Dec 25, 2009
Christmas 2009
Well, Christmas is over. Time for another year to begin. That's always sad.... I can't say it wasn't a good year though! Chloe had so much fun this year and it was just nice all around. I FINALLY got snow boots so I won't have to traipse around in my regular old tennis shoes and get wetfeet! And Shane was also nice enough to replace my stolen iPod with a new one. So sweet :) The pictures won't do the day justice, but enjoy anyway!
Nice sister that I am, I made Christmas plates and took them to my siblings that were around for Christmas :)
Chloe got a Flirty Apron from my brother's family and she LOVES it!
It was not so easy putting together Chloe's little dolly set. Oh well - worth it in the end!!
Shane even got Chloe a little Doodle Pad thingy.
Shane got fishy pajama pants; I got snow boots and a new hat!
Chloe and Shane colored for a bit after naptime too. It was so sweet :)
(saying "CHEESE!") Shane was pretending to sleep so I wouldn't catch him coloring with her!
Dec 23, 2009
*sigh of relief*
So we were actually able to trade in our #$%^&$^&(%^^@#$$&^((@!@$%))(*&^%.!@#$%^&*( TRUCK!!! That's how much I LOATHED that hunk of poo. We now have a better vehicle, lower payments, and peace of mind knowing that this one won't need to have THOUSANDS of dollars pumped into it every year!
2003 Chevy Silverado (diesel)
Dec 22, 2009
Seeing Santa
Santa..... Ah Santa.... When will Chloe ever love him? She freaked again this year. Oh well. Someday....
Dec 17, 2009
The Three Levels of Christmas
Since I won't be home for Christmas, I won't get to hear my dad recite his traditional "Three Levels of Christmas". So, I thought I would post it to make sure that I got to hear it. I hope you all enjoy this poem about the true meaning of Christmas (not to belittle the LOVE that I have for the non true meaning.......)
By William B. Smart
Christmas is a beautiful time of the year. We love the excitement, the giving
spirit, the special awareness of and appreciation for family and friends, the
feelings of love and brotherhood that bless our gatherings at Christmastime.
spirit, the special awareness of and appreciation for family and friends, the
feelings of love and brotherhood that bless our gatherings at Christmastime.
In all the joyousness, it is well to reflect that Christmas comes in three
levels.
levels.
Let’s call the first the Santa Claus level. It’s the level of Christmas trees
and holly, of whispered secrets and colorful packages, of candlelight and rich
food and warm open houses. It’s carolers in the shopping malls, excited
children, and weary but loving parents. It’s a lovely time of special warmth and
caring and giving. It’s the level at which we eat too much and spend too much
and do too much–and enjoy every minute of it. We love the Santa Claus level of
Christmas.
and holly, of whispered secrets and colorful packages, of candlelight and rich
food and warm open houses. It’s carolers in the shopping malls, excited
children, and weary but loving parents. It’s a lovely time of special warmth and
caring and giving. It’s the level at which we eat too much and spend too much
and do too much–and enjoy every minute of it. We love the Santa Claus level of
Christmas.
But there’s a higher, more beautiful level. Let’s call it the Silent Night
level. It’s the level of all our glorious Christmas carols, of that beloved,
familiar story: “Now in those days there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus…” It’s the level of the crowded inn, and the silent holy moment in a
dark stable when the Son of Man came to earth. It’s shepherds on steep, bare
hill near Bethlehem, angels with their glad tidings, a new star in the East,
wise men traveling far in search of the Holy One. How beautiful and meaningful
it is; how infinitely poorer we would be without this sacred second level of
Christmas.
level. It’s the level of all our glorious Christmas carols, of that beloved,
familiar story: “Now in those days there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus…” It’s the level of the crowded inn, and the silent holy moment in a
dark stable when the Son of Man came to earth. It’s shepherds on steep, bare
hill near Bethlehem, angels with their glad tidings, a new star in the East,
wise men traveling far in search of the Holy One. How beautiful and meaningful
it is; how infinitely poorer we would be without this sacred second level of
Christmas.
The trouble is, these two levels don’t last. They can’t. Twelve days of
Christmas, at the first level, is about all most of us can stand. It’s too
intense, too extravagant. The tree dries out and the needles fall. The candles
burn down. The beautiful wrappings go out with he trash, the carolers are up on
the ski slopes, the toys break, and the biggest day in the stores in the entire
year is exchange day, December 26.
Christmas, at the first level, is about all most of us can stand. It’s too
intense, too extravagant. The tree dries out and the needles fall. The candles
burn down. The beautiful wrappings go out with he trash, the carolers are up on
the ski slopes, the toys break, and the biggest day in the stores in the entire
year is exchange day, December 26.
The feast is over and the dieting begins. But the lonely and the hungry are with
us still perhaps lonelier and hungrier than before.
us still perhaps lonelier and hungrier than before.
Lovely and joyous as the first level of Christmas is, there will come a day,
very soon, when Mother will put away the decorations and vacuum the living room
and think, “Thank goodness that’s over for another year.”
very soon, when Mother will put away the decorations and vacuum the living room
and think, “Thank goodness that’s over for another year.”
Even the second level, the level of the Baby Jesus, can’t last. How many times
this season can you sing “Silent Night”? The angels and the star and the
shepherd, even the silent, sacred mystery of that holy night itself, can’t long
satisfy humanity’s basic need. The man who keeps Christ in the manger will, in
the end, be disappointed and empty.
this season can you sing “Silent Night”? The angels and the star and the
shepherd, even the silent, sacred mystery of that holy night itself, can’t long
satisfy humanity’s basic need. The man who keeps Christ in the manger will, in
the end, be disappointed and empty.
No, for Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning
and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at
the third level, that of the adult Christ. It is at this level–not as an
infant–that our Saviour brings His gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting
hope. It was the adult Christ who reached out and touched the untouchable, who
loved the unlovable, who so loved us all that even in His agony on the cross He
prayed forgiveness for His enemies.
and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at
the third level, that of the adult Christ. It is at this level–not as an
infant–that our Saviour brings His gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting
hope. It was the adult Christ who reached out and touched the untouchable, who
loved the unlovable, who so loved us all that even in His agony on the cross He
prayed forgiveness for His enemies.
This is the Christ, creator of worlds without number, who wept, Enoch tell us,
because so many of us lack affection and hate each other–and then who willingly
gave His life for all of us, including those for whom He wept.
because so many of us lack affection and hate each other–and then who willingly
gave His life for all of us, including those for whom He wept.
This is the Christ, the adult Christ, who gave us the perfect example, and asked
us to follow Him.
us to follow Him.
Accepting that invitation is the way–the only way–to celebrate Christmas all
year and all life long.
year and all life long.
Dec 9, 2009
Temple Square lights!
We went and saw the lights at Temple Square last night --- So pretty! It was less than 15 degrees so we were FREEZING but still enjoyed it. Even Chloe liked all the lights! Just took some [fuzzy] pictures so if you can't make it, you at least know what some of it looked like :) FYI - we watched the thermostat in my car get down to 11 degrees. It was cold.So cold....Chloe was bundled up nice and tight - except she doesn't have a hat :(
The Temple was so pretty, all lit up (not the the Temple itself, but everything around it was lit up!)
The Temple was so pretty, all lit up (not the the Temple itself, but everything around it was lit up!)
Dec 1, 2009
Thanksgiving
Well, I don't really have any pictures to post right now.... but I can TELL you about our Thanksgiving...
We went to my parents' house in Logandale and it was nice :) The weather was pretty great - 60's-70's. It was QUIET this year. Usually, Thanksgiving is the one holiday that most of us siblings gather for - probably 8 of the 11 can make it each year. For reasons unknown to me, many of my siblings couldn't make it this year. There were only 4 of us kids and our collective 7 children. Compared with years past and the 35 -plus people in my mom's small - ish family room...... including the 15-20 screaming, running, crying kids..... This was a nice reprieve :) My dad fried turkeys and my sister-in-law and I helped cook. We had plenty to eat and we all actually fit at just one table!!! (except for the "kiddie table")
My dad was looking at all of us and mentioned that the amount of people at the table that night was the same number we had growing up (at different points in time). Life moved WAY too fast! It was just a nice way to spend the evening though. I still missed having everyone around and laughing to tears at old stories/home movies and Brian making inadvertent, inappropriate comments :)
Anyway, I NEVER have, nor have ever wanted to, participate in "Black Friday". Of course, Shane saw a deal that he just couldn't pass up --- a shop-vac. *sigh* They were the door buster thing at Home Depot and both Shane and his dad could use them for work! So..... woke up at 3:30 and headed in to Vegas. Chloe was just as chipper and happy as could be! The people around us in line (we were third ;)) commented on her happy demeanor and she just smiled and waved right back at them. *we will never shop Black Friday again*
So anyway, we got our two shop vacs and went to put them in the car -- BARELY FIT! So of course none of our luggage would have fit with it, plus the two dogs' houses. Thank goodness for extended families that visit Vegas for Thanksgiving! My S-I-L, Layne's parents happened to drive their truck down for their Thanksgiving and they were gracious enough to lug those things back up to Orem for us!!!Later that day we strolled around and got me some new eye shadow from Sephora -- I'm an eyeshadow snob; even though it doesn't show :(
Anyway, we had fun and decided that we would try to be down there longer for the fair so we could do some exploring in the desert (since my Dad's 4-wheeler is fixed now!!!!).
Chloe LOVED my mom and dad. She hasn't really been around them much so I was relieved. They both taught her new phrases --- "Go Cougars!" (courtesy of my mom after that nail-biting narrow win against the U) and my dad --- "Giblets" --- you know, the innards of a turkey??? She's so cute when she says it though :)
We all had fun and look forward to visiting again in April for the CLARK COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO!
ENOUGH about us though. Sorry --- again, this is my journal and you just get the pleasure of seeing it!
We went to my parents' house in Logandale and it was nice :) The weather was pretty great - 60's-70's. It was QUIET this year. Usually, Thanksgiving is the one holiday that most of us siblings gather for - probably 8 of the 11 can make it each year. For reasons unknown to me, many of my siblings couldn't make it this year. There were only 4 of us kids and our collective 7 children. Compared with years past and the 35 -plus people in my mom's small - ish family room...... including the 15-20 screaming, running, crying kids..... This was a nice reprieve :) My dad fried turkeys and my sister-in-law and I helped cook. We had plenty to eat and we all actually fit at just one table!!! (except for the "kiddie table")
My dad was looking at all of us and mentioned that the amount of people at the table that night was the same number we had growing up (at different points in time). Life moved WAY too fast! It was just a nice way to spend the evening though. I still missed having everyone around and laughing to tears at old stories/home movies and Brian making inadvertent, inappropriate comments :)
Anyway, I NEVER have, nor have ever wanted to, participate in "Black Friday". Of course, Shane saw a deal that he just couldn't pass up --- a shop-vac. *sigh* They were the door buster thing at Home Depot and both Shane and his dad could use them for work! So..... woke up at 3:30 and headed in to Vegas. Chloe was just as chipper and happy as could be! The people around us in line (we were third ;)) commented on her happy demeanor and she just smiled and waved right back at them. *we will never shop Black Friday again*
So anyway, we got our two shop vacs and went to put them in the car -- BARELY FIT! So of course none of our luggage would have fit with it, plus the two dogs' houses. Thank goodness for extended families that visit Vegas for Thanksgiving! My S-I-L, Layne's parents happened to drive their truck down for their Thanksgiving and they were gracious enough to lug those things back up to Orem for us!!!Later that day we strolled around and got me some new eye shadow from Sephora -- I'm an eyeshadow snob; even though it doesn't show :(
Anyway, we had fun and decided that we would try to be down there longer for the fair so we could do some exploring in the desert (since my Dad's 4-wheeler is fixed now!!!!).
Chloe LOVED my mom and dad. She hasn't really been around them much so I was relieved. They both taught her new phrases --- "Go Cougars!" (courtesy of my mom after that nail-biting narrow win against the U) and my dad --- "Giblets" --- you know, the innards of a turkey??? She's so cute when she says it though :)
We all had fun and look forward to visiting again in April for the CLARK COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO!
ENOUGH about us though. Sorry --- again, this is my journal and you just get the pleasure of seeing it!
Nov 18, 2009
A little behind!
So not that any of you really care, but I have gotten a little behind in posting! We've been busy getting things done for my "home office" these last couple of weeks and then we went to Idaho and blah blah blah.... ANYWAY, I'll just give some little updates.
Um.... we went to Idaho last weekend to visit my sister, Anne, and her family. She needed a room carpeted and it was an excuse to have us visit! They live in Jerome - right next to Twin Falls. It was a LONG and BORING drive. But we had fun! My nieces love Chloe to pieces and she was a little over-stimulated by Saturday night :) She had fun with them though. My two oldest nieces are in high school - a junior and a sophomore. It's so strange to hear them talking because I was JUST there a few years ago!!! *sigh* To be young again :)
Shane and I went out with Anne and Kyle for a little bit on Saturday afternoon. Anne is 15 years older than me so I didn't really get to grow up with her and since they've lived in ID since getting married, I've spent very little time with her compared to my other older siblings. ANYWAY, I learned where I get a few of my quirky habits from! It was a revelation!!
We came home Sunday in the freezing cold and Chloe slept for about 3 of the 4 hours of driving time - told you, her cousins loved her to pieces!
Ummmmm...... earlier in that week we took a drive and I just took a few pics. Other than that, not a whole lot happenin! I will be working out of my "home" sometime on Monday. It was delayed a little bit, but still on track! I'm so excited to be able to be a real Mommy to my baby girl.
The water was getting a layer of ice on top and I just thought these looked pretty cool!
Chloe rockin her new carseat that Shane calls a Cadillac :)
LOOK CLOSELY AT THOSE LITTLE CURLS!!!!!! YIPPEE!!!!!
Nov 9, 2009
Thanksgiving...?
So I went to the store the other night for the first time since Halloween. Holy COW is it Christmas out there already?!?! It got me thinking - and being all.... "thoughtful" or whatever. Thanksgiving is just so looked over. Now don't get me wrong, I look forward to Christmas more than any other day of the year, but when you have virtually nothing ($$, monetary possessions, etc...) it makes you appreciate what you do have - however loose the grip or thin the rope may be.
I'm only doing this for my own remembrance. In 40 years, I want to be able to look back at my young life and remember the good times and try and forget the awful things that I never tell anyone because it's so bad :) I with that blogger.com would install a "printer friendly" button so I could literally print and bind all of my blogs!
SO - you may start to see some sappy, warm/fuzzy posts from me this month. I'm sorry. This is just so easy. So much easier than writing. Maybe at a later point in time, when I am home more often, I will just write. And develop pictures. I won't even bother scrap booking b/c honestly, I don't care. I would MUCH rather have scores and scores of journals with loose pictures for my kids to look through. It has so much more meaning than a bunch of card stock and glue. *I might be singing a different tune if I had any crafting ability!*
I'm only doing this for my own remembrance. In 40 years, I want to be able to look back at my young life and remember the good times and try and forget the awful things that I never tell anyone because it's so bad :) I with that blogger.com would install a "printer friendly" button so I could literally print and bind all of my blogs!
SO - you may start to see some sappy, warm/fuzzy posts from me this month. I'm sorry. This is just so easy. So much easier than writing. Maybe at a later point in time, when I am home more often, I will just write. And develop pictures. I won't even bother scrap booking b/c honestly, I don't care. I would MUCH rather have scores and scores of journals with loose pictures for my kids to look through. It has so much more meaning than a bunch of card stock and glue. *I might be singing a different tune if I had any crafting ability!*
And besides, if I start getting all excited about Christmas right now, it will seem like it is FOREVER away!
I guess this is just a warning to you all that my next few posts will probably not be very entertaining, so feel free to ignore :)
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