Lazy Days of Winter

Here are Hubby's Great Grand kids from his oldest daughter (minus two babies and plus Grandson in law Matt) the day of their Christmas party when was hubby was dubbed, "The Crazy Guy!" All I have to say about that is, you have no idea how crazy!

We had a wonderful Christmas. It started snowing Christmas Eve, snowed 12" by Noon Christmas Day, stopped snowing long enough for my children to arrive and continued on after that from early afternoon until long after I went to bed.

Here is Cole putting together the only toy he got. Sometimes it's hard to pretend you're a grown up!

Here is Madie showing off her new DC's (shoes). You can't see them because she had already packed everything up in anticipation of going to see her boyfriend.


And here is Alex with the make your own John Deere Bear that Madie gave him. You can't tell from his face, but he really was excited about it.

Lucky for me I didn't have to get up and drive on those snowy roads on Friday. But, my oldest child decided he HAD to drive to Park City, Christmas night, to see a "girl". I did not sleep until he called to say, after over an hour, that he had made it down the canyon. If I had been closer to him I would have hugged him and cried and then knocked him upside the head!

So, Friday morning I slept in and had the house all to myself because my hubby had to work. I actually showered, made the bed and ate. After that I laid on the couch watching "Mama Mia!" TWICE. It was heavenly.

Four days off from work. It was so nice and I know I could get used to staying home, if I was rich that is!

In other pressing news, I finished "Two From Galilee", loved it, again! I watched the Jazz win one game and lose another in double overtime without my precious Paul Milsap who is hurt. (I'm betting they are going to call me any day to help nurse him back to health!) Saw the parentals...I know someday my mother is going to be like the crazy aunt in Christmas Vacation bearing "interesting" gifts. But my mom will have her dog wrapped up and covered in Fruit Cake. My siblings and their spouses know this is true!

Can You Say Snow?

It's snowing here in Utah. Great big fat flaky snow. The kind of snow that multiplies when it goes over the Great Salt Lake.

We are getting a ton of this stuff. It's supposed to snow all afternoon and all night. Five inches before rush hour. And then we'll all have a long commute.

It is so beautiful. I love the snow. But it's what comes after the snow that I don't like. The cold. This weekend our low will be 9 degrees. Sounds fun, huh?

And I still need to finish my Christmas shopping. Still have to find something on this earth that my hubby doesn't have. This is a chore. He told me to get him nothing. That is too easy and such a cop out. Over the next 5 days I will be a shopping fool during my lunch hour.

Since I can't take many of you with me (won't fit in my little Honda, sorry!) here is a picture of Baxter for you to enjoy. He likes the snow too and wears booties to protect his tootsies.

Two From Galilee

First of all, my apologizes for such a downer of a post last time. That post was the reason I just couldn't do anything for a couple of weeks. And I appreciate all your lovely kind words and I know her family would too.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year. I love the music, the food, the lights, the smell of the trees, the presents....both giving and receiving and I love the traditions.

Since I left my old life and started a new life, many of my old traditions have been left behind and some new ones have been picked up. Take this weekend for instance. The Baxter side of my family always has a Christmas party. I can remember this back to before I can remember much of anything else. My cool, hip, young exotic aunts, who I always wanted to grow up to be just like, were a big part of my memories of Christmas. My Grandma always had the most beautiful Christmas tree. I even inherited a wreath that she made. Now I just need to convince my hubby that he loves pink and wants to hang it on the front door. (he really does, I'm sure, but he loves to fight it!)


So...back to the subject of traditions, this weekend we have the Baxter Christmas party! A lifelong tradition and always so much fun! Three years ago I got invited to my new family's Christmas party and it is this Saturday. This one is really fun too. Such cute little kids running around and my hubby's oldest daughters wonderful children. So the start of new tradition.

One tradition that I have kept since I was a teenager is reading the book, "Two From Galilee, The Story of Mary and Joseph" by Marjorie Holmes. Marjorie Holmes is a wonderful Christian authur. She writes uplifting, inspirational books that I love. (you should also try "I've Got to Talk to Someobody, God!") I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is the original Christmas story. Well, actually, the pre-Christmas story. This is a love story. The love story between a young 13 almost 14 year old girl and the 21 year old man she loves and cannot live without. It has been called the Greatest Love Story of all.

Even if you don't believe in Christmas, this is a touching and heartwarming book and I highly recommend it. If you have already read it, read it again. If you have never read it, you can borrow mine in a couple of days!