They flew the coop!

My favorite Christmas gift

2010-01-05T04:00:00.001-06:00

This is my favorite Christmas gift that I gave this year. It is a history of the first 22 years of my life. The recipients were my parents, my husband, and my children and their families. In the summer of 1968, I made three photo albums which chronicled my life with photos. Later, I made another one in high school. I was looking at them last summer and all the tape was coming loose and they were a mess. So in September, I started a huge project. I scanned hundreds of photos from these photo albums into my computer. Then I downloaded all my photos into a program through blurb.com. I edited all the photos and added text which resulted in a history book about the first 22 years of my life. The book is 300 pages long! There are photos and text describing my life. It is such a treasure to me. The photos turned out beautifully. The pages are coffee table book quality. I absolutely love it. Christmas morning, every one opened it at the same time and boy, were they surprised!

This is a random page from the inside of the book. Some of the pages have as many as 8 photos on it and some have one. Some pages have a lot of text and some just a description of the photo. This was such a rewarding experience. It was so fun to ponder so many memories. ( And now you know why I have been able to post so many "blasts from the past"!!)

Christmas Cupcakes!

2010-01-04T04:00:00.000-06:00

Well, of course there were Christmas cupcakes!
Gingerbread....

and peppermint!

My sister-in-law, Margo gave me a cupcake container! I love it so much! It is perfect!

And my sister-in-law, Jill gave me cupcake wrappers!
I have never seen these before and I love them too!

Book of Mormon Challenge 2

2010-01-03T04:00:00.001-06:00

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a companion volume of scripture to the Holy Bible and contains the account of the Savior's appearance in ancient America following His Resurrection.

I am ready to do this again. I found reading ten pages a day of this book so rewarding. The period of time in November and December is so hectic and I relished the minutes that I spent reading during this time. I loved it so much that I feel like I would like to read 10 pages a day for the rest of my life! So, today, January 3, I am beginning again. I am going to read 10 pages of the Book of Mormon every day. I would love to hear comments from those who completed the last challenge. I have heard from some of you. And...I would love to hear from those of you who want to do it again or want to give it a try for the first time. I feel the Spirit every time I open these pages. It makes me feel good all day.

Little O's Best Friend

2010-01-02T04:00:00.000-06:00

My husband is the best grandfather. He is known as "Papa" and he is so good to our granddaughters. He and Little O spent hours together playing school and playing in the snow together. They had such a great time.

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T14:49:00.003-06:00

It's 9 degrees outside, but we have all the components for a perfect New Year's Day: a fire in the fireplace; appetizers; football; a jigsaw puzzle; knitting; and each other! Hope you are having a perfect day too!

The Best Moment of 2009

2009-12-31T10:54:00.001-06:00

The best moment of 2009 occurred in July when Samyo returned from two years of missionary service in the Dominican Republic and our family was reunited. Pure bliss! Happy New Year, everyone!

Christmas Morning Highlights

2009-12-30T12:06:00.003-06:00

Books Read in 2009

2009-12-29T14:38:00.003-06:00

Books Read in 2009
The Group by Mary McCarthy
Jennie Gerhard by Theodore Dreiser
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Laura Rider's Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton
Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
The Girls From Ames by Jeffery Zaslow
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Up at the Villa by W. Somerset Maugham
The Scapegoat by Daphne DuMaurier
Camille by Alexandre Dumas Fils
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Mary, Mother of Jesus by Bruce Dana
Brooklyn by Colm Tolbin
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
Day After Night by Anita Diamant
Wishin' N Hopin' by Wally Lamb
The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Doctrine and Covenants
Book of Mormon ( 2X)

I read some fabulous books in 2009. I really enjoyed each one of them but the ones highlighted in red were my very, very favorites.

Good Bye, Glass Posse!

2009-12-29T09:47:00.001-06:00

Good Bye, Glass Posse!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us!
We loved having you!
I just came in from the airport, and the house is so empty without you.

Santa...that jolly old elf!

2009-12-28T08:41:00.001-06:00

Santa brought us Beatles Rock Band! It is a real hit around here. Here is Samyo, Little D and Slim J rockin' it!

Christmas Eve Program

2009-12-26T20:30:00.007-06:00

We started our Christmas Eve program, with a presentation of "Susie Snowflake" with Kage starring as Susie Snowflake. This performance fulfilled a need Kage has had since she was a little girl to play this roll.

Little D played a beautiful rendition of "Silent Night" on her violin.

After the family read the Christmas story from the Bible, Little D read us "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

It is so good to have Samyo home after having spent
the last two Christmases in the Dominican Republic

Every year, Aunt Jill sends Coco and Samyo "Santa Balls" to open. They love them.

Thank you, Aunt Jill!

The whole festive gang!

Christmas Eve 2009

2009-12-25T18:37:00.006-06:00

We started out Christmas Eve with some hors d'ouerves. Don't feel sorry for Kage in this photo.
She was hoping for this affect.

We turned the Christmas music up loud and cut a rug!

Our wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. Merry Christmas everyone!

We rented the Naperville Trolley and were treated to a Christmas Lights Tour! Fabulous!
The weather was rainy but we couldn't resist exiting the trolley for a few minutes to get a better view of this Christmas display. Our Kennedy Krew stayed home in Minneapolis. We miss you, Kennedy Krew!

2009-12-24T10:45:00.000-06:00

2009-12-24T04:00:00.000-06:00

This sad, little tree needed some attention.

So Little D, Little O and I spent a couple of hours making decorations.

A beautiful result!

After, Samyo took the girls outdoors to make a fabulous snow fort!

The Glass Posse are in the house!

2009-12-23T04:00:00.000-06:00

First on Little O's agenda was a rousing game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos!

No matter how long Kage has been gone, Chloe always knows her.

The highlight of the evening was "Book Chat".
Kage, Coco and I discussed "Little Bee" by Chris Cleave.

Company party

2009-12-22T04:00:00.000-06:00

Last night, we hosted a Christmas dinner for Doug's office staff and spouses ( one of the spouses was ill). A professional chef was at our table and he declared the meal: "very good"! Phew! All day I kept feeling like I was preparing a meal for Tom Colichio! (sp?) A good time was had by all!

Book of Mormon Challenge

2009-12-20T09:01:00.001-06:00

This week ends our Book of Mormon Challenge on Christmas Eve. Today you should be on P.491.

Ward Christmas Party

2009-12-20T08:55:00.002-06:00

Last night, at the Ward Christmas Party, my friends Julie, Jeanne and I performed the song, "The Twelve Days After Christmas". At this particular moment we were singing the words: "the first day after Christmas, my true love and I had a fight". On a side note, I went to a new hair stylist on Friday and told her I wanted a change and this is my new "do".

Coco's and Lisa's Excellent Adventure

2009-12-18T04:00:00.000-06:00

Wednesday night, Coco and I went on a fabulous Christmas adventure. There is a classic theatre about 30 minutes from our home that shows old Christmas movies on a big screen. We have always wanted to go, and finally we decided to do it! We went to the 9:30 PM showing of White Christmas!
The concession stand was decked out for Christmas and was so festive!
This organ rose out of the ground and we had a good old fashioned Christmas sing-a-long for about 15 minutes.
But the real treat was see this Christmas favorite on the big screen! Coco and I have seen this movie 1000 times and could recite the whole thing. But we saw so many things that we have never noticed because it was on a big screen. And it was so fun to hear the audience react to lines that were funny!

Jest' Fore Christmas!

2009-12-17T04:00:00.000-06:00

Every year on Christmas Eve, our Dad would gather the children around and read two pieces of literature: "Twas' the Night Before Christmas" and a poem entitled "Jest' Fore Christmas". I especially loved the poem.

Jest' Fore Christmas
Father calls me William, sister calls me Will,
Mother calls me Willie, but the fellers call me Bill!
Mighty glad I ain't a girl...rather be a boy,
Without them sashes, curls, an' things that's worn by Fauntleroy!
Love to chawnk green apples an' go swimmin' in the lake...
Hate to take the castor-ile they give for belly-ache!
'Most all the time, the whole year round, there ain't no flies on me.
But jest 'fore Christmas, I'm as good as I kin be!

Got a yeller dog named Spot, sick him on the cat;
First thing she knows she doesn't know where she is at!
Got a clipper sled, an' when us kids toes out to slide.
'Long comes the grocery cart, an' we all hook a ride!
But sometimes when the grocery man is worried and cross,
He reaches at us with his whip, an larrups up his hoss,
An' then I laff an' holler, "Oh ye never teched me!"
But jest 'fore Christmas, I'm as good as I kin be!

And then old Spot he hangs around, so solemn-like an' still,
His eyes they keep-a-sayin': "What's the matter, little Bill?"
The old cat sneaks down off her perch an' wonders what's become
of them two enemies of hern that used to make things hum!
But I am so perlite an' 'tend so earnestly to biz,
That Mother says to Father: "How improved our Willy is!"
But Father, having 'been a boy hisself, suspicious me
When jest 'fore Christmas, I'm as good as I kin be!

For Christmas, with its lots an' lots of candies, cakes, an' toys,
Was made, they say, for proper kids an' not for naughty boys;
So wash yer face an' brush your hair an' mind yer p's and q's,
An' don't bust out your pantaloons, an' don't wear out yer shoes;
Say "Yessum" to the laides, an' "Yessur" to the men,
An' when they's company, don't pass your plate for pie again;
But, thinking of the things yer'd like to see upon that tree,
Jest 'fore Christmas, be as good as yer kin be!

Author: Eugene Field

Christmas Kitchen Chaos!

2009-12-15T16:12:00.000-06:00

A boy and his dog...

2009-12-15T16:09:00.000-06:00

Chloe ( age 14 ) has waited a long time to stretch out on these legs!

Christmas Blast From the Past

2009-12-14T10:52:00.001-06:00

This photo represents one of my favorite memories of Christmas past when all our children were at home. We would wrap up Christmas goodies, pile into the van and go Christmas Caroling to all our friends. It was so much fun and you know, our singing was pretty good! One of our friends captured us in this photo as we stood at her door one year.

Book of Mormon Challenge

2009-12-13T10:10:00.001-06:00

Today you should be on P.421 and in my favorite book....3Nephi! I am loving the moments away from the hustle and bustle to read these beautiful words.

Because you asked for it.....another Christmas Blast from the Past!!!

2009-12-12T04:00:00.000-06:00

Christmas, 1956