What Christmas looks like at our house

We had a great surprise this year for Christmas...Grandad & Grandma J came to visit Christmas Eve & Christmas morning. HY couldn't have been more excited to have visitors.

We re-inacted the Nativity ( Mini-E was Mary, HY was Joseph, Grandad was the wise men, Grandma J was the Angel, Mamma was a shepard, and Farmboy the Narrator). Grandad also took the photos so I'll have to post those later.

Mini-E waiting patiently for something. Or she's getting into trouble. Not sure which one.

Grandad read the "Night Before Christmas" to the kids before bed. He's so animated, they loved it.


We baked cookies for Santa. And left him with a plate full and a glass of milk.


Then it was off to bed for the little ones. I've never seen them get to bed so quickly!!! I mean, it was FAST!

And Christmas morning was better than I ever remember. HY was up at 8 am, knocking on his door and asking if Santa had come. And in fact, he had!

HY really got into it. And Grandad and Grandma J sure had the time of their lives watching all the action.

Mini-E got a kitchen set & HY loves it too! Oh the messes we'll be cleaning up. She's a bit short for it, but we're hoping she'll grow into it. Check out the panties that Santa brought her.

The kids got a ton of gifts from aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, & grandma & grandpa.
Check out some of Mini-E's this loot!

HY loved all the Thomas stuff and even had Grandad read him some books in all of the rush.


Farmboy shoveled snow, and snow, and snow. And watched the weather predict more of it. I think we got 2 feet at least! And he set up our new computer camera compliments of Uncle JB and Auntie T so that we can talk and SEE family.

Grandad loved his gift from us.




And I? I was preparing this. Christmas Dinner.
Ham, potatoes and gravy, veggies, salad, rolls, pudding, and pie.
Complete with Grandma Z's china.

It was a great day---

By the end, I think I finally understood why my own mother was so exhausted all those years. She did a lot of work. Thanks mom! No wonder you never warned me.

Better

Thanks for all the help. I'm gonna sit on this for a while and see how I like it. I don't know why it's so hard sometimes.

Text: Blessed be the ties that bind generations

Catch me up!

I have really good reasons for not posting until now. Here are JUST a few:

Last Thursday, Farmboy & I showed Little S around BYU. We even ran into a few of Farmboy's cousins. These girls are "official BYU students".Here's a picture of Little S & here new roomie ---Sweet C. She is such a nice girl. These girls are going to have so much fun together.

On Friday, we went up to Midway to SWISS DAYS! Seriously, so much fun. Last year was the first time that I'd been. We couldn't resist the urge to go again this year--only this time, we brought along another set of grandparents. Grandad Grey showed us around & made sure that we ate all the right food. Here's a picture of us (& A-cousin) in some silly hats. The booths at the Swiss Days are to die for! Grandpa S couldn't believe how much things had changed since he'd lived there as a boy. Here's a sweet picture of him protecting Mini-E from that hot sun!

Saturday & Sunday were filled with running around & spending time with family. Here are a few of my favorite moments: {Aunt Little S & Mini-E showing off that red hair. HY playing peek-a-bo with Grandpa S in the background. Grandma Suz swinging HY one of the million times she did! & giving Mini-E lots of kisses.}

Special thanks to Grandma Suz & Grandpa S for spending so much time with the yahoos--especially HY. It gave me a moment or two to relax & more importantly, he loved every minute! We miss you & love you.

If you can dream it Friday

Today we did something that we haven't done in a LONG time. We visited a few of our "old" friends in our old neighborhood. HY & I used to go & visit Serece every week when we lived in the red brick house. But, we don't get to do that as often because we're 30 minutes away. This is a picture of HY & Serece last year...no wait...2 years ago. He was 5 months old & she was 90 years old. Today, we visited her again (but sadly we didn't get a picture). We also visited our friend Erika (a very "with-it" German woman) . And Pete--what a character.

I have to admit that I really love going & visiting these elderly people. I developed a great love for this when I was a young woman & it was part of my Young Women goals. I learned how important it is to visit the elderly. They need us as much as we need them.

I've continued to visit rest homes with my children because I want them to gain a great respect & appreciation for those who are more experienced. In a way, I like to think of them as my grandparents. Most of my grandparents passed away when I was young. Grandma Z was the only grandparent that I really remember. I think of her when we go & visit Serece. If I can't see my own grandma, at least I can visit someone elses. I hope that Grandma Z would be pleased with me. I miss her so.

Thank goodness, Farmboy's grandparents are both still around for us to enjoy. We sure love seeing them as often as we do. What a great blessing they are in our lives!

So how does this fit into "If you can dream it Friday"??? Well, I guess it's because I'm dreaming about my Grandparents...