Saturday, December 8, 2012

It feels good to be back home in Vernon.  James and I love it here.  We unloaded my car and started putting things away.  James hung the wreath on our front door.  I set out two nativity sets and some poinsettas (fake), and put tablecloths and center pieces on both tables.  Our house is beginning to look more Christmasy.  We still need to fix the lights on the tree and decorate it.  James said he would do the lights tomorrow.  He said he was too busy today. 

James made us a delicious lunch.  A loaded ham sandwich and a salad.  Very tasty.  As you can tell, I am all about the food.  After lunch we laid down for a nap.  I was up within an hour but James slept for 3 hours.  I guess he needed it. 

This afternoon I made two Texas sheetcakes for our ward party.  We had a potato bar and James helped serve.  I was part of the entertainment.  I got up with the young men and young women and sang Christmas carols.  After the party was over James and I both stayed and help clean.  We were some of the last to leave.  It was a fun, low-key evening.  We sat by Chris Skousen and his wife Becky.  I enjoyed visiting with Becky.  James worked with Chris in the High Priest's.  They are in their fifties and they are taking care of his parents.  That's why they moved to Vernon.

When we got home we followed our December tradition of watching a Christmas movie every evening. 
Here are a few we have watched so far: The 2nd Day of Christmas, Annie Claus is Coming to Town, The Road to Christmas (one of my favorites), The Christmas Card (another favorite), A Nanny for Christmas, A Christmas Wish, A Christmas Proposal, and Dear Santa.  I have to admit I have watched some of these alone when James is out of town.  We actually started watching them around Thanksgiving time.

Friday, December 7, 2012

James and I had scriptures and prayers together before he left for work this morning.  I spent the morning working at the dining room table in our house in Chandler, where I use to sit and work when I lived there. 
For lunch I went to Elmer's and ordered two machaca burros and two machaca tacos for lunch.  I came home and ate my burro and saved the rest for James when he gets home. 

I love this Chandler icon.

I beat the high school rush by 15 minutes!  They already had tons of chips, etc. set out for the high schoolers.

This is a sight I haven't seen too many times.  Usually Kim does all the lights on our tree.

Even though the picture is blurry I had to include it.

Today is Paul's 42nd birthday.  He is in San Francisco for work.  I bought him this card today.  It said: Sorry the entertainment for your party had an accident on the way over.

Paul hates clowns.

I did some shopping at Walmart and Sam's Club today, and also raided my downstairs Christmas closet and loaded my car clear full except for the front seat.  I followed James over to Tempe Toyota where he had an appointment with Gail's son Erik to fix the differential which was leaking.  On the way back to Chandler we stopped at Rudy's BBQ and got some moist brisket, beans, potato salad, and creamed corn.  I took it home to Stacy and her boys but they didn't eat much.  James ate his share though and so did I.  We took the rest of it home with us.  

This evening I took Ben on one half of his birthday date.  We went to Barnes and Noble where he bought a couple of books and had money to spare.  On the way home I asked him what his favorite Christmas song was and he said "Frosty", but I don't hear it very often.  I turned on the radio and guess what was playing?  Frosty.  I told Ben they played it just for him.  Ben will be 13 on the 16th of December.  He is such a sweet, gentle and kind boy.  I love him.  It was after 7 when I left for home.  James already left.  We are going home this evening because I made the mistake of turning the heaters off at the cabin and James is afraid if it gets too cold the pipes will break and freeze.  I made it home without falling asleep.

Our friends, Tim and Katy Glemser had a baby boy today.  They named him Kieter pronounced Kiter.  They also have a little girl named Alice. 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

At 8 o'clock this morning I left for the Valley of the Sun.  I have a lunch date with Sheri and Trina at 11:45 at Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert.  Sheri called and said the time was changed until 12:15 which gave me time to stop at Circle K and get a drink.  Because I was a little pressed for time I went the Salt River way because James says it's between 15-25 minutes faster.  On the way out of town I saw this:

Smoke from another prescribed burn.  Grrr...

I am not so sure the Salt River way was faster today.  Look what I got caught in between Miami and Superior.

I was stopped for about 10 or 15 minutes, then traffic crawled along another 15 minutes.

  Sheri and I met at an outlet store on Baseline and Val Vista to see if they had any good buys for Christmas.  While there I bought something I have been looking for, a mini-trampoline, otherwise known as a rebounder.  I read an article recently about all the health benefits of using one for a short time each day, and since then I have been wanting one.  It was regularly $89 for $50.  I was so excited.  Sheri put it in the back of my car for me.  There was a long line when we got to Joe's.  It's a beautiful day to be here where we can eat outside. 

Sheri is always dressed so fashionably.

James came all the way over from his job in Phoenix to have lunch with us.  What a sweetie.  

We had some Ruby time.

Good company and good food. I love their

chicken pesto sandwich and their pickles are freshly made

and grown in their onsight garden.

It was a beautiful day to eat outside.

Sheri had to work this afternoon and Trina had things to do so I went shopping by myself.

I went to Target and Michael's to look for Christmas gifts for my young women.  I found lots of cute things and decided to do hot chocolate mugs filled with goodies.  I found so many goodies I should have bought bigger mugs.

This evening Addy's drill team performed at halftime at the Highland High School basketball game.  I drove over to Darrel and Trina's and went with them.  James was still at work.  Addy posed for me:

What a cutie.

Addy's cousin Kayla was also performing.  These two girls are best friends.

The two cutest girls on the dance team.

I love Addy's stance.

Addy and Kayla on the back row.

It was a fun evening and I am so glad I went.  I love spending time with Darrel and his family.

Rowan invited me to stay for a slumber party.

He is such a sweet boy!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

I made myself some hot peppermint tea this morning.  Yummy!  I had a rough night last night as I usually do when James is not here.  I wake up and think I see someone in my room.  It takes me a few minutes to realize that I have been dreaming.  I'm not sure what causes this but it's been happening more frequently.  James thinks it's my medication but I don't know.

I went to town today to get some of my "Christmas wish list" at the Book Barn.  The main thing I wanted was a booklet called "The Symbols of Christmas" to give to the sisters that I visit teach.  When I asked about it I was told they were out and the manufacturer was also out.  I was a little sad but I found some other things to buy..  Next stop Walmart.  I can always find something to buy there.

This evening for mutual the Young Men and Young Women practiced the Christmas carols we will be singing for the Christmas party on Saturday.  Afterwards we helped set up chairs and LeAnn and Shelly washed all of the tables. 

Dave's Wendy had her baby tonight, a little girl.  She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20" long.  They named her Kennadi.  Wendy now has three girls, Kailee, Kendall, and Kennadi.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

I fixed James a nice breakfast before he left for Chandler, bacon, eggs, and biscuits.  We read our scriptures and said our prayers and then said our goodbyes.  I actually saw clouds when I went outside and this made me excited.  Haven't seen any in awhile.

Yesterday in the mail I got a holiday specials magazine from Deseret Book and one from The Book Barn. The Book Barn is the LDS bookstore in Show Low.  I poured over them and wrote down things that I wanted to get on my Christmas wish list. 

I came home and watched some Christmas movies while paying bills and working on my budget.  I watched "A Nanny for Christmas", "The Road to Christmas", and "Battle of the Bulbs."  It's a little lonely here by myself and the TV keeps me company.  I also texted Jared about what his plans were as far as going to Phoenix.  He is leaving on Wednesday.  The memorial service for Aaron Esch is Friday at 2pm.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Today is Jared & Tricia's 13th anniversary, and they don't even get to spend it together.  Jared is in El Paso, and Tricia is in Phoenix helping to plan her brother's memorial service..  I guess they will have to celebrate at a later date. 

James and I read from 3 Nephi and from our book The Time Keeper this morning.  Afterwards James went out to do some work on his tractor.  While he was working one of the tires came off.  The lug nuts were gone.  This means a trip into town to the tire shop.  While we are there we might as well go to lunch, pick up some prescriptions and do a little shopping.  LaCasita is closed on Monday's so we drove all the way to Pinetop to go to El Rancho.  I had the beef stuffed sopapilla.  It was good. 

This evening we watched a Christmas movie, "A Christmas Wish", The Mentalist, and Person of Interest.  

Sunday, December 2, 2012

 Molly knocked on my door this morning around 7 o'clock to show me where Buddy the elf was hiding.  I had originally planned to leave after going to sacrament meeting and Sunday School, which would mean I would leave around 12 or 1.  I was worried about this because of my tendency to fall asleep when I am driving in the afternoon.  I decided to say a prayer.  After saying my prayer I felt like I should leave this morning, so I packed everything up and said my goodbyes.  When I said goodbye to James Hayden he helped me by carrying my suitcases to the car and loading them in.  Such a gentleman.  Tricia's flight home is scheduled for this evening.  I left around 8 am.  Today is fast Sunday so I didn't have anything to eat but I did take sugar free cough drops and diet Pepsi.  I am sorry that I will miss taking the sacrament and hearing Jared give his Sunday School lesson.

El Paso's radio station 99.9 plays Christmas music just like 99.9 in Phoenix, so that's what I listened to until I got to Silver City.  I love the 75 mph speed limit on the Texas part of interstate 10.

I never stopped once and was home before 1:30.  James was so happy to see me and I was happy to see him.

We had some sad news this afternoon.  Aaron, Tricia's brother took a turn for the worse.  He developed a blood clot that went to his brain and caused his death.  This all happened just before Tricia left for the airport, so she stayed with the family.  They are all devastated especially after thinking yesterday he was going to get better.

James and I watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional this evening featuring President's Monson, Eyring and Uchtdorf.  We considered this our FHE.