December 31st

I already reached my first goal of the new year -- I stayed up until 12 am to greet it merrily.  Party in the great room is always a safe and fun place to be.  And a few more goals: "We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him.  Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life" (Howard W. Hunter).

December 30th

Queens' Day!  Natalie flew in at 8 am to join our annual partay!  We were up bright and early and were able to relax a bit in McDonald's while we waited for the stores to open.  The we were off to Ross, Tai Pan, Cubby's, the outlets, home again for gift exchange.  Every moment was bliss and soul-filling.  I laughed almost every second and cried when it was all over.  I think we should really do this once or twice a month!

Hair cut and blow out finished the day juntos.

#35

I have a dear friend who perfectly describes my aging dilemma best, "Zits and wrinkles -- best of both worlds!"  Happy for the ever more prominent wrinkles, but I do wish the zits would be gone for good!  Babs and I spent the morning snow shoeing, afternoon sitting in the kitchen while Mom baked away, and the evening dancing and eating as a large group!

December 28th

Monday dinner and FHE with 35 family member attending and 19 missing.  We played "Gossip" as we sat in this circle together.

December 26th

The aftermath all came Saturday morning.  Andy and Austin attended a Bar Mistzvah, and I spent the day packing.  Austin was very efficient and took down all of Christmas as well.  We are excited to go to Utah and can't wait to see the entire family!

Christmas Day

Six am on the dot and a home ringing with excited carolers filled our halls.  My favorite moment this year was when all the kids gathered around Austin to watch him open their gifts to him -- he got some good ones.  Our annual "Polar Bear Plunge" was a chilly 43 degree water temperature.  Games with friends, hambergers for dinner, doll house, super smash, and a family movie was icing on the perfect day.  God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine son.

Christmas Eve

We said our goodbyes and headed home from Sahuarita this morning.  Once home, I had a list one mile long to get done.  Instead, I sat still for two hours and watched a movie.  That was just what I needed.  The evening brought a table of candle light (resulting in dripped wax all over, thanks to the big boys), hair cuts, baths and new jammies.  The magical evening was finally complete with our production of the nativity.

December 23rd

Grandpa B. took us Christmas hiking in through Colossal Cave.a cave today.  We climbed six stories down into the depths of the earth.  Sluicing for gems followed.  Then we helped create holiday bags and caroled to 18 houses.  Her friends sure loved our singing/yelling.

December 21st

Maddie wrote my dictated "To Do" list today while I made breakfast; all but the grocery shopping got done.  Then we performed for the single adult FHE.  We sang three songs and played three duets.  Nobody filmed it, too bad.

December 20th

Meg and I sang a duet in the Christmas program.  After church we delivered fresh bread to my visiting teaching families, while there the kids sang the "The Way to Bethlehem" as I strummed the ukulele.  My friends loved it.  I did, too.

December 19th

Austin and I finished up all our Christmas today -- we've had 8 weekends straight of extra curricular activities, and this was our last and final chance to make all the magic happen.  These seven angels were happy all day.

December 18th

Austin's office party was a success!  Each of the 12 staff members decorated their own gingerbread chateau.  We also went to lunch and exchanged gifts.  The event was certainly a success -- but Austin said we can't do it again next year, because the ladies would expect it, and we have to go bigger and better.  I suppose I have 11 months to bake/plan, which is far more than 11 days.

His staff make his work possible; he has the best team!

December 17th

Thursday morning I finished baking twelve complete gingerbread houses.

Then it was off to Nick's Explorer Program.

After school the weather was hardly frightful, and instead of study-time, it was sunshine-time.

Finally, Nick and I finished yet another project.  Why do teachers cram it all into the last week before the holiday?  They must hate parents.

December 15th

Austin sent me the wintry view from his operatory's window.  Sedona is lovely!

December 14th

Our nice home teachers invited us to dinner.  On the way out the door, it was snowing!

December 13th

Tithing settlement means homemade toffee for all the ward members. These two helped me early with today's batch.  We stayed a bit and settled our tithes with our bishop -- Ryan tried to eat all the bishop's candy, but was limited both his piece and mine.  After church we tried a Christmas photo -- Andy had already changed when I came in with the baby and million bags.  There is always next week.

December 12th

More shopping before our trip home.  I found some of my favorite shops and looked again for a nativity, nada.  I did love walking and walking at my own speedy pace, and I rediscovered that I was not created to be alone.  I need my husband, my children, family and friends.  These are they who teach love, service and sacrrifice.  They bring me closer to the Savior.  (Why are is my belt hanging?  IDK.  I noticed it just after the man took the photo; I couldn't ask for a redo....)

December 11th

Austin had a dental seminar in Vegas this morning, so the two of us (and four of his employees) met in Las Vegas for a 24 hour trip.  I spent my hours outside of the conference shopping and wandering.  All the while I looked and looked for one navitity -- didn't find it.  Reverently I found myself praying and feeling His love for me in that crazy town.  Sure enough, I felt the spirit testify that I am of infinite worth, as are all children of God -- all people on earth.

We went to "Zarkana" cirque du soleil show, and I fell asleep.  I thought these two had matching haircuts, and thankfully not matching guts.

December 10th

Today was our ward Christmas party.  Here is our group after all was said and done.  The lovely navitity and a delicious dinner were the main events.  The youth served all the food, Austin gave a spiritual message, and the primary kids contributed to the navtivity.  Because of Him, our love for each other will never end.

December 8th

Andy stayed home sick, but was healthy enough to be a fantastic big brother -- the three younger boys just love him, as do I!  We assembled the kids' gingerbread in the morning and played in the leaves before lunch.  I had four parent-teacher conferences in the afternoon.  Oh, I also folded nine loads of laundry and make waffles and cream for dinner.  Austin managed to come home at 10 pm.