Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

                                 

This Christmas was so wonderful!  No one complained, everyone was grateful, we thought of others more than ourselves.  It was what Christmas should be like.

Diana and Gaby came from Mexico and arrived on Dec 24.  They ended up staying with Gramps and Braxton.  They are sisters and Braxton met them on his mission. They expected nothing but I was able to come up with some gifts for each of them.  It wasn't a lot but I know it made them feel loved.  I even had a little cloth bag and stocking for their stocking stuff. (Larry & I shared our stocking stuff) 

The kids each got a stuffed toy, which my kids all still love.  They also got one more present and they were thrilled.  It was more than they expected and just being thought of made them smile.  I truly have some of the best kids ever born.  They never ask for much if they ask for anything at all.  Santa left a few things under the tree.  I don't think Santa paid very close attention this year to what he was leaving.  The sled was for people under 80 lbs, (I told my kids they could ride it anyway) and the Wii game was really a Wii U. (oops....silly Santa)  He also left a few new barbies for the grands to play with.

After some doughy cinnamon rolls we got ready and went around to the married kids homes so the grands could show us what Santa brought them.  I love seeing their excitement.  They are so stinkin cute!

Later in the day we went to my mom and dads where things get crazy.  We all squeeze in their little house and my mom gives out Christmas.  My mom always makes it so fun for the little ones.  She collects gifts all year for them.  Even though the space is limited I love having us all there together. Susan and a few of her kids were there also.

It gets a little hectic and this year Trichelle's card got lost.  Trichelle didn't have her kids later when we went and so she was just planning on visiting Grandma another day.  Between me and Julie we were making sure that their gifts were kept together and put in the Santa Sack grandma has for our family. The card got lost for a few days but when Trichelle made it to my mom's the card was there.  I was so glad because mom thought that me or one of my kids had it with our things.

We stopped on our way home and visited Larry's mom and Clark.

It was just a peaceful, perfect kind of day!  A Very Merry Christmas!

Ropelato Christmas Party

I love our Ropelato Family Christmas Party.  There are a lot of us now and it's harder to fit into one place but I love having us all together.  This year Becky and Jeff hosted it at their new house.  Their house fits us all easily.  It's so nice and big and open.  They built it so they could have people over.

I love our traditional Lasagna Dinner and the performance of the Nativity.  Every year I reminisce over the previous years when our big kids were the actors....now it's their kids!  In the earlier days we might have had one angel...these days we have a lot.  (we even had some in the back ground) I love the expressions on the children's faces...I believe they know how important their parts are.

I love visiting and catching up with everyone.  I love playing Jeopardy and seeing how competitive everyone is. I also love how smart we all are!  It's just so fun for me.

I love that Santa visits and gives the kids new socks.  I love watching my little's get excited about their socks and how they like to put them on right away.  I just love this time of year and all the hustle and bustle and family time!  It's the best!

Family Christmas Party

I Love our little Family Party.  It's so fun to see the excitement of each family member.  This is the time that our kids exchange gifts with each other.  We rotate each year so that every kid always has someone different to exchange with each year.  The grands also exchange gifts with each other. It is fun watching them exchange.  It is so obvious the love they share with each other.  I hope it will always be this way.  We also give our gifts to the grands and married kids.  I like giving the grands a new Christmas book each year and then they get their traditional cereal.  I actually think they look forward to the cereal....some of them tell me what their favorite is. ☺

 This year we didn't decorate Gingerbread Houses....we were cutting back and so I didn't pick any up.  Instead we decorated sugar cookies.  The kids had a great time and did a good job.  I think we might do this again next year.

 I love my family and love the time that we spend together.  We missed Ivy this year which always stinks. (she was in Disneyland with her dad and his family)  I love Christmas and the Spirit of Jesus that is felt throughout the season.  I love talking about Jesus and discussing His birth.  I love all the beautiful music that makes you feel good.  I love the lights and presents and Santa.  Everything about Christmas is symbolic and wonderful.  This time of the Year really is the Best time of the Year!

Happy Birthday Carla

Before Carla and I went to lunch to celebrate her birthday I bowled for another Carla.  I did something that I have only come close to before.  I had a clean game...that means I didn't leave a frame open...I marked in every frame.  The gals I was bowling with thought I had done it the 2nd game but when I looked close I noticed I didn't mark in the 6th frame.  I still got a 191 which means most of the marks were spares.  In the 3rd game I didn't leave any open frames and ended with a 197 also mostly spares.  However I even picked up a 5-10 split with the coaching of Sylvia.  I don't know how her logic works but it does and did.  That's the second time I have picked up that split and she had coached me the other time also.  Now if I can just remember...move my toe 2 1/2 boards towards the 10 pin and throw my ball in the same spot.  Crazy that by doing that the ball moved to the left which is the opposite way that I moved.  Awesome though.....I was so excited!

Carla is so sweet and kind.  When I text her to see if I could take her to lunch she text me back saying her and her dogs (5 of them)were doing the Happy Dance.  How cute is that?  I think she was excited! Carla has a big heart ♥ and is so thoughtful.  I love this girl and she truly has helped me to be a better person.  I'm just one happy and very blessed girl!

Celebration of Dave

What a hard week.  It's hard losing a best friend. Our family loves Dave and his family.  We have shared so many fun times with them.  Today Dave's twin sister Debbie, his son Davy, and Larry all spoke about Dave at his funeral.  It was so fun to hear about him in different aspects of his life.  Larry took the most time because he was last and got to take up the rest of the times....I'm glad he didn't have to cut his talk short...even though he shortened it considerably.  I think Larry could have gone on for another hour or more....we have shared so many good times with Dave and Vicki.  We still plan on spending time with Vicki and the family.  New Years Eve is planned and we look forward to playing with them and ending one year and starting a new one together.

I was so glad that all our kids were able to take off work and school to make it.  I know Dave meant the world to all of them as well.  He had a way of always making you feel good.  When he spoke to you he listened and was genuinely interested.  What a great example to us all!  Our lives are better because of our association with the Jones Family.♥♥♥

Book Club Christmas Party

 I think the Christmas Party with my book club is always so much fun!  We exchange "white elephants" and there is always something given that makes us all laugh.  This year it was the gift Shanna got....an extra pair of "boobies".  Oh the things you could do with them.  She tried a few and I laughed my guts out!  You could use them for ear muffs, or ear rings, or bunny ears, or elbow or need pads, or instant bum lift (I helped her out with that one), or book ends or.........(many ideas)  It was especially funny since it was Shanna who is the most reserved of our group.  She wasn't even shy about having a picture taken with them. hahaha

I liked the gift I got and plan on being a little creative after Dave's funeral is over. (wink)

We enjoyed a potluck breakfast and then visited and laughed for a few hours.  Shanna hates when we all leave early and was proud of us for spending 3 hours together.  I wouldn't have left but needed to get some vinyl for the pictures I'm making for the Jones family.  It was fun....I love my book club.  It was great that Suzie was able to join us. (she works a few jobs now)  For the next few months we might only have three of us because Loretta is leaving for her mission at the end of the month.  Before we know it though we will all be back together....the older I get the faster the years go!

I love the Holidays and All the Fun Parties and Get Togethers that happen because of them.

More Girl Time

A week or so ago I had invited Kellie to join some of us girls for breakfast.  She seemed so pleased but wasn't able to make it.  I really believe she liked the invite most and so I kept in touch with her.  (Kellie lived by me when we were both really little and I have always loved her and her family)  She told me she was feeling depressed and sad because her and her hubby would be moving to St George in January for a few months...which means away from her kids and grands.  I asked her if she would like to get together and she jumped on the idea.  I love this gal!  We planned a lunch date and then I let Kathy and Jodi know too and they were both able to make it!  Nice Surprise!  It was so fun....it's always so fun getting together with friends.