Pre- Ice Storm

Monday morning - Jere is on his way to Boston so we're up early and head out the door to the airport. Skies are a little cloudy but the temp is mild. It's going to be a busy day, first teaching at the Institute, then preparation for Bishop's Family Home Evening, and then FHE which includes the lesson, treats, and game playing until everyone decides they've had enough. At the Institute someone casually asks if I am ready for the ice storm. "Ice storm, hmmmmm, I haven't even heard about an ice storm!" And then to myself I think about all of the times that the weather forcast has not even been close to right. Monday afternoon I start making cupcakes, 72 but who is counting?, and straightening the house. After a while the phone calls and texts start. "Are we really going to have Family Home Evening tonight?" A glance out the window doesn't convince me that we should cancel, it's cloudy now but nothing is going on. Brother Sallings, a counselor in the Bishopric who is also a teacher, informs me that the schools have all dismissed early and wonders if cancelling might not be a good idea. The thing is that we lived in Minnesota for too many years to let a little weather get in the way of other plans. Here kids don't go out for recess when the temp drops to 40, there it has to be 40 below zero before the kids get a break!! Not sure, not sure, not sure. What to do, what to do, what to do???? The big deciding factor is that I don't want to be responsible for any accidents or worse. Okay, okay, okay - we'll cancel (in the back of my mind are 72 cupcakes and just what I'm going to look like if I end up eating all of them!).

And then it starts to rain!!!

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Resolution - Clean Fridge

I know that cleaning the fridge isn't exactly a New Year's Resolution but I'm going to count it as one anyway. It just makes me feel good to have accomplished two resolutions and it's only Jan. 22!!

Doesn't it look nice? Took me two hours! So after I finished I started thinking about the contents.

We have regular things, the ones that everyone has: milk, eggs, butter, cheese, lunch meat, orange juice, etc. Then there are the things that - well, just make me wonder if we're weird or what!

Following is a list of the items that I think might be more unusual. And on top of that they take up an inordinate amount of space. (It would be interested in snooping in some other fridges just for comparison sake!)

Salad Dressing - 6 (Notice there is nothing like Ranch or Italian although those will probably show up sooner or later.)

Raspberry & Walnut Vinaigrette
Honey Mustard
Cafe Rio Knock-Off Delicious Dressing
Blush Wine Vinaigrette
Poppy Seed
Sesame Ginger

Mustard - 5 (are you kidding?)

Plain old yellow mustard
Dijonaisse - does that count? to me it does!
Dijon
Cranberry Mustard
Mustard with Horseradish

Barbeque Sauce - 3 (enough said)

Pickles or Pickled Items - 5 (I'm not a pickle fan so I don't even eat these with the exception of the sweet pickles and then I'm the only one who will eat those but I don't eat them often, maybe one or two on Thanksgiving so for all I know these sweet pickles could be years old) (Now that I think about it perhaps we should all rub vinegar into our skin for a preserved appearance!)

Sweet Midgets
Baby Kosher Dills
Pepperoncinis
Hot Chile Peppers
Spicy Beans - South Lousiana Style

Hot Sauces - 4 (I don't like hot food, but we have these mostly because Craig loves hot food and he either invests in hot sauces when he visits or we buy them for him but he didn't take them back to Utah with him so now there we go!)

Tobasco - okay it's a standard but it's still going on the list
Cholula
Spiracha Hot Chili Sauce

and drrrrrrruuuuuuummmmmm rrrrroooooolllllll pllllllleeeeeaaaaassssseeeee!!!!!

Crazy Jerry's Brain Damage Mind Blowing Hot Sauce

And now for the really weird thing, I'm still wondering about this one, it's not that it's so weird in and of itself it's just that we have so much of it and so many different kinds!!!

Bread - 9

Plain Old White - left over from Christmas because someone thought the boys would prefer it to other more healthy bread - wrongo bongo!! Score a big one for mom teaching the boys that whole wheat bread is the best!!
Spinach Pesto *
Sundried Tomato Herb *
Cranberry Pecan *
Cinnamon Apple *
Pumpernickle
Cocktail Sour Dough
Cheddar
Tuscan

*I buy these at a special bread bakery, it's absolutely fantastic and the price is also fantastic - as in high. These four kinds of bread represent about $20 - $25 give or take some small change. Well worth it in my book!!

and

2 ready made pizza crusts

and

Sundried tomato Basil Wraps - 1 pkg.
Garden Spinach Herb Wraps - 1 pkg.

So if any one should stop me on the street and say, "Got any bread man?" I could truthfully answer, "Oh yes, do I have bread!"

New Year's Resolutions

Thought I'd try a new way of making resolutions - backing into them so to speak. So one day I took out my card and thought I really should cancel this and then cut up the card. But after I had done it I thought, this would be a great New Year's Resolution. So Res. #1 - cancel and then cut up a credit card. Done and done. Now wasn't that easy!! Hmmmmm - what can I do next!!

And a Good Time was had by ALL

It was just wonderful Christmas - what else can I say. Fun, games, laughing, two dogs fighting, I can't think of anything better! Oh did I mention food?

Christmas

What a beautiful, peaceful time of the year!! Surrounded by friends and family, with nothing but peace and joy and love everywhere. Wait a minute, can that be true?

We weren't exactly surrounded by friends and family. Here we are in Arkansas so friends are largely missing. We were surrounded by Christmas cards from friends and loved reading those and catching up on what we have missed during the past year. And family - the truth is not everyone could be with us. We were so happy to have Craig, Chris, Sean and Marc with us. We laughed and talked and played games and ate and loved every minute of being together. We missed so much having Matt and Rhett and Adrianne and Kate, Brooke, and Campbell here. Can it be a wonderful time and a little empty at the same time?

And what about peace joy and love everywhere? Well with 4 big men added to the house, peace isn't exactly what we were feeling. But as Craig would say, "that's okay!" Peace was replaced with energy, fun, wrestling, teasing, and noise and it was so great!! I loved it. Joy - well, there was so much joy. The joy I felt picking up Chris in Tulsa and having him all to myself for a couple of days, dad was gone on business. I took Bear with me and he did his usual howl/bark thing when he saw Chris and then literally danced around with excitement. The next arrival was Morgan and I have to admit, she adds a wonderful sparkle and energy. This time it was Chris who was dancing with excitement. I didn't go to the airport with him so I'm not sure if he did the howl/bark thing that Bear is known for. That might be more than a little embarrassing!! I might add that it was the trip from you know where for Morgan - a combination of ticket problems, and flight delays kept her from arriving in Tulsa until well after midnight. What a trooper!!

Then on Sunday, much to my total surprise, Craig arrived - he told me he wasn't going to leave Provo until Monday. The doorbell rang and I, thinking it was our home teachers, casually opened the door to find a sunglassed guy in a red turtleneck and a skimpy and ugly white sweater serenading me with his guitar. (His choice for the ugly sweater contest in his Provo Ward.) What a joy to see him. He hadn't told me he was leaving early to spare me from worry. Again Bear danced with joy and I hugged and hugged Craig. He was able to trick his dad a little later. Although he had driven straight through he managed to stay up until around midnight playing games and entertaining us with his sense of humor and musical talent.

On Monday we were sad to bid Morgan goodbye although I'm sure her family was anxiously awaiting her arrival. Luckily her flight to Minnesota was better than her previous flight to Tulsa! That is when I realized just how much sparkle she brought with her. And I'm already thinking about how the girl/boy ratio is going to gradually even out. Now that's something to look forward to!!

And then Tuesday brought Sean, Marc, and Padrick, Sean's dog. The weather wasn't good leaving Minnesota, snow and slick roads but they were traveling south so things only got better. They were tired but we were excited when they finally pulled into the driveway. At least all of us were excited except Bear, he doesn't play well with others and has problems sharing. He and Pad settled into an uncomfortable truce with only periodic growls, nips, and challenges from either of them. Finally the festivities could begin.

So we ate, and laughed, and played games, and entertained our friend Bihn Trahn and Sister Lemmon and Sister Stiles. We told the Christmas story and sang carols. We opened the traditional one gift on Christmas eve, surprise pj pants, and had our traditional cold cut buffet. Sean woke us all up on Christmas morning. Santa had indeed come. We opened gifts, ate more, and then later ate even more, played more games, and watched White Christmas. And yes there was love everywhere!!