Christmas Week Wrap-Up

I have so much fun reading other blogs, that by the time I'm done, I don't have time to update my own. So I've committed this late hour to update this Most Wonderful Time of the Year in a snapshot update.

Monday, Christmas Eve

It's hard to believe that the day turned out to be so glorious. It was in the 70s and so beautiful we took a little hike in our local national park (walking distance from our home).
Madison and Brooke helping Ashlyn jump the stumps near the Indian exhibits

Climbing trees . . . a right of childhood.

Back at the car, there were several deer running on the hill. You can't really see them in the picture, but I thought it was pretty anyway. Not bad photos for my cell phone! I love my iphone!

We ended Christmas Eve with a nice dinner, opening of one present each and reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas . . . with all the kids in feeties! So cute and cozy.

OK - these next 4 photos are out of order, they should be Christmas NIGHT:
We got a surprise visit from the police during our family gathering at my brother Chris' house. Lil bro Steve with Grandma Carol.


Renee and Shaun (my oldest niece and nephew). Renee spent last summer in Japan, and next summer will be in Romania! She's a world-traveling wonder!.

The kids loved playing in the police car.

All tuckered out from a long day of opening presents. Check out the cool fish tanks on the wall! Real fish!

Christmas Morning

We set up the camera on a tri-pod and it was able to take pictures in intervals and CAUGHT SANTA placing the gifts in our home! AMAZING!! The kids are thrilled!

Enjoying Christmas morning

Now back at Christmas night:

The highlight for Christian has to be his long-awaited Light Saber!

WEDNESDAY

We are so happy to have Great Grandma and Aunt Dale in town from Maryland. We miss Poopsie!

We had them over for dinner Wednesday and they had a blast playing the Wii. Go GG!

Aunt Dale is completely blind, but still thoroughly enjoys playing and even wins! Go Dale! Check out the video of her at the bottom.

THURSDAY

I took the girls down to the American Girl Place for their long-awaited, much saved for experience to finally get their American Girl dolls.

The mall is spectacular with an 110' fir tree . . . larger than the one at Rockefeller.

They were VERY excited for our little adventure . . . just us girls!


At lunch with their newly acquired best friend. Brooke with "Elizabeth"
Our fabulous and somewhat extravagant lunch (complete with chairs and tea sets for the dolls).
Madison with "Julie"



Friday was a fun day of hanging out with the kids, enjoying the new toys, and making a dark chocolate meringue pie with Brooke. Madison had an all-day playdate with a friend, and Brooke was feeling left out. A little chocolate goes a long way!

SATURDAY

was another relaxing day, going to the park with cousins and seeing tons of friends there.

Getting ready for a DATE NIGHT! (Yipee) and sending Christian up to take a bath only to find moments later he didn't make it that far. He didn't even make it up the stairs!

I guess he couldn't pass up a space just his size for a little late-afternoon nap. Too funny!

Deck the Halls! Jingle Bells! Away in a Manger!

~ Another Holiday Tradition ~

Neighborhood Christmas Caroling

We tried it a little bit differently this year.

This time, WE hosted!

People showed up at 6:30 - we had hot cocoa and cookies out

It was nice to meet neighbors for the first time, even though we've lived her for 7 1/2 years

We had quite the group, probably 40-50 people

traveling the neighborhood

We ended at my friend's house (who usually hosts it) for desserts, trampoline, and fun!

It was a beautiful night!!

Happy Birthday John

opening presents . . . his new Fender and Amp

Here are Thirty-Seven Things About You:

1. He's a rock-star (singing, drums, guitar, and now electric guitar, and married to a hot wife)

2. John is a total gentleman

3. He is spiritual and very knowledgable about the gospel

4. He's extremely detail oriented and will research something to death before buying it

5. He is an amazing dad

6. He loves his kids

7. He loves to surf - longboard

8. Had jaw surgery and awoke in the jail ward at USC hospital

9. Is always polite

10. Played high school football

11. Wanted to go Pro

12. Was heavily recruited

13. Almost chose football over a mission

14. Came down with a bizarre illness

15. No doctor or lab could figure it out

16. Recruiters faded away

17. Then the illness did, too.

18. Was captain of his team, as well as track

19. and wrestling

20. Served a 2-year mission in Argentina

21. Came home and started a car washing business

22. Didn't feel right about it so started working in the wireless industry

23. Felt right about that: 15 years later still going strong

13. Graduated with a BS is Marketing

14. Got an MBA from Pepperdine University

15. Has a bad back :-(

16. John is 3rd in 7 children

17. He's super buff

18. He's even more humble

19. John is an excellent communicator

20. He can get to the root of nearly any problem, while sparing feelings

21. He's a great leader

22. He's enjoyable to listen to as a public speaker

23. He has a gift for teaching

24. and hopes to someday teach on the college level

25. Wants to get a phd

26. Knows everything about cell phones

27. Is a techie, but not a nerd

28. Loves the latest gadgets, and is very picky about them

29. John doesn't like a lot of public attention for his birthday (goes along with the humility thing).

30. He is an AMAZING Jack-of-all Trades. SERIOUSLY! He can, with aptitude,

31. Fix the cars

32. Remodel (completely gut) a kitchen, electrical, plumbing, tile, etc.

33. work wonders with wood (you should see my wainscoting!)

34. is totally creative and has an eye for detail

35. He can figure out how almost anything works . . . neighbors are always calling him for help

36. He is super compassionate and

37. the most wonderful eternal companion . . . and handsome, too!

Happy Birthday John! I love you!!

And A New Star Shall Appear

'Tis the Season of Traditions

Every year our ward puts on a living nativity for two nights on the front lawn of the stake center for the entire community. Even with frigid temperatures, it always draws a large crowd, with hot cocoa and a creche display inside afterwards.

All the youth are in it, and our family has been in it several times. Brooke was even baby Jesus six years ago.

elaborate sets are built and prominantly displayed

a youthful choir of angels

3 wise men (after the show)


a cute little townsboy

a townsfamily

Santa Came Early

The REAL Santa Came to Town

If you've ever visited the Janss Mall, you know what I'm talking about.

Santa comes every year to our friends' home for an intimate gathering of story-telling and fun. He always tells the story of the real meaning of Christmas, does a very animated version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, then each child receives a special gift from his large red bag. Each year, the gifts have been exactly what my children have asked him! He's the real deal!

During the "show", Ashlyn who had been sitting on my lap got a bit comfortable and wanted to sit with her brother and sisters. She wandered across the room and went in front of Santa. He surprised her by picking her up and sat her on his lap, she didn't know what to think!

I Have a Clock!

There is a digital clock on the bedside table, John's side, that now has completely vivid and clear numbers! Amazing!

I had the contact lens bandages removed on Tuesday - that wasn't bad, but probably worse than the whole laser procedure. John and the two littlest littles came along to check it out. He had never been or met my doctor since he was in Australia for the whole affair.

The right eye wasn't as far along as the left for healing, so he said I may be in pain the next day and to come back in if I was. I awoke Wednesday feeling great! And seeing better every day. The halos even disappeared by Sunday (day 3).

Sometimes there is a bit of haziness and things aren't super vivid, but that's the cells growing back and healing over the pupil thus blurring the vision.

Tonight we went to the amazing annual Christimas Choir Concert and I sat in the cultural hall and could read the hymn book holder numbers! That's pretty cool.

PRK Update

I'm seeing double . . .

My doctor said my vision will get worse before it gets better.

He was right.

Friday was OK, and the pain was like an annoying contact lens.

Tried to keep my eyes shut when possible to aid in healing.

At my post-op in the morning, the doctor said that things didn't look good

. . . they looked great.

That's the kind of news you want to hear from a doctor.

Then Friday afternoon hit.

Have your eyes ever burned from chopping an onion?

Try chopping 100 onions, then rubbing your eyes with onion juice on your fingers:

OUCH!!!!!!

The onion feeling lasted throughout the evening.

I resorted to Tylenol with codeine and numbing drops.

Then a sleeping pill.

(all recommended by the doctor, by the way)

Tape on those lovely fly-ish eye shields

and I'm out.

Whew!

Saturday morning brings somewhat blurred vision and some pain, but not nearly as bad as the night before. I think I'll have some pain med to get me through the day . . .

Of course a Saturday night would not be complete without heading

to Albertsons! I attempt driving. All the lights not only have that "halo", but actually look like starbursts with perfect spider webs surrounding them. Interesting.

Sunday is much better.

Very little discomfort, still blurred vision, but seeing a bit better.

Went to church -

Oh and I might add that I'm not able to wear a bit of eye make-up.

So, I'm going for the au-natural look.

Who knows, I may start a new trend.

It really does make getting ready for the day easier,

And, attending my friend's wedding yesterday was refreshing

to not have raccoon eyes while bawling through the ceremony!

Let's hope that each day is noticeably better. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday to have my contact lens bandages removed.