Merry Christmas to US

Christmas morning at our house was very fun. Since we don't have any little kids, we buy for each other. I must have been a good girl this year because Santa and Jon gave me the Cuisinart Blender/Food Processor that I have been drooling over for the last several months. I was so excited to get it out. I also received a new rice cooker that is also a steamer. It was also nice to receive a new cook book and a subscription to a cooking magazine. I especially love the I Love Lucy salt and pepper shaker set. My sister sure knows me well. Jon received clothes, a football game, Groundhog Day, and a math calculator which he will get alot of use out of next semester. We also got the 4th season of Lost and Guitar Hero World Tour. Plus gift cards. We were very blessed. It was a good morning for us. We also went to breakfast with Dean, Jay, and Daniele before Jay and Dean had to catch their flight to Virginia. Then Daniele, Jon, and I went to see Marley and Me. It was a very fun filled day.

Christmas With the Williams

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Dinner With the Eppich's

On Tuesday, December 23rd, we went to dinner with Jon's missionary companion Chris Eppich and his wife Lori. They are in Utah for Christmas and we get to see them at least once a year and go to dinner. Jon and Chris served their mission in the Carlsbad, California mission and they love to retell missionary stories. We always enjoy spending time with them and look forward to it every year. For dinner we went to the Market Street Grille. I had crab cakes, salad, sourdough bread, and a very yummy dessert. I stuffed myself, but it was definately worth. Food is always better in the company of people you love.

Chris and Jon

Sally, Lori, Chris, and Jon

Merry Grinchmas!!!

Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit, He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it! “Pooh-Pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly humming. “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming! “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do! “Their mouths will hang open a minute or two “Then the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry Boo-Hoo!
“That’s a noise, “grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!”So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow …
But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN‘T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?” “It came without ribbons! It came without tags! “It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!” (Dr. Suess, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, New York: Random House, 1957.)

Dixie's Christmas

This will be our second Christmas with Dixie. We got her last year about 6 days before Christmas. I was trying to get her to sit by the tree, but she was being difficult. So, I did the best I could. She has changed so much in the last year.

Christmas Decor

These ornaments are hand painted by my mom and she sent them to me this year for Christmas. I put pictures of our niece's and nephew's and our little dog Dixie in them. They look so cute on my tree.

Our tree is 7'5 ft and prelit. I think prelit is the best way to go. Our ornaments consist of, homemade Precious Moment's ornaments that I cross stitched our first year of marriage. Gone With the Wind ornaments. Ornaments that I made when I was in school and some homemade ornaments that my mom made when I was little. We also have a few football ornaments on there.

These are some of our Nativity scene's. I think the snowman one is kind of cute. My sister sent me the tall angel, and you can't see it, but on the bottom is a little Nativity scene. The one right next to it is an advent calendar. I made the sign in the back in Relief Society.

Happy Birthday, Jon!

Yesterday, Jon turned 33. He is an old man. But he still looks young. It snowed all day yesterday and because Jon has been sick all week we didn't do much. However, we did go to Chili's for dinner. Also, since we were asked to speak in church today, he worked on his talk all day. But, I think Jon did have a good day. We also got to spend the day with our beautiful niece, Britney and that was alot of fun. She is such a teenager. Anyway. Since everyone had plans the day of Jons birthday, we decided to have a little get together tonight with all of Jon's family. Everyone came. We had George, Ashley, Dean, Jay and Daniele and her crew. We had pie, ice cream, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Jon received socks (which he desperately needed), a trivia boardgame of The Office, a Louise Armstrong CD, and a National Geographic DVD. I think he did very well. And I'm glad that everyone could come and celebrate wth us. It was a blast!!

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Christmas List Blessing's

A friend at work emailed this to me and I thought it was really nice and touching. So, I thought I would share it with all of you.



My
Christmas List
of Blessings

My Christmas list is more
than just a way to keep track of

The special people God has brought
into my life to love.

It's like a treasured scrapbook
filled with pleasant memories

Of all the times God's answered prayer
through friends and family.


Every name's a touchstone
that leads to a place and time,

Where God has used another's heart
to reach out and touch mine.

It may have happened years ago
or even yesterday,

But every person on my list
has changed my life some way.


Through simple conversation,
a warm hug or a shared meal,

Every person on my list
has helped me grow or heal,

Or laugh or love or learn or smile. .
the blessings never end

As God allows our paths to cross
as family and friends.

So please know that this greeting
is more than a Christmas wish.

It's a "thank you" card to God
for putting on my list

Each and every one whose name
I've come to hold so dear. .

Those who've shown me Christmas joy
each day of the year.

Vicki J. Kuyper

Trees and Twilight

So, Saturday night my friend, Darcie, and I went to the Festival of Trees at the Southtowne Expo Center. It is amazing to see all the creativity and hard work that goes into these trees, especially when all the proceeds go to Primary Children's Hospital. I did have a few favorite's. There was a Missionary themed tree which reminded me of my little brother, Scott, who just returned from his mission less than a year ago. And then there were a couple of Twilight themed trees. If some of you haven't guessed already, I have a obsession with Twilight and I don't think it very healthy. But, I don't care. And yes, I have seen the movie and loved it and want to see it again. However, there were a few important parts that were left out, but because I am in love with Edward, I was able to look past those details. I can not wait for the second movie to come out. I think it will be even better.

Missionary Tree (Elder Spruce)

Twilight Large Tree

Twilight Small Tree

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas

For Thanksgiving, Jon and I took a trip to Las Vegas with Jon's family. Braden's football team was in the Pigskin Tournament for football. There were only three teams in their division, and the Grantsville Cowboy's came back with a 6' foot trophy for first place. It was pretty awesome and we are very proud of Braden and the hard work he put in to get there. We also walked the strip with George and Ashley and went to Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. It was pretty cool and we had alot of fun. It was fun spending time with our niece's and nephew who are growing up so fast. Enjoy!!!

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