Category: Family

Merry Christmas

We started off the day by running an errand**, and then heading over to Jacob’s parents’ house.  I think everybody was pleased with everything they got.  I got cool soup spoons.  For those who don’t know, I love spoons.  I love to eat cereal with soup spoons, and I love to eat any other creamy thing with a tiny spoon.***

We then proceeded to Iowa for festivities at dad’s house.  Where Ronda made it known that they are expecting G4!  We had a lot of fun.  I kissed Jacob  while he was holding Geneva and she grabbed on to his shirt and pulled herself up to his face and puckered.  Geneva and Gretchyn are mimicking a bit now, and they like to mimic laughing.  Only I think they sound more like dolphins.  Listen for your self.  Gretchyn was not too interested this time.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54L_-Ks1e58[/youtube]

From there we headed over to Galesburg for Christmas over there.  Everyone was extremely pleased with the project Karen has been working on.  Good job Karen, all the hours paid off, even if they don’t all know how many hours you put into it.****

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

**If you know, do not say anything about it, please.

***some people call this a baby spoon, I call it a dessert spoon.

****Karen got a hold of Grandpa Carl’s slide from over the years. This whole years she has scanned them in to make digital prints,  put them in order and cleaned them up to made a DVD for her mom and brothers and sister.  It was a lot of work, and turned out great.

A Stitch In Time

Jacob’s Grandma Neat came to town and brought us all really cool** sweaters.  While she was here Jacob, Jared,  Erin, and Andrew were leg wrestling.  Jared beat Jacob, so Andrew showed him how to do it by flipping Erin, and Jacob then beat Jared.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx-bcg9m260[/youtube]

Today, with the DVD project all finished, I have been finishing the sewing projects.  I think people will like the things they are getting.***  I stayed up way too late sewing a certain project, and it shows.  My stitches which should have been hidden stitches were definitely not hidden.****

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

**Actually, warm

***At least I hope they pretend to like them if they don’t really like them, and convincingly, not the “oh, I just got a banana for Christmas” kind of acting, while rolling eyes.

****I am Pretty sure I could have done that in my sleep, and I may have…

Bye Bye Birdie

The choir program went well.  I think there were plenty of voices and it sounded ok, if not pretty good.  However since I was a part of the choir, I am not really allowed to say how we sounded.

Also I was released as a Sunday School teacher today.  I will still teach next week, but that will be my last.  I will miss teaching the class, they are a good group.  I love them, and they have been great this last year.

After church I went over to Karen’s and helped her finish the DVDs and with Erin’s help they got all copied quickerly and have pretty labels.  Yay for team work.  Jacob did some tech support too in the project.

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

Sing Sing Sing

The practice went well I think, Jacob thinks so too, at least that is what he tells me.  It has been a while since I have been excited for a choir program, I like being excited for them.

Karen has spent all year working on a top secret project and is in the final stages of the project when it decided to revolt against her.  So we went over to help her get this done, and mostly it works ok.  But it takes up too much space on a DVD and refuses to be read, so we will have to split it in two.  It is a good thing I enjoy the kind of project this is.

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

Time To Make The Donuts

Today I babysat Aiden while I was trying to paint, I am not sure if this was a fun day since she has been testing her limits trying to see what she can be boss over.  She asked me if I would put some mayonnaise on her oatmeal.  I told her I would not do that, and she said that she likes it that way. I told her that was too bad I would not put it on her oatmeal, and came to realize she was asking for marshmallow cream, not mayonnaise.

We made homemade donuts for our Semi-annual Saturday Ward Choir practice and breakfast, tomorrow.  The first happens right before Easter.  It will be a good program.  The donuts are a family recipe that we used to make when I was younger.  I believe it was my Grandma Bellamy’s.  They are yummy.

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

Paint It Black

Today I did a lot of painting on the wooden gifts.  They re really cute and I like them, but next year if I attempt this kind of thing I really need to start much earlier.

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

What Was I Thinking Again?

Today was our first meeting as the new primary presidency.  I think it will be a good group to work with.  And I love to be in charge of organizing data.

I also was working on sanding for the wooden Christmas presents I am making.  I became covered in saw dust.

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

Say Cheese

Snow is still around, good for pictures! Though I still do not like to be cold.

I offered to take some pictures for Jason, Jessie, and Aiden playing in the snow, but Aiden is the only one crazy** enough to play in it. So this morning I got some cute shots of her.

This afternoon Rick and Ginny came over and I got lots of pictures of them in the snow. I hope there is at least one that they like enough to use. Rick was so cold and tired of having snowballs thrown at him, so we were unable to get a good one of a snowball in the air. I am sure I could photoshop one in there. Directly against Skyler’s orders I got some kissing pictures. He told them that they are not allowed to kiss anymore until they are married. He he he.

This evening I babysat for other friends, and while I was there the doorbell rang. All three kids*** ran to the door. I opened the door and there he was. In his red suit and white hair, it was Santa Clause. He looked a little concerned and asked if it was the Smith**** house. I said it is and he looked relived. He asked the kids if I was the babysitter and they shouted “yes.” He asked it they had been good, again the chorus of “yes.” And he said then he brought them a plate of cookies/goodies. He “Ho! Ho! Ho!” ‘d and hopped in his old white car and drove away. Then the 6 yr old girl asked if that was the real Santa? I not knowing quite what the parents’ take on the issue is, asked her what she thinks. She said she thinks it is the real Santa, and the 4 yr old boy said he thinks it isn’t, so I asked why he thinks that. He said, “Because he wasn’t wearing red and white striped boots.” I said he was wearing a red suit with white trim, and the girl said he was “wearing black boots, and that is what Santa wears.” He seemed satisfied with that. Then when I put them to bed the older two made me promise to “tell mom and dad that the real Santa was here.” I obliged.*****

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

**By crazy I mean young enough to not know it is a crazy idea

***2,4 & 6 I think

****Insert family surname here

*****The 2 year old, he just wanted candy from the plate, he didn’t seem to care who brought it.

No Bruises To Show Off

Today was an exciting day at church for us.  Jacob was released as the Elders Quorum President. So now he is only the Ward Organist and the Choir Pianist.  I was called to be the Primary Secretary,  Not yet released from teaching the 12-13 year olds Sunday School class, but I am sure that will happen in the next few weeks.

FYI no cool bruises.  So even if I did want to sue the airport I have no evidence to back me up, dang.

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

Happy Birthday Geneva And Gretchyn

I can not believe how much snow there has been this year!!!  Sure it is pretty to look at, but when it makes your drive twice as long forget it.  It can just melt and go away for all I care.

Today we** drove to St Louis to pick up Erin and Linda***.  Linda was told to take the same flight as Erin, but she decided that she would leave 15 min earlier than Erin….  I am sure she thought she would arrive earlier than Erin too, however we were waiting at the airport for long time between their flights.  We are just glad they both made it safely home.  We arrived at the airport and things were ok, but it was snowing.

We went down a set of stairs that were half indoors and half outdoors.  The top was outdoors.  So the top of the stairs was wet.  I noticed a bag sitting at the top of the steps alone and was thinking about whether or not to turn it in or if someone was just putting the rest of their luggage in the car at the curb there.  So, no, I was not holding on to the rail or thinking about the wet steps, and my feet slipped, and somehow ended up behind me, and I fell.  In my head I could see myself doing a somersault down the stairs, but no, that didn’t happen.  It felt like some one was holding me back by my left shoulder, keeping my head up.  And my toes caught on the steps and stopped me after hitting three steps and I was able to reach my hands over to the slats in the railing and pick myself up.  Jacob and Karen were already down the stairs and Emily was behind me a few steps.  I think I believe in angels.  My bones were not broken.  My hands ache, and my ankles too, but the worst of it was a small scratch on my leg.  I had better get a really cool bruise from this; it isn’t worth falling if there isn’t anything to show for it.  And no, people can not see pain the way we feel it.

Because of the snow, it took us 6 hours to get home!!!!!!  Just crazy.  We saw some scary looking accidents along the side of the highway.  I just hope the families are all ok.  We went really slowly, and made it home intact.

FYI boil order was lifted when we got home.

Here is a picture of the janitor’s cart we saw.

*I am writing this after the fact as though it is current, and pre-dating my post. As it is my site, I reserve the right to do so.

** Karen, Emily, Jacob, Marcia

***Our friend and Erin’s roommate at school