Conquering the Final Frontiers

We did it. The dirty task is finally done. WE HAVE CLEANED UP MY CRAFT ROOM!!!! Not an easy task, not pretty, or done perfectly, but after spending 6 or 7 hours in there, it is good enough for me! It is actually a huge relief to have it done. It is nice to know where to find things that I need to use. I bought a 8 ft long table at DI which made it easier to get things put away and get it finished. I was down there for about 3 hours or so, and I hit my what do I do next wall. I do fine until I get to the point where I have to find homes for things that don't have a home. I asked Kent to come help me. He is so patient. He has organized my JUNK so many times, and he was still kind to me about it. He made me find placed for everything, and helped me finish that job. HOORAY! He is just as excited as I am. He never cared before, but now that he is the "Launderer" he was having to look at it all that time when he was doing the wash. So he is just as happy as I am that it is done. AHHH! Now the task is to keep it that way. Not an easy thing for me, it seems. People can change, right? Here's to a clean craft room!

We also finished cleaning the office as well. Mom wanted to see the finished product. So here you go. With both of these, I think it will be years before they are actually REALLY finished, but I guess I mean cleaned up, kind of organized, and functional.

Temple Square

How you ever been so cold that you thought you could hardly stand it anymore? Christmas night we all decided to go down to temple square and see the lights. It was our family, Grandma and Grandpa Miles, Gina and Brent, Scott and his friend Jenny. I think we are wimpy when it comes to the cold, but we were FREEZING! We were all decently bundled up, but you just couldn't get warm, no matter how much you had on. (All the buildings were closed) As we walked around down there, I saw a statue of a pioneer family pushing a handcart. I could really get a picture of what it must have been like. Morgan wanted to be carried, and Reed just kept saying that he couldn't stand it anymore. And we had SHOES and WARM COATS on. I can't even imagine. It made me grateful for what they did, and glad that we don't have to do that. I don't know if we would have made it very far. I was sure glad to walk back to the car, and turn the heater on blasting hot. I bet the pioneers would have enjoyed that.

Christmas 2009

It is amazing! After all the moving around we have done, Santa was still able to find us! The kids were so glad, I am sure. We had a wonderful Christmas. Kent's parents and brother Scott were there to celebrate with us. It was a great day. We relaxed, enjoyed spending time with our family, and the kids played with their new toys.

Santa brought Kent and I new running shoes for Christmas. We both needed them pretty badly. The only problem with them, is now we need to USE them. Kent thought that he made out pretty well because, much to my dismay, they are both the same size (13). He commented that he may use mine to run in occasionally. I don't know about that. How many women can share tennis shoes with their husband. I don't know if that is something to be proud of....

Camille got an American Girl doll named Chrissa. She was very excited. The doll has a hairnet on in the box, so you can't really tell, but it looks like Camille. I wrapped it on two boxes because I wanted it to be a surprise. It worked. She was excited.

Santa brought McCray a Nerf dart gun set. It has vests, safety glasses, and two guns so that you can play dart tag with a friend (or brother). He and uncle Scott got into it and played for a long time. I am sure with Uli here, they will get a lot of use out of it too.

Reed got a crane. He has really enjoyed playing with it and picking things up and moving them around with it. Somehow Santa didn't realize that it made noise. I think that it will be a downstairs crane!

Morgan got another baby for Christmas. This one is a doll that is a little older and talks. She also got a doll house that she has really been enjoying.

We had a wonderful Christmas. As great as it was to get some neat presents, it is even greater when we realize that we have been given the most wonderful gift of all- a Savior. I am so grateful that Jesus Christ came to this earth and made it possible for me to return to my Heavenly Father some day. That is a gift that I will never forget, and be forever grateful for.

Christmas Eve

Grandma and Grandpa Miles came and spent Christmas with us. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed it so much.

We all dressed up and acted out the nativity.

Grandpa and Grandma gave the kids pajamas for Christmas, and they got to open them up Christmas Eve. How lucky can you get! I always wanted to open a present early so bad growing up. No such luck. We had pizza and junk food for dinner. It was fun. Camille couldn't even eat because she said she was too excited. They all were pretty excited. Eventually they all got to bed and fell asleep so Santa could come.

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a Wonderful Thanksgiving. Kelly, Erin ,Oscar, Kelly's Mom Shirley, Carter, Uli, Taylor, Krista, James, Lindsay, and their kids all came. It was such a treat to have Lindsay and James and their kids come to stay at our house. I was about to offer them the downstairs level of our home if they wanted to move in with us. Just kidding, we may drive them back to Ft Collins before too long. But it was sure great to have them all while they were here. When the Halgren's left on Sat. morning, Camille cried on and off the WHOLE DAY! She loved the kids, and had a great time being Clara's babysitter. She is getting to that age where she is a great babysitter. If only I wasn't so worried about it. Erin and I had a full fledged business going by the time we were her age! I am going to try her out and have her babysit tonight for a little while when I go across the street to the church to a RS dinner. I figure that I can have my cell phone, and be home in one minute flat, if I have to be. It is still hard to do it. I guess times have changed since we were young.

Thanksgiving dinner was excellent. With Kelly and Erin planning it, and cooking most of it, how could it not be fantastic. And it was fantastic. Then after a great dinner, great desserts. Krista made 2 very yummy pies, and Kelly made cheesecake and a pecan pie. Wow- I love dessert! It was fun for me to have it at our house. I enjoyed having it in our new dining room, and everyone fit pretty well. I love that we have room to fit people, and to have people come and have a place to stay. So, everyone take note. We have places to stay!!! It's not the Ritz, but it is hopefully comfortable. Come visit!

I was so lucky, and Lindsay and Taylor came to Black Friday shopping with me. It was probably torture, but they were both such good sports. It is never as much doing the shopping for me, as it is looking at all the sale ads.

I always love Thanksgiving time. It is wonderful to take the time to reflect on the many things I have to be grateful for. We have had a great year, and had been truly blessed beyond what I could ever imagine. I am so grateful for Kent, our kids, our families, and friends. Life is hectic, and a little crazy sometimes, but so good. I am truly grateful for all that I have been given.

Grandma Miles Birthday

Grandma Miles celebrated her 60th birthday on the 11th of November. They came to visit the week before Thanksgiving, and we had a birthday party for her. It was a lot of fun. She was worried that we couldn't get all 60 candles on the cake. HA! Of course we could. It did take a little while to get them all lit, and we had a fair amount of wax on the cake before the song was finished. But that was just fine. You only turn 60 once, right?

We gave her a goodie jar, and an apron, which she so gracefully is modeling. I made it at super Saturday, and it is far from perfect, but I had fun making it.

We had some fun plans for when they came, but unfortunately the kids were sick. So we spent most of the time at home. It was still a great time. We played a lot of card games with Grandma and Grandpa. They taught the kids a new game, and it was a lot of fun. It is nice that the kids are getting old enough that we can do some things like that together. Pam also helped me (did most of it) can 40 lbs of chicken breast in their pressure cooker. That will be nice to have to add to the food storage. We had a great time, and are sure glad that they were still able to come visit, even though we had sickies.