Christmas for Mom and Dad

This was a very weird way to spend Christmas and I do not recommend it to anyone.
The good part was that we drove out to Oakley and spent time with Shaunika and Jason and Samantha, Alison and Jacob for Christmas Eve.
When we came home we made sure that my suitcase was packed and we went to bed. Santa came while we were sleeping and left us a few items. I think if we had not needed to get up and going for the morning flight we might have slept in and enjoyed a leisurely day.

But no,we got up, at breakfast,and opened gifts. I got exactly what I asked for: a tall white bookshelf for the small room upstairs, a new DVD/VHS player, and a Wilton Chocolate melter. Kirt wasn't that impressed with what he got- a hot pink travel alarm(pink so that it doesn't get lost in his drawer, so he will remember to take it when he travels on business), and a Cuisinart ice cream maker and book of recipes. (I thought since he likes to have people over for ice cream that would combine the best of both worlds...the verdict is still out whether we will keep it or not)He also got a new rake- he asked for that, and actually picked it out.

We reweighed my luggage and made some changes then drove me to the Sacramento Airport. I flew to SLC and was supposed to have a short lay-over and then on to Twin Falls by 6:00. Weather was not good, and there was problems with the airplane so they had to get a different one- consequently, I didn't arrive in Twin Falls until about 10 pm- or maybe it just felt like it. Craig picked me up, Judy had gone to bed, but Shana was still up. I ended up sleeping there for a few days until Carol left at GG's, then I went over there and vacuumed, cleaned, etc. etc. and then stayed there until I came home on the 5th of January at about 11pm.

Christmas 2010

The year will be a bit different for many of us. Dad and I will spend most of the holidays apart. I will fly to Twin Falls on Christmas Day to spend 11 days with GG. Kirt will go to Las Vegas to spend some time with Merika.

More to report later...

New Directions for this Blog

I would like to change this blog a bit- let's just use it to post our thoughts and activities and lots of pictures to share that will highlight our Christmas activities.

Throughout the year it will not have any activity, but there could be a flurry of pictures and posts starting each December.

Any Christmas recipes can be posted on the "Let's Stout Cookin'" recipe blog, and crafts on the "Fun with Grandma and Grandpa" blog.

I hope you will all have an enjoyable Christmas season and will share it with each other through this technology.

A time for family..

Christmas is a special time for us all. It is a time when we want to get together with family and share special moments. Unfortunately,there have been many times when it has been impossible to visit and spend that special time. Usually it is the distance and all that goes along with that that makes it an impossibility.

Hopefully, we can use the venue to share the special recipes and traditions that make our Christmas' special. That way, we will have the opportunity to make that wonderful salad, or dip, or breakfast casserole that we loved- even if it was a recipe from another family member who could not be with us this time. And they, in turn, can follow some of our traditions with their family, even if they cannot be with us this year.

In 2009, we had the opportunity to visit family in Utah. It had been a long time since all six of our children were able to get together with their siblings. More about this to come...