"Snowpocalypse"

Are you tired of snow pictures yet? We live in a wonderland to be sure. It's just that there is a sheet of solid ice under this snow on the roads. Looks like these cars aren't going anywhere soon, but they say its business as usual on Monday....... we'll see. Church was cancelled for the second time this winter. Our Bishop is from Maine and he doesn't cancel when others might. Ihere were avalanches coming off the dark metal roofs yesterday and more will happen today I am sure. Glad for the snow and the joy that comes with it. Many were without power. That would have been hard but we never lost ours. 

People were partying down the hall last night and the neighbors are gaming with passion today, so I am playing Pandora for masking the base beat in his music.t is so quiet outside. Many people are shoveling out their driveways, cars sidewalks and we saw many a wonderful snowman, even a snow cat but no snow dogs. Saw the remnant of dogs that had to "find a place".

I know Alyssa loves her sunshine but right now I can't think of anything more beautiful than the sun shining on the sparkling snow and feel the refreshment in a "snowcalype". 

"It is Christmas in our Hearts that puts Christmas in the Air" W.T. Ellis

We were very blessed to get to go to Utah for Christmas this year. Our thinking went along the lines of "since Tyler will not be with his family for the holidays maybe we could go and give them something to look forward to." I know we missed Tyler very much but with the movies sent with the iphones he was able to enjoy the gift giving somewhat. We arrived on LaVar's birthday Dec 23 and took Tim and Laura up on their offer to pick us up at the airport. They gave him a lovely book on ships that not only he enjoyed but so did Ollie.

LaVar was the donkey for our lovely Emmaline as Mary in the Christmas play with Charlotte's neices and nephews.

 Christmas day was so fun, but Tucker felt a bit overwhelmed at first but soon got into the swing of things. He got a cell phone that was a particular attraction as well as all kinds of balls.

This rock candy from my mediteranian store was a hit and the dinosaur liked it very much.

Jaim and Jody invited us to come and see what they have been doing in their kitchen and we thought it was really great. We love what they are doing in true "Huntzinger makeover" style. They did bring Monster their Great Dane over for visits he is well behaved and obeys Jody well. 

We went to see Savannah's campionship soccor game. She played well and they won! Lucky 13!

 Some people went to Avatar the movie, some people cooked, some went to the temple and someone got to hold Naomi and loved it.

Charlotte opened their home for a Hightower/Huntzinger get together on the day after Christmas. All of the boys came with their wives and children plus Chelsie. Rachel and Greg went to the only temple open during the holidays and stayed for the evening then went back home to Orem and Greg's family. Tim and Laura arranged the evening a delicious desserts and Charlotte served pulled pork sandwiches with all that could go with it. We played games and had a great late night with all of them! It was so wonderful for me to meet the girls I had been lurking on their family blogs and see the precious babies they have pictures of. Emmaline was the main entertainment for the children. Savannah floated between the group of children to the games and conversation of the adults. Jaim and Jody were the hit when they arrived with Monster. The children didn't seem to mind this small horse amoungst the party. 

Ryan and Stacey~ Chelsie~Jessica and Chistoffer down front. Brook and Chason (holding Chris' baby)~ Jordon just returned from his mission and Kelly
Our friend Molly Collings came to visit after church on Sunday with her 3 children. It was so good to see her and remember old times.
After all that partying one of us got sick! Ollie kept him company and we delayed our going to Fallon a day to see if anyone else was going to get sick.

Off to Fallon we went. Tuesday on the road, Wednesday there and Thursday back home. It was a full day though. Brad and Kendal were there with Izzy, two dogs, an interesting cat and a mouse. Linda was there too, we just missed seeing Natalie and her girls. Brett and Rowena had house guests from California but we still had a great night of chili and cornbread from them. Mom and Dad's had a house full but they seemed to enjoy the company as they always do.

Emma asked for and got some alone time with Great Grandma, looking at shells.
They got to play in the freshly fallen snow. This is Grandma Cecile done in "snow"
Brad and Kendal brought not only gingerbread house for each child but a PILE of candy to decorate like I have never seen before.
It was almost time to go after that full day! I had no voice after getting some kind of virus and am still recovering. Tucker thought he would give himself a shave like Grandad. The kids were perfect travel companions and Charlotte and excellent driver in the snow that we traveled through going both ways. We had a wonderful trip, wonderful memories and we thank all of you for your contribution to both.
Our Amaryllis waited for our return to bloom.
Terry this one is for you. This little leather purse I bought at my wonderful thrift store for $1.98. There were 2 there at the time and I have had so many compliments on it I wish I had gotten both. I found out what "color swap" means on my little camera! What fun that has been.
The orange Wal-Mart boots took us there and back. Even got me a comment by an ardent Boise State fan on her way to the big game. She liked the color as she too was dressed all in orange. Thank-you, thank-you, we had a great time!

                                                                    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

....it shows no sign of stopping....since have no place to go....

Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow! This is a measure just outside our door sort of protected.

Our beautiful courtyard gets transformed.

Walkin' in a winter wonderland! It really is up to my knee. It is just beautiful beyond belief. Many places measured 22 inches and it all came in just one day.

Kennedy Center

After Wolf trap Stephanie was looking up Kennedy Center for our next adventure and found that Seinfeld was coming in February. So between us both we got tickets that sold out before the day was over. We are very EXCITED! It seems like it will be so fun. Thanks Stephanie!

WOLF TRAP!!!

Now see this is what Charlotte was talking about! I thought I had blogged about this last week! The blogs you make in your head and you think you did them. Well, Mark Jenkins, LaVar's cousin Kim (Cecile's oldest Brother Bob and Roses oldest son) and Jeanie Jenkins youngest son, is in the Marine Corps band he plays the Ephonium (small tuba). He stayed with us several years ago when he came to audition for the band.

Mark invited us to come to Wolf Trap when we saw him at Vonn's funeral in Nevada. I had been wanting to go to Wolf Trap since we came back from Albuquerque and never really had a chance. Well, last Sunday was our chance to go to a Marine Corps Christmas Sing-along!! We dressed warmly, grabbed our bells, candles and met Micah and Stephanie there.

It was a bit chilly by the time it was over but we had a good time ringing our bells and were glad we brought blankets. It had snowed a few days before and there were some people sitting in the snow, even though there were seats "under cover". Did I mention that this was an outside venue? Ya, it was outside.

After all these Christmas carols, that were actually about Christ and a few Hannaka songs we lit our candles and left singing " Silent Night". We didn't actually hang around to talk with Mark after the performance, it as getting colder. We also were not sure he could come see us. (His cell phone was turned off and the sing was so loud we couldn't have heard him anyway)

Thanks all for this wonderful memory! Another wish down, (Mt. Vernon, living in the "city", Wolf Trap) more to come!!

Story Read in Relief Society

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so. It all began because my husband Mike, hated Christmas - oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it - overspending, the fanatic running around at the last minute to get gifts given in desperation because you can't think of anything else, etc. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, and ties for Mike. I reached for something special just for him. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son, Kevin, who was twelve that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters on the opposing team, mostly minorities, were dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together. They presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the boys on the other team were wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of the other team's boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated next to me, shook his head sadly. "I wish just one of them could have won" he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them". Mike loved kids and he knew them from having coached little league teams. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree with a note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year--and in succeeding years. For each Christmas thereafter I followed the tradition. One year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game. Another year sending a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas. And on and on, all anonymously. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning. Our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew older, the toys gave way to more practical presents. But the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike several years ago to cancer. When Christmas rolled around that year, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree. In the morning, it had been joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. In each envelope was a note describing a gift made anonymously to someone less fortunate. That tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation---watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us. May we all remember Jesus Christ, who is the reason for the season, and may we always have and share the true Christmas spirit.

I am so sorry that I wasn't more creative or thoughtful enough to start a tradition this wonderful. The one Christmas I do remember was the one when Little Billy Moore was in the hospital and Christmas just seemed so somber and we went to the nursing home, hoping that by serving someone else we would feel better. I think that worked, some good feelings came from that service, but I didn't think of doing service again. Too bad. We are anxious to hear the stories from this year. We are excited for Christmas!

The Robert Entertainment Center!

During our move a piece of furniture we really enjoy the Robert Entertainment Center was too big to fit into the elevator. The movers tried 3 times, broke the lens over the light in the elevator and he just couldn't go. A guy we hired from the ward assured us that we could carry it up the 60 steps and he and his brother would help us. (Since then he got a horrible virus was hospitalized and his brother broke his foot in a car accident.) We put him back in the storage unit and said maybe someday. The more we unpacked we realized we needed him for storage not just for his beauty. So after LaVar did some calculations he figured out just how to get him into our condo and up the steps. He called "2 Marines and a Truck" and we hired 4 Marines and 2 trucks. I was so anxious for some reason. I told LaVar I wish it would just magically appear in his place. The day of the move it was raining just a little bit. We met the Marines at the storage unit, they wrapped Robert like he was going across the country, and to the condo we went all of about 4 blocks . The back door to the building was held open with a penny, never had seen that done before. They made all the turns, it was tight very very tight, but LaVar had analyzed it and said it would go....it did!!
I took the elevator to open the condo door and grab a camera, by the time I did that they were at the 3rd floor and panting, huffing and puffing. I snapped a picture......

Then got this next one as the entered our floor.

Putting him in his place.....

Ta DA! Like it magically appeared effortlessly on my part. So this is the living area, with the tiny Christmas decorations.

Thank-you Robert for coming, we missed you.

There Tyler per your request, Our Condo finished for now.