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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone had a happy holiday!  We have had a crazy holiday vacation, but so much fun!  
A few days before Christmas we were able to get our gingerbread house put together.  Grace's friend Jax came over to help her , while Ryann decorated a cookie for eating!


It turned out really cute!

Our cousin Gavyn is visiting from Sacramento (with Aunt Karen, Uncle Steve and sister Ella).
The girls and Gavyn helped Grandma make cookies for Santa.

 The day before Christmas eve we made our traditional tubing outing at the Gorgoza Park in Park City!
This is Ryann taking a ride up the "magic carpet".  It takes you to the top instead of a rope tow.  The rope tow is for the big kids that goes  to the big hill! 

And Grace in her helmet.  Safety first!

Karen, Steve and Gavyn get ready for the first run down.

Ryann enjoyed her first tubing experience and can't wait to go again.

The girls and I...

Derek and Grace...

Weeeeee!  It was icey and fast.

But,we still had to hike off the track.

Then it was off to the Red Rock Brewing Company for Christmas beer and hot chocolate!


The kids were a little tired...

but, felt better after their late snack.

Troy and Rich joined in all the fun!


As always, Santa was good to the Sims.  I will tell you all about it, but it is snowing and Grace and I must go skiing!  





Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The weather outside was frightful!

....but, the skiing was fantastic!  Like floating down the mountain on a puffy cloud...REALLY!

It was snowing too hard to pull my camera out for the ski pics,  but I sure as heck thought I better get some pics of my 2 hour commute home...about a 35 minute drive on a good weather day.

This was the view out of my ice covered windsheild...

15 mph all the way down the mountian in four wheel drive, of coarse!

Bumper to bumper, the die hard skiiers headed home at night fall.

You may or may not be able to see there is about 6-8 inches of snow on the road.


And Grace slept peacefully all the way home!

I am impressed that I was such a careful driver and we were safe...phew!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Grace's Christmas sing!


Grace surprised us on Monday with a SOLO (click solo to see it!...) at her Christmas program.


It was fantastic!!!!!  I was so proud of her.  She hit all her notes!!!  

The girl has the voice of an angel!!!

She has a very talented 1st grade class.

They are smart too!

Grace has 100% in Geography this year....Santa has taken note of that.  She had almost all A's on her report card.  Computers were her downfall...she has a B.  But, she is still smarter then me!  

I am one proud mama!





Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Thanks for all your prayers...


And keep them coming!  Liam is doing well with his recent transplant.  I wanted to give you an update and ask that you keep thinking of him well he continues to heal.  

A note on Caring Bridge from my Aunt Eileen,

Can't believe that today is Wednesday.  The last four days have been full of tests, and more tests.  On Saturday after the stem cell transplant Liam acquired a high fever, which in turn lowered his blood pressure to a level that was concerning.  He (we) had a long long night.  On Sunday morning his fever finally broke, and he has been improving slowly every day.  They made the diagnosis of staph infection in his blood.  Thank God for modern medicine and their wide aray of antibiotics.   He is finally able to eat some real food and keep it in his stomach.  His goals for today are to continue to eat on a regular basis, walk the halls at least once, and to wean himself off of his oxygen.  Each day is bettter, but the marathon that Dr. Matous talked about has definetly begun.
     We ask for your continued prayers as Liam continues to get through each "bump in the road" as he calls them. 

We are thankful for our family that have been able to come and take the load off.  We love you for taking time out of your busy lives to help out. 

     "LOVE DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO KILL PAIN, OR TO EXTINGUISH IT, BUT IT DOES HAVE THE POWER TO DIMISH IT."               (Bishop Futlton Sheen)
 

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

A snowman poem from Ryann.

Ryann learned a poem at school and it is so cute I wanted to share it with you.

Click here to see: Snowman poem....it is short, but VERY sweet!

Happy holidays!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Moisturize! Moisturize! All I do is moisturize!

Thanks to a cold, dry climate and OLDER age...my poor body takes a beating this time of year.  I could do a commercial for all the darn moisturizers I use for all the different parts of my body.  

After spending what seemed like half the morning MOISTURIZING...I realized how many different products I am using and the time I am spending to treat this problem....however...
It is working. 
Right before my recent birthday I was feeling a little self conscious about the wrinkles on my face.  "Where?"  you might ask....I am not telling!!!!  Haha... because my new face cream is doing a good job of plumping them up.  I highly recommend the Patricia Wexler products from Bath and Body Works.  Worth the price and the procedure of putting it all on morning and night!

Another product worth the price is Kiehl's.  This was a gift from a friend.  This stuff has cured some seriously dry spots on my body(not to be mentioned because they are private)!  Including my cracked fingers...a painful curse I have been suffering for years!!!!! 
When moisturizing a woman has to smell good!  My new favorite scent, Twilight Woods!

And then there is the nose...

and the hair (thanks to my natural curls, mine is dry, dry, dry...)
Most importantly I try and get my 6-8-10 glasses of water a day.

Hey, when you live in the desert, moisturizing is a full time job!


Saturday, December 11, 2010

My favorite Christmas things...

One of my favorite things about Christmas time are the decorations!  If you know me...I am always switching things around, trying to make it look better, warmer, and comfortable.  I decorate for me, my mood and I love my Christmas decorations! I have so many I can't put them all up.

Here are few of my favorites that I put out this year...
 Grace made this paper 3D star last year and I love it.  Hope it will last a while.  So far, so good!
This little crystal tree sits on my dinning room table.  It was my Grandmothers.  I remember playing with it as a young girl, always rearranging the decorations.  Brings back so many memories!  My Grandma passed many years ago, but  I think it tickled my dad to see I still put it out every year.

My nut cracker collections is really fun.  My mom gave my siblings and I a nutcracker many years for Christmas, so I have a few and love all the memories they bring.

Each one has it's own story and character.


This is the real veteran of my troop!  He was my first nutcracker.  Kinda sad...missing half an eye, mustache and glued back together.  I just don't have the heart to throw him away! 

The little snowboarder is our newest addition.  He has a special place in my heart.  Reminds me of my cute husband and his passion for the sport.

This is our Pinocchio.  My dad had to create a new nose for him.  I guess he wasn't the most honest little fellow and his first nose was soooo big it broke!  



This is a plate Grace made me last year. 

And Ryann presented me with this ornament and paper wreath this year!

I bought myself this new nativity set with some of my birthday money,

And I am liking the new card holder I made.  It is filling up nicely.  What I really love are all of your beautiful cards.  Keep them coming!

Hope your holiday home is filled with the things (and PEOPLE)  you love.