More Christmas fun

Some of our favorite things

Kinley and her play house

Lily in her new chair
Hunter and his cars

Kyler and his transformers

ambree in her dress up

Christmas Day 2009

Movie review

As we seem to have a little extra time on our hands, we have been seeing a few movies. I must be getting old as it seems they just do not make them like they use too
here is a quick review in case you have time during the holidays to see one
Aviatar-- unbelievable real life and animation. This is really an outstanding show. Acting not so good, story not so good but the picture and what they did was unbelievable. This was a long movie and I took a few little nods off and it was so crowded that Rob and I moved to the handicapped seats to get some air.
All about Steve-- Not a good movie, kind of off the wall and like several of the movies it does not end happy-- what's up with that??
District 9 -- I have no idea what this movie was about???? it was like one news cast after another- I fell asleep and probably missed nothing
Harry Potter-- finally seeing this one and I can see why there was no hurry. I read the books and watched this three times in the same day ( while I was wrapping gifts ) and still couldn't tell you what happened or how it ended
Surrogates-- I actually liked the beginning of this movie but fell asleep so I do not know the ending
Law abiding citizen-- I like this one but it was a bit violent-- but anyone looking for revenge could get some good ideas
Julia and Julia-- what a dumb movie and a dumb ending
GI JOE I liked this one
The ugly truth what the heck-- do not watch
Red Cliffs Both Rob and I liked this one -- two thumbs up
Hangover DO not watch
the proposal cute but predictable
Up--- sad-- was this really a kids movie?
taking of Pelium 123- I liked this movie, John Travolta always makes me believe
Star trek-- any true Trekkie cannot like this movie, James Kirk does not get beat up
Public enemy-- what can I say-- Johnny Deep - I saw him first
Transformers too much for too long
Terminator salvation Fell asleep again
Year one-- Cameron what ever made you think we would like this - I love Jack Black but yuck
Grand torino I liked this more than I thought I would
He's just not that into you--dumb
17 again I liked this one
knowing-- my favorite actor- not my favorite movie
12 rounds- too much , I did not like it
watchmen-- Matt said not to watch it and he was right- what the heck was it about??
Blindside-- this is a great movie- should see
Sex in the city-- oh my gosh- just a girl flick with porno-- do not watch
Scrooge-- this is too scary, it is not a kids show at all, I am not sure it is an adult show, it was like a scary disney movie gone bad -- real bad

The Franklin list

Is the hotel the good life or not?

Good
Free breakfast every morning- they cook and do the dishes and shopping
free maid service-- make the beds, clean linen and towels,vacuum and dust-Bathroom too
free dinner 4 nights a week- they cook, do the dishes and shopping- plus provide a monthly menu
all utilities included
someone else shovels
3 beds, 3 TVs and 2 full bathrooms
free handyman for all repairs
sweet pool
free drinks, free fruit and hot cookies at 7


Bad
you can smell everything that everyone cooks all day long
no garage so you have to warm up your car and scrap it--- car washes do not last long
you can hear the upstairs and next doors doors shut, toilets flush and shower water
there is constant movement in the hallways
If you need to clean or vacuum there is nothing to use so you have to wait for someone to do it for you
doesn't matter the time, the maid comes to clean as you are getting in the shower
people don't stop by- the neighbors constantly change
have to use a laundry mat for your wash
heavy drapes on all windows so you never see the sun or know the time
2 windows that look out to nothing

I guess it is a wash. If we did not have to be here, we'd love it. But since we have no other place to go, it kind of is boring. My brother thinks it is the good life but even the good life gets old fast and there is no place like home

Christmas Cookies 2009

Yummy taco and Cheese burger pizza

lots of kids

and tons of fun

We are lucky we live so close that we can enjoy the holidays with each other.

Everyone is losing Teeth

Ryan

Ambree and Brooklyn

Kylers birthday- it was double fun

Kyler plays basketball

Go Blue team!!!

What a dog has to do for a free car wash

I finally got to the car wash yesterday and if you sat on Santa's lap you got a free wash, so Frodo did it for me. All Frodo wants for Christmas is a new home.

Lily sleeps over at the hotel

After Kyler's party Lily slept over and first thing in the morning she wanted to go swimming.

She had the whole pool to herself and she was a fish

then she said

Grandma, I wish Colby was here

I would spank his butt

I would dunk him

Colby, he is such a stinky butt

Grandma , can you call Colby and ask him to come swimming with me?

Faith and trust

"Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guestroom.Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,"Things aren't always what they seem.."The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?The first man had everything, yet you helped him, he accused.The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die."Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied."When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.""Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.Things aren't always what they seem."Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every out come is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later... "
I loved this story and it arrived just at the right time. We did not get the home we wanted. Our house caught on fire and yesterday my company residential division of sales closed the doors. If we ever had to have faith and trust, it would be now. Luckily it is Christmas and friends and family keep us going. We still have so many blessings and realize we really have all that matters.

Family Christmas party

Every year I host a family family Christmas party for our WHOLE family. It is huge and we all have a great time

As you can see-- we still believe!!

Dewitt Family goes to the temple

Kyler-- what a great birthday present- to be sealed to your family on your birthday

December 15-- Happy Birthday Kyler

Kyler is now SIX

Lesson Learned!

So a while back our microwave stopped working. After looking around for a while, we decide the plug did not work and did a quick fix to another plug. Then I was always getting shocked whenever I used the mixer. I did not get shocked when I used the toaster, I did not get shocked when I used the blender. But every time I used the mixer- zap!. I did not think much of it and thought my hands were wet.
Well since they are tearing apart my kitchen, the electrician is wiring everything again and it would seem when we had the new siding put on the back of the house they had mailed into the sockets and broke the wire. In the words of the electrician: this was an fire waiting to happen.
Lesson learned-- get it fixed!!

Tanning

Wow-- I guess with having your own tanning bed, you get behind on the times. I went to the tanning place and this is what the new beds look like-- it was experience. Of course I bought an unlimited pass. But it sure going to make my bed seem outdated . I would want this new one but it takes a whole room. Doesn't it look like we should be suited up for the operation!

Welcome Nellie Marie

Here is my new grand neice--

New Puppy-- Frodo

Matt, Marianne and Lily had gotten me a new puppy for Christmas. Obviously with the fire and living in a hotel we cannot keep it so they are keeping it till we can get into a house. His name is frodo and he is darling. I forgot my camera last night but be sure to get pictures this weekend

FIre Fire Fire

It seems if I should have something on my blog about the fire

least we ever forget

Why Festival?

On Sunday, I had one of my neighbors and his son helped on clean up. He was there at 8:00 and had planned to work 4 hours but stuck with us until we were done which was close to five. It was cold and it did seem as if we would never get it all done. About 2:00, he asked, Debbi, why do you do this and of course the answer was " for the children" He said it was the best answer I could give.
Later that day my granddaughter called and asked me to come to dinner and decorate their Christmas Tree. I told her I wanted to but I was still at festival and did not know if I could make it . She called 4 times and my answer was always the same . She called back and left this message Grandma, I know you are working hard to make sick children get better so they can be with their families for Christmas so it's okay if you do not come over tonight .
That is the better answer.
But as with every year. Festival gave more to me than I gave .

Hunter goes to Festival

Our family Christmas tree for Festival

A wish to be a Christmas Tree.
This is our family tree. It means more than ever as it might be the only tree I have this year
Dianna did a beautiful job
the gentleman who bought our tree had come to Festival with a check for $10,000
he bought 4 trees
he kept the TV but donated the tree to a single mother with a 16 year old son
they were elated to get it
the giving just keeps going on

Festival donations

thanks to everyone who donated to Festival
I wanted to list some of the donated items

Small trees
Sweet Sadie-- Kendal Meyers
Doggone christmas -- Carol Whitehouse
Christmas on the ark-- Linda Mellor
All that glitters-- Carmilla Rowlands
Hopping around the Christmas tree-- WJ Girl Scouts
Christmas League-- Matt DeWitt and family
Traditional Christmas-- Darla anderson- A perfect arrangement
Our angel Ava dawn-- Vicky Summerhays and Sharon Penrose
Large Trees
Midnight dawn-- Jenny and Melanie
Precious moments-- John Diehl and family
A wish to be a Christmas tree-- Our family
Cowboy Christmas-- the Canandians
Wreaths and centerpieces
High spirits- Pat Craner
Merry Mare-- Pat Craner
Cutie Pie Chic top -- Jamie Macaky
Ry Guy the elf --
Kaydens snowman
Jessica Christmas-- Jessica Mackay
Santa's Sleigh- Kathy Harman

Mama's Holiday wish list meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List MemeTodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.
1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
1. a new home 2. our family and friends gathered at our new home 3. picking up new decor for our new home 4. all the children get their Christmas wish 5. time for Jesus
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? one year my brother made me a wooden hand rail for my home, it touched me and I loved it, but my favorite is photos of my family in frames, books, wall hangings or just a plain white envelope
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I want to learn how to "tat"
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? my grandmother made jam every year for us , it was a sacrifice for her and a tradition I will always love and cherish
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? after looking at the catalogs with them - it is plan to see-- they want it all-- I will be buying transformer, cars, and anything pink!
6. What is your favorite holiday food? home made eggnog
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? thankfully the Christmas quilts are done, the wreaths ( 9) are made and the trees ( 12) will be completely decorated shortly then I can cook cookies and candy
8. What is your favorite holiday movie? Scrooge
9. Favorite holiday song? 12 days of Christmas , little drummer boy, silent night
10. Favorite holiday pastime? cooking cookies, seeing Christmas lights, festival of trees and secretly making someones holiday brighter

Nellie in the Bellie

We had a baby shower for Alicia and Parker ( my nephew ) this weekend. And even though it was a blizzard outside, it was warm and toasty inside with all our family there. Nellie got some cute stuff!

Holes in my quilt

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.Before each of us, laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty,like binding air.Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

I permanently borrowed this from Melissa website! It is just too beautiful not to share with everyone

dejavu

I look at my blog and think -- really - it's been 2 weeks since you have some thing to post. Now that is sad. You would think that after selling the house we would have lots of time but that is not true. It is a huge "sit and wait" to see if anything goes wrong
25 years ago we put our twin home up for sale on labor day-- same as this home
and we had it sold by Halloween-- just like this home
and we were scheduled to move over Thanksgiving
but on that Monday the whole deal fell through and we ended up taking the house off the market for the holidays and selling at the first of the year
I am afraid this might happen again!
we are just anxious to get the final go ahead and finally do it!

Five People I would want to be stuck in an Elevator with

One of my favorites posted this game and I wanted to play
So I do not stick with the same type of people , I limited the choices to five categories
family-- hands down it would be my husband. I need him and if I am in any tough stuff I want him to be there with me. Besides he worries about me and I would be so worried about him I couldn't enjoy the others if he was on the other side-- so in he goes
neighbor-- it would have to be Ruth..She is a rock and a example of patience and suffer as I have ever know, yet she never complains, she ways smiles, she helps others when we should be helping her and the one time in my life when I needed a friend , she was there. I love her and her husband both but if I ever spent time with her I would hope something of the brilliant spirit would rub off on me and an I could ask and listen to how she does it.
someone alive: darn this one is harder than I thought-- I pick my grand kids as I never want to without them and they always make my heart happy and even suck in an elevator we would have a riot. This is taking in account that 5 grand kids equal one adult
someone not alive-- Mary , the mother of Jesus, I struggle as my kids are now grown and are off making their own decision, mistakes, successes and life's. How did she do that as Jesus went about the Lords work? I would love to spend some time with her.
celebrity: Adam Lambert-- I know this is a bizarre one but he is so talented and I just know there is no other way I would ever meet him or even get to talk to him unless we were stuck in some bizarre place together. I love to hear him sing, I love to hear him perform. So if music calms the soul and can heal the heart, then I would want the best singer in there with me. He could certainly make you forget about being stuck.

Your turn

It's a trade

Our home October 2009

Our home November 2009

After 25 years we are moving. This home in West Jordan has been more than we could ever imagine but now that our kids are gone, it is the first time in 35 years, where Rob and I can do some thing wild and crazy and to think about what we want. If you know anything about us , then you know property is important and we cannot get enough. This 5 plus acres home is a great start. We both love animals and this will allow Rob to keep his birds and for me to have turkeys, quail, chickens, ducks , burro or anything else I can adopt and bring home . We both love the out doors and like the rugged frontier - which now we have plenty. I do plan to start planting grandpa's red hot pokers as soon as I move in. We have both know for a while we were suppose to move on . At first, I fought it and once I gave in and said " thy will be done" Everything has fallen into place. It took too long to get the House on the market as I knew we should have gotten it on the market August . But the first of September we were for sale. We have made many lookers and 2 people put up their house for sale to buy our house. I refused to sign with an agent and I knew we would sell by October 31 and we did. I had always knew it would happen,but a few weeks back I suggested to Rob that we get the cement fixed and he said, nope our house will be sold in October. So we both knew.

We have been drawn not only to Herriman but a specific subdivision and road. One agent had 2 of the 3 homes we were looking at so we were talking to her often. Obviously she knew the homes we were looking at and our home and even though Rob suggested it the first time we meet her, she finally approached the owners to trade with us and after seeing our house two times in 4 days -- they agreed

So a trade it is

and we are schedule to close and move the week of Festival

Now if that is not a leap of Faith-- I do not know what is

please the $6500 tax credit is scheduled to be approved the day we close-- sweet!

there is no doubt about some one else having a hand in the process

we are just on for the ride and can hardly wait for it to get started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween 2009

What a great last Halloween at this home
I made home made chicken noodle soup
300 cupcakes
popcorn
punch
otter pops
and treats
It was a steady stream 6 to 8:30
thanks Matt for watching the store while I took Lily out
thanks Mickelle and Lexi for helping while I took Ambree out
Wish it had not been so busy so I could have gotten more pictures
but Matt videoed it for me
hopefully he will send it soon

Trunk and Treat 2009