Wednesday, December 26, 2012

James parked his truck on 108th way because he had tools in the back so I took him to get it early this morning.  I came back to the hotel and paid bills.  At 9am I had an appointment at Chandler Family Practice with Lois.  My blood pressure was 118/20.  Hurray!  This was a routine appointment so I can get a refill on my blood pressure meds.  They also did bloodwork.

After my doctor's appointment I went to Sheri's.  She told me if I came over this morning she would vacuum out my car, which she did.  She was also taking Alex to Cabellas to get a new fishing rod.  The one he got for Christmas doesn't work right.  I also stopped at Stacy's and sprayed the mud off the undercarriage of my car.  It took much longer than I thought and I had to clean up the mess off the driveway.  Afterwards I picked up a spicy chicken salad from Pei Wei and took it back to the hotel to eat.  I also took a nap and had a little down time.

At 4:30 James and I had an appointment at Grand Canyon title in Gilbert to sign papers for Zaki's lot. 
Our next stop was Sears to get my tires rotated, a lube and oil change.  On the way down on Monday my car was shaking when I went over 65.  The guy at Sears said my tires were so bad it wouldn't do me any good to rotate them.  They did the lube and oil change and James said we could get tires when I came back on the 7th.  We used one of Chili's gift cards for dinner.  I had the carribean salad with grilled shrimp.  It was yummy.  James had the fajita trio.  Stopped by Deseret Book and bought 3 books with my gift card, one for Kim, Stacy, and myself.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

We all gathered at Sheri's house this morning for breakfast and then to open our gifts from each other.  Terry and Dave donated venison meat and James made venison and gravy with biscuits.  I made a potato, ham, egg, cheese casserole and we had orange juice and milk to drink.  We missed Jared's family and Stacy who wasn't feeling well.  It was a fun morning but I am sad and regretful about one thing....we did not read from Luke 2 which has always been our tradition.

Sheri & Ian's beautiful tree.

 Evan playing with his new Nintendo3DS.

The madness begins.  Dallin loved the

Miami Dolphins watch we got him.

Dallin wearing his watch.

Paul in an awkward position.

Evan and Ruby setting up Evan's new train track.

Evan, Max, and Joshua.

Grandpa helping with the train.

The engine keeps jumping the track.

Max and Ruby love each other!

Got these from Kim & Brian.

They are my new favorite treat!

Purple snow boots from Kim & Brian.

James got a Cabellas gift card, we both got Chili's cards, and a Deseret Book card, and James got a strap to sharpen knives and scissors.  We love our children and grand children so much!

This afternoon Kim and Brian took us to see the move "Les Miserable".  I got to sit by Joe.  We really enjoyed the movie.  I love Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway.  

We also went over to Darrel's and played with his kids for awhile and saw their Christmas presents.

This evening we went to visit Lois.  We wanted to see Dawn too, but she wasn't there.  Of course she fed us.  On the way home we were still a little hungry so we went to Filiberto's.  I ordered a green chili burro and ate it back in room 214 at the San Marcos.

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.