With Love

Last night for family home evening we made ornaments and snowflakes for Grandma's hospital room.

We're sending love your way Grandma! WE love you!!

project

Mason's second grade class is learning about Christmas traditions around the world. In class they are studying four or five different countries. The students then were able to choose a country that they weren't already learning about and make a poster about what they learned. Can you guess what country Mason chose? This ended being a family project. McKinzie helped him with the research online. Dad cutout the poster, very creative! Bailee helped him put the information on the poster, and I delegated. We all have to do what we know how to do :0). Great job Mason!!

The best...

part of being bishop is the children.

Ward Christmas Party

Yesterday was such a good day for me. At about 10 or so, McKinzie decided to take Peanut out for a walk. She put Adam in his stroller and I bundled up Carson. After they left I turned on some Christmas music and made pies for our Ward Christmas Party that night. That is one of my favorite things, listening to music and working around the house.


When they got back we ran a couple of errands and I finished up my Christmas shopping! I think being a grandma makes a difference. I have never been finished with Christmas shopping two weeks before Christmas. An even bigger shock is that most of my Christmas cards were addressed and ready to mail last night. One year I mailed them out on the 23th, pretty sad I know. It is such a rush having things taken care of early, and this is without the help of Black Friday shopping. It's got to be a grandma thing.


During the afternoon, while I was making my potatoes for the party, I was able to talk with family over the phone, another favorite thing to do. I talked with my Dad, my Mom is not doing very well. She had her spleen removed a month ago and she is having multiple complications. She is currently in ICU and improving every day, slowly. Over the past few years he has actually visited with me on the phone instead of passing the phone to my mom. It's been great. I visited with my oldest sister, it was her birthday yesterday. We had a great time laughing and complaining about 18 year olds (we both have one) and worrying about Mom and Dad. I love living in Texas, but there are times I ache to live closer to family. Especially my sisters and even a couple of my brothers would be nice. Then, I called one more sister that has been very involved with being there for my parents. My Mom loves Christmas everything about Christmas, especially music and these last few weeks I keep having the impression that she needs that in her hospital room. I felt bad with all that she is doing to ask her for more, but I did anyway. I asked her if she could get some music, a nativity scene or something Christmasy (is that even a word?) in her room. Right now she is sedated, but I know she will still enjoy the music. Her and Dad both need to feel Christmas. She said she would see what was allowed in ICU, and we both decided that the grand kids could make decorations for her room. There is so little we can do from Texas, but now we can help brighten up her hospital room and hopefully lift her spirit.


To end such a great day, we spent is with friends. Well, all of us but Brian. He stayed home in bed. He has been sick for two days, that's two days in bed. He hasn't been feeling well all week. Today he is feeling better. Yea!! That means we can still have our date tonight, we haven't had a regular date in weeks and weeks. We have attended many things together as a couple, just not a date. Yes, there is a difference. Trust me.

At the Christmas party it was a little different this year. Santa was first! If you wanted to see Santa then you arrived early before dinner. I think it was great! Only Carson sat on his lap. Luckily we already visited with the "Big Guy in Red" so I didn't require them all to get a picture.

This is Justin, he is Brian's first counselor. He is a nut! His plate was the pan a ham was cooked in. He kept eyeing Karlee's cookies, hoping to catch her off guard and snag one. He never did succeed.

This is my friend Teresa and her daughter Tiffany. They don't come out to church often, but I convinced them to come with me to the Christmas Party. I'm so glad they did. Many people that hadn't seen them in a while came over and visited with them. I hope they felt welcome.

I don't usually share my day, only the events. But yesterday was great! I love Christmas time. I love my family and friends! I truly hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!

favorites

It's nice to see that Peanut treats his toys the same as our possessions.

This is his favorite toy, a bat. He's trying to get the squeaky toy out. He succeeded.

It's always the same result...destroyed! That's OK, I'll pick up another one soon. :0)

Why do they have to leave...

every time they come? That's a good question, Bailee. Life and responsibilities continue on and so must we.

We had such a good time while they were here. Carson and Grandpa played pretend and silly games together. Grandpa's name became "Captain Roast" and Carson was, "Captain Yum Yum". Not so sure where Carson came up with those names, but they stuck.

Grandma snuggled with Adam and told bedtime stories to Karlee, Mason, and Carson almost every night. They were usually about a Great Grandparent. I think their favorite was when Great Grandma Baker got her tongue stuck on a frozen faucet while trying to get a drink. OUCH!! They all got their finger wet and touched an ice cube to see how it worked. They thought it was cool!

Thanks for coming down for Adam's blessing. We love you!

blessing day

Today Adam was blessed at church. He looked so handsome in his little tux. My MIL made this for Mason's blessing day, Carson was also blessed in it.

I was lucky to get a picture of all of us before everyone headed off to class. Brian's parents were able to come down, they arrived last night. Ariel, McKinzie's best friend came, and Kim, Adam's other grandma. McKinzie had invited the rest of Kim's family, unfortunately there was some miscommunication and only Kim came. I'm grateful that she was was able to attend and experienced this day with us.

lights

Usually Bailee helps Brian with the lights. For some reason Bailee got in the shower, so Karlee stayed close by to help. She was tickled to be up on the roof. After she was finished with the lights, she whispered to me that they will have to be taken down. When I told her yes, she jumped up and down. I guess she's going to volunteer for that too!

Casa Mañana

I have been able to chaperon field trips for Bailee, Karlee and now Mason to this amazing theatre. With Bailee we saw "James and the Giant Peach". At that time it was her favorite book/movie. It was extremely memorable, the costumes for the insects were great! When I went with Karlee I don't remember what we saw. It was during the holidays, something about elves comes to mind. With Mason, today, we saw "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." It was a lot of fun! I am always amazed, when I go to a play, at how these people can lose themselves in a character.

Usually after a field trip we go to the park and have lunch, even in December. The weather has been very cold out so we had lunch in the class room. During lunch we watched the show "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" so the kids could compare the play to the movie. It was an over all success.

Snow = Smiles!!!