relaxing...really?

I can't believe that we actually took the time at this busy time of year to stop and watch a few movies.  That's right we watched two.  Carla had mentioned that we should have a movie day and I took her up on it.  I went to her house at noon and so I was able to get things done in the morning before I went...laundry and painting.  Carla had lots of yummy left overs from her party the night before and so we ate a few of them.  She told me to come in my comfy clothes and she told me she was going to wear her dog jammies.  She always wears them the week of her birthday. (her birthday is Thurs) We relaxed and had a great time.

Carla and Roger love dogs and have six.  They are cute dogs and we let them in after the first movie.  The weather is so nice that Carla had them in the back yard.  The little ones were all over us and it was almost impossible to eat a treat.  I gave one dog a piece of popcorn after I knew it was okay for them to have.  I learned that it's important to be fair even with dogs and so the only treats the dogs got after that were the ones they hurried and stole.  Her little black dog got away with a few treats.  He cracked me up...as soon as Carla wasn't looking he'd eat a treat.

The first movie we watched was Elf...it's my favorite.  After that we watched White Christmas and I realized even though I have heard of the movie, I had never watched it.  It was fun "chillin" with Carla.  She's a great friend and a fun host.  She loves having people over and entertaining.  Her house is so nice and comfy.  We talked about starting a Movie Club...hopefully we do!

Ropelato Family Party

This year Erin volunteered to organize our Christmas Party.  I was thrilled.  I think I am a little burnt out after doing it every other year for many, many years now.  I love getting together with Larry's parents and siblings and their kids.  I just love family things that get us together.  I love watching the little one's interact with each other as they make memories.  You can see the love they share with each other.  Erin and Scott had everything set up.  We went a half an hour early to help but it was done earlier in the day.  Erin even had tables set up with activities for the kids. It worked out great.  The kids had a fun time.

 I laughed when everyone started getting their food and sitting down.  Jerry's family went to the far table.  Brent's was at the end of the table Jerry's.  Wayne's family sat on the middle tables and so did a few of the cousins.  My family sat at the end of the table by the food and at the head of that table mom, Clark and Wendy made their place.  We seldom mix it up.  I guess that's okay and means we like our individual families.  I ate and made a point to go visit the other families.  I really like them all.

I guess Christmas parties are for the kids and they certainly enjoyed themselves.  They ate and played and giggled and ran around and were so cute.  I couldn't help but take lots of pictures and smile. ☺

We had a visitor!  Santa Claus came and gave each of the kids a gift.  The kids sat so good and waited patiently for their turns.  Santa kept handing Parker candy canes to give to everyone...Parker was happy to help out.  I noticed that the little's around a year were the ones leery of Santa.  I think a few of the little's hearts sped up as they were taken close to Santa.  Macie quickly looked and reached for Mallory who had set her on Santa's lap.  London (Kaylie's baby) was the most vocal and clung to her mommy.  The gifts are socks and I know my grands are always excited about getting them.  Trichelle had to get her kids gifts since it's their weekends with their daddy's. I got Kimleighel's for her since she had to go to the High School for a Dickens Festival that she had to sing and help with.

When Santa left the little ones got dressed to reenact the Nativity.  This year Parker got to be Joseph.  He looked so proud.  (we are short on boys this generation)  Mya was an angel, Kamryn was a shepherd, and Jordyn was a lamb.  The Nativity makes me smile every year.  I know the little ones love doing this.  I love it and I always remember back through the years when their parents were the ones doing it.  The Nativity is a favorite tradition of mine.  I can't imagine ever being tired of seeing the children act out the Christmas story!  I simply love all the children...they are all so sweet and cute.

It was a fun night.  It was wonderful having Wendy (Larry's cousin) and her hubby join us.  I am thankful for Christmas.  I am thankful for family traditions.  I am thankful for family.  I am thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for His example and life and for the love he showed to each of us through the atonement.  I am thankful that at this time of year the vast majority of the world acknowledges and praises Him....that's why it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Weekly Tidbits...This and That

*Sunday our family watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional and we invited the Sister Missionaries to join us.  We played some quick games of Christmas Bingo after.  I had bought a bunch of little gifts and a bunch of Candy Canes.  We played and let a few people win before we cleared off the cards.  It was fun and fast.  I wish we would have had more time.
*Monday I wrapped gifts all day and then treated myself to a pedicure before shopping with Larry.
*Tuesday morning I went to the temple and did 9 family names.(initiatory) I was able to do the last four because there weren't sisters waiting and I had time.  When I got through with the last four there were sisters waiting.  I love going to the temple.

I went visiting teaching and ended up going alone because Mindy had to catch a flight to Vegas to drive Kenzie home because she broke her arm.  I am really enjoying the change in visiting teaching.  I love my partner and the sisters I get to go visit.  I'm back to loving it. ☺

After visiting teaching Carla came and picked me up so I could go with her to buy a few gift cards.  We decided to go to lunch first since we were both hungry.  I love this girl and had a great time going with her.  She makes me feel so good.  I think we will be hanging out more often.

*Wed...I got the 12 days of Christmas tags ready and most the things bought to go with them.  We are doing the Sister Missionaries and Connor.  I really love doing this and so glad that Larry suggested it.  He told me that he hears the excitement in my voice when I talk about it.  I just have to say that it takes a lot of time getting it all ready! I spent quite a few hours Wed and Thurs getting things ready. But it worth it because I know it's going to "brighten" their Christmas.  I imagine being away from home at Christmas is hard and having your mom gone is even harder.  I hope this simple act of kindness helps make their Christmas better.

I went and visited Crystal in the Hospital.  My cute friend has had a rough year and got one more surgery in since she has reached her deductible.  I have missed Crystal this year and love her to pieces.  She has always been a wonderful friend to me. (she's family)
After visiting Crystal I met Mallory and Kathy for lunch so we could exchange gifts....we are going to meet again next Friday just because we want to. (Julie Dixon is joining us)  Funny Story....Mallory was telling us how she had left her car running when I met her at the Boutique to pay her for the piano.  Her key was in her pocket and she was sure that she had locked her door and she might have tried but these days the doors won't lock if the car is running or the keys are in it.  We were laughing and then Kathy noticed that she couldn't find her keys.  We joked and said they were probably in her car.  I needed to leave and when I went out I noticed her car was running....and it had been for 2 hours.  She didn't believe me when I called and told her...we met outside and laughed our guts out....I really thought I might pee my pants.  It was hilarious ... more so because we had just been talking about it.  I need to really be careful and check to make sure my car is off.
*Thursday I bowled and had a Christmas party with my fun book club. I also got my hair done and was over the activity for SNAP.  We talked about the meaning of the Candy Cane.  I read the story "The Legend of the Candy Cane" and then the gals made candy canes with beads and pipe cleaners.  They also made a fridge magnet with a clothespin so they could display "The Legend of the Candy Cane Poem" I had for them. We modge podged the clothespin with red/white striped paper. It was fun and when I got home I had two cute little grand babies waiting to play with me.  It was a fun filled day.

*Friday I went bowling and had a great day. I bowled a 450 series...my best for quite a while.

We took the sisters to lunch.  We went to LaFerrovia because it's our favorite...the sisters loved it too.  Larry had invited one of his friends to come too but his friend is avoiding the missionaries.  I told Larry he has tried and his friend can't say he wasn't asked....he's been asked plenty by Larry.  Larry ran with me to return the book I borrowed (about the candy cane) and then we went to Costco again because I forgot 2 of the 3 envelopes of pictures I ordered. (I went there after bowling and only got one...ugh)  I forget that they put different sizes in different envelopes.  We came home and wrapped the Twelve Days of Christmas gifts and a few others.  We got a lot done.

The Ward Larry is over had their Christmas Party early Saturday morning.  They served breakfast at 8:30...actually it was closer to 9:00 because not too many were there at 8:30.  My favorite part was listening to the cute primary kids sing Christmas songs.  I love both so much!    They had a few prizes for those that wore funny sweaters.  A cute little girls won for the kids but it was because she was so cute...no ugly sweater on her.  Bishop Foster (the last Bishop of the Ward) won for the adults.  His sweater had working lights...he wore a few big ornaments and had a large bow just above his bottom.  Hands down his was the best!  

As soon as breakfast was over we left to run a few gifts to some friends.  We stopped and bought flowers for Dave's grave. Saturday the 13th is Dave's "Angelversary".  Larry misses Dave so much...Dave truly was Larry's best friend.  We shed a few tears and then went to drop a gift off to Vicky.  We barely caught her before she left for SLC.  She had grands performing in the Dicken's Festival.  I'm glad we did see her and it was good to see that see was busy doing fun things.  I love Vicky so much...I admire her in every way.

When we were getting flowers for Dave, Larry noticed an arrangement in the back and asked if he could buy it.  It was a special order and he couldn't so he bought this one and added a few white roses so it looked similar to the other one....he bought it for me!  He  told the lady that it had been awhile since I had roses.  I told her it had only been a month...I'm spoiled!  They made it home safe but I didn't take another picture. I like this one any way...we had them seat belted to keep them safe. ☺

Book Club Christmas Party

I look forward to my Book Club Christmas Party every year.  We always have the best time and laughs.  The food is always super delicious.  We have some great cooks in this group.  I thought everything looked very festive.  Susan volunteered to have it at her house because she is going to sell it and is building another one east of here. (smaller with less property)  I told her she will need to have our Party at her house again next year since it will be a New House....she had told her siblings the same thing after having them over last week.  We had enough food for a dozen more people...we're not so good at figuring out how much to bring.

 The "White Elephant" gift exchange always makes me laugh.  This year I was laughing before anyone even had a gift.  We couldn't decide how to choose and when we thought we had it figured out we realized a few of us were on different pages...communicating wasn't happening.  We ended up drawing a number between 1 and 5.  We lined the presents up and called them 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.  Number one took 1 and so forth.  We opened them as we picked them.  We went around the group again after opening and number one could trade her gift for any of the others. Shanna loved the cookie jar she got and threatened us not to steal it.  I was number 4 and so far no one had traded.  Suzie was holding a Elvis Presley mug and I knew Susan (who had number 5) wanted to trade it.  If she did Suzie would end up with the gift she brought and so I traded Suzie.  I gave her the cute "kotex slippers" I had got for the Elvis mug.  Susan then traded me for the mug and I got a video "Grandma got ran over by a Reindeer" and a cute reindeer candy thing that Suzie had brought.  Kathy got the Santa Apron and cook book I brought and Shanna did get to keep the cookie jar that Kathy had brought.  I always enjoy seeing what others come up with for their gifts.  We exchanged friend gifts with each other too.  I gave everyone ear muffs and gloves because I know it's going to get cold. (we are enjoying temps over 50 right now...unheard of...in fact Susan's son went boating this week and her grands wake boarded...crazy!) Susan gave us cute salt and pepper shakers.  Shanna gave us all a book.  Suzie had scarfs for each of us and a shower gel.  Kathy had a cute little book that you scratched to discover an activity to do during the Holidays and she also gave us a cute Nativity ornament.  We all laughed because the price tag covered the back of the ornament and was still on each one. ☺

This is a favorite tradition of mine.  We missed Loretta who is serving a mission but we didn't forget her....she was remembered in our conversations.  I love this group of ladies...we're all so different but mesh together rather well.

Weekly Tidbits

Connor knew that we needed him to come help us with our tree.  He likes coming over to our house and I enjoy having him here.  Connor gave me a hug and then told us that he could feel his heart pumping. ☺  Larry thought that was so funny.  I asked Connor why he thought that was and he said: "Because I love you and Larry and Jared."  We love Connor too!  We love having him over and he was a great help....I need to finish it. (wink)

Justin and Parker came over to cut out Parker and Mya's pinewood derby cars.  I got a text later Friday night saying that Parker beat everyone and was one proud little boy.  He painted his car black because it was a batman car and he put the wheels on his self.  He only got help with cutting it out.  What a great daddy Justin is to let Parker do most of the work.  I'm happy his car was the fastest.  It looked really good too.  He showed me on Wednesday at Jared's piano lessons.

I got up early on Tuesday and went to the Temple with Kelsi.  Our Bishop challenged us to all go to the Temple until it was a sacrifice.  I need to go more and so I took him up on it.  I was going to go on Wednesday but when Kelsi said she had Tuesday off and was going to go I decided I would go then too.  I love the Temple...it shouldn't be a sacrifice!

My dad's birthday was Wednesday.  I made his favorite pie (Rocky Road) and took it to my mom's.  My sister came too and so we all enjoyed daddy's favorite treat.  We shed a few tears remembering in past years we took him pie but he was the one that ate it.  I could feel him close by....I sure do miss his presence.  I often think I can't wait to get to Heaven but when I do I will probably miss those that are still here.  I guess missing someone is a quality of the Love we share.

Kimleighel had her dance recital. Our ward had it's Christmas Gathering. (we missed it because of Kimleighel's dance)  

Jared went to Connor's. Connor is talking about having Jared and Larry baptize him.  He's a little afraid of sinking and so he wants more than one in the font with him.  I think it will be great.  Once Connor is baptized I can take him to the Temple with us.  Connor Loves Jared!  Connor is a Favorite of ours!

On Thursday for SNAP Virginia gave a really good lesson.  She talked about the symbols of Christmas.  She had the meanings posted and taped to the walls.  She also had the pictures on the wall and the girls had to match them up.  The girls enjoyed it.  She read this cute, simple book.  I loved it so much I ordered one for my kids.  We played Christmas Bingo the rest of the time...it was a wonderful night!

Friday Night the Stake Presidency had a social for the leaders.  The Tenney's hosted it and it was fun.  We had a great dinner and then played a few games.  Larry and I were over the games but I told Larry that since I was making a dessert for the party he could do the games.  We were both a little shocked that we were asked since Larry has been known to give President Tenney and his cute wife whipping cream a time or two. (you know...for their dessert)  Larry googled "clean" adult games and came up with a few.  We had everyone get in 5 different groups so they could work together.  The first game we had five different kinds of baby food and the teams had to try them and guess exactly what they were.  It was fun watching and listening to the teams.  The best team got 3 out of the five.  (squash, carrots, green beans, applesauce, apple/strawberry/banana)  The next game each team was given 3-4 rolls of toilet paper and some masking tape and they had to dress up a team member into an animal or whatever they thought the other teams could guess.  I thought they were all very clever and did a great job.  Everyone had a great time!  The games turned out to be pretty fun and easy! It was a fun night.

We have a new tradition....helping my mom make Christmas Cards.  Shelli got a kit for her last year and it was so fun that my mom asked Shelli to get another kit for this year.  It really is pretty fun working together and creating cute cards without thinking too much.  Kimi and Jared came too but didn't help with the cards.  I'm glad they did though just to make memories of being at my mom's.

Mal and Glen have made it 30 years together.  Their kids threw them a surprise party to celebrate.  It was fun seeing all the kids and being there among the Toomer friends and family.  I love Mal and Glen and their family...they are like family to me.

Sista Party

This year Carla hosted our Sista's Christmas Party.  She is a great hostess and has everything perfect.  I love this crazy group of ladies...they make me smile!  I love being silly with them and I think most of them love being silly with the rest of us.  I of course brought a few props to make the pictures sillier.  I have so many I might as well use them when I remember right?  Today was also the "Angelversary" for Tyson..Jodi's son.  It hit me hard this year and I was really glad that Jodi came to the party to be with us all.  Jodi is such a remarkable lady...I admire the crud out of her!  Life goes on even when we are not whole...we can smile when we want to cry...we can laugh even though we're sad...we can enjoy although we are broken...we are so much more than we sometimes realize!

Carla made yummy chicken and rice with gravy.  I think she must also of been the one who made the relish tray.  She asked the rest of us to bring treats to share with everyone.  We had plenty of good eats.  

We got silly and every now and then we decided to just be cute. ☺  I always enjoy looking at our pictures because they make me smile all over again.

We had a gift exchange and Carla decided since she was the Hostess she should hand out the gifts.  It is always fun to see what others bring.  It is always fun to go home with something else.  I thought the gift Patty brought was clever....a BIG Peppermint Patty from Patty.  I thought the gift Jolene brought was the most thoughtful and it was given to Jodi which I thought was perfect.  It was a darling Nativity picture with a poem that Jolene wrote...very fitting today.  The other gifts were wonderful, yummy and cute!

 I played around with some Christmas Frames and a few of my favorite pictures.  Friends must certainly be a "symbol" of Christmas because they add so much to this wonderful season.

 I'm glad that when we said be silly I wasn't the only one being silly.  They all crack me up!

a few more just because...

I love love love this time of the year!  It really is the most wonderful!

Celebrating Susan

I wanted to take Susan to lunch for her birthday this year and so we went a day early since she works in the Temple on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  I was happy that she agreed and that Kathy was able to join us.  We have so many fun memories together.  I have learned so much from these two and I love them to pieces.  They are both so talented.

While we were eating I got a text from Kimleighel saying that Fremont High was on Lock-down because there was a gunman at the school.  There was a 16 year old with a gun and they weren't sure if there were more.  The swat team and police had the place covered...there were even snipers on the roof.  Every student had to be patted down and my kids though that was strange.  It all turned out okay but sure changed the mood of our lunch.  Maybe we didn't laugh as much as usual but we still enjoyed each other and celebrated Susan!