It's time . . . . .

Fa, la, la, la, la, la, Time for another rant.  I've been being too nice on my blog.  I've gotten soft.  I'm too worried about who is reading and whether or not I'll offend someone . . . . . or hurt someone . . . . or WHATEVER!

Christmas time!  Oh, how I hate this holiday.  Not the whole "Christ" thing.  Christ should be in your life all year, just not on Christmas . . . . . what I don't like is the whole commercialism thing, the unrealistic expectations thing, and all the other stupid things we put ourselves through.

One thing irritating me especially this year, by good intentioned people, that are just trying to carry on a conversation because they are standing in front of you is one of the two questions:  "Are you going to Utah this year?"  and "Are your kids coming home for Christmas this year?"  What the heck?????  Is there some law that states . . . . . "You must bring your kids home every year for Christmas?"  When my answer is "no" to both of the above questions, the look that comes across everyone's face is one of pity, or unbelief.  Again I say "What the heck?"  I'd rather spend our money visiting and being visited during the warmer times of the year, when it is cheaper and we can GO TO THE BEACH!

Christmas to me is like another birthday . . . . . a time of the year that I tolerate because it happens every year whether I like it or not . . . . . one that if I could take a pill and skip it it would be fine with me!  More than fine with me!  In three days I can happily cross it off my calendar and hope for the year to slowly crawl by so that December seems an occurance that will happen in the far far far distant future.  The only thing I like about Christmas is the music and the card giving, and card giving I am told is "old school" and "going out of style."  YIKES!  one of my only pleasures is going out of vogue.  geesh!

What to do  . . . . . What to do?  I'm sure I'm not alone out there. . . . or maybe I'm just a freak of nature :)  LOL!

Nonetheless, I'm trying to have a Merry Christmas and wish the same to you.  Fa, la, la, la, la!

Flashback Friday (sort-of)!!!

I wanted to add more highlights of Halley and Ryan's visit . . . . . .

On Saturday we planned to go shooting at the shooting range.  We went and purchased ammunition, spinning targets, a clay pigeon launcher and of course, clay pigeons.  We got to the range nice and early, then got kicked out of the range nice and early!  We got all set up and didn't even fire one shot!  Apparently, during hunting season there is a two week break from the range.  There weren't any signs stating this fact, and the gates were wide open!  Over 200 hundred dollars spent and it was a dud!  At least that stuff keeps well . . . . . . . .

Saturday evening brought the BYU vs UTAH game.  Ryan's parents came to watch the game with us, and I think for the first time ever we had more Ute fans than BYU fans in the house.  Needless to say, there was a lot of cheering going on.  The women however, (except for Ryan's mom) were not watching the game.  For the life of me, I can't remember what we DID do . . . . old age is the pits!!! :)

At some point in the weekend we played 15 rounds of Mexican train dominoes . . . . . . . . even I got tired of playing dominoes, though I've had a hankering to get them out again since!

Sunday's highlight for me was singing a duet in church with Halley.  My dream has been to be able to play duets on the piano with her, but our talents don't quite click together in that area.  In the area of singing, Halley is much more talented, but I think we pulled it off.  I can't remember when I've been more nervous and my knees were almost clacking together behind the podium!

Sunday evening was supposed to be the end of H & R's visit.  Their time here was split half and half with Ryan's parents.  Ryan's parents called at the last minute and let us have them for another day!  I cried tears of Joy!  We quickly got out the Christmas decorations and "decked the halls."

Halley and her dad . . . . . .

Halley, McKay and Ryan . . . . . .

Myself and Halley . . . I don't know what was up with our camera. It usually doesn't blur moving images so much!

Monday was a bonus day . . . . . yippee!  Halley and I got some alone time because Monday was a "back to normal" day.  We got to finally have a chance to talk a little and we went and got our hair cut.  We topped off the evening by meeting Ryan's parents in Rockville and ate at a nice restaurant, their treat.  (always a bonus)

Sadly, it all had to come to an end.  I noticed McKay watching their vehicle until we couldn't see it any more.  He's growing up . . . . . . it is the first time he hasn't cried when Halley left . . . . but I know we all felt like crying.  Don't be sad because it is over . . . . . be happy that it happened (or something like that) - Dr. Seuss

Day Trip!

I found out recently that there is a Norman Rockwell exhibit showing here in DC.  Lincoln and I really wanted to go and so we asked my Mom and Dad and Halley and Ryan if they would like to go to it.  They all did and so we all went the day after Thanksgiving. 

This was a very enjoyable exhibit.  Steven Spielberg and George Lucas both collect these paintings and have made them available for the first time ever.  The paintings are much more vivid and alive in person.  If you live in DC and like stuff like this, it is well worth your time to go and they are in a Smithsonian . . . . meaning its a free exhibit!!!

I didn't take very many pictures and so stole this from my mom's blog!!  We are waiting in line to get into the Rockwell section. 

After we went to the exhibit, we ate in Chinatown.  Ryan learned how to speak Chinese on his mission which added an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal.  At lunch it was fun to talk about which paintings were our favorites and why. It was surprising to hear which painting were the favorites.  

We are so blessed to live in this area and try to enjoy it all that we can.

Savoring Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. It is simply a time to eat, relax, and enjoy your family. This year was extra special because our daughter Halley and her husband Ryan were able to come and spend a few days with us. I tried to savor every moment. It has been 2 years since she and he have been here.

Enjoying the bounty. . . .

I made my mom sit down for a minute so she could be in a picture . . . . 

Halley and Ryan . . . . . while she was here we both went and got our hair cut.  She cut off 8 to 10 inches I'd say.  I got a few inches cut off of mine as well!

Lincoln was being silly about having his picture taken again . . . .  so sorry hon, I chose the best one of myself, yet again.

After dinner we played cards . . . . . .

And decorated gingerbread (graham cracker) houses.  This is becoming a tradition . . . . .

McKay was never far from his sister's side.

Getting started . . . .

Laying out a plan . . . . .

In full building mode . . . . .

Zane was especially creative . . . . . do you see his hanging snowman.  I think it was meant to be a "Ute" in anticipation for the Utah vs. BYU game.

Halley's creation.

Ryan's "Ute" house.

Opening up the Christmas season by singing Christmas carols.  More of us got involved, but no pictures of that :(  Stevie sure got into the singing this year!

The gingerbread village . . . . . .

Be careful what you blog about . . . . .

Today is Veteran's day, and my veteran had an agenda for today . . . . . because he reads my blog!  We did some work around the house, went to the shooting range, and then finished up the day going to Applebees where they were offering a free meal to military veterans. 

You like Lincoln's shadow clicking our picture?  The range was full when we arrived and we had to wait our turn.  The smell of gunpowder is a smell I like.  Sulfury and smokey . . . . it brings back good memories.

Before when I've been shooting with the family, I've never gotten my fill of shooting.  Usually I got to shoot just enough to wet my appetite for more. 

Today I shot until I couldn't shoot anymore.  I think this is the first time I've used a scope.  It almost seems like cheating in a way.  Lincoln has a nice little one-shot 22 rifle that was fun to shoot and had no scope!  FUN!

We hit the bullseye quite a few times.  Watching everyone fire their different type of handguns makes me want to acquire one of those.  I remember shooting my dad's 22 and 44.  I'd rather go for the smaller caliber.  My goodness, there were a variety of guns there today.  Some of them were so loud it'd make you jump even with you earplugs!!!  After a while I stopped being so jumpy though! 

Let the Holidays begin!

 The Bainters invited us out to Noah's Birthday party.  As part of the party we carved pumpkins.  There is nothing better than spending time with family, and having a project to do is even better!  Above is all of our pumpkins we carved.  Below is earlier in the process . . . . . we are all deciding what we are going to carve.

 Cutting the tops out of the pumpkins!

 The most fun part of all (sarcasm) removing the seeds and other gunk . . . . .

 Oooooooey Gooooooooey!

 "Poking" out the outlines on our pumpkins.

 Earlier in the day, Lincoln and McKay went to a Guard Halloween party.  McKay and he stopped to buy some hair paint.  McKay wanted orange, but all they would find was white.  At the party, one of Lincoln's co-workers asked McKay if he dressed up to be his dad!!!!!  Too funny!!!!  Here are the three "white-heads" of the family.  I think their hair is pretty, (excepting McKays, that is!!!)  When we are at a store, someone told me that McKay was the youngest old person they'd ever seen. . . . . . .

 Mom in action . . . . .

 Ceci . . . . . . .

 Stevie . . . . . . .

 My gorgeous hunk of man . . . . . .

 Zane . . . . . .

 McKay . . . . . . .

Dad and McKay . . . . . . .

 The Birthday boy, Noah . . . . . . . .

 Trudy . . . . . . . .

 Stevie . . . . . . . . .

 My man's pumpkin . . . . . . .

 McKay's pumpkin . . . . . . . . .

 and my pumpkin . . . . . . .

FUN TIMES!!!!!!

Flashback Friday!

I pulled a slip out of the journal jar . . . . . read it and put it back in and pulled another!  The one I pulled states: Describe getting a Christmas Tree with your family as a child.  Tell how it was decorated.  Did you ever make an ornament yourself?

We did have an artificial tree when I was growing up, but on alternate years we would go Christmas Tree "hunting."   I can't remember where we would go, just someplace out in the west desert mountains in Utah, but the thing I do remember is that is was crisp and cold.   We all would have our opinions of which tree would be best pick.  I remember being disappointed when my dad would tell me that the tree I would pick was too big for the house.  It always seemed to me that we picked the smallest scrawniest trees and then when we would get home, I'd be amazed that the tree was actually big in the house!  

Mom (in my memory) always brought along hot chocolate and chili.  The warmth of the food, warmed our insides, while the coolness of the air chilled our noses, toes and cheeks.  These are good memories for me. 

Our tree was filled with decorations that we kids had made.  At least those were the decorations I remember most!  I especially remember some that were made with styrofoam balls that were decorated with dried legumes, peas, corn, beans, etc.  I remember my parents loved putting tinsel on the tree, and my mom liked to find lights that were unique and interesting to put on the tree.  One year I think I remember a string of bubbling candles, when they would warm up they would be kind of like lava lamps, but small candles?

Fun times!

Memorial Weekend Take 4

I don't have any pictures for this one - - - I meant to take them - - - - - just didn't.

We had a very busy memorial day.  We started off the day meeting with a contractor and insurance adjuster at our rental property.  Yes, we have TWO properties that were pummeled with hail during this last storm.  We should get a new roof, new siding, and 3 new windows and rain gutters for the rental.  On Wednesday we'll see what they will do for our home.

After that we had the Brownes over for a BBQ.  It was their last day in Maryland.  Steve has been a great home teacher to us these last few years and we will miss him and his family.  Sometimes I really hate living here because everyone moves from here.  Right now, 3 families that I really enjoy are leaving, and leaving soon.  What a BUMMER!!!

We decided to go to the pool and get base tans.  30 minutes, swim, and then another 30 minutes on the flip side, swim and then home.  McKay and I got what we planned for . . . . a slight redness, but POOR Lincoln!  My goodness!  It looks like he spent hours in the sun.  We spent the evening rubbing vinegar on him and will hope for the best.  His body chemestry really must have changed through the years.  YIKES!

It's always fun to spend time with family and friends.  We are so blessed  . . . . and burned :(  !!

Memorial Weekend Take 2

A photographer I am not . . . . but I wanted to get a few shots of the Washington Monument throughout the night. The color of the sky was really beautiful at different during the evening