·         12 oz. cream cheese, softened

·         3/4 c. powdered sugar

·         1 tsp. vanilla extract

·         1 c. peanut butter, warmed in microwave

·         1/2 c. chopped Reese's peanut butter cups

·         2 c. Reese's Pieces, for decorating ball

·         Graham crackers, for serving

DIRECTIONS

1.    In a medium bowl using a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, blend cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, peanut butter, and chopped Reese's until combined.

2.    Transfer mixture to plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Fold up sides and cover with plastic wrap.

3.    Refrigerate until slightly firm, 1 hour.

Honor Roll for Nick...and a Christmas concert

Yahoo....Nick is on the Honor Roll.  Congrats to Nick.  This is his first term of 7th grade.  He has gone early to retake some tests and has done pretty well.  Even with missing the last day of the term to play golf....and not getting in his last few Science assignments of all things....Texas Roadhouse and Lakeside Golf was pretty great though!  Way to go Nick!!!

well, update 2nd term....we just got  a U notice in the mail for talking too much in Math class....hmmmmm

Nick also had his Christmas Orchestra concert.  He changed from the Bass to the Cello.  I sure like the Cello, because it is much smaller.  I do miss that he sits now instead of stands because I could always see him standing in the back.  Now I can't see him very well.  It was a nice concert, lasting about 40 minutes.  Great!!!