Sunday, December 7, 2014

 

"The message of this season that is applicable throughout the year lies not in the receiving of earthly presents and treasures but in the forsaking of selfishness and greed and in going forward, seeking and enjoying the gifts of the Spirit, which Paul said are 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law' (Gal. 5:22-23)

-James E. Faust

 Happy Birthday to our son-in-law Paul who has been a part of our family for 25 years.

 

Ruby rode with us to and from church.  James let her "drive" home.  No wonder she likes to come with us.  

Today was our fast and testimony meeting.  We had five youth who bore their testimonies.  It was a good meeting.  I am fasting for the Fab Five: Joseph, Michael, Alex, Ben and James.  I am fasting that they will prepare themselves to serve missions.  

Trina, Lola and I learn about how to be good shepherds in Brother Wilhelm's Sunday School class.  James attended another class since part of his calling is to work with the Sunday School.

Ruth Wilhelm gave the lesson in Young Women's on building the kingdom of God.  Winna Ulmer is back in the hospital, this time for gall bladder surgery.  Alice, Trenda, LeeAnn, Maddie, Shelly, Jordyn, and Kyah attended.  

To break out fast we had roast with carrots, potatoes, and celery.  Afterwards I beat Addy and Trina in a game of Five Crowns.  

The kids watched the Christmas Dragon while Ed and Debbie Miller came to fix our heater.  The heater now works and we had a nice visit with Debbie and Ed.

James attended titihing settlement without me.  The Miller's were in my closet working on the heater so I couldn't change clothes.   

Trina and the kids left for home this afternoon.

Trina and the gang 

This evening we watched the First Presidency Devotional and then "Christmas at Cartwright's".

Robert came to work on the truck after dark but didn't stay long because a clip is missing.  He said he would get one and come back tomorrow.

Darrel stayed here again tonight.

  

 

 

Saturday, December 6, 2014

"Let us commit to give a most meaningful gift to the Lord.  Let us give Him our lives, our sacrifices.  Those who do so will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can."

-President Ezra Taft Benson

We slept in today because we were pretty tired from our trip.  James got up to work on the fireplace.  He had to make a trip into town because they gave him the wrong size trim.  Finally they agree to give him a refund.  He brings me back a drink and I didn't even ask!

Trina and Lola go into town to shop at Walmart and to take lunch to Darrel at CVS.  

Back at the cabin the kids and I watched "Nightmare Before Christmas".  I had never watched it all the way through before.  Weird is all I can say.

Ruby helping grandpa work on the fireplace.

Rowan went in the bedroom to watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince while Addy watched "Elf" in the family room.

Ruby also worked at her "desk".  Actually my desk.  She had postie

notes sticking everywhere with words and names on them.

James went on the house this afternoon using a ladder to do something for the fireplace and Ruby told him they needed to talk.  She took him upstairs in his office while she sat in his big chair and he sat across from her.  She gave him some Post It's and told him to take notes on the things she told him:

1.)  Be more careful.

2.) Get some help next time.

3.) Use a rope so he won't fall.

4.) Don't slide off because it's dangerous.

5.) Stay away from ladders.  Don't climb in the house or onto the roof.  Such good advice from one so young!

This afternoon Trina made cookies and the kids cut them out and decorated them.

Frosting them was the most fun.

Of course Lola is right there trying to get in on all the fun.

Addy and I tried to do a Christmas puzzle but we didn't finish.

Lola is the life of every party!

Ruby doesn't like to hear the balloon pop!

After cookies, games, and dinner.  We all settled down

to watch "The Christmas Dragon".

 Christmas caroling!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Our last breakfast at Embassy Suites South Anaheim.  My last delivered breakfast to my room.  We were ready to go and left 8:30 California time which is 9:30am Arizona time.  

We get to Diamond Bar and Addy began frantically searching for her Ipod and stuffed owl Hedwig. She couldn't find it so Max and I searched too.  A few tears were shed when we discovered they were no where to be found.  I called housekeeping at ES and left a message.  They never called back so by the third call I asked to speak to the manager and I was connected with someone in housekeeping who said both items were found.  I had her send them to our house and she said they should arrive on Wednesday.  Addy was so happy!

James had to stop at the Auto Nation on Bell Rd in west Phoenix and we went the rest of the way home in rush hour traffic.  We got to Chandler around 5.  James dropped me off at Walgreen's to get a gift and card for Paul's birthday.  He came back and got me and we went back to the house to drop the card off for Paul  waiting for her so she can leave for the cabin.  The road is blocked off by the airport so we have to go down to Queen Creek and across.  Why is there always problems when you are in a hurry.  When we finally get to Trina's I realize we forgot to get Darrel's contacts.  Trina was going to go to Sheri's to get them but we went instead and told her to go ahead and leave for Payson and we would catch up with her, which we did.  We all have dinner at the Wendy's in Payson.  Ruby doesn't like the chicken nuggets because they are too chewy so she spits hers out in the trash.  James tried one and said they were gross.  

When we get to Vernon there is a car ahead of us.  It is Darrel so he leads the parade as we all arrive at the cabin around 11pm.

The house is cold.  The breaker goes off because we have two space heaters going upstairs.  We have got to have Brother Miller come and fix our heater!

  

Thursday, December 4, 2014

California Adventure

 The clouds drifted away and we had sunshine and a bigger

crowd today.

The first thing we did when we went inside was go straight to Carsland.   We passed a very long line for Carsland fast passes.  We had  to wait a few minutes for the opening of Carsland but we weren't in line more than 15 minutes before we were in our car, and it was purple.  It was a great ride!  Also, we won our race.

 Addy and Max went on the swinging ferris wheel, Mickey's Fun Wheel while James and I waited.  Also, Max went on California Screaming by himself.  One advantage was that he got to go in a quicker line because he was by himself.  It turned out to be his favorite ride although we all agreed that we liked Disneyland better than California Adventure.  

Addy had a hotdog for lunch, I had a lousy burrito, and James and Max had corndogs again.  While everyone else went on Grizzly Rapids I sat and visited with a little Filipino lady who now lives in Stockton.

The longest line we had to wait in is my favorite ride in this park, Soaring over California.  After the ride James and Max were going to go on Tower of Terror and Addy and I went to Clarabelle's Ice Cream Parlor.  Max and James were back in about ten minutes.  They decided not to go on Tower of Terror because the ticket was too long.  

Max and Addy went on the Fun Wheel and swings again and then we did a little shopping before going home.  Max found a Star Wars action figure set for his souvenir but when he opened them up he was disappointed they weren't bendable.  

We went to Red Lobster for dinner and after dinner when we got back to the hotel Max and Addy went swimming.

My feet hurt so bad tonight I went directly to bed.

 I am not sure what's going on here.

Boy I look old!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

"Tonight I would like to consider two important responsibilities we carry: first, consistently adding gospel light and truth to our lives, and second, sharing that light and truth with others."

-Sister Neill F. Marriott

James took the kids down to breakfast and they brought my breakfast back to me.  I had an omelet with some cantaloupe, toast, and yogurt.   Disneyland here we come!

 Nightmare before Christmas Uno in our room.

 Addy took tons of pictures with her Ipod.

 These two were so fun!

We let Max choose the first ride and he chose Star Tours.  James went on it with them while I went to Buzz's Astro Blasters.  Max and James went on Space Mountain and Addy and I went on Astro Blasters.  We saw Bae Max over behind the Star Traders store.

 Addy bought a princess crown necklace in Star Traders.  I told Max I would buy him a souvenir but he couldn't decide just now.

There was a light rain this morning and then it stopped and was overcast as we made our way over to the Haunted Mansion and Pirates.  While the guys went on Thunder Mountain Addy and I walked over to the Village Haus restaurant in Fantasyland and got something to eat.  Max really wanted her to go on Thunder Mountain but she didn't want to.  Max didn't want anything at Village Haus so while everyone else went on Star Tours again I went to the Corn Dog Wagon and got corn dogs for Max and James.  James and Max went on Matterhorn and Max finally talked Addy into going on Thunder Mountain, and she loved it!  She said it was her favorite ride.  

By this time it was raining really hard.  Max had wanted to go on Splash Mountain but decided no because of the rain.

 I love this picture!

We bought umbrellas while we were in Adventureland but Max only kept his for a few minutes.  I think he didn't want grandpa to think he was a wimp.  Believe me, grandpa would never think that about Max!

 Jack Sparrow grandpa style.

 Autotopia with Max driving.  Addy gets to drive in

Carsland tomorrow.

We stopped at Village Haus again, this time for

hot chocolate and churros.

Addy wanted to go on Small World but Max didn't so he and grandpa went back to Star Tours.  Space Mountain was too busy.

Decorated for Christmas

I think this was my favorite ride today!

We rode the train back to the front of Main Street.  James helped me get off the train and Addy asked him to help her but he didn't hear her so Max helped.  What a gentleman!

 We got back to Main Street just in time for the tree lighting.  I was the only one who saw it because everyone else was in the restroom.  We shopped at the Emporium and again Max couldn't find anything.  We had shopped at New Orleans Square for a pirates gun but they were all out.  Unbeknownst to Max I ordered him one on the internet and will give it to him for Christmas.

Addy and I got charm bracelets.  She got a Minnie Cupcake on hers and I got Minnie Mouse and we both got Tinkerbell.  They are so cute!

We went to the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney but Max still couldn't find anything.  Addy tried on some hats.

 She looks good in anything!

We found a Pizza Hut on the way home and ordered a couple of pizzas.  James dropped us off at the hotel and went back to pick up the pizzas.  Max and Addy love taking the stairs instead of the elevator.  As soon as we got in the room they changed into their swim suits and went down to the pool.  

I noticed as Addy was eating her pizza a big pile of cheese on the side of her plate.  When I asked her about it she said: "I always take the cheese off my pizza."  Maybe next time we should just order crust or breadsticks.

Even though it rained today we all decided it was a fun day and we had a great time!  It certainly wasn't as crowded as it normally is so that was a plus.

My feet hurt and I was exhausted.  James and I finished "For Elise".  Mr. Cane, the accountant was the murderer.

 

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, "As temples are prepared for the people, the people need to prepare themselves for the temple."

James went to work and I studied my scriptures this morning.  Around noon we too Lexy to Sears to have the oil changed.  We walked over to the mall and had lunch at Hibachi San.  I also had one chocolate covered strawberry.  I took a picture at the mall and and put it on Facebook and labeled it as "the great and spacious building."

 It was cool and overcast today.  We picked up Max and then went to pick up Addy but had to have some Lola time before we left.

 Lola is so lovable!

We had a prayer and were on our way after 2pm.  We stopped to go potty and get a snack in Quartzite.  I told Max and Addy that alot of the people who come here in the winter are "rock hounds."  The thought that term was funny. 

 As we continued into California it began to rain.  We stopped at the Sizzler in Banning for dinner and it was raining like crazy.  

Max didn't know they had shrimp until we were leaving.  It is one of his favorite foods!

We got off the I-10 onto the 60 and then went south on the 57 to Orangewood and over to the Embassy Suites on Harbor Blvd.  

There was a large group from Japan but the guy at the desk assured me they weren't anywhere near us.  Our room number is 1023.  This is a great hotel but they need more elevators.  Addy and Max played Jack the Pumpking King Uno most of the way here and played again when we got into the room.  

They are dying to know who the murderer is in our book "For Elise".  I was reading it on the way here and they were interested.  

Although there are two beds in our bedroom Addy and Max both stayed in the "living" room and slept on the hideaway bed.

Max's mom took him to lunch before we left town.

 

 

Monday, December 1, 2014

Beautiful trees!

James's truck is still not fixed.  Robert, the guy who we got to work on it said the fuel pump cracked when he tried to put it in so James had to order a new one.  Hopefully it will be in this week.

We were up early and left for the valley a little before 6.  I read to James from "For Elise" until the road got to windy before Salt River Canyon.  We made it to the Chandler airport by 9:10 with one stop along the way.  James took me to breakfast at Burger King and then dropped me off at the house while he went back to the airport to work.  I pay bills.  

We had lunch at one of my favorite places, Pei Wei.  I love their lettuce wraps and spicy chicken salad.

I went on an errand with James this afternoon to look for something he needed for the job.  We tried two different place, one in Tempe and one in Phoenix to find a lid for piping that goes through the asphalt.  Most of them say water on them and he needs one that doesn't but we couldn't find one.  

Adam did an errand for James in Paul's Monterro but Stacy says no more because she is worried about Adam driving when he is low.  I guess Adam is no longer working for us and will have to rely on his new internet job.  The only problem is that he only gets paid once a month.

I took advantage of "Cyber Monday" deals and ordered some Christmas presents on the internet and afterwards we went to Jersey Mike's for dinner.

Max and Evan sent me their Christmas lists.

 Evan's list

 Max's list

 Evan finally got his desk.  He is so happy!