The Week Before Christmas.....Sunday Six

Wow here we are the week before Christmas.....What a fun, busy, festive and blessed week I have had. The season in and of itself is such a highlight of the year for me. But I'm especially excited because ALL of my family will be here for Christmas Eve and Christmas this year. Twenty-one of us will gather together . I've been busy trying to get everything ready for when they start arriving on Tuesday. These were the best of the best for my week. . . . .
MY SUNDAY SIX

1. The greatest relief is that we had to talk in church today and it's OVER! The Bishop asked us last week if we would talk and I've been stressing ever since. It's bad enough to have to talk, but the week before Christmas is way too much pressure!

2. We took Lucy to see Santa. She was not sure she wanted to be there. You can't really tell but she was crying out loud while she pasted that fake smile on her face. We were all cracking up including Santa.

3. I had my third annual cookie exchange on Thurs. We all get together and sample each others cookies, drink some hot cider and have a good visit. It works out well as we ended up with 6 different kinds of cookies. (Shanel was also there, but she was taking the picture.)

Lucy's snowman that her Daddy and her made in front of their house.


4. It snowed and it snowed and it snowed this week! It was just beautiful. It was the most it has snowed since we moved here. We actually got 3 inches at one time. They even had to close the schools as we don't have snow plows here to clear the streets for the buses to get in. Anyway I loved it, it was so festive for the Christmas season.
5.We went to Parowan and helped Grandma Bev make fudge. Every year she makes her famous peanut butter fudge, but this year she said she just couldn't do it. So rather than break the tradition we went up and helped her. It was fun for her as well as us and we think we have all her secrets now on how to have a successful batch!

Before
After

6. My dining room table had become my wrapping station and when we left for Parowan I left the table piled high with unwrapped gifts. Bless Shanel, while we were gone she came over and must of sensed that I was in over my head, literally! When I got home to my surprise she had beautifully wrapped all my presents. This sweet act of kindness is a gift I'll never forget. Thank you Shanel.

6+.This is Reg typing our Christmas letter. It's been his turn the last 2 years and he actually did it this year. Thanks honey.

Sherrie's Simple Sunday This week took us up north, so most of my favorites of the week took place there with family. It was Brittney and Mitchells' B-Days and Jen was doing her Christmas show so away we went, Reg and I with Lucy and Shanel in the back seat.
These are the things I want to remember. . . .

1. Friday night we went and saw Jen perform in "It's a Wonderful Life." This is Jen and Lance after the performance, they are so cute together. I am so grateful that they found each other . The show was really good and Jen just gets so into character with her animation and of course her wonderful dancing. Afterwords Jen, Lance, Shanel, Wendy, Reg and I went to the Little America and had a yummy late dinner. The food is always so good there especially the rolls, but I was good I only had one when usually I would probably of had three. We all had a good laugh as our little Vietnamese was waitress was a crack up. It was a fun night.
2. I really was happy to be reminded of the message from It's A Wonderful Life. Poor George Bailey thought he was a failure because his life did not go as he had "planned," had hoped for and had dreamed of. But how often does that actually happen? We need to make the best of the current situation were in and try to help others along the way. Then when this mortal probation is over hopefully we to can look back on our lives and see what positive difference we have made, just like George.
3. Brittney, my oldest granddaughter turned 12 on the 4th of December. She has evolved from a darling little girl to a beautiful young woman with beautiful Snow White skin and and the most beautiful "shinny"dark hair. She loves lime green and hot pink and has a darling room with those colors. She has much better computer skills than I do, is a good student, a great babysitter to her little brothers and is kind and patient to all her younger cousins.


She got to choose where to eat on her birthday so we all headed to the Brick Oven, which is also one of my favorite places in Provo. She has loved pizza her whole life so I think that one of the reasons she wanted to go there, not to mention the yummy home made root beer. We all had a fun time and Reg and I were so happy we could be there for the party!


4. On Saturday the 6th it was Mitchell's 10th birthday. He is our oldest grandson who also has grown up way too fast also. He was the cutest baby, with the biggest blue eye and the chubbiest legs you ever saw. He is no longer chubby just getting taller each time I see him, but he still has amazing eyes. In a few years the girls are going to be swarming I'm afraid. Mitchell is an avid reader like his mother, as well as a good student. He has always been a deep thinker and makes us all laugh with his "Big" words. He loves BYU football and is excited to start playing basketball in January. He even got new basketball shoes for his B-Day.
He wanted to go to Cheesecake Factory as they have his favorite omelette's there. Then we returned to his house to have chocolate lava cakes which he requested and open presents. Again we were so blessed to be there for the celebration and for darling grandchildren that bring us such joy.

5. I am so grateful that we found our "missing Cade!" On Sat. after 15 of us left the Cheesecake Factory we ventured through the terrible crowd to Nordstrom . Everyone kind of went there own separate ways, the cousins here and there with different adults up and down escalators etc. Suddenly I got this thought, "Cade is not here, I haven't seen him since the restaurant." After checking in with everyone sure enough he was missing. The store went in lock down mode, and thy started announcing our little 4 year olds description on the loud speaker. It was a panicked moment and we were all praying frantically. Jason sprinted back to the Cheesecake Factory and there was little Cade in tears with a manager. We all felt so bad.....and were grateful he was safe and not out in the parking lot looking for us. Lesson, never try and go to the mall with 15 people on a Sat. in December with all the Christmas shoppers.
6. I am so grateful we don't have traffic in St. George! Friday night we were on the freeway for 2 hours trying to get from Lehi to Salt Lake. It was a terrible flashback from all the years we spent in stop and go traffic in Calif. I can be anywhere in St. George in 15 min. That makes me happy.

Fun in the Sun with the SARAGERS'

Last night we returned from spending (almost) a week with John, Shenise and Lane. This was our "off" year for Thanksgiving, so instead of Reg, Mom and myself hanging out by ourselves we hopped on a plane and spent a wonderful holiday in Arizona. Shenise had the house perfect in every way. She knows how Grandma Shirley doesn't miss a thing, as she manages to look in every drawer, cupboard, closet, etc. John even went out and bought a second refrigerator for all the food they bought. The sad thing is that both refrigerators were so full when we got there and when we left they were almost empty. We ate so-o-o-o much and it was all so good. The best thing is that I think this is the first time in maybe 30 years that I didn't have to stay home and cook. Thanks Shenise for taking over, it was wonderful......

The table was very beautiful. We all know decorating is Shenise's specialty.
We actually got Grandma out to the mall a little,
to dinner and she even went to see Twilight with Shenise and I. Did she like it, "Heavens No"!

Whenever we go to Shenise's she has projects for her Dad. This time he put together an advent calendar made out of barn wood that Eric had to go rip off his Grandpa old shed. Then we had to haul it in a suitcase along with the wire and nails. He also did a little wallpapering, and hung a picture or two. He acts like these are dreaded chores, but truthfully he loves being needed.

Little Lane was just delightful. We really enjoyed spending some one on one time with him. He is talking very well now, fast of course like he does everything else. He is very polite. When he doesn't want to do do something or eat something or go somewhere, he always says "No, no thanks!" Like at night I would take him upstairs read him a story, sing a song or two and when I would actually try to put him in bed he would say "No, no thanks!"

He also has a very vivid imagination. Every time you see him he has a different kind of hat on. His favorite is to be a pirate and you have to wear a pirate hat as well. Grandma Shirley made a pretty good pirate too, don't you think.


Normally I would be really sad to leave our family in Arizona, but not this time as they will be here for CHRISTMAS and we're excited!