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