December

This month has been chuck full of parties and lots and lots of awesome family time.  I don't know how I'll survive the regular routine of life come January....Our first party was on December 8 and was hosted by the Bundy's at their house.  We ate delicious chicken enchiladas, then played catch phrase, and the trivia game.  It was a delightful evening. 

Sadly I don't have pictures for all our parties, but on the 13th, the Skeens invited me and Mike, Carol and Mom out for dinner and games.  We had fun playing taboo and cards.  I just love getting together with extended family.  The next night Mike and I went to our friends Allen and Sandy's for dinner and visiting. We had a nice evening, and since this is a second marriage for both of them, I enjoyed learning more about Sandy.  Turns out we have a lot in common, so it will be a fun friendship to continue.  The next night (Sunday the 15th) Carol had us and the Wheelwrights and Mom over for dinner, games and the Survivor finale.  It was a fun evening.  The next night we went to Steve and Janet Broadbents for dinner along with the Wood's and Measoms.  We 4 were the RS presidency and we've decided to get together for dinner 4 times a year- once each at each other's homes.  It's a great way to stay in touch.  Ty and Sue had bought this little band at a YSA service auction so we got to enjoy their amazing music for an hour while we ate and visited.  I loved it!  The top two pictures were from that evening, and the bottom left is the awesome Amaryllis that Teresa gave me for Christmas that I absolutely loved watching grow and bloom.  It was so beautiful and lasted all month.  The bottom right is the much anticipated neighbor gift from Marnie Corbett that I look forward to every year.  It's delivered hot out of the oven and literally melts in your mouth.  That's a full size plate by the way, not just a dessert plate.  Oh, the deliciousness of this thing is next to nothing!

On Thursday the 19th, me, Carol, Mom and Paul (who was in town for 5 days) went to Ann's for a cookie exchange, candy making and game playing.  It was a lovely evening.  The bottom right picture is a work check from a year and a half ago made out to Jake from Westates theater that he irresponsibly tossed into the trunk of his car (who does that?) and it was discovered by Cam when he and Mike went to get the spare tire out of the trunk to change a flat and there was the check wet and frozen to the tire.  Luckily for Jake, he has a nice mother who went to the trouble to track down the person who could re-issue him a new check.  It was fun showing it to him on Christmas (complete w/ the new check) and telling him all about it and making fun of him.

The next night we had a blast at a party at Carol's school.  We ate pizza and other goodies, then played a super fun scavenger hunt that Carol and Taylor had made that was throughout the school.  It was great.  Then we played some minute-to-win-it games in the gym.  A great evening.  We enjoyed having the Romney's spend the night w/ us that night and enjoyed visiting w/ them for an hour while soaking in the hot tub.

The next day Mom had her Griffin family Christmas party that was 20 years in the making.  All her children and spouses were there except for DeNae.  We had a lovely afternoon feasting on a delicious dinner that Gary made, sharing Christmas memories, playing cards and just visiting and enjoying each other.  It was wonderful.

The next evening, Sunday the 22nd, we had a fun progressive dinner that started at our house with soup and a game, went to the Griffins for lasagne and garlic bread, stopped by the Searles for salad and name that Christmas tune that Carol played on the piano (I loved listening to her play- she's awesome) then finished at the Skeens for dessert and a spiritual message.  It was a great night.  We hurried home to welcome Ky and Brody who were just arriving for their Christmas break.  Our ward's primary did a live nativity the next night that Ky and I went to. It was very well done and attended by so many people. It was so great.

 On Christmas Eve day, the girls and I started off the day with an awesome Zumba class at the Sports Academy.  We then met Brody, Brad, Cam and the Bundy's at the Jump Zone for an hour of fun and practically had the place to ourselves.  It was perfect.  Came home for a delicious breakfast that Mike had been kind enough to bake since he couldn't break away from work to come to the jump zone with us. 

We played some games that afternoon, then Ky and Brody went to Brody's moms for the evening, and the rest of us went to the Weyerts for dinner.  We had a delicious feast of crab, shrimp, ham and french dip, played the present game, then went to the Bundy's for the rest of the evening.  Ky and Brody were able to meet up with us there about 10:30 and we had a great time playing a survivor type game along with Trace and Ann who were spending the night there.  This is the only picture I have from dinner at the Weyerts.  I sure love this baby boy of mine.

 I absolutely love my house at Christmas.  Well, I especially love it.  On Christmas morning, Mike and I made a big breakfast of fresh squeezed OJ (thanks to my friend Lorene who sent me a case of oranges from Arizona), red buttermilk pancakes, red potato hashbrowns, sausage and hot chocolate.  For the first time ever we ate before opening presents.  It was because of the timing of Skyping with Jake.  The day revolved around that and I love that it did. 

We spent a wonderful hour opening presents.  We enjoyed the addition of Brody's BFF Landon who lives in SLC but doesn't have any family nearby so he spent the day with us (and Christmas Eve with Brody's family).  It was special to have Mom with us for the morning.  That hasn't happened since we lived in Arizona. 

We went to the Weyerts as soon as we were done to open presents from them and eat leftovers, then we rushed home to be waiting at 1:30 when Jake was scheduled to Skype with us.  We anxiously waited for 10 minutes before the call came through, then it was pure heaven for 85 minutes talking with him.  It was all that I dreamed it would be.  He looked great, he was happy and his same ole fun self.  It was the best part of the day without a doubt.  I was so happy that he wasn't homesick and wasn't too sad to say goodbye.  And I was happy that I got my tears shed while waiting for the call to come and not during it.  (the top picture is of us waiting...)

 We had an hour to clean up, do dishes and make chalupas for later at the Skeens, then we all met at Trace's YSA building for a rousing game of glow-in-the-dark ultimate frisbee. Everyone who lives in the valley was there except the Griffins.  It was so much fun!  I hope this becomes a tradition.  I really loved it.  We all went to the Skeens after that for dinner and more games.  It was a delightful way to end a perfect day.

On the 27th the Bundy's and Ann came over for lunch and games.  

Saturday the 28th we attended a morning session of the temple (Ky had never seen the new film so was happy to finally get to do that), then we all went to the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."  It was a great movie.  That evening the Densleys joined us for dinner and games.  We had a great time with them and were so happy they were able to fit an evening with us into their lives.

The next day- Sunday the 29th, the Bundy's joined us for dinner and more games. I had a table full of prizes I wanted to get rid of, so we played games until they were almost gone.  It was a blast with them as always.

On Monday the 30th, Ky, Brody, Cam and Jess (Brad is in Texas for the week selling for Vivint) went to lunch at the Crepery then I met up with them for the matinee of Frozen (me and Jess) while the other 3 went to The Hobbit.  Jess and I LOVED Frozen.  It was so cute.  Ky and Brody spent most of the rest of their time home with Brody's mom, so on New Years Eve it was just me, Mike and Jess as Cam had gone to Park City snowboarding for the day, then stayed there to go to a party with his friends.  We three ate leftovers while watching 2 movies- The Impossible, and Hachi- A Dog's Tale.  Both were very good.  And then we went to bed at 10:30.  I know, I know.  Boring- but we were tired!  It was sad to say goodbye to 2013 because it's been a good year, but I look forward to all that 2014 will bring.