Lunch with the Flynn girls

L-R: me, Kellye, Carly, Tonya, Missy, Brie, Lindsey, Krysta

With Tonya and Lindsey in town for the holidays we decided to get together with the Flynn girls for lunch at our house. The Flynn's were our next door neighbors when we first moved to Utah (Provo) over 20 years ago. Lindsey was only 2 at the time we lived next to each other, and now she's pregnant with her first. It's hard to believe it's been over 20 years that we've known each other. We had a good time catching up on what's going on in everyone's lives.

Spinning

The kids absolutely LOVE to sit in this office chair and be spun around, and around, and around - well, you get the picture! I myself can't even twirl around in a circle without getting sick, so they must have inherited their love for spinning from their Papi. Even the babies love it - especially Brylee. I swear she'd stay on there all day if we'd let her.

Why wait for a glass?

Lizzy
Branson

I know Tonya's taught them better than this; not so sure about Brad!! Seriously, why wait for someone get you a glass, pour the water in, then drink it when you can go right to the source?!

I Want a Hippopatumus for Christmas!

Kelbee sang us the song (with all its actions) "I Want a Hippopotumus for Christmas". The pictures don't do justice to her enthusiasm and excitement singing this song. The only problem with this song is that it sticks in my mind for hours afterwards!!

Christmas Day

First a story, then another "bleak" Christmas!

Kelbee and Raimee

Brylee and Taylor

Abby and Lizzy

Like father, like son - new hats!

Todd's new goggles for snowboarding, Jeff's golf club covers.

Brie's a Taylor Swift fan, Tonya loves to decorate her house.

Dave has hundreds of slides - family pictures from when he was younger, hunting, etc. I put some of them on a CD for him. Tonya and Brad gave me part of a Jim Shore nativity - I collect nativities.

Krysta picked hers out so she's not as surprised as she seems! Brian also knew what he was getting, but at least I know then they'll like them and keep them.

Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness were a focus for gifts this year.
Missy talking to Mitch, Brian clearing snow off the tramp. We noticed while fixing dinner that the middle was drooping down about a foot, so he went off to clear it off and turn it over. This shows how much snow we had by Christmas.

Dinnertime!

I had to work JetBlue from 7:00-1:00 today, but I did get off a little early. I'm glad I did because Todd had to work at 2:30 so that didn't leave alot of time inbetween for the opening of gifts. We take turns opening gifts and open them one at a time so everyone can see what that person received. The missionaries joined us for the opening of gifts.

The highlight for everyone was being able to visit with Mitch. We each got a turn talking to him. His mission president didn't care who they talked to or for how long, as long as it wasn't charged to the church. Mitch buys a phone card in Canada and can talk for quite a long time on it. We're definitely looking forward already to next Christmas when he'll be home with us.

All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth!!

This song is perfect for Branson this year! Isn't he so handsome?

A New Do!

Before

After

I've gone to the same gal to get my hair cut for quite a long time now. Krysta has bleached it periodically, but in July Tammy (my hairdresser) wanted to be a little bolder, so we experimented by going with red and then blonde, and carmel highlights. Dave definitely doesn't like red! So, now in December it was time to try something he might like more. This time we left the red out and went with the darker brown, caramel, and blonde. I love it!

Football Moms

We're quite the gansta's aren't we?! That sign is supposed to be PG!

We decided to do something a little different this month so we had a potluck, wore our pj's, and watched a movie at Lena's. It was so fun. We definitely had enough food - potatoes, pullled turkey, salad, rolls, snacks, veggies, dessert (which we never ate because we were all so full after dinner and then we ran out of time after the movie), and drinks. We exchanged gifts and then watched the movie "Get Smart". Some of us had seen it, some hadn't. I was one of those that hadn't seen it. Once again we had a great time together.

The Great and Terrible Series

My friend Theresa mentioned that she'd been reading The Great and Terrible series. There are 6 volumes. I was finished with the other things I'd been reading so I thought I'd go to the library and give these a try. I was hooked almost from the get-go. I finished one and went into the next as soon as possible. I loved them and they also got me really going as far as emergency preparedness. Krysta's Ten Virgins presentation got me started back on the right path but this series really made me realize how important it is to be prepared in many different areas. I'd recommend this series to everyone!