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

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

a tale of two parties

 It was a party filled weekend!

Saturday night was the blogger mom's Christmas dinner... I brought this cake.

It was so fun to make, but didn't taste that great-- it was just okay. Maybe I was just so full by the time dessert rolled around? We had the most delicious chicken, ham, potatoes... loads of appetizers, salad... Anyhow- it's a 5 layer cake. Three vanilla cake layers with two peppermint cheesecake layers in between. The frosting is whipped cream & white chocolate. It is also quite droopy--- thanks to Trent ramming into it on the way into Wende's house. That just about put me over the edge- geesh!

You can see the recipe here!

 Friday night~ was our ward Christmas party/dinner.

 It was so, so fun! For real the funnest Christmas party ever.

We brought "alms" for the poor (food bank donations) then received money for the Bethlehem bistro. We dressed up & the kids sang songs. The Nativity was reenacted. We traded our money (bags of pennies for food & sat on the floor on blankets to eat & socialize. It was awesome.

Sunday we ate dinner with Brittany, Brittany, Marcus & Johnny- I forgot to take pictures... bummer.

Great weekend.

I've gotta admit- I am loving this Christmas season- and feel so blessed to have so many friends & family to share it with.

5 minutes

I only have 5 minutes before I have to leave.
1. I have realized-- thanks to Beth's comment on my last post-- that I am so happy NOT having to go Brett's company Christmas party/dinner! One great thing about being laid off from that company!
2. man I hate those.
3. it's cold here
4. but I still put my make up on with a fan pointed at me.
5. I'm always HOT
6. glad the wind is gone
7. I bought & wrapped so many presents yesterday!!! woo hooo!
8. Double woo- hoo-- because so far I have stayed (strongly) in the Christmas budget.
9. Knowing I have work keeps me busy getting things done.
10. Have a GREAT day!

11. what do YOU want for Christmas?
12. soon I will make my Christmas favorite list!!!!

Trent's Christmas list

Dear Santa,
For Chirstmas this year I want a dell laptop, Ipad, Nintedo 3DS, a TV, train set, Ipod touch, beyblade lightning L'Drago, Iphone, Lego Harry Potter Hogworth's castle, Ihome, headphones, guitar, new blue tooth like the one my dad had, and a drumset.

and I want these things on Christmas day.

from: Trent

Maybe we should send Trent on a mission?

RIGHT AWAY!!!