Ollie - He's Back! Dec 1

(I know ... it's been awhile .... maybe I'll catch you up on our year.)

Tumbleweeds - memories of Bama

A picture of my grandmother holding the tumbleweed she received from
my Dad one year for Christmas.  He rescued it while moving from TX
to CA (military).  She kept this tumbleweed in her basement
for years.  This picture was displayed on a board at her memorial.
I was thrilled to see it there - I had never seen it before!

I was chatting with my aunt at the luncheon we attended after Bama's interment.   We were remembering Bama - we brought up our memories of her basement and all of the treasures.   I told her there was a tumbleweed in the basement on the top shelf from TX (I don't know all of the details of how she rescued the tumbleweed, etc - I should find out!).   My aunt told me that she didn't throw anything away and believed the tumbleweed was in a box in the basement. When I arrived at the memorial service that night, my aunt gave me the box that contained this tumbleweed.   It was perfect .... I had written about it in my eulogy.   I took it up to the stand before the memorial service and pulled it out to share during that memory. A part of my eulogy: Grandma was sentimental.   She kept everything.   It was sweet to walk into her bathroom and see the wood boot I carved in 7th grade, a wooden mirror one of my brothers made hanging in her hallway, and a Popsicle stick project hanging from her kitchen cabinet nob that one of my kids made.   She even had a hand written contract hanging in plastic on her filing cabinets in the basement that my Dad made his sister sign when she was a little girl promising that she would never move out.   I remember going into her basement and finding dresses and hats from various special occasions along with flowers in her refrigerator that she saved from my parent’s wedding, my aunt’s wedding and uncle’s wedding.   She also had a small box in the basement that had contained her wedding ring and another box that contained letters the she and Grandpa wrote to each other.   She even had a tumble weed on the top shelf that my dad gave her for Christmas one year - my dad had rescued it from the road while traveling in Texas back in 1970 (or maybe a year or two earlier).   It was magical in her basement.   Oh, the memories and treasures it contained! I brought the tumbleweed home with me.   I sprayed it and it now sits on top of our family memory tree ... a perfect place for it - as she played a major role in our childhood memories!

I did find out more about the tumbleweed.  Here is what my Mom shared:

Dad and I left Laughlin AFB in Del Rio Texas, heading to Mather AFB near Rancho Cordova, California at the end of March, 1970.   Dad now had his International Harvester 3/4 ton pickup truck with a camper hood over the bed of the truck.   As we were driving along in Western Texas this tumble weed tumbled across the road.   Dad pulled over and chased it down and put it in the back of his pickup truck, a gift for his Mom.   We proceeded to Modesto California where we stayed over General Conference Weekend with Elder Stephen's parents (one of the missionaries that taught and baptised us).  Elder Stephens had given us some things to bring to them on our way to next training station.   While visiting them, they introduced us to Food Storage and sitting for hours in front of the TV watching General Conference.   We proceeded to our home in Rancho Cordova on Crawford Way.   While stationed there for Navigators School, we adopted Sean, saw San Francisco, Dad got his navigators wings, Mom and and his sister came out for a visit.   This is the time she went along with us to every event the church had going....even camping in the mountains just east of where we were living.   It was her first taste of the church.   When she got back to Franklin Park, she asked Dad to take her to church and the rest is history.   In December of 1970, we traveled in the truck to Chicago via the southern route.   Our truck broke down in the middle of the night in a snowstorm, in the mountains just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, the home of Elder McEuen's parents (the other missionary).   They rescued us and we stayed with them for several days while waiting for our truck to be repaired.   Sean was just a little fellow, 4 months old enduring this cross country trip.   By the time we got to Chicago, the poor little fellow had a bad cold.   Naturally I was worried, his first cold! I was a new, inexperienced   mother and pregnant now with Corin.   We made it just in time for Christmas.   I took this famous picture of Mom holding the tumble weed.   It captured the moment she opened this most unusual Christmas gift from her wonderful son, Richard.

Twas the Night Before Christmas ... read by the grandparents

Four years ago I had all 3 sets of grandparents for my children record themselves reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas". It was so sweet to hear the voices of my Bama and Papa (their great grandparents) read to my children tonight as we wrapped up our Christmas Eve traditions. 

I made a recording that made it appear that all 6 grandparents were reading the book. You can view it here.  Our favorite part ... the ending when they all wish the grandkids a "Happy Christmas to all and to all a goodnight". I put the recording to pictures I took of the boys while holding the book back in 2009.

Though miles and now mortality separate us, it is comforting to know we can remember and cherish our Christmas memories, traditions and family. Merry Christmas in heaven Bama and Papa! We are so blessed.

Once an angel, always an angel - Angel Grandma

She was my first childhood memory ... my fondest childhood memories ... my children's fondest memories ... my best friend ... my biggest fan. Now she is reunited with her sweetheart, her Mom, Dad and brother. She said it best when she had a clear moment back in November when Jaley, my sister Cara and I were visiting ... "We didn't waste any time having fun." Miles separated us when we moved to Colorado ... now you will be forever with us - miles will never separate us again. Until we meet again.

I love you Bama, Grandma, Grammar - bestest friend. 

Feeling grateful to have been blessed with such a wonderful example and friend.

photos by my sister, Kelly A.

Nov 23, 1922 - Dec 16, 2013 6:25p CST

2013 Annual Goofy Christmas Card ... released!!!

What you have all been waiting for .... our annual goofy Christmas Card.

Thanks to Jaley for the idea that took on a life of its own.

Thanks to the gang for being willing to take part.

This is one of our all-time favorite Christmas movies:  Elf.

If you haven't seen it, you HAVE TO!

Some of our favorite scenes .... starring us

Now .... what to do next year ....

2013 Code for Christmas has been released!!!

The code has been released!

For those of you wondering what I'm talking about, here's the scoop:

For the past 5+ years we have put a number on the gifts for the kids instead of their names.  They have to crack the code to figure out who receives the gift.

About a week before Christmas we give the kids one clue each day about the code.  It drives them crazy!

One year the code was how many teeth they lost.

The numbers this year (and in no particular order) - 98, 06, 13, 37, 14, 24, 46, 56.  FYI - this year John, Jared and I have been included in on the numbers.

Dec 1 - Advent Activity

Have dinner with our Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching families.

We invited the families we Home Teach and Visit Teach to our home for dinner.  It was wonderful to be together.  It was fun to have the home decorated - it was festive!

12 foot tree with the ornaments I have painted of the years
... I just got my sister, Cara, addicted to painting too!

Family Memory Tree - with our yearly memory ornaments

My Grandma's (Bama) favorite tree.
Each year she would give me a new ornament to hang on the tree

The tree in our eating area - sweets tree

I love the picture of Santa looking at the nativity

I love Christmas a little

My nephew-in-law was counting how many trees I had and got up to 44 and realized that
he forgot to count some trees in rooms he already counted.  I love trees.  I love nativities.
I love Christmas

Menu for tonight:
Soup.  Salad.  Rolls/Bread/Biscuits.  Dessert.

19 people total (We missed having 2 other families over - that would have been 10 more).

My favorite soups I made:
Beef Picante
1 cheap roast
1 lg jar of picante sauce (any brand)  - 16 oz - 24 oz
1 jar of water (the same amount of salsa you put in)
4-5 cans of chili beans (I pressure cook 3 cups dry kidney beans and add chili powder)
Onion - chopped (if you want)
Cook in crock pot until meat shreds (at least 4 hours on high).
I pressure cook this recipe (meat too).

Chicken Pot Pie Soup/Stew - from Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant ... homemade is even better!
This recipe may seem long, but you can combine steps (or cook items at same time in different pans) ... FYI - You don't want to overcook the potatoes.
Yields:  1 gallon

Ingredients:
8 cups water
1 1/4 lbs 3/4" cubed red potatoes
1 lb raw chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
2 tbsp canola oil (to sauté  veggies)
3/4 lb carrots - 1/4" sliced
1/2 lb celery - 1/4" sliced
1/2 lb pearl onions (remove skins according to instructions)
2 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 lb margarine or butter
1 TBSP garlic - finely minced
3/4 cup flour
5 cups chicken broth
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 lb peas (frozen)

1.  In a large pot bring the water to a rapid boil.  Place potatoes in the water and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain potatoes (place in ice bath and set aside for later ... I just drained them and set them aside)
2.  Saute oil, carrots, celery, onions and thyme over medium heat for 10 min (or until tender).  Set aside for later.
3.  In 5 quart pot melt margarine/butter.  Add garlic and saute over medium heat for 2 min.
4.  Set heat to low and add in flour - stirring constantly.
5.  Whisk in broth, salt and white and black pepper.  Bring up the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes until mixture has thickened - stirring constantly.
6.  Slowly stir in milk and cream.  Simmer for 3 minutes.
7.  Add peas, parsley, cooked potatoes, cooked vegetable mixture and chicken. Stir and bring soup to desired temperature.
8. Enjoy with a side of Butter milk Biscuits!