missionary jack's last call

Latter Day Saint (LDS) missionaries only get to call home a couple of times while on their missions. I didn't understand this rule... until Megan went to Ecuador to work in an orphanage one summer. I won't go into my "phone call theory" right now... but I do agree this is a good idea. EASIER SAID THAN DONE-- but better for everyone in the long run for many reasons. Anyhow--- HOORAY for Christmas Day because we got to talk to Jack!!!

It was glorious.

I have to say-- that I started bawling hysterically & couldn't stop about 1/2 hour before the call. I had tried really hard not to think about the phone call for so long that all of the sudden- I just broke & I was so excited! As soon as I heard his voice... I was fine. He sounded just like Jack. He sounded good. He has a bit of an accent (cute) and--- he is in full on missionary mode- hasn't thought once about coming home. I had to remind him that he does have to make some plans for coming home... college plans etc. He will be going back to BYU of course, but housing - jobs - etc. I'm glad he is not thinking about it- it will come soon enough. Still I needed to know a couple of things to help him be ready for the transition back to regular life. bummer for him - awesome for us.

So-- guess what?

Jack comes home in exactly 95 days.

CaN YOU BElieVe iT?

He will be home right smack in the middle of spring break. Plus Megan, Tony & the boys will be here. I am so excited for this week--- I can't even describe it. Also- everyone will be home for Easter. EVERYONE will be home for Easter 2012. Oh gosh- I can't think of anything I would enjoy more.

BRING ON 2012



Christmas post... finally!

On Christmas morning....

I couldn't find my IPhone- this is NOT a good thing. I am absolutely in love with that phone & can hardly exist without it. The kids were stuck on the stairs... couldn't come down... with out a photo! My camera battery is long dead- hello? I almost never use it anymore since I was given the best. gift. ever. my IPhone. So- we decided to use Brian's IPhone to take pictures. I KNEW this was a mistake- he still hasn't given me the pictures. He thinks it's ridiculous that I took 75 pictures with his phone-- until I was given my new IPhone 4Gs! These pictures are from that. Poor Brian was up half the night switching over all my info/pictures/etc. from the old phone to the new phone. sorry bri- sorry I had a big fat fit & couldn't sleep without my iphone & you had to wait until I was asleep to steal it out of my obsessive control. YEs-- I really love my IPhone.

So- these are all the pictures I've got. This is it.

Here are a few (hopefully I will get more soon wink wink) pictures from Christmas.

 the mess

 getting ready to leave for sacrament meeting

 Hailey is the accompanist for the choir so she practiced a minute before we left. I am so proud!

 Chloe is a BIG fan & she got Martha Stewart's new Entertaining book-- a signed copy!!!

It was a GREAT morning- we were up by 5:00. We were not rushed to get to 11:00 church in time & I loved having Christmas day on a Sunday- it was beautiful.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

Christmas was wonderful at our house!!!

I hope it was at yours too?

On Christmas Eve early afternoon we all went to see this movie.

WE LOVED IT!

Our town has a new movie theater & boy golly is it FaNCy!

This is a picture of Trent by the cool new age pop machine-- it's hard to see in the photo-- but it really is cool.

There is all kinds of food to purchase & take into the movie... the seats are those high ones that rock... wow. Super fun.

We got popcorn & drinks & opted to eat lunch after the movie. We went out for burgers & fries & had a ball. 

The girls & Brett did some last minute shopping while I did some last minute wrapping!

Then we all met back up for our traditional --Hoagies & Floats-- Christmas Eve dinner.

Trent wouldn't even come to the table.

He was busy tracking Santa on Norad... he was giving us updates constantly through the night.

He was also begging us to open his traditional one present.

oh boy

We were waiting for Brian & Laura to come over.. and it was painful.

but--

worth it!

We love, Love, LOVE having them close enough to be here on a regular basis.



Sure enough everyone got pj's for Christmas.

It was a fun day & a long night...

more to come.

merry christmas

I am taking a break from wrapping presents & getting ready for our Christmas Eve traditional hoagie dinner to say~

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thank you to all my friends & family for your love & support of this little blog. It is a joy to look back through & see the good times in my life.
This Christmas I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. For His birth, His life, & His atonement. I love Him. I am thankful to know that He is my brother & He is on my side.

I am also thankful for my husband & six children-- they are the joy of my life.
Oh how I wish we were all together on this special day-- but it's okay, that's what Heaven is going to be all about!

I am also thankful for my missionary. Who comes home in just over 100 days. (YES You better believe I am counting the days- no I don't tell him that, although I'm sure he knows.) Tomorrow- Christmas Day 2011- will be his third & last call home from Brazil. The next time I hear his voice it will be in person. I cannot wait to wrap my arms around him & kiss him on the face. It will be one of the best weeks in my life- as all my children will be home to celebrate Easter (and those two beautiful grand baby's of mine!!)
I remember when he left- two years seemed so far away- and yet, here we are.

NO- life here is not perfect-- I leave a lot of those details out. But, YES- life here is good.

again~
Merry Christmas
May the light of Christ our Lord bless your life as it has mine.

Love,
Patsy

wordless wednesday

cookie exchange

Earlier this month Brett asked me what I wanted for Christmas...

what I really wanted.

I told him I wanted the time to do all the things I wanted to do~ without being tired.

 He replied ~ "you want meth for Christmas?"

No-- I did not want meth for Christmas.

I decided that I really wanted to make time to do a couple of things-

#1 being a cookie exchange.

So- I did just that. Yesterday I had a Christmas cookie exchange & it was DELightFUL!

 I made Ina's Shortbread & dipped it in chocolate & crushed peppermint.

 It's a wonderful recipe. I didn't worry about over mixing it & it turned out just great. I think it needs to be mixed & kneaded a bit more than the recipe calls for. Don't get me wrong-- I'm NOT criticizing Ina-- oh no, I am not. I just live in a very dry state & I think that the humidity or lack there of in a recipe can be damaging. So these needed to be kneaded a bit- if you know what I mean?

 There were six of us friends- ya, I didn't take a single photo of people.

 Just cookies

- my priorities are obviously out of whack.

We tasted, had hot cocoa, visited & swapped!

Tonight for Family Night we will be delivering.

YUM

I'm so glad I did it- I did one of the things on my list that would make this Christmas special & memorable to me. Nice.

The rest of my list:

2. invite my favorite little kiddos over to decorate cookies.

3. send all my packages early (done)

4. go to a movie with my kids

5. have a Christmas family night (done)

6. decorate the house (done)

7. put together & set up the Christmas/winter bedding I bought with the Christmas money my parents sent me- (thanks mom & dad- done)

8. roast the turkey breast that is in the freezer & make a turkey dinner (done)

Oh I'm sure there is more but I am drawing a blank right now.

What is on your list?

Will you get it done?

christmas concert

Our last sixth grader...

wow

Trent's 6th grade Christmas concert was last Friday.

It was DARLING!!

He did it! He sang, he danced along & did all the motions.. I loved it.

Our guy is growing up~

Great Job Trent!