Thursday, December 24, 2015
Christmas Adam ... because Adam came before Eve
The snow continues to fall! HAPPINESS!
For Christmas Adam, we had hoped to beginning a new tradition. Being that Liza and Buddy are 400 miles away and Dale is 900 miles away, we wanted to have our first family Christmas party by Skype/Facetime! Well, that didn't work out. Dale got a new phone that is not an iPhone. My Skype wouldn't download onto the iPad or PC for anything. Dale only had Willow until 5PM, the exact time that Quayd and Doug got off work and won't have her until Christmas evening. Sadness. We'll try for a new years skype.
So, last night, after dinner, we had our first Christmas Adam family party. We played a new game called "That's it!", in a modified version since we were on facetime. Buddy was the first person with twenty points, so he won. Then, we passed around the jar that I've been collecting money for since Thanksgiving. I just kept adding change to a jar and a few bills here and there. Then, everyone studied the jar closely. Even Liza and Buddy studied it, having me turn it slowly close to the screen, back and forth in whatever direction, holding it when they said. Then, everyone wrote down their guess as to how much was in the jar. Buddy texted his, Liza's and Aylabelle's guess.
I was surprised at how close every came to guessing. Grace was over by ten dollars. Everyone else was within five dollars under. No one saw anyone's answers until I had collected them all. I read them aloud and then we emptied the jar, pennies, nickles and dimes at a time, with dollars and fives here and there in between. Everyone was on the edge of their seat until the very last minute, as I covered the jar and they really didn't know how much was left as I counted it out.
QUAYD won the prize - the jar full of money! He had calculated and counted and measured for an hour. The funny thing is that there was no way to calculate. The jar had a few Hersheys Nuggets and Hersheys kisses in it. There was change and dollars and fives and a twenty. However, he was onlytwenty-four cents off from guessing exactly $48.04, which was what was in it! We had a lot of laughs, but when Quayd won, WOW! He was so loud and excited! Very fun to watch his enthusiasm. The first thing he did was hand me a $5 bill to pay tithing with it. This will definitely be a new tradition for our family.
We still have our gift wrap game to do after all of the presents are open. Last year, we waited until New Years Eve. We'll see how that goes this year.
After the "party", we said our goodnights to Liza, Buddy and Aylabelle, then we built a fire and settled down for "A Christmas Story", which I don't think any of us had watched in a very long time... years! So, it was like new, except the scene with the telephone pole. Everyone knows that scene. ha!
It's Christmas Eve afternoon. Everything is wrapped. Stocking stuffers are wrapped, sorted and ready to be put into the stockings after bedtime. The ham's cooking. The rolls raising. Party Potatoes ready to bake. Salads are made. I have an apple cake to bake... maybe. We'll do our traditional gift opening tonight (pajamas, of course), followed by Doug's little spiritual devotional reminding us of why we are celebrating. Then, we'll probably open a movie. Since everyone's older, we'll probably watch the movie and have snacks and treats and munchies all night before bedtime. (Do we really need that apple cake?) I'm actually kind of excited about a midnight Christmas Eve soak in the hot tub. I think that the biggest question of our day is still Do we want to open gifts in the den by a roaring fire and in total comfort and privacy or do we want to do it in the front living room by, what Zee calls, "The real Christmas tree"? I'm wishing we had set the "real" tree in the den because we all agree that it feels like a Christmas room, but tradition puts us in the front room. We'll see in the morning, I guess, what Mr. & Mrs. Claus decide to do. And, no, I won't move the real tree into the den tonight, as was requested.
Merry Christmas! What a joyous time of the year and what a miraculous and wonderful reason we have to celebrate! I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ... for His birth, His exemplary life, His atoning sacrifice and for His Gospel. There are no better gifts, followed closely by family. How blessed we are to have six beautiful children and umpteen grands! Life is good!
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
gram's christmas brunch
On Monday morning, after the wild and crazy donut night, I hosted a
little "Brunch" with Mikelle and Zaylee. These two little girls know
that they are sisters. They know that they are both adopted into
different families, but they truly love each other. They've put the facts
together in their own minds, their parents openly confirm them, and they make me laugh when they talk about
it together.
I asked their moms to bring them at 9:30. I had breakfast ready to go when they arrived and a busy morning of activities for us to do together. They were excited to begin with the hot cocoa bar. We had chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, red hot candies, milk duds, strawberries, whipped cream, marshmallows, red and green Christmas tree sprinkles, and more. I told them that they could put anything and as much of they wanted on their hot cocoa. They loved all of the fun dishes, but mostly the spoon with the Christmas bulb that lights up on it.
Following the snowman making, we did our next craft, making scarves. I cut them and the girls tied them. I was really entertained watching Zaylee watching Miki as she put her scarf on over and over. Zaylee tried to do what Miki was doing and couldn't quite figure it out. Finally, she asked, "Miki, how do you do that?" Miki replied, "Oh, it's easy. My dad taught me how to do it." She then showed Zaylee how to fold it in half and thread it through. They both wore their scarves the rest of the time.
I asked their moms to bring them at 9:30. I had breakfast ready to go when they arrived and a busy morning of activities for us to do together. They were excited to begin with the hot cocoa bar. We had chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, red hot candies, milk duds, strawberries, whipped cream, marshmallows, red and green Christmas tree sprinkles, and more. I told them that they could put anything and as much of they wanted on their hot cocoa. They loved all of the fun dishes, but mostly the spoon with the Christmas bulb that lights up on it.
The anything goes rule also applied to the waffles. They literally went through one canister of whipped cream!
Zaylee loved the "All the bacon you want" rule!
We cleaned up breakfast and the girls made their own Christmas necklaces. Mikelle, meticulously did hers with red, white, red white, and added one green on each side.
Zaylee threaded ten white, ten green, then ten red, added her charm, then repeated on the other side.
Following our necklaces, the girls made donut snowmen on skewers to take home for each member of their family.
The snowmen were Hostess donuts, fruit leather scarves, M&Ms for buttons and black frosting for their eyes. The frosting dots was a fail, but other than that, they were darling! (Note, if you try these, the donuts must be pretty fresh. They crumble quite easily while putting skewers in them.)
Zaylee, black clothes and white powdered donuts... hmmmm...not the best combination.
Grace and Zee came up to help with the donuts and the final craft, but the most of the activity was just Gram and her grandgirls.
Following the snowman making, we did our next craft, making scarves. I cut them and the girls tied them. I was really entertained watching Zaylee watching Miki as she put her scarf on over and over. Zaylee tried to do what Miki was doing and couldn't quite figure it out. Finally, she asked, "Miki, how do you do that?" Miki replied, "Oh, it's easy. My dad taught me how to do it." She then showed Zaylee how to fold it in half and thread it through. They both wore their scarves the rest of the time.
While they learned to tie scarves, I tied their little no-sew fleece hats. Miki had a ponytail, so hers was tight, but I think it will be fine when her hair is down. They thought it was pretty cool to have matching hats and scarves though.
I'm somewhat fascinated that these two girls are half sisters and yet they couldn't be any more different... in looks, in personalities, in mannerisms. Yet, they are both just as cute as can be and they just act like they've lived together since birth. How thankful we are that they have both been adopted into such wonderful and loving families! They, and we, have truly been blessed!
There were two presents under the snowman tree and Miki picked up on it very quickly. "Why are there so many presents under the living room tree and only two under this one?" I think she was hoping that these were for them. She was correct. They both went home with their own little set of cocoa mugs (Hello Kitty for Zaylee and Elsa for Miki) and whatever toppings they wanted for their own cocoa at home.
We finished up around 12:15, just in time to take them home and then drop Quayd off in Smithfield for work. He had the girls laughing and giggling so hard. Zaylee was telling him how to get a girlfriend. "You have to kiss her!" Quayd was making his rubber faces for all the ways to kiss.... none of which would a girl want to be kissed by. These two little girls were giggling so hard at his faces. Zaylee thinks Quayd is "the silliest boy on the whole earth!"
I was pretty tired from the long, crazy weekend and party the night before when I first woke up at 6. I'd had everything organized and planned before the Donut Night Party, so this was pretty simple. I was so happy for this special little morning and hoped that it would make a memory. I have been thinking a lot about how to spend more time with these little grandgirls who are but are not ours any longer. Both families welcome us into their lives, but we do not want to be invasive. But, we also want relationships with them. It's so complicated. Some outsiders look at us and shake their heads. We're more thankful than words could say, for these sweet little children and that their lives are blessed to be in such wonderful families! It works for us. That's all that matters.
I am blessed. Life is good.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
donut night...too much fun!
After all of the years that we have done donut night with Carol, this
year, we continued the tradition, but not with Carol's family. Carol
was attending a large progressive dinner with her sisters and over 40
family members. We decided to carry on the tradition and invited Alan
and Jill, all four of their kids and their spouses or significants and
Layne and Julie and their family. Alan and Jill have spent a lot of
time with Layne and Julie, renovating their home, as well. Layne and
Julie only bought their home and moved in six months ahead of us, so we
have made a "new neighbor" bond like none other. Oh my, what fun we
had!
We began with dinner. Jill brought homemade
chili, Julie brought a fabulous potato leek soup and I made white
chicken chili, frog-eye salad and four giant loaves of homemade bread.
Dinner was delish! I'd asked the Alan's and the Layne's to bring
drinks, as well. Alan and Jill brought about ten bottles of different
drinks, being quite creative in their selection. Layne and Julie
brought four bottles of sparkling cider. The kids all thought the drink
selection was even better than dinner! I'd set two tables in the den
and the kids were seated at the round table. The marrieds and one
nephew with his darling girlfriend joined us at the big table, although
nephew Adam thought he should be at the "Grown-up" table because
"technically", he's been dating his girlfriend two months longer than
his big brother, Alec has been dating his.
Dinner was filled with story after story... lots of teasing of Layne over his government job, which I know nothing about because it's very secretive. I call him 007 and insist that everytime he leaves, he's going to meet the president of some foreign country. He loves it and I dish it out more. Nephew-in-law, Kevin, was quite intrigued and asked as many questions as I do. Dinner was the beginning of a night filled with the most laughter this home has yet to see since it's been the Corbridge home.
Following dinner, everyone pitched in and cleaned up dinner, then set the chairs up around the edges of the den. The teens went outside and had a snowball fight, then came back in and gabbed. Oh my, they were loud! There was much teasing about the volume level of certain teens, which brought more laughter along with the mocking! Zeej was the youngest one there, and it occurred to me later in the evening, we are at the point that parties are so much more fun because we aren't dealing with little ones and trying to keep the small ones entertained as well. I love this stage of life!
In the kitchen, donuts were happening. I had made the dough in advance. We made about 200 donuts and over half of them were eaten before the night's end. Snitching, platters served on the table and lots of donut holes. I rolled, Julie put them in the oil, Alan cooked, Jill sugared and we all kept pretty busy for about an hour. At that point, we wanted to play! We left the kitchen without finishing the donuts, which we have never done, but not one of us cared. We had had our fill of donuts. Actually, I only ate one hole and one donut, but that's plenty... I always have to taste to see how they turned out and beyond that, I'm good for the night.
We gathered in the den and I began to explain the games. Oh my. This was the beginnning of non-stop laughter for the remainder of the evening. Oh my gosh, we laughed.
Our first game was the paper plate game, which has been a favorite this season. Everyone followed my instructions and drew the Christmas scene while holding the paper plate over their heads. We got some pretty great drawings...and some pretty funny ones! ZJ actually won the prize, a chocolate orange, for that game.
Following the plate game, we played Christmas Taboo and had a great time. I think that the second biggest laugh of the evening came when it was 8:45 and nephew Adam had to take his girlfriend, Kim, home by 9, so they left. Kim had been the timekeeper for their team in Christmas Taboo. Each player got 45 seconds to give their clues and get as many cards answered in that time. Kim and Adam left. Jocilyn got up to give her clues. She was bolting through the questions! Normally, a good player would get about 4 or 5 answers in the allotted 45 seconds. Jos was on number nine when her brother Alec asked, "Who's keeping the time?" NO ONE! No wonder Jos was cranking out the points! We all laughed for two or three minutes! Candace, Alec's girlfriend, however, actually caught up with points on the final turn in the 45 seconds! I love this cute girl! She's a great fit for the family!
We decided that there is a reason that it's the oldest party game of all time... it is the most fun game of all time!
Really, the evening was perfect. Grace said yesterday, "Last night was one of the best nights of my whole life!" Before family prayer, I asked the kids if they'd had a good time. On a scale of ten, it got a 9.75. Awesome! That was the goal! We loved it! Layne posted, "Just had a greatilicious party with the Corbridges! Thanks! You're the best!" Greatilicious describes our relationship with these awesome neighbors! We'll definitely be doing more parties with the Alan's and the Layne's. This was just too much fun!
Gathering is my favorite part of the holidays, without a doubt. We love having friends and family in our home. As Doug and I were settling into bed that night, I was wired... just plain wound up, feeling such gratitude for having a home where we have enough room to spread out, to entertain large groups, to spend so much time with so many of those that we love. This literally is the happiest time of my life. I'm loving it! I'm loving having three teens in the home again. I'm loving having such great friends and family that are so close. Life is so so good!
Plasticware for faster clean-up... and as Doug says, "I'm still alive!" I'm actually getting quite spoiled by the fun paperware at Hobby Lobby! Why wash dishes?!
Dinner was filled with story after story... lots of teasing of Layne over his government job, which I know nothing about because it's very secretive. I call him 007 and insist that everytime he leaves, he's going to meet the president of some foreign country. He loves it and I dish it out more. Nephew-in-law, Kevin, was quite intrigued and asked as many questions as I do. Dinner was the beginning of a night filled with the most laughter this home has yet to see since it's been the Corbridge home.
Following dinner, everyone pitched in and cleaned up dinner, then set the chairs up around the edges of the den. The teens went outside and had a snowball fight, then came back in and gabbed. Oh my, they were loud! There was much teasing about the volume level of certain teens, which brought more laughter along with the mocking! Zeej was the youngest one there, and it occurred to me later in the evening, we are at the point that parties are so much more fun because we aren't dealing with little ones and trying to keep the small ones entertained as well. I love this stage of life!
Layne and Julie have a foreign exchange student, Lasse, from Germany, this school year. Our hearts all have grown quite fond of him and my girls just adore him. At first, Zeej was a bit "twitterpated", but they have become like brothers and sisters. It will break our hearts to see him leave in the spring and Zeej is already saying that she doesn't want him to go back home. He's awesome and we love his soft German accent in his perfect English!
In the kitchen, donuts were happening. I had made the dough in advance. We made about 200 donuts and over half of them were eaten before the night's end. Snitching, platters served on the table and lots of donut holes. I rolled, Julie put them in the oil, Alan cooked, Jill sugared and we all kept pretty busy for about an hour. At that point, we wanted to play! We left the kitchen without finishing the donuts, which we have never done, but not one of us cared. We had had our fill of donuts. Actually, I only ate one hole and one donut, but that's plenty... I always have to taste to see how they turned out and beyond that, I'm good for the night.
I asked Jos to take pix through the night. She kept my camera closeby and took some fun shots.
Alan is sporting a great winter beard, which I love!! He truly is my brother and bestest guy I know, besides my good husband, his big brother!
We gathered in the den and I began to explain the games. Oh my. This was the beginnning of non-stop laughter for the remainder of the evening. Oh my gosh, we laughed.
Our first game was the paper plate game, which has been a favorite this season. Everyone followed my instructions and drew the Christmas scene while holding the paper plate over their heads. We got some pretty great drawings...and some pretty funny ones! ZJ actually won the prize, a chocolate orange, for that game.
Following the plate game, we played Christmas Taboo and had a great time. I think that the second biggest laugh of the evening came when it was 8:45 and nephew Adam had to take his girlfriend, Kim, home by 9, so they left. Kim had been the timekeeper for their team in Christmas Taboo. Each player got 45 seconds to give their clues and get as many cards answered in that time. Kim and Adam left. Jocilyn got up to give her clues. She was bolting through the questions! Normally, a good player would get about 4 or 5 answers in the allotted 45 seconds. Jos was on number nine when her brother Alec asked, "Who's keeping the time?" NO ONE! No wonder Jos was cranking out the points! We all laughed for two or three minutes! Candace, Alec's girlfriend, however, actually caught up with points on the final turn in the 45 seconds! I love this cute girl! She's a great fit for the family!
After
Taboo, we played the oldest party game ever, "Charades". The girls and
I had made a list of fifty Christmas songs, typed it up, printed it and
cut them into tiny paper strips to be drawn from the bowl. This was HYS.TER.I.CAL!!
Oh my, we laughed until we cried. We laughed until our cheeks hurt.
And then, we laughed some more. Oh, my, it was fun!
"All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"
Doug, who hates these kind of games, was a good sport and made us all laugh!
Quayd felt the pressure of being a "Thespian" and putting on a great performance!
Poor Grace got the most difficult song of the night. She spent ten minutes trying to act
out, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". Wonderful is a hard word to act out!
Our reserved nephew Alec did a great "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies"...fairies not to be confused
Julie, who is usually pretty reserved, had her own version of the fairies. I think that this was the biggest laugh of the night!
Nephew-in-law, Kevin approved of all the laughter and fun!
Layne was gooo-oooood!
ZJ's "Grandma got Ran Over by a Reindeer" brought us to tears! We even asked for a repeat performance from her!
My favorite niece, Jocilyn...could she be any cuter?!
Jos needed a drink and this is what her brother, Adam, brought her as "a service". She asked, "Aunt Sophia, may I drink out of this?" And she did!
We decided that there is a reason that it's the oldest party game of all time... it is the most fun game of all time!
Really, the evening was perfect. Grace said yesterday, "Last night was one of the best nights of my whole life!" Before family prayer, I asked the kids if they'd had a good time. On a scale of ten, it got a 9.75. Awesome! That was the goal! We loved it! Layne posted, "Just had a greatilicious party with the Corbridges! Thanks! You're the best!" Greatilicious describes our relationship with these awesome neighbors! We'll definitely be doing more parties with the Alan's and the Layne's. This was just too much fun!
Gathering is my favorite part of the holidays, without a doubt. We love having friends and family in our home. As Doug and I were settling into bed that night, I was wired... just plain wound up, feeling such gratitude for having a home where we have enough room to spread out, to entertain large groups, to spend so much time with so many of those that we love. This literally is the happiest time of my life. I'm loving it! I'm loving having three teens in the home again. I'm loving having such great friends and family that are so close. Life is so so good!
Monday, December 21, 2015
christmas is coming!!!
Weekend update...
Friday was just a day full of running and gathering and completing. Doug's company party was that evening. We enjoyed a lovely evening at the University with dinner, music and lots of giveaways. Doug came away with a bonus check and a gift card to Chili's, of all places. ha! We had to laugh... all the cards from Amazon, American Express, Target, and we got Chili's. We all got a good laugh out of that. Before being seated for the dinner, we were invited to step into the photo booth. I don't think that Doug and I have ever been in a photo booth. It made me smile.
After dinner, Doug was visiting with someone on the other side of the room. One of the people we'd sat near, commented, "Doug is the nicest person I've ever met. He's sure been a different person since the layoffs." I asked why and they mentioned a specific person who had been let go and that everyone in the building was so glad to see this person gone, but that it seemed to have been "really a good thing for Doug, although he would never say anything." This person, according to those at the table, had been quite a "bully" or what we refer to, in our home, as "Jello Sheriff"...someone who puts their nose into other people's business when not necessary or self-appointed boss where it's not their place to be boss.
Apparently, Doug was tolerant and "too nice" to this person, according to those at the table. "He should have stood up and told [that person] off years ago!" I was quite surprised at the openness of this discussion. Doug was no where near the table, so I sat and just listened. Doug is not one to speak ill of anyone, so I knew that he'd expect the same of me. But, it was telling. "It was like a dark cloud had disappeared." I was astonished. I was asked, "Were you even aware that this was all happening?" I said, "Doug generally speaks kind words of others. He's not one to dwell on the negative things in life." I changed the subject, asking another couple if they were ready for Christmas.
Doug's funny about things like that. He shared with me, years ago, that it's best to just stay out of that kind of conversation when people speak ill of others. I think that this was one of those times. It really hit me, though, that one person's attitude can really impact everyone around them. Wow, the layoffs were months ago. How sad that a situation was that bad that people are still talking about it. But, apparently, at least in these people's eyes, there was a silver lining. As I said, way back when, I was just thankful that Doug still had a job! One entire shift was dissolved. We were blessed. And Doug... well, he rolls with the good, the bad, the ugly and the jello sheriffs of life. You won't hear him complain. I shared what had been said while we were hottubbing later that night. He was very surprised to hear it. As expected, he didn't dwell on it.
Aside from this conversation, the evening was perfectly lovely. Great food. A beautifully talented pianist playing in the background, lovely table decorations (Which I won to bring home at the end of the evening.) And my date was pretty awesome too! Great night!
We have known the owner of Doug's company since he was a teenager. He comes from "good people". I always enjoy hearing his message and projection of the next year for the company. I really do! This year, the company continues to grow and have success. I'm glad that Doug has survived the ups and downs of the years of this business. He enjoys his job. I'm grateful for it and for the good people that he surrounds himself with while there. I'm grateful for his willingness to work so hard to support our family. He never complains! I love that about him! We are blessed!
Oh, I love the holidays! And I even love Doug's company parties!
Saturday... I drove Grace to work, had lunch with ZJ and did some shopping together. We found something that she "flipped" over. "Puhleeeeez, Mommy! Puleeeeez!" I told her that I was done buying. She said, "I'll be your best friend!" I said, "You're already my best friend!" I explained that I was done shopping and if I bought this for her, I'd have to buy another gift for Quayd and Grace. Pullllleeeeeeeeeeeeez, Mommy!?!?!?!!? Puhleeeeeeeeeez????" Of course, I bought them each one. And she's committed to give an Oscar Winning Performance of shock, surprise and thrill when she sees it on Christmas morning. That's a first for us... where one of the kids knows what they are getting. Well, just one thing, but it's a first.
After shopping, Doug got home from work. He asked me if I wanted to go out for a quick date. Our date included going to the Crepery for a quiet bite, then running some errands for the kids while Grace worked. As soon as she got off, we came home with a big bucket of movie popcorn, pizza and treats. We built a fire and all settled down to please Quayd by watching Maze Runner. He's been dying for us to have a movie night and watch a marathon of Maze Runner and Scorch Trials. (Shoot me!) We watched the first. The second won't happen until this weekend because we have Christmas movies to still watch and we only have four more sleeps to do it! So, this week's movies are Christmas Vacation tonight, Grinch tomorrow night, It's a wonderful Life on Wednesday and then on Christmas Eve day, we'll watch Home alone and Home Alone 2. Nothing like chillaxing before the holiday! It makes all the craziness of the past few weeks worth the effort!
Sunday was crazy fun. Totally crazy. A separate post needed. Best weekend in forever. Loved it! Life is good!
Friday was just a day full of running and gathering and completing. Doug's company party was that evening. We enjoyed a lovely evening at the University with dinner, music and lots of giveaways. Doug came away with a bonus check and a gift card to Chili's, of all places. ha! We had to laugh... all the cards from Amazon, American Express, Target, and we got Chili's. We all got a good laugh out of that. Before being seated for the dinner, we were invited to step into the photo booth. I don't think that Doug and I have ever been in a photo booth. It made me smile.
After dinner, Doug was visiting with someone on the other side of the room. One of the people we'd sat near, commented, "Doug is the nicest person I've ever met. He's sure been a different person since the layoffs." I asked why and they mentioned a specific person who had been let go and that everyone in the building was so glad to see this person gone, but that it seemed to have been "really a good thing for Doug, although he would never say anything." This person, according to those at the table, had been quite a "bully" or what we refer to, in our home, as "Jello Sheriff"...someone who puts their nose into other people's business when not necessary or self-appointed boss where it's not their place to be boss.
Apparently, Doug was tolerant and "too nice" to this person, according to those at the table. "He should have stood up and told [that person] off years ago!" I was quite surprised at the openness of this discussion. Doug was no where near the table, so I sat and just listened. Doug is not one to speak ill of anyone, so I knew that he'd expect the same of me. But, it was telling. "It was like a dark cloud had disappeared." I was astonished. I was asked, "Were you even aware that this was all happening?" I said, "Doug generally speaks kind words of others. He's not one to dwell on the negative things in life." I changed the subject, asking another couple if they were ready for Christmas.
Doug's funny about things like that. He shared with me, years ago, that it's best to just stay out of that kind of conversation when people speak ill of others. I think that this was one of those times. It really hit me, though, that one person's attitude can really impact everyone around them. Wow, the layoffs were months ago. How sad that a situation was that bad that people are still talking about it. But, apparently, at least in these people's eyes, there was a silver lining. As I said, way back when, I was just thankful that Doug still had a job! One entire shift was dissolved. We were blessed. And Doug... well, he rolls with the good, the bad, the ugly and the jello sheriffs of life. You won't hear him complain. I shared what had been said while we were hottubbing later that night. He was very surprised to hear it. As expected, he didn't dwell on it.
Aside from this conversation, the evening was perfectly lovely. Great food. A beautifully talented pianist playing in the background, lovely table decorations (Which I won to bring home at the end of the evening.) And my date was pretty awesome too! Great night!
We have known the owner of Doug's company since he was a teenager. He comes from "good people". I always enjoy hearing his message and projection of the next year for the company. I really do! This year, the company continues to grow and have success. I'm glad that Doug has survived the ups and downs of the years of this business. He enjoys his job. I'm grateful for it and for the good people that he surrounds himself with while there. I'm grateful for his willingness to work so hard to support our family. He never complains! I love that about him! We are blessed!
Oh, I love the holidays! And I even love Doug's company parties!
Saturday... I drove Grace to work, had lunch with ZJ and did some shopping together. We found something that she "flipped" over. "Puhleeeeez, Mommy! Puleeeeez!" I told her that I was done buying. She said, "I'll be your best friend!" I said, "You're already my best friend!" I explained that I was done shopping and if I bought this for her, I'd have to buy another gift for Quayd and Grace. Pullllleeeeeeeeeeeeez, Mommy!?!?!?!!? Puhleeeeeeeeeez????" Of course, I bought them each one. And she's committed to give an Oscar Winning Performance of shock, surprise and thrill when she sees it on Christmas morning. That's a first for us... where one of the kids knows what they are getting. Well, just one thing, but it's a first.
After shopping, Doug got home from work. He asked me if I wanted to go out for a quick date. Our date included going to the Crepery for a quiet bite, then running some errands for the kids while Grace worked. As soon as she got off, we came home with a big bucket of movie popcorn, pizza and treats. We built a fire and all settled down to please Quayd by watching Maze Runner. He's been dying for us to have a movie night and watch a marathon of Maze Runner and Scorch Trials. (Shoot me!) We watched the first. The second won't happen until this weekend because we have Christmas movies to still watch and we only have four more sleeps to do it! So, this week's movies are Christmas Vacation tonight, Grinch tomorrow night, It's a wonderful Life on Wednesday and then on Christmas Eve day, we'll watch Home alone and Home Alone 2. Nothing like chillaxing before the holiday! It makes all the craziness of the past few weeks worth the effort!
Sunday was crazy fun. Totally crazy. A separate post needed. Best weekend in forever. Loved it! Life is good!
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
rambling Thursday thoughts...
A quart of spaghetti sauce, when dropped from three feet in the air, goes a long way. Just sayin'.
Grace's last performance is over and done with. She's one happy camper!
ZJ did great! Their performance was awesome. It's just a beginning choir, and they did great, BUT!!! The performing choirs that followed, both of them were incredible!!! This concert was one of the best I have ever attended. It was unbelievable to think that these were high school students. I highly recommend that the Logan High School Christmas Concert is a "must do" every holiday season in the future! WOW!!! The high school is being renovated, under major construction, currently, so they had to find a new venue for the performance and the Logan LDS Tabernacle was arranged. I'm certain that the surroundings only added to the amazing performance. WOW, WOW, and just WOW!
It was so lovely with their crimson and gold robes to go along with the organ pipes behind. Fabulous evening!
Doug had to drive Grace to her final performance at her school and arrived late. He ended up not seeing me or hearing my text ding, so he sat alone until just a few songs before the end, then had to leave to go back to pick Grace up from her show. We'd suggested that we split up and Grace insisted that we hear Zeej. I'm very excited and hopeful that ZJ will want to audition for the performing group next year!
Here's a recipe for one of the tastiest treats of the season. Carol makes these every year. I'll be making mine tomorrow. FABULOUS!
It's cold. And snowy. And we're pretty much set for a White Christmas. This morning, Carol and I made an early morning run to Sam's Club and Sonic for a few items. Tonight, we are going in a few directions again. One more day of school! Bring on the Christmas Vacation! Life is good!
Grace's last performance is over and done with. She's one happy camper!
ZJ did great! Their performance was awesome. It's just a beginning choir, and they did great, BUT!!! The performing choirs that followed, both of them were incredible!!! This concert was one of the best I have ever attended. It was unbelievable to think that these were high school students. I highly recommend that the Logan High School Christmas Concert is a "must do" every holiday season in the future! WOW!!! The high school is being renovated, under major construction, currently, so they had to find a new venue for the performance and the Logan LDS Tabernacle was arranged. I'm certain that the surroundings only added to the amazing performance. WOW, WOW, and just WOW!
It was so lovely with their crimson and gold robes to go along with the organ pipes behind. Fabulous evening!
Doug had to drive Grace to her final performance at her school and arrived late. He ended up not seeing me or hearing my text ding, so he sat alone until just a few songs before the end, then had to leave to go back to pick Grace up from her show. We'd suggested that we split up and Grace insisted that we hear Zeej. I'm very excited and hopeful that ZJ will want to audition for the performing group next year!
Here's a recipe for one of the tastiest treats of the season. Carol makes these every year. I'll be making mine tomorrow. FABULOUS!
6 cups salted cocktail peanuts
2 pkgs. milk chocolate chips
1 pkg. peanut butter chips
chocolate bark coating (use 9 of the 12 squares)(it's by the chocolate chips)
2 pkgs. milk chocolate chips
1 pkg. peanut butter chips
chocolate bark coating (use 9 of the 12 squares)(it's by the chocolate chips)
Put it in the crock pot. Cover it and let it warm for 1 1/2 hours on low. Stir and warm thirty minutes more. Drop by spoonful onto wax paper. Wait an hour before they set up. Store in a 9x13 with wax paper in between each layer.
It's cold. And snowy. And we're pretty much set for a White Christmas. This morning, Carol and I made an early morning run to Sam's Club and Sonic for a few items. Tonight, we are going in a few directions again. One more day of school! Bring on the Christmas Vacation! Life is good!
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
A few Corbridge happenings...
Last night, we attended Grace's seventeenth Bella performance. This was "Family Night", and we were invited. The rest have been in nursing homes and assisted care homes and parties and restaurants. Tonight, she has another public performance at the same time as ZJ's first choir concert. Never in my life do I remember being so divided and pulled in so many directions... even in my younger days when I had seven church callings, was PTA President and American Mother Representative. It's crazy having three teens. I never did have this experience with my bigs because Kelly was gone when she was a junior, Dale had already graduated and that only left us Liza. That only recently clicked in my brain. It's crazy but fun and I'm so glad to have them involved!
Grace was so so nervous. She's only been given the song earlier that day. Thankfully, she knew the words. She smiled her way through it, which was lovely. I'd have never had the courage to do it! We were very proud of her! Her personality definitely suits her name.
Carol and I had a safe trip to SLC yesterday. One thing that I failed to record was that we stopped at Jon's grave after picking Matt up at the airport. The snow was deeper than my UGGs. Crazy and beautiful! More snow heading our way today! HAPPINESS!
Kara and I had a quick bite today at El Toro. I had some things that had to be done this morning. She texted about a game earlier then w both happened to be in town at the same time a few hours later, so we met! It will probably be our last chance until January. I am blessed with amazing friends! I heart her! We laughed and gabbed until we looked around us and realized that every table was full and there was a waiting list for lunch! It was time to say goodbye. So happy that happened today! I needed a hug from a friend!
Last night, as we were racing from Q to R, Doug sensed that I was feeling hungry and a bit overwhelmed. We'd dropped the kids off at the church for their YM/YW activities and had to run back to Best Buy to pick up something Quayd had asked us to. Doug passed Best Buy and I asked, "Where are you going?" He said, "To Black Pearl to get you something to eat." I started to cry, out of gratitude that he recognized and cared that I was at my wits end. We ate, hit Best Buy, hottubbed and I was more than ready for bed. Our busy schedules and the fact that we are all going in so many directions at once has us all feeling the pressure.
The kids will be home for a full week before Christmas. Af first I thought, "WHAT!?!?" That will make the week seem forever long! BUT. I think we need it. Grace has nineteen performances and her job. Quayd's working a lot of hours. Zee is going in multiple directions. This Friday, when the kids get home, we are done with everything except one last holiday party for Doug's job and church activities. We're going to settle down, watch movies, eat our favorite treats and chillax!
Conversation between Doug and I:
Me (walking through Sam's Club while on the phone with Doug): Do we need anything?
Doug: How are we on Kayaks?
Okey dokey then? I guess the man wants another kayak.
The best news of my day is that Aylabelle's package was found! I sent that package the day after they left on December 3 and it's still not arrived. Every day, I've waited to hear from Liza. St. George is six hours away from us. It's in Utah. There's no reason that it hasn't arrived at her door or back at mine. This morning, I found the reciept (the only receipt I've not got in my holiday planner since November 25th) in my wallet and tracked it. I'd not written their townhouse number on it. So, it was undeliverable. I sent a picture of the receipt to Liza and she went to the post office in their area. TADA! It was there, just sitting. Apparently, they would have returned it to me tomorrow. Honestly, I've prayed that I could find that receipt and that it would be safe and deliverable to little Miss A. Prayer answered! Tender mercy, indeed! I love it when that happens!
One last thought today. My kids have been all over me about the traditions. With the new home, some things have had to change. I'm not not doing them, I'm just doing something differently. The advent calendar is keeping everyone happy. Treats every day. Usually chocolate of some sort. I have to laugh, though, that it's Quayd who walks straight to it every single day. Some things will always be the same!
I've decided to begin a new tradition this year. I'm going to fill a jar with money and candy. Coins, dollars, bigger bills, and lots of candy. On a night when we are all free (we're hoping for Christmas Adam), we will be having a little "family party" via Facetime. Dale and Willow, Liza and her family and us. We will all visit and then, everyone will play the game together, guessing how much money is in the jar. Whoever gets the closest guess, gets the jar. It will be a way to involve Willow in some of our traditions. Dale is not a celebrator of Christmas. He celebrates the Solstice, so this should be a fun little activity that is not offensive but still invites the family to be together, even if we are all all over the country! I'm excited to try it! More on that later!
Life is good! Annnnnnnd I just looked outside... it's snowing!!!
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
magical morning!
I'm riding with Carol to the airport this morning to pick up her son, who's home from the navy for the holidays. We've had quite a beautiful storm, but from the news reports, Salt Lake City all but shut down yesterday afternoon. So, it could be a not so pleasant drive. It's still snowing in SLC till around 11, which is when his plane arrives. Then a break and more tomorrow. I LOVE this snow. Here's a few shots from my yard today. It's so lovely! Here's my view from the hot tub! Who wouldn't want to be outside in this morning, noon and night!?
Each year, I look forward to receiving a handmade Christmas card from my friend, Susan, in Ohio. She's pretty amazing with paper! Here's this year's card. I love it!
I'm back from SLC. The weather was perfect and beautiful until we hit the canyon coming home. Even then, aside from wet roads, it was a beautiful drive. As we were driving down the hill from our home, this beautiful sight, one of my favorite things about living in our new home, took my breath away. Carol slowed down and I was able to snap this photo with my i-Phone. Oh, to have had twenty minutes and my Canon! But, the sight was spectacular! I love this valley! I love this view! I love winter! I love storms! I am blessed! Life is good!
looking east
I'm being teased and blamed for this storm and I take full responsibility! I LOVE IT! However, there were over 300 accidents yesterday along the Wasatch Front, so I'm not happy for one single incident like that. This is beautiful, stay at home, watch it snow weather. Sadly, people have to travel, go to work, and get around in it. I should run for president and initiate "Snow days" everytime we get an inch! That's a better platform than many out there, right?
I only have a few minutes before Carol gets here...
My new simple potato soup discovery... it's a wowser!
Creamy Potato Soup
4 lg. baked potatoes (I used Idaho spuds that are each about the size of my foot)
3/4 c. butter
3/4 c. flour
3/4 c. butter
3/4 c. flour
7 c. milk, whole or 2%
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4-8 green onions, chopped
12 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c. (8 oz.) sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4-8 green onions, chopped
12 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c. (8 oz.) sour cream
Cut baked potatoes into tiny bite size pieces. Melt butter in large pot. Add flour. Gradually stir in milk. Continue to stir until smooth, thickened, and bubbly.Stir in potato, salt, pepper, and onion, bacon and cheese. Cook until heated. Stir in sour cream. Garnish with more bacon or onions or cheese or all of the above.
Each year, I look forward to receiving a handmade Christmas card from my friend, Susan, in Ohio. She's pretty amazing with paper! Here's this year's card. I love it!
I'm back from SLC. The weather was perfect and beautiful until we hit the canyon coming home. Even then, aside from wet roads, it was a beautiful drive. As we were driving down the hill from our home, this beautiful sight, one of my favorite things about living in our new home, took my breath away. Carol slowed down and I was able to snap this photo with my i-Phone. Oh, to have had twenty minutes and my Canon! But, the sight was spectacular! I love this valley! I love this view! I love winter! I love storms! I am blessed! Life is good!
Monday, December 14, 2015
walking in a winter wonderland
Our first storm didn't last long, but we have severe storm warnings posted until tomorrow night at 9. It snowed all night long and is still snowing! HAPPINESS!!!
Almost every minute of our weekend was filled with fun or uplifting activities and moments. My favorite kind of weekend!
On Friday morning, Carol and I were out and about early getting things done, then we came home and did a little Survivor Catching Up and were supposed to go to lunch and a movie. However, I was having a few issues and decided that I needed to pass. Two seconds after the decision, ZJ walked in from school early. She had half day and I was unaware of that until I saw her smiling face. We watched a Christmas movie and took it easy most of the afternoon.
Doug called at 4 and told me that Doug B, our friend from Indiana, who the kids, lovingly, call, "Uncle Herman" was in town. Doug took Doug and I and the girls out to Olive Garden for a very quick visit before we raced to the church for a YSA dinner/activity. I had 40 potatoes baking in my oven while we were gone. We love when Doug comes to town. My girls and Quayd go crazy gaga over him. Quayd was so sad to have missed out on the fun while he was working. But, we had a wonderful, short and sweet visit before he was on his way to Chicago!
The YSA activity was fabulous. 17 Nativity Sets were assembled, dinner was served and a program like none other. The musical talent of these kids never ceases to amaze me. They are truly delightful young adults and Doug and I truly blessed to be able to work with them! The decorations were wonderful. The food looked great, although I only ate one bite of a brownie, being that we'd just had Olive Garden.
We came home and I was too exhausted to think. No hottubbing, which is a rare occasion, nothing. We just went to bed before 10! And I was so glad because I couldn't sleep from 4 on, for fear of oversleeping in the morning.
On Saturday morning, we congregated at 9 at the Logan LDS Institute, a tradition. as a huge family with all of Doug's siblings and their kids and grands for a family brunch/Christmas party. It was Alan and Jill's year to host and they did a fantastic job. We usually have this event in the evening and I really loved having brunch instead! The food was fantastic... great stratas, yogurt and granolas, fruits, juices and cinnamon rolls. I was up from 4:30. Oh well, I caught a fifteen minute siesta in the afternoon. (Quayd doesn't have his contacts in, can ya tell?)
Our kids love the present game that we do at home on Christmas night. Alan and Jill loved it last time we did it and decided to have it for an activity at the party. Good stuff!
My favorite niece, Jocelyn, texted this cute pic of my kids playing the game. I loved it. ZJ was going for the big hair 80's look...curls and all.
After brunch, Doug went in to work for about six hours. The kids and I stayed home, doing nothing but watching Christmas movies and chilling together. My sister-in-law dropped by for a quick visit, which is always nice. After she left, I went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner. Alan, Jill and Jake joined us and stayed for a while after. We visited and laughed and solved the problems of the universe. After they left, I noticed that it was after ten. I had no clue that it was that late! BUT, considering that Grace had a Bella performance at 7 and had been home for a while, I should have connected the dots. Grace and Zee sang for us and kept us entertained.
In the middle of our evening, Zee had a tragedy... Richard Parker, the fish that Quayd had been given for his Sadie Hawkins dance proposal, which Zee begged to inherit and did, swam his last stroke and sank to the bottom of his bowl. I expected tears, but it was not nearly as traumatic as when they were younger and lost their fish. I hate fish, for the record. They live a week, then tears for a month. Ugh.
Alan and Jill made the girls laugh and sing for them, which took Zee's mind off Mr. Parker. The best moment of my day, however, was when my favorite nephew, Jake, gave me a hug before they left. I heart him! He's available and cute and as good of a guy as you could ever meet!
Sunday morning, I baked two more pans of cinnamon rolls for a brunch at the Bishop and Ann's home. Ann made two very delicious ham, cheese and hashbrown stratas. Breakfast was perfect. The YSA PEC (the ward leadership) had a meeting over a Christmas brunch before heading to the church. Ann and I gabbed in her beautiful living room while I oohed and aahed over every inch of her most beautiful home. It's fabulous anytime of the year, but her holiday home is over the top beautiful!! Better than her home, however, always, is the time together. We never seem to run out of things to talk about.
We raced home from the brunch and Doug raced back down to the church. The kids and I ran to our ward for Sacrament Meeting and then I left our ward and went to the second half of Doug's Sacrament Meeting, a musical program that moved me to tears. I was sad to have missed the first half, but our kids come before Doug's ward. My Sundays get kind of crazy between both wards, back and forth. But, it's worth it!
We came home from church and I was tired! I'd baked all weekend and felt like a simple dinner, so I got online and happened upon a Potato Soup recipe that was seriously the best potato soup I've ever made. It was divine! And super simple! We all went nutso over it. Of course, a pound of bacon makes anything divine, right?
While I was preparing dinner, Quayd came in from serving the sacrament to the shut-ins in our ward. He told us that while standing outside of a friends' home, another sister came out and asked, "Do you hear that?" and they heard screaming for quite a bit. He said, "Help" was what they heard. He told me that after a long while, it stopped. We live pretty near the mountain and a beautiful hiking trail is half way up that mountain. He was concerned. We decided to all dispatch and let them know that it may or may not have been anything but kids playing, but he'd heard this.
This was the beginning of a two hour drama. It was dark and cold and this storm was blowing in. (It's forecasted that we'll get 13" of snow today.) The police sent officers up on the trail with spotlights all over. They discovered an empty car, ran a check on it and contacted the owners, who were the parents of a young college age girl who was in town checking out USU. She had told her parents she was going to hike a bit. Her phone was not ringing and, even when they pinged it, nothing. There was serious concern. An officer came and took Quayd for a ride to check out where and what he'd heard. Two hours later, the girl was located with friends and all was fine and dandy. The end. There was no more evidence to be concerned about so, no need to keep looking, once the girl had been located. Quayd was pretty concerned that someone might still be up there. I'm glad that he was responsible enough to care.
We woke up this morning to this beautiful scene and Layne out snow-blowing the neighborhood. He's awesome like that! It's a winter wonderland outside and I'm praying it lasts till next weekend! Or even better, we get more!
Such a long weekend update... not going to talk Christmas today. But, I've got some fun things to share tomorrow. Life is good... exciting, busy, crazy, fun and good!!!
Almost every minute of our weekend was filled with fun or uplifting activities and moments. My favorite kind of weekend!
On Friday morning, Carol and I were out and about early getting things done, then we came home and did a little Survivor Catching Up and were supposed to go to lunch and a movie. However, I was having a few issues and decided that I needed to pass. Two seconds after the decision, ZJ walked in from school early. She had half day and I was unaware of that until I saw her smiling face. We watched a Christmas movie and took it easy most of the afternoon.
Doug called at 4 and told me that Doug B, our friend from Indiana, who the kids, lovingly, call, "Uncle Herman" was in town. Doug took Doug and I and the girls out to Olive Garden for a very quick visit before we raced to the church for a YSA dinner/activity. I had 40 potatoes baking in my oven while we were gone. We love when Doug comes to town. My girls and Quayd go crazy gaga over him. Quayd was so sad to have missed out on the fun while he was working. But, we had a wonderful, short and sweet visit before he was on his way to Chicago!
The YSA activity was fabulous. 17 Nativity Sets were assembled, dinner was served and a program like none other. The musical talent of these kids never ceases to amaze me. They are truly delightful young adults and Doug and I truly blessed to be able to work with them! The decorations were wonderful. The food looked great, although I only ate one bite of a brownie, being that we'd just had Olive Garden.
I was taking a picture of Doug and Trace/Bishop talking but this shot was totally photobombed by Kyle. LOVE their personalities!
We came home and I was too exhausted to think. No hottubbing, which is a rare occasion, nothing. We just went to bed before 10! And I was so glad because I couldn't sleep from 4 on, for fear of oversleeping in the morning.
On Saturday morning, we congregated at 9 at the Logan LDS Institute, a tradition. as a huge family with all of Doug's siblings and their kids and grands for a family brunch/Christmas party. It was Alan and Jill's year to host and they did a fantastic job. We usually have this event in the evening and I really loved having brunch instead! The food was fantastic... great stratas, yogurt and granolas, fruits, juices and cinnamon rolls. I was up from 4:30. Oh well, I caught a fifteen minute siesta in the afternoon. (Quayd doesn't have his contacts in, can ya tell?)
Our kids love the present game that we do at home on Christmas night. Alan and Jill loved it last time we did it and decided to have it for an activity at the party. Good stuff!
My favorite niece, Jocelyn, texted this cute pic of my kids playing the game. I loved it. ZJ was going for the big hair 80's look...curls and all.
love this family!
After brunch, Doug went in to work for about six hours. The kids and I stayed home, doing nothing but watching Christmas movies and chilling together. My sister-in-law dropped by for a quick visit, which is always nice. After she left, I went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner. Alan, Jill and Jake joined us and stayed for a while after. We visited and laughed and solved the problems of the universe. After they left, I noticed that it was after ten. I had no clue that it was that late! BUT, considering that Grace had a Bella performance at 7 and had been home for a while, I should have connected the dots. Grace and Zee sang for us and kept us entertained.
In the middle of our evening, Zee had a tragedy... Richard Parker, the fish that Quayd had been given for his Sadie Hawkins dance proposal, which Zee begged to inherit and did, swam his last stroke and sank to the bottom of his bowl. I expected tears, but it was not nearly as traumatic as when they were younger and lost their fish. I hate fish, for the record. They live a week, then tears for a month. Ugh.
Alan and Jill made the girls laugh and sing for them, which took Zee's mind off Mr. Parker. The best moment of my day, however, was when my favorite nephew, Jake, gave me a hug before they left. I heart him! He's available and cute and as good of a guy as you could ever meet!
Sunday morning, I baked two more pans of cinnamon rolls for a brunch at the Bishop and Ann's home. Ann made two very delicious ham, cheese and hashbrown stratas. Breakfast was perfect. The YSA PEC (the ward leadership) had a meeting over a Christmas brunch before heading to the church. Ann and I gabbed in her beautiful living room while I oohed and aahed over every inch of her most beautiful home. It's fabulous anytime of the year, but her holiday home is over the top beautiful!! Better than her home, however, always, is the time together. We never seem to run out of things to talk about.
We raced home from the brunch and Doug raced back down to the church. The kids and I ran to our ward for Sacrament Meeting and then I left our ward and went to the second half of Doug's Sacrament Meeting, a musical program that moved me to tears. I was sad to have missed the first half, but our kids come before Doug's ward. My Sundays get kind of crazy between both wards, back and forth. But, it's worth it!
We came home from church and I was tired! I'd baked all weekend and felt like a simple dinner, so I got online and happened upon a Potato Soup recipe that was seriously the best potato soup I've ever made. It was divine! And super simple! We all went nutso over it. Of course, a pound of bacon makes anything divine, right?
While I was preparing dinner, Quayd came in from serving the sacrament to the shut-ins in our ward. He told us that while standing outside of a friends' home, another sister came out and asked, "Do you hear that?" and they heard screaming for quite a bit. He said, "Help" was what they heard. He told me that after a long while, it stopped. We live pretty near the mountain and a beautiful hiking trail is half way up that mountain. He was concerned. We decided to all dispatch and let them know that it may or may not have been anything but kids playing, but he'd heard this.
This was the beginning of a two hour drama. It was dark and cold and this storm was blowing in. (It's forecasted that we'll get 13" of snow today.) The police sent officers up on the trail with spotlights all over. They discovered an empty car, ran a check on it and contacted the owners, who were the parents of a young college age girl who was in town checking out USU. She had told her parents she was going to hike a bit. Her phone was not ringing and, even when they pinged it, nothing. There was serious concern. An officer came and took Quayd for a ride to check out where and what he'd heard. Two hours later, the girl was located with friends and all was fine and dandy. The end. There was no more evidence to be concerned about so, no need to keep looking, once the girl had been located. Quayd was pretty concerned that someone might still be up there. I'm glad that he was responsible enough to care.
We woke up this morning to this beautiful scene and Layne out snow-blowing the neighborhood. He's awesome like that! It's a winter wonderland outside and I'm praying it lasts till next weekend! Or even better, we get more!
Such a long weekend update... not going to talk Christmas today. But, I've got some fun things to share tomorrow. Life is good... exciting, busy, crazy, fun and good!!!
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