20 Things that Happened during the Holidays....

1- My brother Jeff was here for the Holidays. Our family played all week.

2- My sister in law game me a flu shot on Christmas eve.. right before we ate dinner. Awesome.

3- I saw It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street for the first time.

4- I think "It's a Wonderful Life" is one of my new favorite Christmas movies.

5- Santa came to our House. He spoiled the kids with Pogo Sticks... Pillow Pets.. Legos... Wii games and almost everything Toy Story ever made.

6-Chad was spoiled with a Fancy remote Helicopter ( boys and their toys.. ) and Starcraft.

7- I finally have a Pink Snuggie.

8- We had yummy breakfast with Chad's family Christmas Morning.

9- We had Christmas Dinner with my Family at my home.

10- We have played 23 Different Board games since Christmas Day.

11- We have watched 8 different Christmas movies.

12- We have had so many sweets and goodies... they don't look appetizing anymore.

13- My Christmas Card doors are full.. and so is my heart. Thank you much.

14- My parents surprised me with a FABULOUS Christmas gift.. but it has a story.. and it will be posted in the New Year. It rhymes with Randalier.

15- My Dad has been Healthy and Happy. He had a scan this week and results will come in January.

16- We have been laughing and happy much.

17- Chad had to go back to work on Monday.. so I have been crazy busy Organizing.. De-junking.. and I am on fire with it! Bring on January! Lots of exciting things to come!

18- Favorite Wii game right now.. Just Dance.

19- Lots of Parties ( posts to come )

20- Lots of Gratitude for all that I have.


Today I am Grateful for:
Life. Health. Joy. Happiness. Hope. Faith. A fresh Start. A New Year.

Christmas Happy Things

Tis the Season to be busy....

Every year I think -- this is the year I am going to be done with Christmas shopping.. and cards.. and decorating by Thanksgiving weekend. HA! I am pretty sure I need an easier goal.

This week I have been thinking about ALL of the reasons I love Christmas.

All of the reasons I love December.. and then I felt grateful.

Since it's almost the end of the month.. why not share some gratitude happy things?

Happy for my new little pink house.

Every year I get a new Christmas Decoration.. and this year when Victorian Trading Company tempted me with their goodly catalog.. I kept going back to the picture of this house. I wanted it.

Although I like most things in the catalog.. this little pink house kept coming back to my mind daily.

I was a little nervous as it was more than I usually spend... but for some reason.. I didn't care about the price. I just had visions of this pink house dancing in my head. :)

What a good husband I have! Not only did he not even question my pink purchase.. I also ordered 3 other things for me! What??? yes.. I went overboard.

I also LOVED this cute little red tin. If you read my blog much.. or know me in the real life.. you know my love for all things vintage.. and my love for homemade Sugar cookies.

So.. can you see why I needed this tin? The end.

I love Christmas thrifting.

I LOVE the weeks right before/after Christmas when everyone de-junks their Christmas stuff! I pick through mounds of junk and find little treasures like this white vintage spray.

~ And for $1... Sold!

I am grateful I am done shopping.

So grateful as almost each time I have shopped this year.. I purchase something for me too.

I have been so selfish..

Remember the buy ONE item?

Well.. I heard a rumor that I may have purchased something on MANY shopping trips for me.

How can I refuse this darling Angel plaque? I Couldn't.

I don't find a lot of things my style in stores.. so when I do.. I like to buy it!

We went to pay at one store.. and Chad said " I hope those gifts are for OTHER people.. "

hahahaha... they were.. all but 2.

I am grateful my neighbor/friend gifts are all delivered!!

This year.. I decided to give vintage dishes with candy inside. I took a picture before I wrapped them up in cellophane.. but it was fun looking through them and trying to put a style to each of my friends. They may not care for them.. but then I can just re-buy them at DI in a few weeks.. right?

Selfish again.

~ And how fun is it to come home and find goodies on your porch... or know that the door bell is usually someone we LOVE to see?

Once again.. I LOVE this time of year!

I am Grateful for thoughtful friends...

I dropped off a gift today at my friend Kris's house.. and she told me to come in.. she had a box for me. She was cleaning out her Grandmothers home.. and saved this box from going to the thrift store just for me! It made my afternoon!! I love when people think of me when they see old things.. and put them aside. I love the dishes.. and will show more in later posts!

Thankful to Angela and Kristen who have also done this in the past...

I am grateful for early Christmas presents

I heard of Mindy Gledhill through the NieNie Dialogues blog.. and enjoyed some of her songs.

I saw a post on Facebook last Friday saying that if you purchased both of her Cd's by Monday night.. she would sign the Cd's..wrap them personally-- and they would be delivered before Christmas.

Good price.. Good deal... quick shipping.

I have been listening to Anchor all day.. and I just love her voice!

I am grateful for Christmas Cards.

Good old-fashioned cards that come in the snail mail.

Do you see your card? If you sent one.. it's up here.. or my other door.

I love to walk by my 2 doors and see many people I love as I walk down the hall.

I look forward to putting the pictures on my fridge for this next year!

I sent 197 cards. We ordered 200.

59 of them through the mail... and the rest delivered.

I send them.. because I know how happy it makes me to get them from others.

Getting the mail in December is happy. Reading letters and looking at how much people have changed in a year is fun. I would never be cheap in this area.. because it means so much to me!

Even though this tradition is fading away... I will carry it on!!

( even though it almost didn't happen this year... because I was late. Chad had to order them. )

Happy time is being home with Mary Caroline.

She was REALLY demanding my attention today.. and I REALLY needed to clean.

She won. We played house.

We had dinner with my doll Amy ( Suzanne and Cathy loathe ) fed the babies.. took Scooby Doo for a walk in the pretend Garden.. and I pretended I was the little girl.. and Mary was the Mommy.

It was quite the thing to watch how much she copied even the little things I do.

My favorite part was when I had her tuck me in and give me kisses for bed. :)

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I am grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for this time of year that we celebrate his birth.

I am grateful for the hymns we sing .. nativity's on display... and service we give.

I am grateful for those that have blessed me.. and my family this past year with love and friendship.

I am grateful for prayers.. and for my family.

I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

May you all find much to be grateful for.

Today I am GRATEFUL for:

Angela. -- Your little notes and e-mails urging me to post on my blog have made my days many times. Thank you for being so kind.

Jeff is here with us! It feels good.

Family Testimony meeting tonight..

Hard moments that we get through.

My little pink house. Did I already say that? Don't judge.

There is sunshine in my soul today....

This past week I have found myself sitting alone in the living room many times.

It is dark.

The only light is from the Christmas tree and banister... and the light is radiant.

It is quiet. It is calm.

I feel blessed. I feel content.

I have a beautiful family.

I love the Gospel. I have a testimony.

I have my health. I have wonderful friends.

My Dad is good for the moment.

I thought about each of the blessings I have witnessed this past week.. and my heart is full.

Grateful for friends answered prayers.

Grateful for comfort from the Lord.

Many other things I also felt to be small miracles this past weekend.....

We have had FOG and inversion this weekend.

It is quite dreary to be outside.. and breath the sickly air... but today as I walked out of church.. there was sunshine for a few hours...

My Christian is feeling better.

What we thought was Stomach flu in our house.. ended up being Strep. :(

Poor Christian was hit the hardest... and so very sick. There were nights that he went without dinner and just wanted to sleep 15+ hours.

I found myself worried and on my knees many times hoping for this boy to get well.

I am so grateful for answered prayers.

I had my hair done on Saturday Morning!

This IS a miracle.. as it takes such a long time to get into my cute hairdresser.

She's kinda popular.. and when I had to cancel last week because of the sickness at our house.. I knew my hair would be hideous and only hat-worthy for the next 4 weeks.

My cousin Kelly had a cancellation and chose for me to come in. I am VERY thankful. :)

We made it through/to the Festival of Trees on a Saturday.

Can we say C-R-A-Z-Y?

We found a parking space! If you were there.. you understand this.

Tenney's Irish Dance Group was very cute!

My Dad is officially retired.

It was fun to get together Saturday night.. eat good food..talk and listen to Chris read many tributes written to my Dad from friends and family.

Each day we have together is a miracle.

Black Friday Sales and Chad's giving heart made it possible for me to have my Christmas present early. No more blinds behind the tree!!! WOOT!

I HAVE CURTAINS!

We could only afford to do 2 out of the 4 windows.. but I am IN LOVE.

It's a miracle to me.. that I have been able to decorate with the style I enjoy.. in a thrifty way.

It's a sacrifice to only have one income.. and I feel truly blessed as I sit and ponder the blessings I have. -- Even the material "things".... the beautiful things that surround me.. are blessings that I do not take for granted. I am not wealthy... but yet I feel very richly blessed each day.

What Miracles have you had this weekend?

Today I am Grateful for:

Antibiotics. Insurance. Lunch and shopping with Megan. Sunday Dinner at Mom's. Long Hugs.

Catch up and a Light Gun

Thursday~
Thanksgiving was good this year.
We ate at Chad's parents.. ate yummy food.. and they went the extra mile to even have "hearts of palm" ( a little treat my family always has on special occasions ) and baked some leftover pie crust sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. ( My favorite!)
I was so happy with the yams, stuffing and Raspberry Pretzel Jello salad... I seriously didn't care if there was Turkey or not this year.

Started Decorating the House for Christmas.

Friday~
More decorating. ( It usually takes me 4 days )
played games and watched movies.
Our family went and saw "Tangled" (Go see it! LOVED it!)
Bought one of my Christmas presents on Black Friday! ( post to come later )

Saturday~ I made German Pancakes while Chad worked on my present coming together.
Set up the Christmas tree.
Made Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad for Wright family Christmas party. ( yes.. first party )
Wright family party
Ate at Brick Oven in Layton with Chris and Danielle

Sunday~
Church.
Lunch.
Games.
Finish Decorating the Tree.
Read.
Get the kids ready for bed.
10:00 - Mary Throws up.
2:00 a.m. Christian is up to throw up.

Monday~
Sick kids.
10 loads of laundry.
Clorox the House.
Visiting Teaching.
Lunch.
Pick up paycheck from Home again.
Shovel the driveway.
More laundry.
Clean.
Finish Decorating.
My Dad and Uncle Layne turn 62 today. We had to miss the party because of sick kids..

Tuesday~

Kids are better. :)

Take kids to school.

I am sick.

Cancelled Hair appointment ( sadness )

Clean the kitchen.

Put away Christmas boxes.

Nap.

Pick up kids.

Homework.

Run Christian to church class party.

Chad makes pancakes for Dinner.

I Change the bed sheets.

10 more loads of laundry.

I clean while Chad shampoos barfy carpets.

Clorox house.

Shower.

Fall into bed.

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I have had NO time to read blogs.. or to post.

When your the Mom.. you don't even have time to be sick.

All is FINALLY well here for now. ( crosses fingers )

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I also have to share about a fun new "Toy" Chad bought.

He came home from Walgreen's 3 weeks ago with this new gun.

I bet they make these shaped like a gun JUST for our Boys

that love anything in the shape of a gun.

We both were not sure how fabulous this would be.. and decided we would try it out.. and if it didn't work.. we would just take it back. -- No harm done right?

Well.. a few weeks ago... Chad was putting up the Christmas lights on the house ( before the wicked storms ) and he came running in the house

" Ann! Ann! Come quick! QUICK! ( You would think the house was on fire! )

So.. I went outside.. and Chad was up on the ladder checking each light strand with the gun.

"ISN'T THIS SOO COOL?!" WATCH!!!

~ And yes... the gun detected each burned out bulb in the strand with it's magical powers.

Cool..... but not as cool as Chad thought.

So.... this handy little gun has INDEED met HIS ( OUR ) expectations.

Even our pre-lit Christmas tree was fixed.

I have a pretty tree...

A happy Husband..

and a Christmas lit house. :)

Thank you " Light keeper pro." ( A mans BFF )

Today I am Grateful for:

Clorox wipes. Health. Real food that doesn't include the b.r.a.t diet. Chad's help. Sleep.