Monday, December 24, 2012

James left early this morning for the valley.  I wasn't ready to go until about 10am.  I had to do the winterizing, which is the pits.  I need to appreciate James a little more who always takes care of these things for me.
 Here are a few pictures of how our house looked for Christmas:

Before presents.

After presents.

James had asked Brian if he would go online and find us a motel room on priceline.com.  Brian did and when James asked him how much it was so he could pay for it, Brian said, "Merry Christmas."  We are staying at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos.  I am so excited!!

James, Sheri, Alex, and I went shopping at Sam's Club and then Sheri and I went to Target and to Harkins to get movie tickets.  

I was tired by the time we got to our motel room.  We are staying in room 214.  Here is a picture:

A most comfy bed.

We need to be at Sheri's by 7am so we went to bed quite early. 

Sunday, December 23, 2012

James attended sacrament meeting with me and then went homMye for a couple of hours.  Later in the afternoon he attended the Park Place ward in Show Low.  He has been assigned to work with the High Priests and Elders in this ward.  The High Priest Group Leader is an old friend from high school, Danny Seymore.
My Young Women lesson went quite well, but the electrical outlet in our room didn't work so  the new speakers I bought didn't work.  That extra trip into town yesterday was for naught.  The girls seemed to love their Christmas gifts.
James made it back from Show Low in time to go to tithing settlement with me.  After tithing settlement we went by and dropped off a gift to Alex Jones, one of the young women who doesn't come to church.  Later, Kilee Hunsaker came over for a visit and she showed us were Katelyn Brandt lives and we took a gift to her too.  Kilee stayed for awhile and watched a Christmas movie with us while I finished wrapping gifts.
Kim, Sheri, and Darrel visited James's mom this evening.  Here is a picture of her with the kids.

 8 of our 17 grandchildren.

 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

James and I delivered banana bread this morning.  We went to Lorraine Vaught's, the Peeler's, and both Hunsaker brother's families.  I made it home in time to get ready to go to the temple with the youth. 
Kaeli Nicoll, the counselor over the Beehives, and Mary Swift, the Laurel class president drove with me.  The stake is doing a baptism day for all the youth in the stake.  The brother in charge said they had over 3,000 names ready to do and so far today they had done 993.  One of our youth, Jackson Allen, was baptized 140 times.  I think that must be some kind of a record. 
After the temple we stopped at El Cupido's for  burros.  It was four o'clock when I got home.  We are supposed to be at Aunt Gene's for her Cousins Christmas party at 5.  I called and said we would be a little late.  I made spanish rice, changed my clothes and James and I were on our way.  We had a fun evening with Aunt Gene, Rita and Bill Solomon, Arlee and Janet Tenney, Harold, Vickie, Dennis and Denise. 

Aunt Gene's beautiful centerpiece, Janet & Vickie.

Rita, Janet, Arlee, Vickie, Aunt Gene, Dennis, Denise, James.

 The crowns are part of our party favors.

Harold on the end.  

It was a fun evening with good friends and good food.  We had tamales, enchiladas, chili beans, rice, and cherry cheesecake for dessert.

When we got back to the cabin we watched a movie and I wrapped gifts.

Friday, December 21, 2012

I forgot to mention that yesterday the Sierra Propane truck came out to fill our tank and got stuck in one of James's trenches.  The same driver was out here in April and did the same thing.  A tow truck had to come and pull him out, then he proceeded to fill our tank.  I just watched it all from my bedroom window.  He left the bill on the door without speaking to me.  I think he was a little embarrassed.

I made a trip to town today.  I stopped in at the Book Barn and bought a video, Mr. Krueger's Christmas, and some Christmas music to use for my lesson on Sunday.  I also went to Walmart and picked up tamales and burros at LaCasita to take home.  When I got home I realized I needed speakers on my computer to amplify the audio of the movie and the music I was going to use,  So yes, I made another 55 mile round trip to Walmart.  This time I saw an accident that stopped traffic right in front of the Book Barn.

Three cars were involved in this smashup.

While I was in town I stopped at the church where I attended as a youth and took a picture.

 Many found memories in this building.

I had a tamale with red sauce for lunch.  I must say LaCasita's tamales are as good as their green chili burros.  When James got home he at a green chili burro and so did I.  He said he was saving his tamale for lunch tomorrow. 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

I finished wrapping all the young women's gifts today.  It took awhile.  I also made each of them a card.

My favorite part of the gift is a silver angel ornament that says either hope, love or blessed on it.

We have two little bunnies that live in our yard.  One lives in the front and one lives in the back.  I call them front bunny and back bunny.  It seems like they would stay warmer if they got together on the side of the house.  Then they could be the "side" bunnies.

Front Bunny.

Back Bunny.  He looks fatter.

Tonight was Michael's annual birthday party at Organ Stop Pizza.  I missed going of course, but James went and had a good time and took lots of pictures for me. 

Michael turned 15 yesterday.

Dallin having a good time.

The Organ man will play just about anything you request.

Alex and Michael.  The back of Adam's head.

They are a loud bunch. Joe, Michael, Max and Adam.

Max.

Stacy, Adam and Sheri in the background.

Paul and his sister Trish.

Brian with a full plate.

Adam with Ben and Sheri in the background.

Kim.

Sheri doing what she loves to do.

Ben having Fun!

Grandpa and Joshua.

Michael got bongo drums and a tamborine.  Just what he wanted!

Evan was at the party too, but grandpa didn't get him in a picture.

I stayed up until 1:30 am making banana nut bread for the families that James home teaches.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Today is Michael's 15th birthday.  Happy birthday Michael!  James gave him his birthday money card and took him to dinner at Pei Wei, Michael's choice.
Snow today.  Snow makes me happy.  I love it when the ground is covered with a glistening white coating and the trees look like they are frosted.
I had cinnamon bread and ham for breakfast.  Yummy!
This evening I went caroling with the youth in our ward.  We all climbed into the back of this trailer:

The trailer was totally empty inside.  Luckily there was a bar to hang onto or we would all have been rolling around like marbles inside.  Now I know how the illegal's who come across the border in those vans feel.
We drove around from house to house in 9 degree weather singing Christmas carols.  It was an experience to remember.  Afterwards we came back to the church for cookies and hot chocolate.

Tonight Addy and her dance team performed at the Suns game.  I am sorry I missed it.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

James left early this morning.  I stayed up and finished our Christmas cards.  I took over two hours and then I went to visit Linda Diewald, my last visiting teaching visit.  Afterwards I went to the post office and mailed George's package of sticks (he makes tea out of the bark), and our Christmas cards.

It was cold and windy today and is supposed to snow tomorrow.  The Crane's are such good neighbors.  They brought over a Christmas card and a loaf of the most delicious cinnamon bread I have ever eaten.  Just the thing to brighten my day.

I watched four Christmas movies today but my favorite was "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" set in the 1800's in Ireland.  I even wrote down some of the quotes: "The beginning of Atonement is the sense of its necessity." - Lord Byron.  "One's station in life does not define ones character." - Tilly.  "Don't let pride get in the way of true happiness." - Grandfather Bassett to Tilly.

Tonight I missed Ben's band concert.