Our unexpected Christmas eve present.

Our dryer decided to blow it's heating element. I decided to wait until Stephen had some time to ask him to fix it. After it taking half a day to run a small load of washed clothes through the dryer to speed along the air drying process, I asked him to fix it. That was Christmas Eve. It was the only day he had. I knew I'd need my dryer because the kids always get new clothes from different people and I don't like them to be worn unless they have been washed first. (That is an issue I'll write about some other time.) I figured for 4 loads of wash it would take me a week to dry them.

My husband came to rescue. He got up instead of sleeping in on Christmas eve, didn't even shower, pulled the heating element out of the dryer (getting shocked in the process-he didn't enjoy that,) drove to Kiesel sales and services, bought the new part, then came right home put it in and he fixed my dryer. My hero! big loving sigh!

I however haven't mentioned that I kinda giggled when he got shocked. I felt so bad for doing it, but that was how I handled the stress of him getting hurt, some people giggle. In this picture, you can see where the coil seperated itself.

So, now thanks to my hero, I didn't need to buy a new dryer. All it needed was a $50 part and things were good. That is a big savings $50 compared to $400. right?

I love him and am grateful for his handymanship. He is great and wonderful! Muah, Love you Hon!

Our Christmas

It's never too late for Christmas!

Our Christmas season was a wonderful one. We celebrated with wonderful family members and friends. On Christmas Eve, we visited with Stephen's side of the family in Morgan. It was great. We had our traditional clam chowder and chili and a new soup- Hot dog soup. His aunt made it and it tasted yummy! This year for the gift exchange, only the great-grand kids who were there exchanged gifts. The rest of the adults donated the money they would've spent to cousin Baylen's charitable account. He is the one going through the medulla-blastoma treatments. What a great way to give back to our Lord (after all he has given and done for us) by donating to them so they can make it through this. The road to recovery is very long, but we believe that Baylen will make it. He is, by the way, done with radiation treatments and will start chemo soon. And he's doing very well for a 3 year old (soon to be 4.)

On Christmas day, we spent the morning opening presents from each other. The kids all loved what they received and loved to give gifts even more! We visited with our only-ever landlady for breakfast, then went to Stephen's parents for a late lunch. We then went to my parents for an even later dinner and pies.

We were late to almost everything we did, but, I was okay with it. Usually, I'm running around, not happy, screaming at everyone to get going. It is very, very, unpleasant. This year, I did a better job of trying to relax. I knew we'd be late to everything, therefore, I didn't have to worry about what my mom thought or my mother-in-law thought. We showed up when we could. And do you know what? everything worked out just fine. Nobody died because we were late. Nobody was crying, screaming, or unhappy. It just was a great and wonderful day. Like it is supposed to be.

I'm happy to say I finally got all 7 Harry Potter books, a yoga mat (from girl #1,) new pants and Pride and Prejudice the movie! Yay! I love this movie. It's my Favorite! It fills me with happy thoughts warm fuzzies, and what I loved more, was my husband FINALLY watched it with me. He laughed at the right times and was quiet when he needed to be. I do believe he enjoyed watching it with me and now understands a little bit more why I love to read the book. Happy feelings all the way around! Stephen was happy with what he got, a laptop, socks, legos, shoes, blah, blah, blah. The kids received what they wanted: Girl #1 a new bike, Girl #2 Art items, lots of them! Boy #1 a guitar (which hubby wants to teach him,) and Boy #2 Thomas sheets and blankets for a new bed, among other things for each of them.

We hope all you had a great Christmas, whether it was with extended family or just your own little one. We are thankful for wonderful family and friends to be around during the Christmas season and love that we can be involved with your lives. Thank You!

I am so excited for Christmas!

I can't wait to see how my children react to what "Santa" brought them. I love to see their faces and the surprise and just the happy feeling they have on Christmas morning. It isn't only because they got something they liked or wanted, there is just something else about Christmas morning. They are full of pure joy, they want to share what they received with us as parents, they love to see what the others received, they are just as happy for everyone else as they are for themselves. Why can't they feel like that everyday? I wonder, how does a family live their lives, so that it feels like Christmas morning every morning? Any suggestions? I think I know a few, like read scriptures consistently with them, pray with and teach them how to pray, watch good wholesome, uplifting movies with them, read wonderful books with them. I think these things will help, but there has got to be more to it? right? Maybe showing service to others by example and teach them compassion for others will also help. That is a lot! to teach. I guess as parents we can only go day by day and do our best to teach the children these things.

Merry Christmas and have a fabulous New Year!

(and by the way, these are last years pics)

Have you Ever wondered?

Have you ever wondered what 10 dozen cookies might look like? That's One-Hundred Twenty cookies. 120. Actually, I made 144+1, but who's counting right? Well I can show you what that looks like minus one. My dog ate the other plate of cookies! Bad dog!
Oh.My. I was mad. If you look carefully, you'll see these are not the store bought cookies people buy from the bakery. I made these by myself. I didn't let the little ones help because they like to lick icing and candies off their fingers as they decorate. As these were not cookies for our home, but a party, I couldn't let them help.
I spent the night before rolling out, cutting out and baking these cute little time consumers. The next day, I spent decorating them, coming up with ideas on how to do just that with as little time spent as possible. That wasn't happening. I spent most of the day making them. Oh well, right. People enjoyed the cookies anyway and thankfully, the dog couldn't reach the other plates at all. I have learned a very important lesson. Just buy cookies!

(Not really, making them is fun and my friends all love them.)

Our cute Christmas Tree

Yay! Monday, Stephen took the 3 older kids to the tree lot and picked up a Christmas tree. I wanted one that was small and would fit on a folding table or one that was as tall as the ceiling. I didn't get what I wanted. Instead, Stephen brought home a tree too tall for the table but not to the ceiling. Hm. Oh well, I guess I'll have to go out next year. So, I spent the next day putting lights on the tree until the kids came home from school and then they put the decorations on it. Well, that is the usual thing to do. Monday, I didn't feel so good. I got the lights on the tree, but that was after the kids came home from school, just before dinner. So now it is done and has been for a few days. Boy #2, he likes the decorations. I watched him today as he spent some time going from one side of the tree to the other touching every ornament in his reach. He was very careful, but it was just funny to watch. Now. Yesterday, I was on the phone with my friend and I looked at our tree. Something was wrong. Something wasn't right. About 50 lights on a strand of 150 went out. They aren't lit. Nothing. I'm a little not happy, but I'm not about to undo the top just for those 50 lights. UGH!!! Oh well, we'll have a great Christmas without those 50 lights glowing.

Piano- Let's try again.

Yay! I tried again and it worked! This is Girl #1, my oldest. Isn't she cute. I like both my girls and I'm proud of the hard work they put in to learn their pieces. I'm really proud.

I don't play the piano, but I do play the violin. My mother and I played just last night for our ward Relief Society Christmas Party. It was a lot of fun to duet with my mom. She plays the viola and does a terrific job! I like to play with her and I love the sounds of the viola, so deep and gorgeous.

Piano

So last week our girls had their Christmas piano recital. They did an awesome job and looked so cute at the piano. I'm thankful for our friend who teaches them, she does an amazing job with the kids. She is also a great friend not only to me, but to our family as well. She did a great job with the whole little program, it was only a half hour. NICE! So I'm trying to post some video of the girls playing, I started the camera too late, so no names of songs or people on it.
okay, only one video would load, stupid dumb whatever. UGH! I hope you enjoy the music.