Christmas Eve......

I woke up to the laughter of children Thursday morning. I didn't get to sleep until 3am because of Gunner and I was happy to see the kids at least let me sleep until 8:15am.

They all came running upstairs and sat at the table looking at me with expectant faces. Braxton blurted out "Do we get to open our presents now?!" I told him not until later that afternoon (it was going to be a long day....).

Jax and Cambria got breakfast for everyone. It is so nice having older grandchildren. Jax poured the Fruit Loops and Cambria poured the milk. They even made me a bowl.

After they all got dressed they decided to go outside and have a snowball fight. Cambria and Braxton forgot their gloves so I loaned them mine. Cambria chose the cream colored ones which left the pink ones for Braxton. Well he would have NOTHING to do with those pink gloves. He would have rather gotten frost bite and lost all his fingers than put on those pink gloves. So Cambria gave him the cream gloves to wear and because she was so nice to Braxton I got my really warm red gloves out of the car and let her wear those.

The snow ball fight didn't last long. We haven't gotten any fresh snow (the storm we were supposed to get Tuesday piddled out) and the snow was all hard and frozen. Not good for packing.

After a morning of watching cartoons, coloring pictures and anything else we could think of the children were getting restless. So I suggested McDonald's for lunch. Jax asked if we were going to eat inside (we usually get it to go) and I said yes and that was all it took. They were in their coats so fast and out to the car before I even found my shoes.

The deal was they had to eat first then play and they did. While they played I just sat there and pulled up another chair to put my feet up and relaxed and watched them play. Thank goodness for McDonald's playland! I let them play as long as they wanted to until we had to leave so I could get the ham in the oven.

Everyone started arriving around 3pm. The first ones there were Les, Paul and Gunner (who was feeling a little better but still coughing). With them they brought the present for their kids. A puppy!!!!!!!!!

Isn't he cute!?!?!?! Paul named him Brown, every time Gunner called him he called him White (it's a color isn't it?). I'm not sure what kind of dog it is but Leslie says it will not get much bigger. He just wanted to cuddle with everyone.

Then Jamie and Patrick came. I noticed while Patrick was saying hello and hugging everyone Gunner was running towards the banister and peaking at Pat and hollering for his mom and when Patrick hugged Leslie you would have thought he was going to eat her by the look on Gunner's face. Gunner knows Patrick and has been all right around him but for some reason today he was a little afraid of him. So Patrick started trying to win him back. This picture might explain why Gunner was a little scared of Patrick.......

I'm not sure if I've told you how big Patrick is and I'm not even sure how tall he is exactly. I've asked but I can't remember what he told me. But I have 7foot ceilings in my house and you notice that in the picture there is NOT much between the top of Patrick's head and my ceiling. Notice the worried look on Gunner's face! Leslie is wearing very flat shoes and she is around 5'6".

Patrick is a gentle giant and we love him. He is great with the kids and they love him (except for Gunner). Gunner did think it was neat that when Pat picked him up he could touch the ceiling.

Then is was time to eat. We had ham, olives, rolls, a tossed green salad and Jamie's baked mac and cheese (which is the kid's favorite). Good stuff! Here is Cambria, Braxton, Jax and Trevon eating as fast as they can so they can get to the present opening part of the evening.

Jamie, Paul, Patrick and Leslie filling their plates....

We were trying to find Gunner so he could eat and this is where we found him. He was truly mesmerized in front of the TV by "The Polar Express" that we had left playing. He wouldn't even acknowledge that anyone was calling his name.

I read "Mr. Wiloughby's Christmas Tree" and then we got to do what the kids had been waiting for all month.....open presents! Of course I love to torture them so I made them sit and put their present down in front of them and they had to WAIT until everyone had theirs and then I shouted on your mark..get set... GO!!!!!!

I love Trevon's face, especially since he had opened up the 2 shirts I had given him.

Here are some very happy kids!

Cambria getting creative with the ribbon off of her present.........

Paul putting together the Nerf bow that I got Braxton.....

Braxton with his bow.......

Gunner taking a turn shooting the bow. He actually shot my Christmas tree dead center 3 times. It's a good thing I put the unbreakable ornaments on this year!

So that was our Christmas Eve. We had lot's of fun and the kids were very good. There are more pictures on my FB if you want to see the rest.

Christmas Eve Eve....................

So after 32 years I am finally getting Christmas Eve off and I don't have to be back to work until Monday. There are some definite perks to being the Invoice Clerk.

So I invited ALL the grand kids to spend the night tonight. Crazy you say???? Maybe, maybe not....

We started out the night with pizza and bread sticks. Then the fun began.

We bundled up and delivered my neighbor gifts. We walked to each house (except Naomi's) and when they opened the door we sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and gave them their gift.
Here are my little carolers...........
Jax, Trevon, Braxton (wearing his dad's coat), Cambria and Gunner......

After we delivered the gifts I took them uptown to walk through the Christmas Village. Gunner loved it and had to tell me about everything that was in each of the houses.

When we got home the kids put on their p.j.'s and we made hot chocolate. I used the Candy Cane Cocoa mix that got left on my back steps Sunday. The kids loved it! They all had two cups of it.

Then we read a story and made up beds and put on the movie"Elf" and ate popcorn.

Jax and Trev......

Braxton....

Cambria (she didn't want her picture taken because "My hair is a mess!")....

Gunner and Cambria........

One by one they started to fall asleep.

Gun......

Braxton (and he SNORES!).......

Cambria, she told me at the beginning of the night she was going to stay awake all night. She was the first one to fall asleep.

Trevon (he like to sleep shirtless).....

Jax stayed awake the longest and we just sat and watched TV and talked till about 11:30.

I came upstairs to get the kitchen cleaned up and some thing ready for tomorrow. The whole time Gunner had started coughing and it wouldn't stop. I went downstairs to check on him and he was awake, red cheeked and wheezing. I brought him upstairs and checked my medicine cupboard but I was out of children's Tylenol. So as much as I hated to do it I called Leslie (it was now 1:45am) and told her what was going on. She decided to come in and she just left taking Gunner home with her.

I felt so bad we were having so much fun and it was not how I wanted the night to end up. Except for a few minor altercations the the Christmas Eve Eve sleepover at Grandma's was a success!

Foggy..................

So remember I mentioned in a previous post that I was testing a car for the weekend? Well I bought it! It is a 2008 Chevy Cobalt Coupe. It is nothing fancy (no power windows or locks) but it only had 15,000 miles on it and the price was too good to be true. I NEVER find deals like this. It was traded in back to the same lot it was originally purchased from (because of a pending divorce). Clean car fax. What more can I say?
It's not red....and I miss that and the fact that this is an automatic. When I stop at lights I feel like I'm forgetting to do something. I have to keep both hands on the steering wheel right now or I keep trying to grab the shifter and I have to keep my left foot all the way against the door so I don't try to hit the brake with it. It's going to take a little retraining cause I've been shifting a car since I was 19.

When I got done signing the papers I drove past Leslie's (I bought it off a lot in Tremonton). She wasn't home but the kids were outside playing in the snow. So I pulled into the driveway. They had seen the car Saturday when they dropped me off from going to Angel's party. At that time I had to tell them that I was only trying it out. Anyway Cambria and Braxton came running up to the car and were jumping up and down asking me if I was keeping it. When I told them yes, you would have thought I won the lottery or something they way they were cheering.

Then Cambria asked me if I had the same thing in the dash that her mom had. I pointed to the CD player and asked her if that was what she was talking about. She was so excited that I had a CD player now (and frankly so was I). My Grand Am had a cassette player (remember those?) in it and Cambria was always telling me that I needed to get a new car so I would have a CD player in it (what other reason would you buy a new car?).

Yesterday the choir sang in Sacrament meeting. We sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "Star of Bethlehem" and "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear". They sounded awesome and I managed to play without a hitch. I love it when everything comes together!

After we had a Christmas program by the Sunday School. The Primary children got up and sang. I love it when the little ones get up there to sing. They are so cute.

In Senior Primary we didn't have a Christmas lesson in our manuals, so the Primary presidency put a lesson together using the children's book "The Christmas Orange". They also gave each class one of those chocolate oranges (the kind that brake apart like a real orange) to share after the story. Then as a gift as we were leaving children and teachers received an orange and some candy.

Remember I told you that I had a mystery Santa? The first night I received a Christmas tree cookie jar. Since then I have received Craisin/nut cookies dipped in frosting, Chocolate chip cookies. The most yummy coconut cookies dipped in chocolate with macadamia nuts sprinkled on top. These were sooo good and I am NOT a fan of coconut, but they were soft and chewy with just a hint of lemon.

Then I received some kind of cakey things, they were cut into small pieces and were pink and green. I tried one of each and I hate to admit it but I didn't like them. I tried them again the next morning and ended up throwing them out. I guess you can't like everything. The next day I received a kind of bar cookie with nuts and pieces of cinnamon candies. They look funny but they taste good.

Saturday I got a gift box of Clementines and Sunday when I got home from church there was a can of Stephen's Candy Cane Cocoa on my back step. Tonight I got some yummy peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate with peanuts sprinkled on the top.

Every night (except for Sunday) my doorbell rings around six and there is a new treat on my front step.

Sunday I also got a can of mixed nuts from my neighbors the Koford's and a loaf of lemon bread from the Terry's. Tonight I found a loaf of homemade bread in my back door left there by my neighbor's the Udy's. Have I told you what a GREAT neighborhood I live in lately?!?!?!!?!!

It is suppose to snow again tomorrow. It has been foggy since Saturday. I don't like fog it makes me claustrophobic. So maybe if it snows the fog will go away. Snow good, fog bad.......

Angel's Christmas Party......

Sorry I took so long to finish the story of last weekends adventures but I was a little distracted for a couple of days.

Angel's party was a lot of fun. Jamie, Jax, Trevon, Leslie, Paul, Cambria, Braxton, Gunner and myself were all there. We missed the company of Charles, Debbie and Joe! It's been eleven years since I've seen Joe. I chat with him on FB but that is not the same as seeing him.

By the time everyone arrived we were all starved! Angel served us Kentucky Fried Chicken, chips and salsa, Cheetos, a meat, cheese and cracker tray. Leslie made an apple crisp when she got to Angel's so it was hot and she topped it with vanilla ice cream. Just one word for that.....YUMMY!

When Gunner got there he went over to the table and took this package of crackers and carried it around with him until he had eaten most of them.

Cambria chowing down........
My gorgeous daughter (Jamie) giving me her "see food" face. Jax is in the background serving up his plate and Trev is busy eating.

Everyone had a good time eating and enjoying each others company. Then it was time for Angel to pass out her presents to everyone (the main reason for this get together).

She had a Santa hat and she put it on each of the kids and had them play "Santa" and pass a present out. They loved this and Gunner (who always calls Santa Claus -Santa Hohoho) called everyone who had the Santa hat on, their name Santa Hohoho.....example (below) Jax Santa Hohoho.

Gunner Santa Hohoho Cambria Santa Hohoho Braxton Santa Hohoho
Trevon Santa Hohoho
Angel Santa Hohoho :)

The kids loved their gifts (as always). Then she gave each family a gift.

Jamie's fam got Lego Guitar Hero... Les and Paul got a Nerf disc shooter (something like that)...

It was a fun time. Angel is a wonderful Great Aunt and the kids just love her.

Angel with Braxton, Gunner and Cambria

Angel with Jax and Trevon

A good time was had by all. I took more pictures but I didn't want to post them on this blog (it would make it too long) but you can see them all on FB.

A travel tale.........

Saturday Angel was having a Christmas party at her condo in Sandy. She goes to see Mom and Dad for Christmas and she wanted to be able to see the kids open their presents. So I thought no problem I've done the mass transit thing before I can do it again.

I decided to take the bus from Brigham to the Ogden station. This I hadn't done before so it was going to be another new adventure. It was suppose to be bad weather and I didn't want to take the Cobalt since it wasn't mine.

So the bus stop is just down the street from me at Peach City and then there is one across the street at Papa Murphy's. I decided to walk since it was only 4 blocks, no biggie.......there wasn't that much snow on the road and it was warmer than it had been last week. I started walking and sure enough it started to snow. No problem, I like to walk in the snow.

So I get about half way to the bus stop and a car pulls up beside me and a woman rolls down her window and she asks me if I want a ride. I tell her no I'm only going to the bus stop. She introduces herself and her husband who was driving and was quite concerned that I was walking in the snow. I told her it was alright but she wouldn't take no for an answer so I got in the car.

She and her husband were very nice and she said it was Christmas and she just couldn't drive by someone walking in the snow and cold. Then when we got to the bus stop she wanted to stay there so I could sit in the car until the bus came. I told her that was okay I could stand under the awning at Peach City until I saw the bus coming. This seemed to be okay with her and they left me.

So it was time for the bus to come and I walked out to the sign because if you aren't right at the sign the bus will just drive right by. Well the bus was running late and it started snowing harder. By the time the bus got there I was covered in snow (I have an umbrella but it was in my car which was in Tremonton at the time).

When I got on the bus there were only 4 other people on and one I work with at Walmart and she got off at the stop by the store. So there were only four of us on the bus to Ogden. The snow was really coming down and sticking to the roads. The bus goes on the old highway and makes stops in Perry and Willard and so on along the highway.

We got to Willard and the bus driver (an older woman, at least older than me) stopped the bus and started shouting at the only man on the bus for help. He was sitting behind me and he wasn't answering her so I turned around to see if he heard her and I know him from the store. He and his wife shop all the time and THEY DON'T SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH!

So I ask the bus driver what she needed and she said that she needed someone go out and shake off the snow that was building up on her windshield wipers. I thought to myself, "isn't that YOUR job?" but instead I told her that I could do it. She said no she wanted that man to do it (what? I can't do it because I'm a woman?!). SO she kept yelling at him until he figured out that she wanted him and she somehow got her point across and he went out and got the snow off the wipers. This took about 10 minutes and at that point I knew I was going to miss the train I wanted to take.

It was an hour ride to the Ogden station (if I would have driven it would have been a half hour drive). About two block before the train station is the bus terminal where they park all the buses. Well when we got there she pulled the bus over. I looked a the girl across the aisle from me and I asked her if this wasn't the bus that went the the train station. She said yes. So I leaned over and asked the driver if she was going to take us to the station and she said yes but she had to go to the restroom.

Then she turned off the bus and got off and went into the UTA terminal....... Left the bus door wide open and the four of us just sitting there..... I thought to myself "Can she do this? Doesn't she have a schedule to keep?!" When she finally came back I asked her if she was okay and she said that she was fine and we were off again.

We FINALLY got to the train station and sure enough....no train. So I had to sit and wait in the snow and cold for 20 minutes. At least were you sat had a cover over it so you didn't get wet. I pulled out my book and read.

When the train got there I hopped on and and was finally warm but I think my toes were frozen. Then we had to sit on the train at the station for a half hour until it was time for it to leave. To keep you up on the time frame I got on the Bus in Brigham at 10:10 and didn't leave the Ogden station for SLC until 11:46.......

I love the train it makes stops on the way but it is only for a couple minutes at the most. Jamie and the boys got on at Layton so I got to be with them the rest of the way. Leslie and her family were on the next train. She said they pulled up to the Ogden station just as my train was pulling out. At one point as we were looking out at the freeway we were glad we were on the train. Traffic was backed up and at a stand still for 2 miles.


Trevon and Jax on the Front Runner........

We got to the SLC station and caught the Sandy Trax (the trains and trax are time coordinated, unlike the buses).

Jamie and Trevon on Trax.......

The Trax line from the SLC station to the Sandy station (it is actually the LAST station it runs to) took us AN HOUR. It makes a lot of stops. At every stop the pre recorded message kept telling us "This is a Sandy train". After the third or fourth time we all started making fun of it(yes we were bored) I swear it didn't take Angel and I this long when we rode Trax from the Sandy stop to the Arena for the concert last month.

Part way a policeman got on and wanted to see everyones tickets. He was quite mean, Jamie said it was because of the part of town we were in. We finally get to the last stop and Angel is there to pick us up. It is now 1:20pm.

Leslie and her family got there little over an hour later. Then after the party was over we had to go back. This time we ALL (5 adults and 5 children and gifts) piled in Angels tiny SUV so she would only have to make one trip. We got there just in time to catch the Trax back to the train station.

Leslie, Cambria, Paul and Gunner on Trax.......
Every body is all tired out by this point, Cambria fell asleep on the way.....

Trevon and Braxton playing on Trax.....

The ride back to the station took yes, another hour, and the train was packed because everyone was getting on to go downtown to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert.

We got to the train station just in time to jump on the Front Runner. We only had to wait about 15 minutes before it pulled out. The Front Runner was also packed.

On the way home the kids started to get restless and Jamie and Leslie have vowed NEVER to do this again until the Front runner goes all the way to Sandy. Jamie left us at the Layton stop and we pulled into Ogden at about 6:35. I begged Leslie that if she let me squeeze into their car I would buy them all dinner. Of course they said yes, so we put Gunner's car seat in the trunk and Paul got in the back with the kids and Leslie and I rode up front.

If they hadn't taken me I would have had to wait at the station until 7:30 for the last bus to Brigham. I was not looking forward to that. It was dark and cold and I would have been all by myself and the station is down on Wall and 25th street. Diana should should remember what kind of neighborhood that is. It can be scary at night.

We got into Brigham at 7:15. It was a little slow going home because the roads were icey from it snowing all day. We stopped at Wingers and had dinner and then we all went home. I figured I spent almost six hours on the transit system. It was one long day. In some ways it's worth it and in some ways it's not.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about Angel's party. If you want to see more pictures I have posted them on my FB page.

This evening I got another gift left on my doorstep. It was a box of craisin sugar cookies dipped in icing. They are very yummy.

D@&X Snowplows!!!!!!!

I have so much to catch up on. I've got so many blog fodders and should have been writing daily but I've also been busy and by the time I sit down I am so tired I can't stay awake to write.

Where to start???????

Friday....
It started out actually with me looking up cars on autotrader.com Thursday night. I wanted to look at a couple of cars that were out at Murdock Chevrolet in Tremonton but hadn't had the chance to drive out there. Well they had a couple of nice cars but as I scrolled down one in particular caught my eye.

It was a 2008 Chevy Cobalt LS coupe. It is an automatic (bummer), 4 cylinder, silver with a spoiler on the back. The kicker...it only has 15,000 miles on it! The price was slashed to $8938.00. So Friday morning when I got to work I called Allen who I've been talking to at Murdock. He said that there was nothing wrong with the car and it was actually bought off their lot originally. It had been on the lot for over 40 days and when that happens they start cutting the price to get rid of it.

I told him with my schedule I wouldn't be able to get out there until Monday after work to look at it. He then told me that he would find a driver and have them bring it to me at work so I could look at it. If he couldn't find a driver he was willing to tell everyone that he had an interested party and hold it until I could come out Monday.

Then he told me that if he could get someone to bring it to me he would let me try it out for the weekend! So about noon the Cobalt arrived and they took my Grand Am to Tremonton. It is a nice little car, clean, nothing wrong with the body.

It hasn't been a very good weekend to try it out though. It has snowed ALL weekend (we've gotten at least a foot). I was a little nervous this morning in all the snow and slush. It's a little smaller and lighter then my Grand Am. I was also used to being able to down shift and this is an automatic. It handled okay, I slid a little but I think I would have in my car it was that bad this morning.

So I'm trying to decide if I should get it or keep looking. Diana...see what TJ thinks.

Shop with a Cop...... The actual Shop with a Cop event was held Sat. Dec. 5th at our Walmart like always. There were two little boys whose parents are divorced. It was their father's weekend and because he had been in trouble with the police wouldn't let the boys attend. Can't imagine why he's divorced can you???? The mother contacted Pam (organizer) who contacted Walmart and arranged a special Shop with a Cop for the boys Friday evening. So they needed two helper "elves" to shop with them and the police officers so Jan (claims) and I volunteered.

They came at 5pm. Two of the cutest little boys, one six and one four. I went with the 4 year old who's name was Bridger. At first he hung way back and we had to keep coaxing him to come along. The police officer that was with me was very good with him and he finally started to warm up to us.

He NEVER uttered a word the whole time we were with him. We would ask him things and he would just nod his head or point. I tried every thing to get him to say something but he never did.

After we found everything and paid for it we took them to the S.W.A.S. room and helped them gift wrap their presents. It was so much fun. Their mother and little brother (he was too young for Shop with a Cop) were there with us. Bridger was in charge of taping and did a fine job. A couple of times his little brother wanted to help so we let him tape too.

The mother was so grateful and just kept thanking us. I asked her if Bridger ever talked. She said only when he needs to. She described him as the strong silent type. That was a fact. Even though he never talked we always knew what he wanted.

I have helped with Shop with a Cop for 6 years now. I love doing it. My heart goes out to the kids we help.

I will jump to today (Sunday) for a minute. We have received about a foot of snow over the weekend. I woke up this morning and the plows were making their passes on our street. When they made their final pass I had a pile of snow a good 3 feet high blocking the end of my driveway. There was no way the Cobalt would get through that. It was 8:00 and church is at 9 and I needed to be there early because it was my Sunday to play the organ.

I was pretty sure I was going to have to call and tell them I wouldn't be able to make it. I went back to get dressed and when I came back out some one who must have had a snow blade on his truck had pushed the snow out of the way just wide enough for a car to get through (I have a double wide driveway). Have I told you what a great ward and neighborhood I live in!?!?!

So I was able to make it to church on time. It was a very good Sacrament meeting. I had good organ karma today. It was also my Sunday to teach our Primary class. They were pretty good but between the snow and the upcoming holiday....well....they were pretty good. After the meetings we had choir practice. We will be singing our 3 Christmas songs next week. They are sounding really good and we've had good turn outs to practices.

When I was coming home and turned the corner on my street and got to my driveway...it was completely plowed! Some one had finished the job. I have the best friends and neighbors!!!!

I watched Leslie's kids this afternoon while she and Paul went to the store real quick. The kids were all excited about the snow and more than a little rowdy. But they were good. Then I watched one of my favorite Christmas movies that was on "White Christmas".

When I came up a little while ago I looked out and AAAARRRGGGGHHH!!!!!!! The snowplows had come past again and there was more snow at the end of my nice clean driveway! I went out and shoveled a space big enough to get the car through in the morning. It was too heavy for me to do more. I had to at least do that much while it was still soft enough to break up. In the morning it would have been too frozen and harder to clear.

Also while I was downstairs I heard my doorbell ring. When I came upstairs there was a present on my front porch. On it was the number 12. When I opened it, it is a Christmas tree cookie jar. Hmmmm looks like I have a mystery Santa or something.

Well tomorrow I will write about Saturday's adventures.

"The Burning Within"

Tuesday evening I was invited to go out to Megan's mom's ward in Tremonton. Megan's mom is the Relief Society President and they were having a special evening.

Ranelle Wallace was coming to speak. Ranelle has written the book "The Burning Within". She was a reporter in California and survived a plan crash which burned a good portion of her body. You could hardly tell that now though.

She was wonderful. I sat there totally captivated by her. While she was talking I started to notice that she was talking directly to me. Not only in the spiritual sense but her focus was on me and no one else. I was a little uncomfortable at first but then the more she talked to me the more I became unable to turn away from her.

It was a very powerful talk and several times I received a "burning from within" from the spirit confirming that what she was saying was true. She also made you think about your own beliefs and testimony. When she was drawing to the conclusion of her talk I looked up at the time and she had been talking to us for an hour....it seemed like only a few minutes.

After she finished we went into the cultural hall for dinner. They served chicken cordon bleu, a very yummy salad, homemade rolls (Megan told me her mom's best friend always makes them and they are the best) and pumpkin cake. The salad had craisins in it and I had never tried them before. They were good. I don't like raisins but I will eat craisins, go figure.

The pumpkin cake was very good. When I took my first bite I turned to Megan and said, "I know this will sound weird but this cake tastes like my scentsy scent." You know when you smell something and you can almost taste it and sometimes it will make your mouth water? When I bit into the cake the aroma from the cake and the taste was exactly like what I think my scentsy would taste like. Yes, I know I'm a little weird sometimes.......

Some of the women brought their own copies of Ranelle's book and she signed them for them. She also brought a box of her books so I bought one and she signed it. While she was doing that she told me that I was her anchor while she was up there speaking. I told her that I could tell she was talking to me. She said that she always picks out a person to "anchor" herself to. She said when she saw me and I quote (I am not making this up) "I could tell you are a very special lady". Then she stood up and gave me a huge hug. Wow what a night.

I also got to meet Megan's (and Conly's) Grandmother. she was very nice and very funny. It was a nice evening and I was grateful to Megan and her mom for sharing it with me. Now I can't wait to read the book.

Shopping with Cambria and Braxton.....

It snowed all day Saturday but only left enough on the ground to make it slippery Sunday morning.

When I got home from church. Leslie was at my house with the kids. I was met by Cambria and Braxton racing up the stairs both shouting "I wanna go shopping with you FIRST!" Leslie had gone to get us some lunch so while I changed Cambria and Braxton "discussed" who was going to go shopping first.

They decided to play "rock, paper, scissors". So every time they came to the point of showing what they had Cambria would try to see what Braxton was going to do so she could beat him. Braxton would then say "Knife" and hold out one finger. Cambria told him there was no knife in rock, paper, scissors and Braxton said yes there was...which of course started another argument.
When Leslie got back with our lunch we had to settle this fight. We told Cambria that she got to go first last year. She said that was because she had to go to dance. We told her that it didn't matter she still went first. I had to tell them that just because I picked one to go first didn't mean I loved that person any more than the other. There was a little pouting going on with Cambria.

So Braxton and I left for Walmart. He was so excited and said that he already knew what he was going to get everyone. He walked in and went right to each thing he wanted, picked out the first wrapping paper he saw and.....we were done. He did have a second thought on Cambria's gift but quickly found something he thought was a better present. He was like this last year too. I wonder if his super power is "speed shopping"?

When we got home I sent Cambria to the car while we brought in Braxton's gifts (all but the one for Leslie). He went downstairs to have Leslie help him wrap while Cambria and I went shopping.

On the way to the store Cambria was telling me what she was going to get Gunner....ohoh...I had to tell her that Braxton had got that for him. She then asked if Braxton got her dad an item and I had to tell her yes again (this was not looking good) then she asked "What did he get my mom?" I told her it was in the back seat and when she saw what it was she said "Braxton stole all my ideas!" No wonder he was so fast......

So we had to start from scratch. Cambria had some other ideas but she changed her mind twice on Braxton's gift, and twice on her dad's gift. She was still pretty mad at Braxton for stealing all her ideas.

When we got home Cambria and I went into the bedroom and started wrapping. Once we had Braxton's gift wrapped I called him up so we could wrap his mom's present. While we were wrapping all of a sudden Gunner threw open the door and said, "Whatcha doin?" Cambria was just starting to wrap his present so she threw herself over it to hide it. It was pretty funny.

When she was wrapping Braxton's gift we needed a box, so I was looking around to see if I could find one big enough. She went to open the closet door and I told her not to do that (I may have sounded a little excited). She turned to me and with a huge grin on her face asked me if that was were I had hidden presents. I said yes and if she opened it I would take them all back. She didn't, but it was a close call.

After all the presents were taken care of the kids wanted to help me decorate the tree. So I pulled out the unbreakable ornaments and let them have at it. I put the star on the top and Braxton said that he wanted to. I told him I was going to do it (I knew this would start another competition between him and his sister).

I turned around to get some ornaments and when I looked back at the tree Cambria was standing on the couch putting the star back on the tree. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm putting the star on the tree!" I'm pretty sure that was her way of getting even with Braxton for stealing all her gift ideas.

Gunner using the couch for support...

Cambria thoughtfully placing ornaments......


Gunner putting the third decoration on the same branch.....

Braxton doing his part......

Gunner, Braxton and Cambria in front of the finished tree....

After they left for home I made some dinner and watched the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. It is one of my favorite things.

So it was a busy fun weekend and Grandma's shopping trips with the grandchildren are all done. Next year I start taking Gunner.

Shopping with Jax and Trevon.....

Last year I started a new Christmas tradition of taking each grandchild Christmas shopping for their family. It gives me a little one on one time with each of them and we have fun.

Jamie came into town around 3:30 and dropped Jax off at Walmart since I was just getting off work.

The first person we shopped for was his mother. He knew just what he was going to get her so when we got the the aisle where the items were (I can't tell you because Jamie reads this) he made his decision by the color of the item not some of the other things that you would take into consideration when buying an item of this nature. He didn't want to change it even when I suggested another one. The one he picked was "Mom's favorite color." One down, two to go......

Next it was Trevon's gift, another easy one that Jax knew what he wanted to get him Something Spider-man. Easy enough went right to the aisle and wa-la another gift down...

Next we had to find something for Patrick (Jamie's boyfriend)......by this time Jax was trying to tell me how much he (Jax) wanted a BB gun. I had to keep reminding him that we weren't buying HIS present we were looking for Pat's. He said let's get him something basketball (that's what Pat plays) so we went to sporting goods and for some reason we ended up looking at.....BB Guns! Jax can have a very one track mind sometimes. I ended up calling Jamie for a suggestion and we got him a monopoly game.

We were done!! Jamie had already gotten Johnny's (Jax's dad) gift so we didn't have to shop for him. We went over to the wrapping paper so he could pick out what kind he wanted to use.

When we got to the house Jax went in to wrap his presents, because he doesn't need help to do that anymore and I took Trevon back to Walmart.

The conversation in the car went something like this....
Me-So do you know what you want to get your mom and Jax and Patrick for Christmas?
Trevon- I want a toy....
Me-We are going to buy presents for your mom and Jax and Patrick....
Trevon-I want a toy.....
Me- We are shopping for your family not you this time.
Trevon-Did my broder get a toy? (he NEVER calls Jax by his name even when he is talking to Jax, it is ALWAYS broder)
Me-no, but he bought you a present...
Trevon-what did he get me?
Me-I can't tell you it is a surprise for Christmas morning...
Trevon-well I want a toy....

First we went to get his mom's gift. I gave him some ideas and he chose one. We went and looked at several so he could choose the one he wanted to get for her. He picked out one and we headed to the toy department to get Jax's present.

He knew what he wanted to get Jax...Lego's. So we found him a set and no sooner had I put it in the shopping cart Trevon said "now I want a toy". Oh dear we are back to this conversation again?

We headed to find Patrick some body wash (it is what Jamie said he liked) and we found several men's sets so I gave Trevon a choice and then we were done. He picked out his wrapping paper and as we headed towards the checkouts he was standing in the back of the cart holding the wrapping paper like a bazooka and pretending to shoot people as we walked past them. On the way up he asked if he could have some gum, okay gum I can do (at least it wasn't a toy he asked for again).

We got home and I helped Trevon wrap his presents. Then we all had some food from Taco Bell for dinner and watched "Elf" while we ate.

December........

Yesterday I went with my friend Robin D. to Farmington to hear Cori Connor's Christmas concert. On the way down we stopped at the Mimi's Cafe in Layton and had a bowl of soup and their yummy bread for dinner.

Robin use to live in Farmington and is friends with Cori. I had never heard of her before but I am always ready to hear new music and artists. Cori is a singer/songwriter and has had several songs performed by top artists. She plays guitar and has a beautiful voice (at least to me she did).

I have never really been to Farmington before, never ever went any further than Lagoon. Farmington is a beautiful little community and I would love to live there. It is tucked up in the base of the mountain and filled with beautiful old homes. Robin took me on a quick tour before we went to the concert.

The concert was held in the new community building. It was just like something out of a Courier and Ives Christmas card. The stage was draped in fresh garland and simple chairs were set up. The place was packed with her family and friends from the community. At the back of the stage was a huge Christmas tree just trimmed with white lights.

In her ensemble there was a pianist, a violinist, another guitar, two backup singers-one who also played various instruments, another person that also played various instruments and a man playing the standing bass.

She used to have an antique business but sold it so that she could put a studio in her house. She told us that she isn't signed to any label but that she and her band are just a group of friends that love to make music and you could feel the love they put into their songs and performance. They have 5 CD's out and of course I bought all 5 of them (I guess I will be eating mac and cheese the rest of the week).

Two of her CD's are Christmas and are full of her original songs. She also does a version of "The First Noel" that she has written a third verse for that is wonderful. The last song she sang was called "You Would Have Loved This" and most of the audience was in tears (including me) by the time she was done singing it.

After the concert Robin introduced me and we talked with her for a bit. It was a nice start to the holiday season. Robin is so fun to hang with.

"The Event", Santa and Sunday.......

"The Event" (as Walmart was calling the big 5 hour sale instead of "Blitz") was truly a spectacle. When I pulled up to the light at the intersection you could see a line of traffic down the freeway waiting to turn in to the store. When I pulled into the parking lot I could not find a parking spot in the whole lot. People were starting to park along the freeway and in any available adjacent parking lot to the store. I ended up pulling into the yellow zone (I wasn't the only one) and told Bob when I walked in that if my car got towed he was paying for it.

The office associates (Jade, Jan, Connie and myself) were given the job to carry around a bag of candy and orange juice and pass them out to customers that looked like they needed it. The last 2 years we have had the same lady (who is diabetic) pass out in the store and we've had to call the ambulance. Bob did not want that happening again this year. It didn't, I'm not sure it was because of us though. We didn't even know what the lady looked like.

It was a fun job. I just got to walk around handing out candy and making nice to the customers. I got to see a lot of my friends and I could stop and talk to them with out being in trouble.

Saturday was the official arrival of Santa to Brigham. Usually it is in the evening but this year they had it at 11 in the morning. I think it was better because it wasn't as cold, but the wind did blow and make it colder than it should have been.

Leslie and the kids couldn't come in this year because Paul's Grandma was having her Christmas party at noon. Jamie and the boys did come up.

Trevon, Jamie and Jax ......
They had a children's group singing Christmas songs to entertain us while we waited..

Trevon and Jax drinking hot chocolate to keep warm.........

Here he comes (he is at the very back on the ladder)

Trevon with Santa.....

Jax with Santa, or as he put it "the man in the costume". He is getting older and I think he is questioning his belief in Santa.

After they saw Santa we went and had lunch at Wingers (Jax's choice). Then we ran to Walmart (I know, I broke my own rule) so Jamie could look at the Christmas trees we had and Jax and Trevon could show me some of the things they wanted for Christmas so I would have some ideas of what to get them.

Leslie and Paul went to dinner that evening so Cambria, Braxton and Gunner came over. Gunner had his Christmas stocking that Grandma Moore had given him (she gives one to each grandchild every year). He had to show me everything that was in it. He is 2 now so he is going to be so much fun this year.

Today I had to play a musical number for Sacrament meeting. This made it so that every Sunday this month I have been a part of the musical number. Edris called me Monday to see if I could do it. Then I was at Angel's for a couple of days and then with work and Santa and everything I really didn't have a lot of time to practice.

I picked out a piece that was Thanksgivingy (is that a word?) and was practicing it Saturday. This morning when I sat down to practice it and I decided to check our music list (as organist we get a list that has the songs that are being sung each Sunday and it usually covers 3 months). Well they had us singing Christmas songs today. That's okay with me but I felt like I should change my number. So I quickly looked through my music and found Sally Deford's arrangement of "The First Noel" I practiced it for about half an hour and that was it. Once again the angels were with me and it turned out great.

It was my Sunday to teach the lesson in Primary. You could tell it was a holiday, the kids were all wound up. After church was over we of course had choir practice. We are doing 3 songs for Christmas and they are all going pretty good. We had a huge turn out for practice, we usually do for December, everyone like to sing Christmas songs. I wish we could get these kind of turnouts all the time.

I've just been lazy all afternoon. I even took a nap. Jackie came over for a visit this evening. It is always so much fun to talk to her.

Well that's my weekend. It's now almost my bedtime, have to be to work tomorrow as usual.