Annual Christmas Party

What is Mr. Monkey up To?

Mr. Monkey looks like he is trying to hide something...

SURPRISE!!!

Annual Christmas Party

Last sunday we had our traditional Christmas party. We have had the same Santa and Mrs. Claus for as long as I can remember. Must be proof that they are the REAL jolly 'ol folks! They bring one gift for each UNMARRIED child and they all get a chance to sit on his/her knee and whisper what they are dreaming of getting for Christmas. This has to be my all-time favorite tradition. I hope (hint, hint) that our family never lets this tradition slip away. As siblings, let's make it easy on our offspring and all sign up now for the same resthome! Course, Santa and Mrs. Claus will have to sign up at the same place, too...

Christmas Eve PJs

Another great tradition is opening pajamas and slippers on Christmas Eve. My kids still look forward to this year after year. And I have to make sure they are REAL comfy since you know they will be worn for at least 48 hours straight!

The Forgotten Carols

To those who are familiar with The Forgotten Carols, you will totally relate to this post; to those who haven't seen it, plan now to attend next year. The kids and I went to the Forgotten Carols last night at USU. That is the third year we have gone together and the 4th time for me. And I think each year it means more and more to me. The kids have been looking forward to it as much as I have. Still haven't got Ned to go with us but we all think next year will be the magic year... They were having "technical issues" and were trying to deal with them so Michael McLean came out and entertained us ad-lib while they were working on it. That was pretty fun. Our seats were on the second row on the aise, towards stage right so we were right in front of where most of the dialog between John and Connie Lou take place. That was awsome, too. You know how it ends, everyone all LINKED up together - and you know how there is hardly a dry eye in the audience... I looked to my side and there were my three "angels" all linked up. I really lost it then. There is nothing like the love of a mother for her kids. And seeing them all linked up was - unexplainable. But I know that you have all experienced the same thing at one time or another. What a way to start off the holiday season. Remember - if you haven't seen the show, decide NOW to make it part of your holiday celebrations next year. Wow...

Oops!

Thinkin' of starting up my own catering business - what do ya think? Actually, Thanksgiving dinner went pretty well, thanks to allrecipe.com. We had luscious slush punch, yummy sweet potato casserole, creamy cranberry salad, autumn squash casserole, superb cranberry sauce with apples and pears, moist poultry dressing, and of course, turkey, potatoes and gravy, and rolls. The only thing that really went south on us was the Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes... Everyone was getting sat at the table, I showed Shan how to turn the oven to broil, put the yams in, and told Kam to not let them burn... I went to the bathroom, combed my hair (a prerequisite before T-day dinner) and walked back into the kitchen just as everyone started "sniffing". I ran to the oven but alas, and alak... as you can see, it was too late. Ned grabbed them before they were fully engulfed and chucked them out on the lawn. Cheyenne wouldn't even look at them. Kam was pretty disappointed - they were the thing he was most looking forward to, but life will go on. Think I will try them again for Christmas... :)