It certainly is time I updated my blog. I am way behind.

Kami and Steve were planning a trip to California to take Malia to Disneyland and Sea World. I sort of invited myself since they would be staying at the condo and Jim would already be there. I just didn't want to miss out on the fun! And we did have fun! We had a great time in Disneyland for two days. But....

I also received a phone call from my brother-in-law, telling me my sister Gwen, had passed away. I couldn't believe it. Gwen has had breast cancer for a couple of years and it had matastisized (?) but still, the doctors had given her several more good years of life. But, it was complications caused by the radiation that caused her to get weaker and weaker and finally to just quit breathing and go to sleep. It was a shock to all of us but especially to her dear husband.

Without going into a lot of details I'll just say it was a very difficult weekend for me. The daffodils in her yard were so beautiful the week she died; yellow flowers everywhere! Always and forever yellow daffodils will remind me of Gwen, so I have decided to plant the hillside that faces my backyard, in daffodils. Every spring I will be able to look at a whole hillside of yellow and I will always remember my sweet sister. She was the kindest, sweetest, most gracious and generous person who ever lived and I will miss her terribly.

I love you Gwen.

Too Fast of a Weekend!

I can't believe how quickly time flies by! Jim has been in California for two weeks and finally was able to come home last Thursday night. We had a great weekend, but it went by way too fast! I think that is because we try to get everything done while he is here.

Before I picked him up on Thursday night, I went to Ella's second birthday party. What a sweet, smart and fun little girl! She was so excited about her "Tinkerbell" party and Bonnie really outdid herself on the food. We are such lucky grandparents! Happy Birthday Ella!

Anyway...back to our short weekend. We got a fridge and moved it in, after moving the old fridge out. Both were too big to fit through the doorways so we had to remove the doors from both fridges. The whole thing was a big hassle and I'm glad it's done!

We both also had to teach on Sunday; Jim the Priests Quorum and me the Laurels in YW. Finishing preparations took most of Saturday evening as Jim has a new printer and we couldn't get our computers to recognize it. We were supposed to go out to dinner for my birthday, since he will be out of town on the actual day, but that didn't happen. We just had too much to do!

Monday night we had a fireside at our home for one of the BYU wards. We really enjoy having all the young people around. They are such good, good kids and really make us feel proud of what our religion stands for. These kids are valiant! Anyway, Jim was the speaker so he also had to prepare for that this weekend, too.

This morning at 6:15 I had to take Jim back to the airport and he flew back to California. I really miss him when he is gone. It is so lonely in this big house by myself. However, this week I will have a guest. Our good friends, Bill and Robbie Lawler are having a daughter get married this week. Their house is full of guests so we are hosting a friend of Robbie's from Atlanta for the week. She should be here tomorrow.

Anyway...that's it, that's all. Absolutely nothing riviting going on in my life! Dang!

A Pretty Good Thursday...

It seems I am going, going, going, all the time! But tonight I had no where I had to go and I have loved it! Even being here alone has been good because I was able to do all the things I needed to get done that normally bug Jim. Like updating my playlists on my iPod and updating this blog. He thinks it is all stupid, and I somewhat agree, but I'm doing it anyway.

I got a lot of other odds and ends handled, too. I bought long overdue wedding gifts, bought ribbon to hang a picture from, and decided I am going to make a rag quilt. (If anyone is interested, I will show you how.) I need a worthwhile project to work on when I am home alone.

Today was a good day. I stuck to my diet, and I went to my yoga class. That's right, I have started yoga again. I am still working out on the weights and running on the treadmill for my body, but the yoga is for my head. (It weirds me out sometimes and I need a little respite from myself!)

I even quit work early today and just left. I love it that I can do that with the job I have. How lucky is that! But, I am missing my kids and am toying with the idea of driving to Idaho. (Dang! I keep hearing thumping noises and I hate that when I am alone!!!)

I better go. I am freaking myself out.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year!

2009 is going to be a great year! New Years Eve was spent playing cards, eating and laughing with the Lawlers. We actually went to bed early knowing we would have a full New Year's Day.

This morning we drove to Pasadena to watch the Rose Parade. It was the first time for both Jim and me and we really enjoyed it! It is amazing to see all the beautiful flowers on the floats, cars, motorcycles and everything else! Sooooo pretty! We spent the afternoon at Robbie's brother and sister-in-laws house and had a great time; really wonderful people, not to mention the good food and absolutely amazing house. Anyway, we hope everyone has a safe and happy new year and we will see everyone when we get home on Saturday.

A Most Wonderful Idaho Christmas!

This was a fabulous Christmas for us. On the 24th, early in the morning, Jon, Bonnie and Ella drove with us to Idaho. We spent that evening at Angie's house which was very warm and cozy. We played games, ate, talked, ate, did a gift exchange where everyone wanted the Brittney Spears CD, and ate some more. As it our tradition, I passed out the packages containing matching pajamas for everyone.

Dad, as usual, did a family home evening presentation and read the Christmas story from Luke. We had our own two little angels to help add to the Christmas spirit. The whole time it was snowing outside and made for the perfect Christmas Eve. At the end of the evening they all had Jim and I close our eyes and when we opened them, there was the most beautiful, perfect adorable picture of all our children, their spouses and our granddaughters! Of course I cried and cried! Jon and Bonnie had had to travel to Idaho especially to have the picture taken, which was no easy thing during finals. I so appreciated the sacrifice that went into getting the picture. I absolutely love it!! (See below)

Christmas Day we all congregated at Aaron and Kelly's house. Kelly had the house decorated beautifully and she also had a wonderful breakfast waiting. We spent the morning opening presents, seeing what Santa brought everyone and watching Malia and Ella have a wonderful time with all their new toys. (Of course it wouldn't be Christmas without Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation....)

Kelly fixed a lovely turkey dinner that was fabulous and Jim and Steve took over the clean-up duties with everyone else pitching ing. Afterwards we played a couple of games and a few people took naps. (Party poopers!) Then it was time to call it a day. Jim and I had a fabulous time. The ride home the next day, however, was horrible! The roads were icy and snowpacked. It took us 8 hours to make a five hour drive!. Today, we are washing laundry, getting tires on the car, taking care of dogs and cats and leaving for California!

The House is Not Decorated Until the Nativity Set is Up

I can't believe Christmas is almost here. It has been a very different Christmas Season for us, this year. Different because we have been alone for the most part. We do see Jon, Bonnie and Ella often, but everyone else lives in the Boise area. Which is why we are traveling to Boise for Christmas. We are so excited to have the whole family together for the holiday. We will be having our traditional Family Home Evening on Christmas Eve at Angie's house. Jim will be telling the Christmas Story from Luke, with a few "Dad" things thrown in. Of course Mom has bought matching pajamas for everyone to wear.

Christmast Day will be at Aaron and Kelly's. It sounds like Kelly is putting together a wonderful dinner. It should be total chaos with all 13 of us, which includes the two grandbabies! I am so excited! Malia is three and Ella is almost two; perfect ages for the whole Santa Claus thing. I will be sure to take lots of pictures.

One of the best parts of the Holiday Season is being able to attend Tip Tap Toes dance recital in Idaho. Every year Kami holds a recital in December and every year it is adorable! This year I got to help by being the narrator, but of course, the highlight of the whole event was watching Malia in her two dance numbers. Prejudice grandma or not, she was not only the cutest dancer out there...she was the best dancer too. A chip off the old block, Kami. It seems like only yesterday it was you! What fun for Nena!

Alas, all is not fun. I am feeling guilty for not sending out Christmas cards this year. I just haven't had the time. I know, I know...other people are just as busy as I am, but I truly feel like I lost a week of the Christmas Season by being in Chicago for a week. (Never again!) But, I will send out cards after the first of the year, and I am good with that, so I hope others are too.

Tomorrow is our Company Christmas Luncheon/Party. I hope everything goes well. After that, I still have some shopping to do, a ton of presents to wrap, visiting teaching to do, gifts to deliver, etc. Then we pack and it is off to Idaho. We come back on Saturday and Sunday we leave for California for a week. It should be fun, but everything is so hectic!

Plus, I have been given some new responsibilities at work that I am still not comfortable with. It all adds to the stress but I am determined to enjoy the holiday. Today, (Sunday) I got up early just so I could snuggle by the Christmas tree and read Christmas stories out of the book I bought. It is my personal tradition to buy a Christmas book of stories every year, and then read them throughout the month of December. I got a late start but I am still committed to making time to read a couple every day until Christmas. They truly do make the season "spiritual" for me.

And today was my favorite Sunday of the whole year! The Sunday before Christmas! Our Sacrament Meeting was wonderful! We have so many wonderfully talented people in our ward that it is unbelieveable! Violins, flutes, piano and organ duets, a really, really good choir and some wonderful speakers all made for a fabulous program! It was truly a blessing to be there. People who do not get the spiritual side of Christmas truly miss out. I am so grateful for the blessings that are mine through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends!! Speaking of family...here are all my girls and my boys! I am so blessed!!!

No time to write, but I am getting "flack" from my kids about my blog being old news. It is just that December is so busy and work has been frantic that I just haven't taken the time. I will, I promise, I just need to get caught up first.

In the meantime, here is a picture of our Christmas tree.