Skiing & Snowboard Fun

We decided to go skiing/snowboarding as a family today, while we all had some time off work. This was Hayden's second time and Halli's first time. Thank goodness Cannon came and taught them both (he used to be a ski school instructor)
There was so much snow.

They Both did such a great job. We couldn't believe how well they did. The best part was that they were having fun too, no complaining or whining.
Mom and Ted joined us in the lodge and brought us all Subway, cookies, drinks and treats.

Jeremy showing off his pimp gear.

Abbey carving up the ridge.

Halli whizzing past with abbey trying to catch up.

Thanks to Cannon he makes skiing fun. (Sorry no pictures of Britany on her snowboard.)

Hayden asked on the way home if we could go next week.

Some of Our Christmas Fun

This year Hayden and Halli got to have Christmas together which only happens every other year. I always look forward to it. They like the same things and they are so close in age that they usually get the same things from Santa. It's so fun

Hayden and Halli wrote notes to Santa and left cookies, chocolate, milk and carrots for the reindeer. Santa always writes back.

Christmas Eve at Nanna's and Ted's, the grandkids always get spoiled.

Excited girls in their new outfits.

Cache loved his new boy doll. Cache kissed him all night.

My Favorite Tradition

Going the the annual Tabernacle Christmas concert has been a favorite tradition of mine since the first time I went back when it was in the Tabernacle instead of the Conference Center. Every year for about 12 years my family tries to go. We have only missed one or two times. We have seen various singers and actors, from Angela Landsbury to Walter Conkrite.

This morning we left our house at 7:20, the roads were very bad. There is never any parking close by so we had to walk a few blocks in the frigid weather.

This year only Mom, Ted, Cannon, Jeremy and me were able to go. My parents and Cannon got to sit on the front row, Jeremy and I were back aways.
I can honestly say that I enjoy every moment of the performance. There is the Choir, the Orchestra on Temple Square, The Bells on Temple Square, and dancers performing throughout each song. I just get such an energized feeling when I hear them sing.

This year the guests were Brian Stokes Mitchell a Broadway performer and Edward Herrman a movie and television actor. Brian was amazing.

The stage is always decorated so beautifully.
President Monson presented the performers with plaques afterward and thanked them for coming and sharing their talents with us.

Oh the Christmas Lights

This year Jeremy said that he didn't think he would have time to put up Christmas lights. I said that's totally fine because he has had a very busy schedule and a lot of stress. I thought to myself, it's okay if we don't have lights this year, or I thought if I really wanted them, it probably would be pretty simple.

So Jeremy had to go to Moab for work and I thought I will put up the lights and surprise him. This morning I got the the lights out at 10:45. First I got all the lights out, plugged them in and tested them, most of them worked, I messed with a few that had problems, and I threw a set away. I planned on taking about two hours to complete this task.
Jeremy's one rule was if I was going to try to put up the lights, I couldn't get on the roof. I know how dangerous roofs can be in the winter, but I thought I can do this. I will set the ladder up and climb up over the roof and them just connect the lights to the rain gutter. I climbed the ladder and got to the top and realized the pitch on the roof was much steeper than I had thought. I climbed down the ladder and thought about how the heck I could do this. I didn't have a ladder that was tall enough to set up and hang them while standing on the ladder. I came to the conclusion that I would have to just put the lights in the bushes and trees.
So I began decorating the bushes and I wasn't very happy with the way they were looking. My neighbor walked by and I asked her how she liked my red-neck Christmas lights. She said why don't you use my adjustable ladder and I will hold it for you and you can hang them from the rain gutters. Okay that will be great. We got her ladder and I removed all the lights from the bushes.

She helped me do three-forths of the roof and then I ran out of lights. So I had to run to Home Depot. Forty dollars later I had 7 new sets of lights and 3 extension cords. I got home and we finished the rest of the roof and then I did a few bushes. By this time it was 5:45 and dark. My two hour project turned into 7 hours.
I couldn't believe what a pain in the butt it was.


The sad thing is, is that it isn't that many lights, but I am not doing any more. And next year when Jeremy says he doesn't have time..... I will know exactly what he means.