Christmas Folow up

So the picture above is of my father and his wife Kathy.  I shot a photo of our Christmas dinner table setting...I used dishes my wonderful sister sent up from Vegas and in the larger one was the best roast EVER!!! Above is the tree before demolition, and thanks to some mystery elves the girls had a much nicer christmas!! How grateful we were, such generosity!! And now to the right is; Carolyn [step sister], Me ugh!! My sister Kaisa, who lives in Wyoming and Kim who is a half sister.  It was a great sister shot.  I have a step sister in Vegas who is my Step Dad's.  We are only 6 months apart and have become great friends!! This is her family at her oldest daughters graduation.

                                   I have a huge varied family and love them all!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!! Wow I can't believe it is CHristmas morning 2009 . . .  2010 is right around the corner!  Mind boggling.  I am working, again, and updating.  I have listened to Christmas music most of the 24th and through the shift here at the hospital.  What beautiful sentiments and peace.  Maybe this year I will listen to it year round, to keep the thoughts of Christmas alive all year.  How sad it is that we are so mankind oriented this time of year and it seems to get lost somewhere in the Spring. 

The other night Melissa performed the Hannah Montana Hoedown Throwdown.  She has bee practicing it for Dana and I's birthdays.  It was so cute!! I used her phone to video tape it, but am challenged that I have no idea how to upload it here.  I may try to do that when I get home.  Anyway it was so cute and she was so proud!! 

****Oh and can I just say the TexasRoad House has the absolutely BEST food around???? The steak was to DIE for!!!!! *** First date since ~ well I can't remember.  How sad is that?
                                     :(
It will be a different and has been a different Christmas this year.  With both boys gone it has seemed empty.  Dana told me yesterday he just 'hasn't felt it this year'.  I know that feeling, but it has been other years.  I simply didn't care and went through the motion.  But well we are all allowed these moments.

Our Christmas Eve consisted of our traditional "Teach the Children" story with props, but we skipped the light viewing, no one really wanted to go.  But the girls are still excited for Santa.. none of us should out grow this wonderful reminder of family, love, unity and brotherly love!  
I hope to hear from James today, as he will be leaving the country soon, I pray his holiday has been special.  Matt spent it alone, his choice I guess.  Didn't want to intrude on his mates' family time.  So like his father he is.  

And to leave this update for more to come with pictures ~ For unto us a child is given, unto us a child is born!!  From the Messaih my absolute favorite music for this season!  

YAY Nails!

Okay so I completely know that being excited to have nails on is vain and soooo girly, but well I love them!!  They are a gift form my Nephew and his girl-friend. Chrishel Harris did them [that's the girl friend]  I love her to death!! I wish one of my boys would've found her . . . yet neither one of them is ready so it is what it is!! hahahaha.
The Christmas season has been very downplayed this year.  With both boys gone, a new area and jobs.  We of course have not been able to do much.  With the help of some great people it has been made very special. 
I get to work Christmas Eve, but will be home Christmas Day for 'the MTC call' !!!! YAY!  It will be welcome yet very hard.  His letters are wonderful and he has worked so hard in the mTC and will be heading south in about 17 days providing the VISA comes through.  I bet he is anxious, nervous and just wanting to move forward. 
Matt also is heading into some changes, one being ~ being done with the NAVY.  He will be done FEbruary 18th 2010.  Now that is weird to type !  He is excited, I doubt if nervous at all, just excited!!  We are too!!
I believe I have Christmas locked up, now to wrap. Oh and a few candy treats!

 Again it is small but really what is the season about?
The Savior,   HIS gift to us,   Love and family. 
Everything else could be considered overkill.

Tomorrow is the Casterline side Christmas party... I am excited to go and see all the family.. I will take photos to share there are 7 children all married with 3 of the grandkids married. And lots of cousins . . . It gets very crazy!! Then we plan to go to Temple square to see the lights!!  I am excited it has been a long while since we have done that.

WORK

So as a young child I knew work would be a part of life.  It didn't mean i liked it only accepted it.  I absolutely HATED Saturdays as my mother wasn't working out of the house, but in it.  I never knew it took two whole entire hours to clean a bathroom ! ! What kind of a person does this ? ?  The only reprieve was when my grandparents might visit . . . I loved these visits as I loved my Grandmother!! And of course mom mysteriously cheered up!  My grandmother was a bundle of energy and fun, always quick with a little jingle or yodle.  She had the softest cheeks and a heartwarming smile.  And made the absolutely best  pumpkin pie, potato salad, yams and steamed carrot cake! YUMMY YUMMY... oh digress sorry anyway; I am here at work.  Waiting for the phone to ring at Logan Regional Hospital.  And I am pondering work.  There is all kinds of work, some you HAVE to do, some you want to do, some you love to do . .  well you get the picture.  I have put in several hours in the last few days here and I don't mind really as it helps us pay those nasty bills, but I wonder do I like this work? Do I fit in this work ?  How lucky you are if you can say you love your job.  When people ask me what i do my immediate response is either 'paper pusher' or 'mother of 4' .  I think I enjoy the mother part far more than the paper pusher part.  I know I didn't enjoy my little ones near as much as I could've as we were ALWAYS worried about bille and if we'd make it.  As we literally live from paycheck to paycheck, if there is any extra at all it just doesn't seem to cover those things you put off until you can afford them.  We still literally live paycheck to paycheck.  So I work these hours to help out.  My wonderful husband works so hard and I think he doesn't enjoy his work so much as he is good at it and competent.  We could've over the years worke extra jobs, both of us, but have CHOSEN our family over the  'extra'.  As I sit here in the quiet I am grateful for the jobs we have, especially as I was without one for so long.  But even more grateful for the choice of living paycheck to paycheck to have our family as close as we are.  They are why and I WORK , but hopfully know I live for them.  Much love to you guys mema ;p

Hip hip Horray for Christmas Lights and Snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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