A Grown-up Christmas...finally!

Doug has an amazing job...
They are such wonderful people.
Last night they closed early (at 3:00) and we then met for dinner at Chef's Table in Orem.

A lovely restaurant where we had our picture taken (kind of like Prom) and were served a buffet which included two kinds of salad (Doug couldn't believe that one of them was a Caesar Salad WITH chicken!), ravioli, roasted potatoes, vegetables, huge chunks of salmon, rack of lamb, boneless chicken breasts in a wonderful sauce and hunks of filet mignon. Then came dessert: Cheesecake, a Chocolate Dome or a Baked Apple Beggar's Purse. I chose the Chocolate Dome of course, but I will have to admit that Doug's Purse was actually better. Who knew fruit could be so delicious :0)

Then we were off to the Scera theater in Orem where we saw Nuncrackers.
"The musical features the same beloved nuns from the original show: There are Reverend Mother (played by Celesta Rimington with a Minnesota accent), Sister Mary Paul“Amnesia” (played with a Southern accent by Deborah Bowman), wisecracking Brooklyn street nun Sister Robert Ann (played by Rebekah Martin Osmond), Sister Mary Leo (a ballerina wannabe and stage manager nun, played by Kelsey Seaver) and Sister Hubert (who thinks she should be the Reverend Mother, played by Janna Gates). Shawn Mortensen plays Father Virgil Manly Trott as well as Sister Julia, Child of God (with a spot-on Julia Child impression, of course). The script calls for four children, but the Littles cast twelve to play Mount St. Helen’s most exceptional students."
It was hysterical and touching and I am now friends with 2 of the cast members on Facebook :-)

Plus he was given a Christmas bonus and let's just say that it was better than a ham!

The last five years were incredibly hard, but I am so grateful that they brought is here. I could not be happier--
Merry Christmas

Guarding Stance--Yes Sir!

This afternoon was Kian's first official Karate class. He is very excited to get there and get some "iy yahs" done! That's what they have to say every time they kick or punch.


He is showing off his "guarding stance"

Look at my little white belt...I am very impressed with their philosophy. I have had no contact or experience with Karate except for the obvious Karate Kid, but they really teach the kids about respect, courtesy, focus, positive attitude and staying clean.
He even gets Karate homework besides practicing his moves, he has to keep his room clean, read everyday and do other chores of his choice without being asked.
He can't wait to go back...yay!!

Online Auction for the Jones Family

I came across this online auction for a woman who lost her husband on Thanksgiving here in Utah in one of the caves. They have a small daughter and are expecting a baby. I didn't realize until now the link I gave you doesn't explain their story. This young family had come to Utah to visit their families for Thanksgiving and to let their family know they are expecting another baby. The Dad and some friends went spelunking the day before Thanksgiving and fell. He was trapped and tragically died after several rescue attempts were made.

I noticed there are new items added so if you have kids (especially little girls) PLEASE check it out! There are some darling hats, bows, bags, vinyl lettering, booties etc.

I wanted to share it with my generous friends--if you are getting a gift for Christmas why not support this little family?
Please take a look there is a large variety of items.

http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/

May the spirit of Christmas fill our hearts!

Little things I learned from Amy

I got to use a new trick that I learned from my friend and pseudo little sister Amy Hughes--

My perfect napkin display at the Edgemont Third ward Christmas party~
Yay for little talents :0) Thanks Amy!!

Why I blog...

I really have no grand designs to keep a day to day history of all the happenings of my family. However, I have always kept a journal and this is an extension of that...with pictures! I'm not sure if my kids will enjoy it or just laugh...Hopefully both.

O Christmas Tree...

The day after Thanksgiving we went and picked up a really nice tree that Doug's parents offered to let us have. They are down-sizing and since all of our Christmas boxes and ornaments and such are still in Indiana they knew that we could really use it.
I struggled only a little because I have always had a real tree, but the last few years we haven't had a tree at all so I figured it was better than that. Besides it is a really nice tree, it fits perfectly and with an 84 pack of ornaments from Costco it turned out beautifully. Kian couldn't wait to have a Christmas tree. He doesn't remember having a big tree and he was so hopeful that there would be a star on top.
Mom also had a few other Christmas decorations that they were clearing out and lo and behold there was a light up star tree topper!

So our house is beginning to look a lot like Christmas and it is terrific!

Family Pictures

On November 14, I drug my family outside to Riverwoods in Provo to take our family Christmas picture. The last time we had one taken was 2005 I think.
About an hour before we were supposed to meet our friend Tara there was literally a blizzard of snow and wind and I know that Doug though I would cancel.


But I am no wimp and I am nothing if not stubborn and I grew up in Michigan for goodness sake!!
So off we went...there was no snow sticking to the ground and the wind had really died down and yes it was a little cold...

Even colder when I made everyone take off their coats for the pictures.
But what we ended up with are some great pictures, even if Doug was totally grumpy and not super cooperative. Vanessa thinks next year we will have a stand in Dad and his name is Tim Gunn. We will for sure look great then!

So here a a few of my favorites...
And for sure in my top 5 is this terrific one (thanks Tara!!)

One of these two previous ones will probably be the Christmas card, but I really like this one too--



Look how great these girls photograph! Beautiful!!

And we had to end the day with more fun because that is how we are...though Doug and Kian were warm inside having hot cocoa.
I promise to try to make it a warmer day next year family, but thanks for being such good sports!