Christmas Eve Pictures

Here's a taste of what Christmas Eve is like at our house tonight:

Merry Christmas!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

It really is a wonderland. It's beautiful but some of the streets are not passable. We tried taking a Christmas gift to a friend and we couldn't get down her street. According to the weather report we got 10 inches of snow yesterday. Church was even canceled which doesn't happen so you know it was bad here.

Buddy loves it. We tried carrying him out in it and he wouldn't have it. He wiggled so much to get down that we just gave up and let him frolic all over the place. It warmed up a few degrees above freezing today but it didn't melt much. Tonight it will be in the 20's and refreeze those places that were thawing a little. The weather people are predicting a white Christmas. Thought you would like to see some pictures of our yard and house.

What do tamales, BYU Football and snow have in common?

They all happened today at the Owens house. Dewey and I got up and made our annual Christmas tamales. They are delicious. We have been eating them all afternoon and if we don't stop we are going to turn into a tamale. And then everyone could take a bite out of us. We made 105 tamales. We are really getting into the hang of it. I wished we would have started this the year we got married and really had a family tamale making tradition every year. Our friends the Manns have been making tamales for a long time and three years ago we started a tamale exchange with them. Everyone else does cookie exchanges but our tamale exchange is a very exclusive club. However, we would welcome anyone who wants to join.

Next it has been snowing all afternoon and into the evening. We are suppose to get a dangerous storm but so far just snow--the winds haven't shown up yet. This morning the guy on the radio said that we should be prepared to be without electricity for three days. There is ice under the snow and Dewey just heard that church has been canceled in the morning. We haven't been called officially but one of our friends has been called and he told us.

It is halftime at the BYU/Arizona game. Spencer is there and sitting on the 35 yard line 5 rows up from the BYU players. He's having a good time. Dewey, Buddy and I are watching it from the comfort of our home and it is in HD. Looks good.

We have a fire going in the fireplace. The snow is falling. Wished we had some chestnuts.

Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow

It's snowing. When we woke up there was a covering of the white stuff and now it's almost 8am and it's falling and swirling and becoming a winter wonderland. It was 18 degrees on our thermometer yesterday morning. It is warmer today but is suppose to get colder again by tomorrow. Buddy is not afraid and he likes running around in it. I think it intrigues him. today I won't be going anywhere so I'll put a fire in the fireplace, turn on the Christmas carols, prepare some hot chocolate and write Christmas cards. That really sounds Christmasy. Oh the weather outside is frightful.................................................................yea!

It's a Wonderful Life

This morning the Activity Day Girls and their moms were here for a Mother/Daughter Christmas breakfast. It was fun. The girls sang the new song that was in the October 2008 Friend--"The Family is of God". It's a great song. The girls did a nice job. It was their surprise talent and gift for their moms.

Dewey and I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" today. It really is the Christmas season. It was suppose to snow today, but it didn't. Too bad. I would have loved to have watched "It's a Wonderful Life" while it was snowing outside.

Now if Devin were here and we could watch "White Christmas"--well , that would be very special. Maybe we should watch it simultaneously some morning. What do you think Devin?

It is getting very cold out. When Dewey and Buddy got home from their walk they were freezing. Weatherman said it is going to get colder. I just let Buddy out to go potty and it looks like light little flakes of snow are falling. Yea!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yes, it is. We have already been to the Ward Christmas party and most the presents are wrapped and all the Hallmark ornaments are on the tree (that takes forever, but it is fun when Dewey is helping). I have some non Hallmark ornaments that need to be on and then Christmas decorating is completed. Buddy and our grandsons have had their pictures with Santa. We are anxiously awaiting Hayden's Santa picture. I hope she isn't scared of him like I was. I would walk completely around the store to avoid him. I wonder if there would have been more presents if I would have talked to him and told him what I wanted.

Spencer, Jennifer, Spencer II, Connor, Brian , Flora and Paul were here for Thanksgiving. It was great and I had so much help. Our Thanksgiving meal was delicious except I overcooked the turkey--Dewey said " I told you so" but it was great in the fried turkey and dressing leftovers and the turkey pot pie. We even had vegetarian food on the table for Flora. Paul took the big kids to a concert one night. They all got in free because Paul photographed the concert for the band. They like his pictures. I took Spencer and Connor to the mall to have their pictures made with Santa. Connor didn't want to go at first because he said he wasn't the real Santa and I guess he thought it wasn't worth his time but once we got there and he realized this was a pretty good Santa's "Helper" and he could relay the message back to the Big Man. The boys and I made gingerbread men and proceeded to eat them. We watched "Elf"--my second personal favorite Christmas movie after "It's a Wonderful Life" . We also watched "Fred Claus" and liked it.

We missed having Devin, Carl, Hayden and Jeffrey here. Maybe next year the whole family can be here for Thanksgiving!

Devin, Carl and Hayden were coming this weekend (4th through the 7th), but early in the morning of the 4th Carl got sick and wound up at the hospital. At first they thought it might be his appendix but then discovered his gall bladder was inflamed and he had a gall stone. I think they would have removed it that day but the doctor wanted to have another test to find out for sure if it needed to come out and that isn't scheduled until Wednesday the 10th. We were going to take Hayden to the mall to have pictures made with Santa--he is a Macy's Santa and very good. Now Devin and Carl will take her to a Utah Santa without me. :( We are thankful Carl is feeling better and we hope to see them sometime before the holidays are over. Remember I was going to California a few years back and had the ticket bought and started feeling bad and then worse, canceled my flight and wound up having my gall bladder removed. Things like this happen. At least I don't have to worry anymore about having a gall bladder problem.

Jeffrey called yesterday and said he may be able to be here for Christmas. We look forward to his visit.

Elder Russell M. Nelson was here two weeks ago for our Stake Conference. It was a wonderful weekend. Dewey was the High Councilor in charge of security for him and the men that helped were wonderful. They were professionals and felt it was an extreme honor to be able to be a bodyguard for an Apostle of the Lord.

I finally finished Twilight. I liked it and will read the next one. Devin and I were going to see it this weekend but since plans have changed I think Dewey will have to take me. He's a good sport about things like that. I just finished "Grace" by Richard Paul Evans. A good Christmas book. A very quick read.

Relief Society has a progressive dinner this week. I also have a Mother/Daughter activity day breakfast here next Saturday morning. I also have a baby shower and Dry-Pack canning at the Bishop's Warehouse. On Friday Dewey and I are going to help with "Feeding the Hungry" in downtown Puyallup. I think there are a few other things going on this week but I would need my list to remember and it is upstairs and if I go up I may get back in bed and not finish this blog.

We saw "Australia" for Paul's birthday this week. It was pretty good but very long. One of those movies that you think is over and everyone lives happily ever after and then it continues for another hour. We went for Thai food also and he wanted a Lemon Tart for his "cake". I have to admit I did a good job on it. I was trying to cheat and buy one but I couldn't find one around here. When in doubt--make it yourself. You can find any delicious recipe on the Internet.

We were sadden by the death of Elder Wirthlin. His last Conference talk "Come What May and Love It" was truly inspiring and my favorite. He will be missed. His wisdom and wit were wonderful.

Time to go crawl back in bed and do some reading before heading off to Church.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas--everywhere we go.

A Full Weekend

This has been a full weekend for us. Yesterday the 22nd was the anniversary of our first date 44 years ago. First date was to Church-twice on the same day. Little did Dewey know then that 44 years later he would be the High Councilman in charge of security for Elder Russell M. Nelson's visit for our Stake Conference. It was really exciting to listen to an Apostle of the Lord in person and in our own building. Last night I was fortunate to sit on the first row for the adult session. It was a wonderful conference. The talks were all excellent.

Yesterday Buddy got his picture taken with Santa. He was a good boy. We are putting his Santa pictures (one from last year and this year) on our Christmas cards this year.

I've been busy getting the house ready for Spencer and family and Brian and Flora. Spencer will arrive tonight and Brian arrives on Tuesday. We are not sure about Jeffrey and Paul is already here. We will really miss Devin, Carl and little Hayden. We will see them the following weekend when they come for three days and four nights.

I've been reading Twilight for over a week now. I guess it isn't as exciting a read for me because I'm 61 years old but it is fun and I will see the movie. Dewey even told me last night that he would see the movie too. Until then he said he wouldn't. I guess the reviews got him curious.

This is the best time of the year. Buddy and I went for a walk a little while ago and it is so FAll---I love it.

8 Things from Mom

Shows:

General Hospital
Fringe
House
Bones
Eli Stone
ER
Survivor
Monk

Restaurants:

Chili Thai
North China ( San Antonio)
Anthony's
Macaroni Grill (Provo)
J-Dog (Provo)
Olive Garden
La Fondas (San Antonio)
Ah Shucks (Dallas)

Things I've Done Today:

Helped clean carpet of sister I visit teach
Went to the bank
Returned paint brushes to a friend
Made a delicious supper and a chocolate cake
Made an appointment with Dog Daze for Buddy to have his picture made with Santa Claus
Washed and folded clothes
Talked to family members on the phone
Watched Utah-TCU game

Things I'm looking forward to:

Ward Temple Night to do Dewey's grandparents endowments November 14
Elder Nelson coming for Stake Conference November 22-23
Thanksgiving with family November 27
Carl's Birthday November 28
Cutting our Christmas tree November 28
Paul's Birthday December 2
Christmas Eve and Day with family
The next Jurassic Park movie

Things I wish for:

Get to goal weight
Lap pool
My children living closer
To own a Hallmark store
Peace on Earth
That Buddy wouldn't chase cars
Heroes would get better
Our family could go on a great cruise together


Tagged:

Since I don't know 8 people who read my blogs and Devin has already been tagged I guess I tag:
Carl
Brian
Jeffrey
Paul
Spencer
because I think they read my blogs so you are tagged

November, The Best Month of the Year

This is the best month of the whole year. I love November. Saturday morning (yesterday) Dewey, Buddy and I went to Double Four Christmas Tree Farm. We asked and were allowed to take Buddy in. We had fun. We walked to the farthest corner of the farm and found the perfect tree. Buddy had a great time. We tagged the tree and tied bows all around it and took pictures. The farm is a great place. When finished we got our free hot apple cider. There's a gift shop and we found a cute tree skirt. Buddy was freezing so we wrapped him up in Dewey's BYU sweat shirt.


Yesterday was a really good day. Besides picking out our Christmas tree, Dewey went to choir practice, I took breakfast to the missionaries, we went out for lunch, BYU won their game and we went to the Halloween party. We fit in a few other things too. One being I took down Halloween and started putting up Thanksgiving--Hooray for Thanksgiving.



OH, and we listened to Christmas carols in the car. I used to wait for the Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving but they are too pretty and make me feel so good that the music has to start the day after Halloween now.

I love November.

Halloween and Things

Where to begin? I guess it serves me right for not blogging sooner. On Saturday October 25th Buddy went to a Halloween Costume Party at Petco. He went as a Maltese Warlord but I guess the pink costume he went in didn't scare anyone. As soon as we got there Buddy was greeted by three Great Danes (really big Great Danes) dressed as a ballerina, Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf dressed as the Grandma with night gown and knitted night cap. From that moment on he wanted to be held or he stayed behind me with his tail between his legs. He didn't win anything but he did take a cute picture. There were about 12 dogs there. I think we'll just stick with pictures and forget the parties.



On Halloween we changed costumes and Buddy was Buddy the Elf. It was a much better fit for him. After all Buddy was named after Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrrell). He looked really cute.





We had over 200 plus trick or treaters even some adults if you can believe that. Buddy barked and jumped on and off the couch so many times we finally sat on the porch to hand out the candy. We all slept good that night.



On Saturday night ( Nov. 1) we were invited to a Halloween costume party and we went as a Pair of Blue Jeans. We were dressed in blue and even colored our hair blue. Dewey's name tag said GENE and my name tag was JEAN--A Pair of Blue Jeans. We were so thankful that the blue washed out and going to church this morning we were back to normal. There was lots of great food and the party was held in a most spectacular house. Many clever and creative costumes were there.



Today my visiting teacher presented Buddy (actually she gave it to me before Sacrament to give to Buddy) with a cute little King outfit. She brings her dog Lulu to visit when she comes. Buddy loves to have company. I guess she was at WalMart and the outfits and doggie costumes were 50% off so she couldn't resist getting some for her dogs and one for Buddy.

So that's our Halloween and Things. Hope your Halloween was fun and full of treats too.