Merry Christmas 2012

Christmas was a blur this year.  There were all kinds of concerts, parties, events, dinners, shopping, working, and school to fill our time and it flew by.  Here are a few things that we did:

We got snow exactly a week before Christmas and I let the kids stay up late and play in it.  I didn't know if the snow would stick (which it did) or if it would stay for the holiday so we broke the house rules and played.  It was so pretty in the street lights and really made it feel like the Christmas season.

Perfect night for a walk! 

Dalyon and Cami started out by making the largest snowball ever, but then it didn't qualify as a snowball because they couldn't throw it, so they added two smaller snowballs on top to make a snowman.  He lasted the whole week! 

The end of the world (according to the Mayans) was predicted on Friday, December 21, and once again it didn't happen.  So, on Saturday, Dec. 22 we had a very special event.  Austin was able to go through the temple for his first time.  It was a very neat experience for me as a mom, and I will always remember it.  We got to the temple at 8:30 in the morning and I did initiatory while  Austin did his with his Dad as his escort.  To meet with him in the holding room, with him all dressed in white filled my heart so full it spilled right over through my eyes.  The spirit was so strong and my joy so very full.  I got a great surprise then too, because my dad who was supposed to be in California, came and sat down next to me and my mom.  We were all really glad he could come and go through with Austin.  The session was very sweet, and seeing Austin in the Celestial room, and then in the mirrors in the sealing rooms was very neat.  Someday he will take his bride and stand in those mirrors and see for eternity, but for now I got to stand with him, and that meant a lot.  We went to lunch after at the Golden Corral with our family, then Austin and I turned around and went through again with his good friend Ephriam Tait, who was going through for the first time that afternoon.  I was exhausted by the end of the day, spiritual things and crying wear me out.  Austin said he felt like he was trying to take a drink out of a fire hydrant, there was so much to think about.  His friend Andy Ashcroft and his dad Kelly also went through both sessions with us that day.  I was glad to share it with my mom and dad as well. 

As I said before, Christmas came and went in a hurry.  Besides preparing for and going through the temple with Austin, I was also baking.  This year I intended to scale down my Christmas rolls and give myself a break, but I ended up doing 219 rolls in the end, and mostly by myself this year because everyone else had other obligations and the only day I could do them was during school.  They got done, and delivered, and I suppose eaten.  Check that one off the Christmas to do list.

Ready to be baked. . . .

We had Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Winn's house this year and Vickie and her family came too. Austin and Cody took their guitars and we had a night of sing-a-longs and good food. We opened presents from the extended family and of course our traditional Christmas pajamas.  This year I gave each of the kids a book with their pj's.  We had a really nice time together.  Christmas was on a Tuesday this year so there was no torcher of waiting to open presents until after church, which I still hear about.  ha ha!    I think everyone was pleased with their gifts.  It was a different Christmas for Austin because he is getting ready for his mission and got mostly mission stuff.  All the boys got a remote control truck that they all took out to the sandbox and zoomed around with for fun.  Mady got a cedar chest and Cami got a horse to go with her American Girl doll.  We had a very nice Christmas.

It is just too early in the morning to be doing this!  They got up at 6:30 and they NEVER get up at 6:30 am.
Mady is sticking her tongue out at Austin, who is hiding behind Cami.  Life is never dull here. 

New Years Eve was very different for us this year.  Normally we have thrown a big party and had a lot of friends over to be loud with, but this year I had to work on New Years Eve Day and Doug was in Montana, so I didn't throw a party.  Doug left the day after Christmas to go to Boise, ID in a snowstorm to pick up a house going to Wiliston, North Dakota.  We are so grateful for the work and didn't even bat an eye about the fact that this is the first year in 23 years that we haven't been together on New Years Eve for our 11:27 kiss.  That has to be a record of some sort, kissing each other at the same time, on the same night for 23 years.  There is a story about why it was 11:27,  we thought it was midnight and after the kiss realized that it was only 11:27.  Neither of us complained, however, because we were able to correct the mistake at midnight.  Regardless, New Years Eve was quiet with Austin, Mady and Cody out at a bon -fire Austin and friends were hosting south of town, Cami was at a friends house, and Dalyon came home about 6 from a friends house.  He and I decided to go to the movie "Parental Guidance" and watched the ball fall in NYC, something we have never done.  It was a quiet but nice night with just the two of us. 

We have had a crazy year, as usual, which should feel like the norm for us.  Looking forward to 2013 I anticipate more craziness and a few tears. (A mom has the right to cry when her boys leave on missions, right?) Our lives continue to change as does our world and we are grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives that brings us peace in troubled times.  I look forward to better times and am grateful for the good memories we have had. 
 

Bar J Wranglers, a Continued Christmas Tradition

Once again we decided to treat ourselves to a holiday performance of the Bar J Wranglers, our new Christmas tradition that we started last year.  This year we brought my mom and dad along and had an enjoyable time once again.  Austin was home for a few days and we were glad he could come because it will be a couple of years before he can go with us again.  Mady was in charge of the pictures and she took mostly videos, but here are a few still shots that show how much fun we have!

The whole group on stage.  Babe Humphries, the founder of the Bar J joined them
at this performance.  It was quite a treat. 

We sat in two rows, one right behind the other.  This is Austin catching up with
Grandpa.

An after concert shot with Babe Humphries and his son.
 

Another autograph and phot shoot with the guys. 
 

This is a very fun time for our family!  Lots of laughter, toe tapping and smiles.  I'm glad we were all together for the concert again this year.  What a nice way to start the Christmas season! 

Our Mexican Japanese Hibachi Chef

Some things just stand out in your mind and you never forget them.  Last Thanksgiving weekend after opening Austin's mission call we had our family pictures taken and Doug and I treated the kids to the Samurai 21 Japanese Steak House in St. George, a first for our family.  There were several new things tried this night for each of us.  Sushi was one, although I don't know what  the kids were fussing about because all I ordered was the California rolls which have COOKED crab meat in them, not raw fish.  They all made faces and squirmed around, but they all tried a piece, except Doug of course, who is a meat and potatoes guy.  Now that I think of it I believe Mady passed on the deliciousness as well.  Oh well, more for us I say! 

All of us around the hibachi grill.  We are all smiles because everyone is having STEAK!
There are no chickens in this family!!

Our Japanese Hibachi Chef who is from Mexico.  Very funny!  He really
picked on Cody and Mady.

At the end of all the fancy cooking our Chef tosses a piece of chicken or shrimp in to our mouths.  Most of us caught it, and Austin slid way back against the wall and caught his piece!  Very impressive!  This was a great memory for us and we hope to do it again when we are rich and famous!  ha ha ha!!