Our BIG Holiday Surprise!!!

written over the past few days....

On Tuesday morning, I was making the bed and texting back and forth with Ann about where were going to lunch when Liza called.  She normally facetimes at that time of the day, but this was a phone call.  She began with, "What are you doing right now?" She said, "I think I'm in labor."  Her due date is January 8th!  She began to share some of her symptoms, some of which were very alarming.  My heart skipped a beat. I asked where she was and where was Buddy.  She said, "We are on the way to the hospital now.  How soon can you get here?"

Within minutes, I was showered and throwing everything I could think of into my bag.  I was SOBBING, horrified!  I asked Buddy by text if she was hurting and he said that she was in a lot of pain.  I was dying.  I dropped to my knees and asked Heavenly Father to please protect and bless my two sweet girls.  I called Doug repeatedly.  He is not allowed phone calls at work, but I persistently continued to call, he'd stop the call, I'd call back until he finally took a break and called to see what was wrong.  Within minutes, he was home helping me load my luggage.

Doug and I kissed goodbye and I was on the road all within an hour of Liza's call. I filled the tank in Brigham City (25 miles from home) and never stopped again until I pulled into the hospital in St. George, 402 miles from my home.  I didn't get a coke, didn't take a potty pit stop, and coasted in on fumes.  The gas light came on about 20 miles away from the hospital.

Throughout the day, I texted back and forth with Buddy.  What had happened was that Liza's placenta had ruptured away from her uterus, which started her into labor four weeks early.  They admitted her immediately and when the nurse checked her, Liza said that she got a very worried look on her face.  Liza said, "I know that you aren't saying anything but I can tell by your expression on your face that something's wrong." The nurse said that she did have concerns and called the doctor immediately.  He arrived and said that he would not leave until the baby was here.  Four or five pushes, Liza said, later, and a beautiful little sandy haired five pound, one ounce baby girl was delivered.  Liza lost a lot of blood, twice what she should have, said the doctors.  But, by the time that I pulled in around 3:45, both the baby and Liza were doing great.  Here are the first pix...

Aylabelle's first time holding the baby.

 

She's so tiny!!!

They were all in their room at my arrival and then, Buddy went to pick up from Aylabelle from a friend, so that she could come and meet her sister.  Watching that little scene had to be the most tender thing I have ever seen in my lifetime. Aylabelle is such a sweet little spirit and to see this love for the baby...her baby, as she calls her!  WOW!  AND the funny thing was that the baby hadn't flinched in the hour I was there but when Aylabelle started talking to her, the baby woke right up!  

Seriously, the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

After her first bath!

She reacts to Aylabelle's voice every time!

Buddy reading "And Baby makes Five", her favorite Bearnstain bears.

The hospital put all the new babies in Christmas beanies instead of pink or blue.

She looks so much like a fairer haired Aylabelle.

This bond already makes me cry!

The nurse was pushing her to the nursery for her first bath. Aylabelle insisted, "I can help."

Everything was fine with Liza and the baby but because she is four weeks early, they had to keep her for 48 hours.  So, Liza and Buddy stayed at the hospital.  Aylabelle and I have been together non-stop.  We have shopped and eaten at McDonalds and had all sorts of three year old fun.  She even climbed into my TWIN-size bed last night and slept with me... Well, we both TRIED to sleep.  Very little sleep actually happened.  But, she's a doll.

The biggest question of the day has been, "WHAT IS THE BABY'S NAME?!?!?!?  And the answer is... Liza had said to me the night before she delivered, having no clue that she was 12 hours from delivery, "That biggest stress in my whole world right now is naming this baby.  We haven't found one name that we both feel is right."  Not for a lack of suggestions from Buddy's family and ours.  My chosen name for the baby is Emmalynne because it's sort of like Aylabelle.  No.  Buddy's mom drove down and spent the first night so that she could see the baby.  She had lots of names to suggest, as well.  I texted Liza a bazillion names last night when I was not sleeping.  I knew that she was reading them because one name, I texted, "Who names their child ____?!?!?!"  She responded, "I had a friend named ______!"  Seriously?

She's beautiful and she's healthy and Liza is well and everything is perfect.  Liza was discharged this morning and in the time it took for that to be official, Buddy went out to get the car and the lab results came back for one last test.  The baby will stay one more day, thanks to a bilirubin score that was not adaquate.  Ironically, Liza was born three and a half weeks early, weighed exactly the same, 5.1, and had to be under the lights for 13 days.  Because they were not able to bring her home and introduce us to her formally, Liza called and told me that they have a name just a few hours ago!

This is Aylabelle Joy's baby sister, EdieAnn Hope.  Long E...eeee-deeAnn.  They will call her Edie.  Best Christmas surprise ever!  Life is good!

love makes us family

Doug and I are often comment on the fact that we wish we had more time for our adopted grands.  Truth is, we do all that we can to keep up with our own kids, meaning just the girls at home.  It's so hard to be as involved as we are with our girls, supporting Quayd with weekly letters and packages, being there for Liza and her family, keep up with Doug's job and our ward and stake callings, our home, our marriage and all of the other things that keep us so busy. Not to forget that we also have Dale and his family out of state and the occasional contact from Kelly. There are days that Doug and I kiss each other  hello and goodbye in passing until we all kneel for prayer together at the end of each night.  We are busy!

So, a couple of months ago, I had an idea that rather than trying to get with the adopted grands' families and not having it happen, we should plan a couple of activities a year that we invite them all to.  That will happen and the other times that get together will be bonuses!  They all get to spend time together and with us.  So, we put our plan in action this past week.  We invited everyone to our home for a family home evening/dinner/Christmas party.  As most know, we are in regular contact with all five of Kelly's other children, but two of them, only through their mom, as they do not know anything about us.  Theirs is a "closed but not" adoption.  Their wonderful mom keeps me updated with pix and stories, but the children don't know us.  Those two children, have their own family in another state.  They live wonderful blessed lives, but for reasons that their parents have chosen, we will not be able to meet them yet.  We all feel confident that the day will come that we do, but not yet.

And, so.... I digress... with the exception of the two out of state grands, we were able to gather together in our home on Monday night for a very fun evening!  Zaylee's mom had a challenge that caused her to be unable to come at the last minute, but they were more than happy to allow Zaylee to come and join us for the night!

 Miki on the front, then Jason's sisters, Lexi and Kayla, Jason, Zaylee, Zee and Grace

WE MISSED QUAYD!!!!

Everyone arrived just after six.  I'd set two tables.  Jason's folks tease me constantly because for years, we've had spontaneous meals together, but never a sit down, planned dinner.  So, they tease me about the fact that they see beautiful tablescapes on my blog, but, we've never even set the table when they come... it's always a spontaneous barbecue in the back yard.  So, I'd assured them that there would be tablescaping and I delivered!  I set a kids table for ten and a grown-up table for seven, since Miki's big brother is a returned missionary/college student, he joined the grown-ups.

At the kids table, there was snow, snowmen and candy bags with name tags on each so that the kids were seated where they were supposed to be.  They were pretty excited for their treat bags!  Even my girls made me grin, the next morning, when they took theirs to school for their "lunch"... there was an orange and packages of thin Oreos, so that was their fruit and "sandwich".

The grown-ups got Peppermint Patties Snowflakes for their treat, and we had Diet Coke!

I kept the menu simple.  Soups, Snowman Salad (which in the summer is known as Frog-eye Salad) and homemade bread that came out of the oven just as they arrived.  Dinner was soooooo yummy!  Wendy brought one of my favorite things that she makes, her tasty clam chowder.  Katie brought a mexican chicken bean soup (not taco soup) but it was brothy and so sooooo good!  I made a mushroom, wild-rice and beef creamy soup.  All three were so good and we ate most all of it!  Everyone, even the kids, wanted to try different ones!

Dessert was my secret recipe brownies with ice cream and hot fudge.  I tried to be all "grandma-like" and gave the kids Christmas sprinkles, crushed candy canes and three cans of whipping cream for them to have alllllll the toppings that they wanted.  Talk about sugar buzz!!

The kids went downstairs and played together while the grown-ups visited after dessert for a bit.  This was the longest and most intimate time that the families have had together, so it was fun for Doug and I to hear the stories that we've already heard, with fresh ears... but firsts for them.  Fun!

After dessert, we cleaned up and gathered for games. The kids played Left-Right-Center with Jingle Bells and the winner got to choose a prize.  During that, the grown-ups continued to visit.  Then, we rearranged the chairs, put the tables away and gathered in a circle for another game.

I'd made a list of 40 questions that the youngest kids could answer.  Miki, the youngest, is almost seven.  We divided into two teams and had bells, sort of "Family Feud" style. The first 20 questions were about Santa and his reindeer and elves and such.  The second twenty were worth twice as many points, all about Christ and his birth.  We actually discussed the answers to the latter questions.  The final question was "Name another name for Jesus Christ."  Each person gave an answer and all were different.  We ended with Doug and I sharing our testimonies and love to each of them and all knelt together for one huge family prayer.  It was truly a perfect evening.

The kids got along so well. They were noisy and crazy and loud, but they had fun!  We took pictures and Doug and I distributed some gifts before they left.  As we went to bed, after cleaning up, Doug and I were both quite pleased at how well things had gone.  We are anxious to make this a new tradition for these families.

I wrote on Instagram a hashtag, "#lovemakesusfamily".  It's so true.  We may not be blood related to these families.  We may have never even known them, were it not for these five grands who came to the earth through Kelly, to find their eternal families.  BUT!!!  They are family to Doug and I and to Quayd, Grace and Zee, in every sense of the word, just as much as any of the rest of our blood-relatives are.  It may be hard for some to understand, but it works for us!  We are blessed!

Life is good!!!

letter #17

I got two letters from Quayd yesterday. Here's both of them.  The whole letters:

I'm so sorry mom things have been hectic. I love you! Talk to ya next pday ☹️

Annnnnnd....

And is it possible to buy me three Books of Mormon movies? I gave one
to one of our investigators and they loved it, so, thank you so much for
that!  Love you and am so happy you are my mother!

Elder Corbridge

That's all we got!  I guess that the fact that he's busy is a good thing, right?  I just wish I knew if he needed anything specific for Christmas because I'm mailing his package this week! 

If you would like to mail a Christmas card to Quayd, you can send it to the address below.  Being away from home for his first Christmas will be so different for him!  It would be fun for him to get lots of mail this month!

Elder Quayd Corbridge

CA Redlands Mission

7000 Central Avenue

Highland CA 92346

 P-day  (Preparation Day)

Doing Service

Life is good!

45 years

I shared this letter with Quayd today:

Today is the 45th anniversary of my baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! All because someone reached out to me and invited me to join them at their Young Womens activity... a roadshow... a play where everyone got a part and no auditions were required! I was at a fork in my life and this activity took me on a totally different path that I was heading. I think about that and think of what my life would be today without the gospel... I can't even begin to imagine it! I can't imagine not being married to the most amazing man I've ever known. I can't imagine not having the blessings of the priesthood in our home. I can't imagine a life without serving in the church and in the Kingdom. I can't imagine a life without the Word of Wisdom to assist in our health and well-being.

I can't imagine a home like the one I was raised in where alcohol and drugs and infidelity were such a devastating and destroying part of my every day life. I can't imagine living in a home today without prayer and fasting and faith! I can't imagine a home without the love that we share as a family! I can't imagine a home where trust was not the most important principle! We trust in God, we trust in ourselves, we trust in each other! I can't imagine a life where serving in the church, taking half our house to the church to decorate it, cooking for days on end and planning activity after activity was not what keeps us busy!

I can't imagine a dinner conversation where gospel topics and service were not discussed. I can't imagine a dinner without blessing the food! I can't imagine walking out the door in the mornings without family prayer and saying my own personal prayers! I can't imagine going to bed at night without kneeling together for prayer and hugs and kisses and I love yous! I can't imagine not having the scriptures to lead and guide us in my everyday life, where I can turn to for answers to all that concerns me. I can't imagine not having a prophet and apostles to guide us through our lives, to give us the "shot in the arm" that we need continually, as we face the world each day!

I can't imagine life without recognizing the tender mercies that occur every single day to remind me of our Heavenly Father's love and that he hears and answers our prayers! I can't imagine not having goals in our personal lives... from being missionaries to our neighbors to serving missions when we are old enough, whether its 18 or 81 to goals that we strive for every day, such as being willing to serve our neighbor, keeping the commandments and trying to be better each day! I can't imagine javing friends that I couldn't trust and love and and serve and enjoy sharing our love of the gospel together with!! I can't imagine a life where I did not KNOW that we are an eternal family!

I LOVE the gospel! I love what it means in my life! I'm sooooooo thankful to have made the decision to be baptized! I'm so thankful for the gospel in my life! I'm so thankful for my Savior and friend, Jesus Christ! For his example and his atoning sacrifice for ME! AND EVERYONE WE KNOW! I'm so thankful for the knowledge that I AM a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father and of His love for me! I'm so thankful for that one decision that I made to be baptized and for the miracles that allowed it to happen and for those people who've been an influence throughout my life...from Terri, who invited me to participate in that roadshow to the leaders that I sat in Ward Correlation with this very morning. All have helped me to become the person that I am today! All have been a result of that one decision, the biggest decision in my life! I do love the gospel!

Hello, December!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!

Letter #16

This week, Quayd could use some extra prayers.  He's had a great week, but the reality that every person who looks like the could be the golden contact ISN'T has hit him hard.  I think that the holidays being here are bringing the reality of the fact that he's away from home is hitting him too.  He misses his family and friends.  If you happen to have a minute to send him a short note of encouragement, it would probably mean the world to him!   Email me and I'll send you his mission address! Here's this weeks SHORT letter and a few pix.

I love mission life. I love the people. I love the investigators that I've helped to grow.  We have 9 new investigators, 3 with baptism dates, 6 return appointments.  It's just been crazy and in the midst of it all, I've been worried and even a little down. 

I have a lot of things to be grateful for, like the lessons and appointments and people. We had the wonderful family, the Santos, that fed us Thanksgiving dinner… She's my other mission mom and Brother Santos loves me.  He gave me one of his ties and he hugged me and teased me about giving my talk.  He actually reminds me of Dad in a lot of ways.  They are awesome, along with the Rays family. 

For me, it's not numbers.  It's people that can have the gospel, have the light.  It's just hard to see them turn away from it. I'm hoping this isn't the case for ____.  She's come so far and we are towards the end. I just don't want to see them or her quitting or leaving. I'm not about numbers. I'm about helping people come into Christ, receive the blessings of the gospel and make life long friends. I love the families and members and investigators... _____, being one of them. I pray that her faith and willingness will be enough.

Mom, thank you for your words of support and thanks for putting my head on straight or tying my shoes so I can go out and do the work... even if it's raining a lot.... Haha 

Love you, Mom and thanks again.

Him and his bike accidents!!  Seriously!?!?

​

My weekly smile from our boy.  And doesn't the song say it never rains in California???

 

Thanksgiving Weekend

Honestly, without my two girls, I just couldn't get half as much done!  They are amazing!  Grace didn't have school on Tuesday, so I opted to let Zee stay home too.  We went out for breakfast and did a few errands together.  I had already planned a lunch date with Kara a few weeks ago, so I dropped the girls off at the mall while Kara and I had lunch.  ZJ's friend, Drake met them at the mall and they spent a couple of hours together shopping.  We ran Drake home to Smithfield so that he could go to work and then came home to get busy in the kitchen.

The girls and I worked all afternoon and evening.  When Doug got home from work, he joined in, as well.  We took a break for them to go run and pick up some dinner for us.  We worked in the kitchen, with the exception of our dinner break and a little solo time in the hottub, until midnight, but when we went to bed, we had made six pies, an apple cake, Pumpkin Trifle, the stuffing, the sweet potato souffle and the cranberry salad.  The tables were set and Mr. Gobble was in the oven.

On Thanksgiving morning, we got up at 7 and started dinner.  All we do on Thanksgiving Day is make gravy, mashed potatoes and rolls.  Everything else is always ready to be reheated in time for dinner.  This dinner was flawless.  Every item on the menu turned out great!  Nothing burned, nothing underbaked, nothing forgotten.  It's awesome to pull off a meal of that size without missing something!  Most years, I just count on it.  This year, not a thing was off!  HAPPINESS!

One big surprise that we had was that Liza and Buddy ended up coming north to the valley for the weekend.  They'd been in Arizona the weekend before for a niece's baptism and a big birthday surprise for Buddy's dad. However, Buddy's dad had a simple medical procedure that ended up being the discovery and repair of something more than they'd expected, so Buddy's parents never made it from the hospital to Arizona.  Their original plan was the baptism in Arizona, followed by his whole family spending Thanksgiving in St. George at Liza and Buddy's.  Instead, the whole family moved their party to Buddy's folks' home where they could be with his parents.  As a result of that, Liza and Buddy came up Tuesday night and were able to come over for a few hours on Thanksgiving Day with us.  Buddy's family eats in the evening, so they got two Thanksgiving meals and we got to spend a little time with them!  HAPPINESS!!

Liza and Buddy got here around 11. Alan and Jill and their family started arriving at 12:30.  It was just was the rolls were going into the oven, so we were right on schedule for dinner!  We had a wonderful meal and good times gabbing.  In the middle of dinner, Dale texted a sweet message.  It really was a lovely afternoon.

There were several times that I was in tears, usually at the mention of Quayd.  I think that the hardest moment of the day for me, was when I sat the basket of rolls down at Buddy's end of the table.  The family joke for several years has been which of the two, Quayd or Buddy, is the "Roll Sheriff".  There was no question this year.  It was a good laugh but my heart longed for our son!  His words were "stoked" to have dinner with his "family" in Southern California.  It's so odd... his absence has been felt immensely since the day he left, but I think that the holidays are really sinking it in... two years is a long time!  I'm looking forward to his letter on Monday to hear about his Thanksgiving!

After dinner, Liza and Buddy had to disappear.  Aylabelle had spent her "swing" time with Grampy and lots of pix were taken.  Alan and Jill are our closest family members, so everyone was so comfortable together.  Alan and Jill are expecting their first grand, so it was fun to watch Liza and Jocilyn, who are due just 21 days apart, as they talked pregnancy.  The girls absolutely adore their cousin, Jake, who spends a lot of time here, so they loved having Jake here to tease them since they were missing their big brother too!  Alan did his fair share of teasing, which is always welcomed.  It really was a fun afternoon.  We played the LRC game with quarters and a gratitude game.

Instead of everyone expressing their gratitude at the table, we played a game where I asked everyone to write down three things that they are thankful for this past year... but not "Sunday School answers"  (No one could say family or the gospel.)  They were to answer with things that they were thankful for but things that most people wouldn't just naturally assume was them.  Then I read the lists and everyone guessed who said what.  It brought lots of laughs and raised eyebrows.  I was surprised that every male at the table said "Tools".  Seriously?  ZJ thought she'd be funny and wrote my "obvious" answers.  1.  Doug  2.  Emails  3.  Taipan, so that she would not be guessed because everyone would think I wrote that one.  She's one funny girl!

After games, we all cozied up and watched a movie and snitched on pie and trifle.  Everyone was gone by 9ish.  Doug and I cuddled up on the couch and watched Leap Year... well, Doug watched.  I was asleep in minutes.

Doug has been so sick.  SO sick.  He gets pnuemonia almost every single winter since he turned fifty. Usually, it's in January or February.  This year, it hit him hard early in November.  I've been praying for two weeks that I would remain healthy and not get his bug so that I could get the house decorated and Thanksgiving dinner cooked.  My prayers were answered.  I was fine all week long.  But, when I woke up from the Leap Year "nap", I felt awful!!

On Friday, Zaylee spent some time with us.  Everyone went on a hike, except me, of course.  This happened when Zaylee's dad came to get her.  Their whole family joined in!  She's growing so fast and so darn happy in her life.  It brings tears of joy to my eyes to hear her talk about her family.

On Saturday, Doug picked Drake up and he spent the whole day and evening with us.  Doug cooked - Pizza Hut for dinner.  I stayed wrapped up in a blanket while they all watched Grinch and Edward Scissorhands.

I have been on again, off again, sick since I woke up from that nap and after trying to "act" like I was fine for two days, on Saturday afternoon, I finally admitted, "I'm sick" and crawled into a blanket and have barely moved since.  I hope this passes quickly because it's Christmas and I have much fun and joy planned!  BRING IT ON!!!

Here's some pix from our day!

Aylabelle and Gramp loving the beautiful sunshiny afternoon!

Aylabelle takes the selfies now.

Gramp and Aylabelle snitching a few hugs before they left for Buddy's parents.

2 Banana Creams, 2 Dutch Apple, Sweet Potato, Cherry-Peach, 1 Sam's Club Pumpkin, Apple Cake and Pumpkin Trifle.

Uncle Alan kept putting her hood on and calling her a Christmas Elf.

Hugs goodbye... always the worst part of every visit is the goodbye.

Aylabelle loves all of the pocket doors in our home.

the last of the Fall Decor.

Notice the Diet Coke from the Chevron.  This was my favorite hostess gift EVER!  Right out of the fountain!  I didn't even pour it into my goblet!  Jocilyn and Kevin scored big brownie points with Aunt Sophia!  Actually, Kevin got the best brownie points of the day.  As they were leaving, he paid me a real compliment about how welcoming our home feels.  I was uber impressed that a young man could be so observant and gracious about holiday decorations.

I love Jill in this picture!  Jill is always a delight...beautiful inside and out!

A late movie after pies and desserts.

Another selfie by Aylabelle.  That smile melts my heart!

Carol found the trifle recipe on Pinterest last year.  This year, I opted not to make little individual cups and doubled the recipe in my trifle dish.  It was a huge hit!! 

Games after Liza and Buddy left.

The girls requested not to have a "kids table".  So, we opted at the last minute to not have a large banquet table for half of the group.  Our two young adult couples sat together instead of the "Kids".

Until the gifts have taken over, Zulu was loving his new cozy spot under the tree.

Another of my favorite quotes ever... it's out all year long, not just at Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our home is decorated for the holidays. The tables are set. Mr. Gobble is in the oven.  Six pies are made. One pie is bought. An apple cake.  A pumpkin trifle. Salads are prepared.  We can rest well and get up in the morning to make rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy.  The rest is done!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Doug bought me this fabulous sign, which was delivered tonight.  I had no intention of putting it away after Thanksgiving because these three words describe how I feel about life every day of the year, not just November!

It's been a busy and productive week.  Now, BRING ON THE HOLIDAYS!  I am more than ready!  Mostly, I am blessed.  Quayd is going to a family that he loves for Thanksgiving Dinner.  He is loving his mission.  The girls are home and happy.  Liza and Buddy came up for a very unexpected trip at Buddy's family's and will be able to have a few hours with us on Thanksgiving Day.  We are healthy, happy and blessed.  Life is good!

shortest letter yet!

I was terribly disappointed this week that Quayd's time was so short.  He didn't even give a weekly report.  BUT, I was EVER SO THANKFUL that he is being cared for on Thanksgiving and is so excited about it!  I pray for the people in California to take care of our boy every day!  Happy Thanksgiving!  

I love you so much! Sorry this email session is going to be really short. We are having Thanksgiving with the Santos family which I'm pumped for!!!!! Christmas... I haven't even thought of that, except for the Christmas Initiative - the 25 days to become more Christ-like. I think you should do that as a family, it's really cool!!!!! Sorry, Mom, it's been crazy and sometimes I hate that we have to be with companions because I can't talk to you that long.  But,  I'll talk to you next week!  Love you!!  Have a good thanksgiving!!! 

Love, Elder Corbridge

This good looking guy in the middle, for family who are not close or know, is my good friend, Natalie's son.  Quayd and he have grown up together.  They are serving in the same mission, left the same day together, and are currently in the zone next to each other.

​

a recipe and a tradition

These delicious treats (on the long platter) were out of this world... sort of a cross between what we call Dog Food (Muddie Buddies) and Rice Krispy Treats... oh my!  I'm posting the text that I got from Kelli because she said that the Strudel on the top is also very good!

Oreo No-Bakes

And, today, a very fun Thanksgiving idea that I've never heard of!  I take turns driving with one of our girls from YW.  Lorna has so much personality!  This morning, I asked if they were having Thanksgiving at home or going somewhere else.  She said that they have so many people coming that they don't know where they will put them all.  Then, she shared that she has the task of "hiding the cranberries."  Never heard of that one, so I asked... She said, "Ya know that last fifteen minutes before dinner, when everyone wants to be in the kitchen... We have a hunt for hidden cranberries with clues and everything.  We tell everyone that we can't have dinner without the cranberries, so we need to search for them. The clues lead us to them and it keeps everyone occupied until dinner is ready."  So clever!  As I get more grands, I think we may adopt this fun new tradition!

Love it!  Life is good!