Gingerbread Houses

Every year I get those wonderful premade kits for gingerbread houses and let the kids decorate them. It has been a tradition for several years now, and this year is no exception. The only thing about this year was I bought pre-made houses (thinking this was a good thing), only to have my son inform me that I cheaped it out. Apparently not having to wait while I make sure the roof won't fall off is better...

Anyway, here they are:

The next Ace of Cakes????

Oh yeah, I got the train set...have you met my husband Scott?

Point for Emily

OK, Emily has inherited her father's sense of humor (I'm not really sure if it is a sense of humor or some German version of it). Anyway, she rarely appreciates mine but thinks her father is funny...I know, weird! So it was a pleasant surprise the other night when she not only executed a great zing at me, but stuck the landing as well! We were walking into City Market for some groceries and she was commenting that some movie was sick, then she turned to me and said, "Here, let me put it in a term you would understand Mom, it is 'radical'. Isn't that something from your 80's days?".

I had a little tear in my eye, I'm so proud!

Whirlwind Trip

Every year just around Thanksgiving, Nancy or I will say..."Man, I could sure use a trip to Salt Lake, but I just don't know when I'm going to have a free day to run over there." So almost every year, we manage to find one day. One special day that we usually leave obscenely early, dash over, hit our stores and drive home in less than ideal weather. This year was rather special, because we actually managed to spend one night...thanks to my sweet husband who took care of the kids and Kassie, plus my great brother-in-law who had some frequent stay points that got us a couple of sweet rooms.



So Sunday, in a storm, we headed over. Fortunately we only had sleet part of the way, you know the first half and the second half. Monday morning we hooked up with Donna and started out bright and early...sorry you didn't get a hot breakfast Donna.



8:45 - Church Distribution Center (and discovered it didn't open until 9:00)



9:45 - Ok, ok, come on you guys, we can't spend all day in one place...let's move





10:00 - Alright, here's our strategy. I just need to get the sofa I've already picked out. The rest of you, skip the top floor and I will meet you downstairs.


10:50 - Oh man, Scott gave me 68 tie downs...I wonder if I have to use them all. Well, if I don't I'm sure to be sorry. I think the blue tarp with paint on it makes us look a little redneck.



11:20 - Ok, you guys go on in, there are a couple of air gaps in the tarp. I'll get them nailed down while you pick up what you need here. Lunch? We don't have time for that. Move, Move, Move.


12:00 - Seriously, don't people in Orem/Prove have to work? Why is there so much traffic on University?


12:30 - University Mall, do you think it's selfish if I only get the ones I like?


2:30 - Why don't they ever have boxed nativities left? Of course, it was time to renew my platinum membership, since I only use it in December. Why don't they have any of my favorite books?
4:00- Finally find Donna's new step daughters house, basically toss her onto the front step. (Sorry Donna... and you forgot your Lehi Roller mills bag, but you did end up with my See's candy).


5:00 - One last stop at the Deseret Book in Spanish Fork, they have boxed Nativities.

We managed to get home around 10:00, but the fog through the desert was really thick, and while Nancy and I think we are hilarious, my Mother apparently doesn't always share our humour and punished us by refusing to speak to us from Crescent Junction to the state line.

We both made it to work on Tuesday, but maybe we are getting a little old for this shopping trip. Well...until next December.

17"

Tuesday night as Scott and I climbed up into the ginormous bed (but that's another blog) and settled ourselves in for a good nights sleep, we had the following conversation:

Me: Hey Scott, guess what we have to do this Saturday?

Scott: ugh, what?

Me: Nothing!!!

Scott: That's good, maybe we can spend some time together.

Me: Hey we just spent 2 hours together last night out in the shop, cutting out pieces for the Webelos to make birdhouses.

Scott: I meant something together that didn't involve cub scouts.

Me: Au contrare, cranky boy! Remember...we spent 2 quality hours together this morning, digging my van out of the driveway!

Yes, on Tuesday morning we woke up to find 17" of that lovely white stuff covering our home. I know what you're thinking, "Allison, you live in Colorado, of course you get snow." Yeah, I get a little sprinkling now and then, but I live in Western Colorado, we don't get 17" all winter, let alone out of one storm. I couldn't get out of my driveway, then I couldn't get up the ranch road to Kannah Creek road. Since the ranch road is a private drive, we don't get snowplows, then if you add that lovely little hill at the top, plus the extra 18+" the snowplow sent our way, it was very exciting. Scott and I dug for several hours, slapped my chains on, and finally got up and over the hill. As you can see it is still pretty nasty, but with temperatures in the -15 range, I'm sure it will be melting away soon!

Oh Yeah!!! 1st Again!!!

Well, once again, our scout pack has outdone its self! The theme for the Parade of Lights this year was Toyland (creepy song, cool theme). So Scott and the other Dad's got together and came up with this design, it was a street, with street lights, and a road closed sign at the back of the semi. Then we turned the boys into toys, we had Monopoly boards, yo-yo's, checker boards, Lego's and Erik was a Scout in the Box on the back. We blasted some of my favorite Christmas tunes and handed out candy canes, and did I mention we won first place in the Youth category again this year? Cold days of decorating and finger numbing light wrapping experiences all fade but...the bragging rights go on all year! For more pictures go to the gjsentinel.com and check out the Parade pictures, we are slides 64 & 65.