Out with the old...In with the New!

Out with the old...

In with the New!

(It's just a figure of speech dear)

I hate long good-bye's...I always get too emotional. So this will be short and sweet!

It's been a year with ups and downs, joys and sorrows, good-byes and hello's...and alot of growth. But since I'm a glass mostly full kind of gal, I'm going to focus on the good that's happened this year. Starting with:

January! I start my new position at work. I now work as a Corporate Trainer, and absolutely love what I do! I was terrified of accepting this new position. I felt so under-qualified, but someone saw some potential and gave me a chance, for which I will forever be grateful. It's the best thing that almost didn't happen for me.

February! Hmm, does anything good happen in february? Oh yeah, valentines. I'm sure I must have gotten a little something that was good. Overall, it's just a cold, yucky month. No wonder they make it shorter than all the others.

March! A month for birthdays...Tary turns a half a century...a hope for spring...things are starting to look up.

April! Tary and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary! No, it wasn't on a cruise, or on a beach, it was in a pyramid with mummies! If your thinking Egypt, you would be...wrong. Anniversary Inn, next best thing!

May! If April showers bring May flowers, what does May flowers bring? (no, it's not June moon. I tried that one.) Pilgrims! That's it. I'm sure it was a good month, flowers, pilgrims and all.

June...This month didn't start out so good, and only got worse. Joe's Dad passed away. A great loss, one that is felt by many.

July! Girls camp...scout camp...family camp...and the best part of the month, was Paisley! Oh, how we needed a little sunshine in our lives. Trey turned 12 and received the priesthood, that was pretty special too! And I can't forget my unforgettable night with Paul McCartney...and Tary too.

August! School starts! Kayla back in college, Trey starts Jr. High. Need I say more?

September! Kids still in school! Christmas is right around the corner!

October! General Conference...pumpkins...decorating...fall baking...cool weather...shorter days...sister craft day...Halloween! I love this time of year!

November! Christmas music! (no, it's not too early) Turkey's...new pie recipe's...finishing my christmas quilt that's been 4 years in the making...Thanksgiving...watching Mom pick up the stuffing she dropped on the floor...eating the stuffing she dropped on the floor, (yeah, it's that good!)

December! Transforming my home into a Winter Wonderland...shopping...sister candy day...baking...partying...more baking...giving...Christmas eve with the family...watching my mom knock over the tree...watching my mom try to pick up the tree...(are we sensing a new tradition with my mom on the holidays?)

Overall, it's been a good year. I'm hopeful this new year will be even better.

Happy New Year's everyone!

Silent Night

I hope Mary's ok with the donkey holding the baby

(Paisley got to be baby Jesus)



I'm not sure she liked her present, but she loved the wrapping paper.

Ah, the day after Christmas. Otherwise known as "The Big Let Down". I'm just grateful I had a day to do nothing but sit and recoup at church. I've never been more grateful for 'a day of rest'. I'm already dreading next year when I have to go to work the day after Christmas.




I've decided Christmas is much like vacation. You plan and prepare and look forward to it for so long, that when it finally comes, it may or may not live up to your expectations, and you always seem to need another vacation to rest up from it.





So many of our traditions are centered around food. As a child, I looked forward to Christmas eve as much or more than Christmas day! Every year, my mom would bring down her glass serving sets. They were cute little glass trays and cups that they used to use in the good ol'days for wedding receptions, just the right size for a little kid. We would have Sprite (soda-pop was a rare treat growing up) and make our own mini-pizza's, customizing it to our likes. Olives were a must, crackers and chips, vegi's and dip, and the traditional yule log.



Spouses and 20 grandkids later, we've had to replace the pizza's with soup to make it more manageable. But our traditional junk night is a staple on Christmas eve.



And now, I have our own Christmas food traditions. Every Christmas we have a traditional turkey dinner with mashed and sweet potatoes, rolls, beans, and my once a year red-hot jello salad, and of course, yule log.


Despite all the hard work, it was a great day. I even got to sleep in til 8 am. Of course I didn't fall asleep until after 1 am (yeah, i'll admit, i had a hard time falling asleep). The kids were happy with their presents, the husband was happy with his, and when they're happy, I'm happy. And when Mom's happy, everybody's happy. It was a happy day.


Today was a good day too. I've tried hard not to let the Christmas blues take over, and it's been nice to be able to finally relax. I didn't even make a big sunday dinner, thanks to leftovers. Then we all sat down together as a family and watched one of the movies we got for christmas. Who would have thought toys could make me cry? Ah, it was a good cleanser cry. I feel refreshed.

Christmas day is over,

The tree is bare once more.

the presents have all been opened,

the gifts neatly stacked on the floor.

Christmas carols are softly fading,

Christmas greetings are no longer heard.

The feelings of anticipation,

no longer within us are stirred.

The joy of the season starts fading,

the day the tree comes down;

we box up the memories and trinkets,

they'll keep till next year comes around.

But the meaning of Christmas shouldn't be stored with the lights

and only come out once a year;

No, the meaning of Christmas should live in our hearts,

the feelings of love always near.

And so my gift to the Christ child

this year I'll give to him,

to keep his spirit within me;

Good tidings for men will not dim.

I'll keep the Spirit of Christmas

every day of this new coming year;

kind acts, good thoughts and deeds

will keep me in Merry Christmas cheer.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope it was a good one...I hope we can all keep Christmas, not just 12 days of the month, but 12 months of the year!

Christmas memories

I think one of the reasons I love Christmas so much, is because of the fond memories I have of christmas as a child.

Part of those memories come from watching the old silent home movies., before the vcr and videotapes were invented. My favorite family home evenings were the times Dad would drag out the old film projector and big reels of 8 mm film. Family vacations, camping, running through the sprinklers, and every childs birthday and the blowing of the candles were forever captured in our memories thanks to those old movies. But the ones I looked forward to watching the most, were when my brother and sisters and I were lined up in front of the roaring fireplace, in our new pajamas that Mom made us every Christmas eve.

We were allowed to open one present on Christmas eve, of course it was always preselected by our Mom, and it was always a new pair of pajamas. As I recall, in the movies I was usually twirling, my sister twisting/dancing, and my brother would be stomping on some invisible bug. The trees would change from year to year. One year it might be flocked in white with big red crepe paper flowers adorning it, or green with tinsel and popcorn strung about. Our pajama's would also change as the years went by; flannel pj's with new minnie mouse slippers, or tricot nightgowns that were slick and flowing, perfect for sliding down the dining table leaves that doubled as a homemade slippery slide.

Whatever the wardrobe or tree looked like, our faces always held the same look of anticipation for who was to come, in what would always appear to be the longest night of the year!

I'm surprised Santa even made it to our house, with all those wide eyed children who found sleep impossible and was ready to catch him in the act with every bump and clatter they heard. When my sister and brother and I moved to the basement rooms, with our little siblings asleep upstairs, we would stay up late, with our radio turned down low, listening to the Santa sightings and estimating how long it would be before he found his way to our neighborhood. When we could stand it no more, we would sneek upstairs to see if the big guy had made his appearance. I don't know how he did it, but every time he came and left before we caught a glipse of him. And as was often the case, the temptation to sneek a peek at what he left was too great. With our stockings overflowing and presents piled so far and wide around the tree, it was almost overwhelming and made sleep near impossible. And most often than not, it was Mom and Dad who was shaking us awake in the morning, because eventually we drifted off to sleep and couldn't seem to wake up on our own, even knowing what awaited us upstairs.

Traditions are an important part of Christmas, and one of the traditions I've kept alive with my own children, is to let them open one present on Christmas eve, and if you guessed it was a new pair of pj's, you would be right.

The other tradition, you know, the one about having a hard time sleeping at night...oh don't you worry. Pathetically I'm still keeping that tradition alive as well.

Tis the season to be...sick. falalala.

My husband thinks I'm crazy that I start watching my favorite Christmas movies in October/November. I admit, I always thought I was a little over anxious for the season to begin, so thought perhaps that's why I pull out my DVD collection a bit premature. But this year, while having an AHA moment, I realized my subliminal mind knew all along what it was doing when it craved to see Tim Allen in his silky red pj's, which by the way, I own a pair just like it, only mine don't have the initials SC embroirdered on them, but their still just as festive!

Anyway, my AHA came as I realized I had only watched one christmas movie thus far in the season, the new Jim Carrey's "A Christmas Carol". As I was trying to figure out how I was going to fit in all 10 of my favorite christmas shows in only 18 short days, that's when I realized...this is why I start watching so early...so I can get them all in. heck, even just 2-3 would be great at this point.

This month is always so busy, and every year I vow to start preparing earlier so I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the month of December without feeling all the rush and busi-ness that comes with it. I thought I was doing pretty good too. We had our annual Sister Candy Day on December 1st, and my visiting teaching all done by the 3rd. But every night brings something new. Birthday dinners for Chelsea and my mother in law, family night, RS dinner, Trey's choir concert, Tary's work party, my work party, ward christmas party, family christmas party...and I still need to bake goodies for the neighbors!

Is it any wonder that my body has said, ENOUGH! Unfortunately it has rebelled. I'm home sick today. Forced to slow down by a cold. And yet oddly enough, I still haven't squeezed in a good movie. I slept in till 10, (that felt wonderful) wrapped all the presents while the kid is in school, read a short little christmas book, and now I'm blogging. In an hour I'll be at the church, helping set up for the Relief Society Christmas dinner, but believe me...as soon as it's over, I'll be in my silky red pajama's with my Nyquil and blankie, and cuddled up with Santa Clause.

...and to all a good night!

Too busy to give thanks...NOT!

Hey, it's stuffing...no one is going to notice a little carpet fuzz, right?

I feel like such a slacker! Thanksgiving has come and gone. It seems like only yesterday that it was Halloween, and tomorrow will be Christmas! How does this happen? And why do I seem so surprised that the days fly by this time of year?


I apologize for not publicly expressing my gratitude to family and friends, and if you're reading this, you must be one of them. Thank you for being a part of my life.


Chelsea and I were driving across town last month, and we drove through my old neighborhood in Murray where Tary and I lived for 2 years when we were first married. We really liked our neighborhood, our ward, and the friends we made there. When we started looking for a home of our own, we wanted to stay close by. We even made an offer on a home there, but it didn't work out. We ended up in a town farther than expected, but have loved the home and the neighborhood where we have lived for the past 23 years.


I was wondering out loud to my daughter, how different our lives might be if we had stayed in Murray. Would I be the same person I am today? Would she?


Would I be a chocolatier (that's an exaggeration on my part) if I didn't live across the street from Carla, who happens to make the best chocolates in the world and passed on her trade secrets to me?


Would I be a quilter if I hadn't been a visiting teacher to Sue, who inspired me with her beautiful wall quilts and talent for sewing crafts?


Would I had been able to be a stay at home working mom if I didn't know the sweet ladies in my ward, Devina, and Tammy and Alison, who all convinced me I should get a job at JetBlue?


Would I be where I am today, at the best place to work with the best job in the world? Or would I have stayed at Hunter Douglas because it was just down the street, and in my comfort zone.


Would Chelsea have ever met and married Joe if they didn't grow up in the same ward, go to the same school, and share the same friends? Would she even be married yet? Would I still have my beautiful Paisley who has Joe's eyes?


So many 'what if's'...it reminds me of my favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". George Bailey gets to see what life would have been like if he wasn't in it. He got to see just how much influence for good he had on the people in his community.


I'd like to think that my community, my ward, my neighbors and friends, have made me who I am today because of their influence in my life, and the lives of my children.


I don't believe in coinsidences. I think someone above knew where I needed to be, to be with the people I needed to be with, to help me get to where I needed to be.


And for that, I am Grateful. And just in case He reads my blog in his spare time, I Thank You.


And so my dear friends, I Thank You for the influence you have had in my life. For the talents you have shared, the laughter, the tears, and most of all, your examples.



For my dear family...your influence is a constant in my life, no matter where I live. You have shaped and molded me more than you know. It's because of all of you that I want to be a better person.


For my three sweet kids...I love you for the children you were, for the people you grew up to be, and for the Mother you created in me.


For my dear husband, who saw enough potential in a silly 16 year old girl to make him want to hang around and wait for me to grow up, and who is still patiently waiting for that day to come....I love you and thank you for choosing me. Thank you for the life we have built together, for the future we are still building...


...and for agreeing to move into our home just because it had a really big kitchen!



I love you all! Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Do you hear what I hear?

I've always thought something must be wrong with me.

Why am I so different? Why can't I be like everyone else? Why can't I just fit in? Sometimes the shame and ridicule is too much to bear.

Being a christmas musicholic hasn't always been an easy burden to bear. People give me weird looks, and call me crazy, and wonder how I can stand it and not get burned out or sick of it. People are afraid to get too close to me, afraid that good-cheer will rub off on them like some contagious rash. I've always been a closet christmas musicholic, until fm100 and kosy ousted me. It's been healthy to know I'm not alone. There are others out there like me.

This year, I wasn't going to get my hopes up. Last year, the day after Halloween was such a let down because the holly jolly tunes weren't playing. Eventually the radio stations succombed, due to pressure from my fellow musicholics, and the season got back on track. This year, I wasn't sure if they would wait till they got the same response, or if they would start on their own accord. Either way, I told myself, I have enough of my own music to tie me over till they came to their senses. So I wasn't terribly disappointed when November 1st came along, but the christmas music didn't come along with it.

Really, I was ok. The weather was still warm, the skies sunny, it was hard to start thinking about a winter wonderland in the middle of an indian summer. (Besides, I had recently bought Kenny G's collection of christmas favorites and was already getting my money's worth out of it.) But imagine my delight, when on November 4th (I know, it's weird that I remember the exact date and time) I turned on my radio to keep me company while I made dinner, and lo and behold, it was beginning to sound a lot like Christmas!

The Christmas musicholics have scored another victory...and this time we have a celebrity on our side!

I don't know if it was coincidence, but just 2 days later, Jerry Johnston, one of my favorite columinists in the Deseret News, wrote an article entitled "It's time for annual clash of the carols". Catchy huh. Anyway, in his article he asks the all important question: How long should we wait before we start playing those troubling Christmas carols?

He mentions the "battle between the "hold off" crowd, those who perceive early carols as a ploy by merchants to sell Christmas. They dislike the materialism and fear the reason for the season has to do more with goods than goodwill.

Then there are the "play the carols early" bunch who are choosing the better angels of human nature. For them, the carols call to mind family, friends, good times and good feelings. They are anxious to rekindle the holy light within themselves."

He says, "the more tidings of comfort and joy we can bring to the surface the better. We've been through a long year. The information age has us worrying about things in distant lands we wouldn't have even known about 30 years ago. We're told to think 'globally'. But we're not globes, we're humans. We need to think 'humanly'. The more we focus on people around us, the more real we feel. And no songs help us see that human side of each other more than the Christmas carols. So I say bring 'em on. The more the merrier. For I know, in my case, the sooner I can hear a sweet version of "With Wondering Awe", the sooner I will find more perspective, sanity and faith in our frail existence."

Amen. I couldn't have said it better myself, (which is why he gets paid for his thoughts and I don't).

Christmas music makes me smile. It cheers my heart, lifts my down trodden spirit, and gives me hope when life is depressing and cold. No one should put a time restraint on happiness, and Christmas music just makes me happy; and I'm sure we could all use a little more happiness in our lives, whatever the season.

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to crank up the radio and fix myself a little hot chocolate. Oh yeah, chocolate makes me happy too!

Let it Fall, let it fall...let it fall!

Oh the weather outside's delightful

though the rain was somewhat spiteful;

but the goblins still had a ball,

so let it fall, let it fall, let it fall.

Though the leaves outside are changing,

and we brought some candy for exchanging;

we're not quite ready to deck the halls,

so let it fall, let it fall, let it fall.

Yeah, I know. I've been an absentee blogger. More computer problems which I won't bore you with. But I'm back with a vengance! I have so much to blog about, I don't know where to start. So, to keep it short and sweet, here's my top ten favorite things that happened in October:

10-Paisley learned how to smile!

9-Trey got braces!



8-First snowfall of the season...which promptly melted before I could get a picture of it.


7-Going to Midway with Chelsea and Paisley to see the fall colors and look at the scarecrow display at the Homestead. (Although I really went for the fudge, and the fudge shop was closed)







6-Getting to know Matt at our Halloween Dinner.



(picture not taken at the dinner, but the only one I had of Matt, thanks to facebook)

5-Sister Craft Day! Look at those big Boo's we have!




4-Finally, a new computer! (let's hope it finally works)

3-Halloween with the family!

My little baby bumble-bee!

The Joker



The Mad Hatter!

2-Candy! Candy! Candy! (not really, but I ran out of ideas)

And the no. 1 best thing about this October is....

Despite all of it, I still lost 2 pounds!

Let it fall, let it fall...let it fall!