Time to Make a Change

Hello my bloggy friends,

After thinking and pondering and listening to my stake president, I've decided to make some blogging changes.

No, I'm not going private. I thought about it for about two seconds and decided that's not for me.

What I have decided is to go incognito. On this blog and my previous blog (on MSN) I used my own name and friend's and family's names. Also I haven't been exactly secret about the town where we live. Oh, I thought I was tricky enough about not fully disclosing my location, but it wasn't too difficult to figure out...

And that's not safe.

What I decided to do is create a new blog. This new blog has nicknames for all of us. I won't tell you here, what those names are. I'll save that little surprise for when you clicky over there. Also, I won't put the link to that new blog here. That would be counterproductive to my little plan to become "faces in the crowd." Eventually (soon), I will close down this blog and make it private, with only myself having access so I can print what I've written as a family journal.

Here's my plan to let you know the new address: Please leave me a comment here with an email address and I will email you the link. I will also ask, if you have a link to me on your own blog, please remove my last name. (All my former YW, please feel free to call me by my new nickname on the new blog. It's okay if you don't call me Sister ______ .)

I'm sure there is an easier way to do this, but my brain doesn't function on "easy". And I know that the only way to be perfectly safe is to go private. But let's give this a try.... it just might work!!!

With love,
Chelli

P.S. I will make the change and close this site down in about two weeks.

Saturday Shenanigans

If it's going to snow non-stop, we might as well have fun!





Thanks to our videographer, Aly!

Again I Have To Ask....

WHOSE KID IS HE.....?

Here's the story:
Christmas morning, Aly actually waited until after 7 am to get us up (we always try to get her to wait until 8:30 or 9, but she persists until we find a 7:30 compromise). Adam was pretty tired due to the lateness of the night before and we had to go into his room to wake him up (no sneaking out to peek this year!)

Aly and I walked into his bedroom and I gently whisper, "Adam, let's go see what Santa brought you."

No response from him but the heavy breathing of a child deep in sleep.

I lean in a little closer and say, "Come on Adam! I think Santa came. Do you want to go see?"

This time he wiggles a little.

"Adam, darling, it's time to get up! Let's go downstairs!"

And this time a little boy's voice sternly says, "You're annoying me!"

Aly and I had to bust up laughing. What 6 year old yells at his mom for trying to wake up and tell him that Santa came?!?! It would have to be the same boy that doesn't like M -n- M's, or Oreos and prefers carrots and celery... THAT boy!

It doesn't end there. It gets better.

Through our snickers and giggles, I say, "Adam, don't you want to get up and go look at presents?"

He is still completely irritated and he says, "I AM SLEEPING!!! LOOK AT MY EYES! CAN YOU SEE THAT THEY ARE CLOSED?"

It was too much. We were just dying with laughter. Obviously we had to try a different tactic, so we used that reverse psychology stuff and walked out of his room saying, "That's okay. Just come down when you're ready. We'll go ahead without you."

One point two seconds is all it took... he jumped out of bed and was running down the hall, his eyes only half open. I had to grab him and reign him in before he fell down the stairs and hurt himself.

This kid is a nut!!!

12 Days of Christmas, eh.

Merry Christmas!!

I leave you tonight with one of my favorite Christmas songs.... ever.

(Don't think I'm a heathen, this just makes me laugh, eh?)

Holy Cow Look At The Snow!!

I just posted these pictures on my private family blog and decided I'd post them here too. This is what I woke up to this morning, and what I had to clear out. It took me almost two full hours to finish my small driveway, do the sidewalk and 1/2 of my neighbor's driveway. I was wring-out wet by the time I got back inside because it is still snowing.

Oh yeah, it will be a white Christmas.

I blew out the driveway twice yesterday, the last time right before bed. This is the accumulation from last night.

We love the snow plows, but I wish they wouldn't bury my driveway! My little snow blower couldn't cut through this. I had to do it with brute strength and a shovel (and some help from my cutie-patootie neighbor boy).

Wanna Be

Clark Griswold is my hero. Especially in the movie Christmas Vacation. It is my dream to one day decorate the outside of my house in the same manner as "Sparky."

It didn't happen this year. Our house is boring. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that Calvin took the time to hang all those C-7's around the roof line, but there's no flash, no zing. I put some lights around the kid's windows, but that's not enough. I hung some extra lights around the garage, but that's still not enough. I'm going to get some lights for the living room window, and that will help, but it's not the full effect I'm looking for.

While we were in Utah this weekend we drove through some fancy schmancy neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights. I found two houses that made me drool with envy. This first house is located right next door to Chrissy's good friend. (Funny story: This girl is living in a basement apartment and has only lived there a few months. She went out of town for Thanksgiving and on her return trip, saw this house from the airplane. She knew it was in her neighborhood. She prayed all the way home that it wasn't her house.)

This house is just tacky enough that I found it appealing. There is even a big sign on the roof that pays homage to Clark (maybe if you click on the photo it will enlarge).

The second house was in a neighborhood where an Osmond lives.

The biggest thrill of the evening was driving to the hills and seeing the house that is programmed to music. Watching the trees and decorations light up to the pulsing beat of music was dang cool.

Clark would have been proud.

It's a Marshmallow World...

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas....

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas....

Think of any Christmas song that mentions the weather outside and how it should be at Christmas time (except the Hawaiian Christmas songs).

Have you thought of any that I haven't listed? I'm sure you have. Did you think of "a picture print by Curier and Ives?" Did you think of "in the lane, snow is glistenin?" I could go on and on, but I won't. Let's just say that when I look out my window, that's what I see.

Finally,

FINALLY

I can get into the Christmas spirit? Why does it take snow for that to happen? I guess I'm an Idaho girl at heart. (Just looked out my window and there is more coming down!! Yipee!!)

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Had a great weekend in Utah. Aly's choir got to sing at Temple Square in Salt Lake. It was very cool seeing my daughter on the stage in the Assembly Hall (and Joseph Smith Bldg.). They sounded great. What a great choir and director.







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The weather turned bad while we were down there, so we opted to drive home a day later than anticipated. Chrissy was so nice to accomodate us. My original plan was to come home Saturday morning and get my Christmas baking done, so Chris suggested we just get it done at her house. Her kitchen is pretty cool and big (as opposed to my crappy one) so I agreed. We busted our rears and got 2/3 of our baking done (sugar cookies, festive cookies, Ohio Buckeyes and chocolate dipped pretzels). I only have two or three things left to make. YAY!!! Thanks Chris!!

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Adam has a loose tooth. It's just about ready to come out. His goal is to keep it in his mouth until Christmas Eve. That way Santa and the Tooth Fairy have to come on the same night. "Wouldn't that be cool mom? Do you think they know each other?"

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I learned how to use the snow blower yesterday. Calvin has kept that fun all to himself in the 3 or 4 years we've had it.

Shoveling snow = YUCK!!! Too much work and sore shoulders.

Blowing snow = FUN!!!! Too much fun than one person should have.

I got carried away this morning and ended up doing our driveway, the next door neighbor's driveway and several sections of sidewalk. I was mad when I saw another neighbor had done my other neighbor's driveway. I'll have to get up earlier next time.

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Speaking of snow and neighbors, I have to end this by saying how lucky I am to live in such a great neighborhood. There are three or four of us that have the mechanical means to remove snow, i.e. snowblowers or 4-wheelers with a plow. When I went out this morning I saw that every one of us was helping out the other neighbors. None of the elderly people have to do their own driveway and all the sidewalks and mail boxes are dug out. People are pushing their snow blower up and down the street looking for a driveway that needs cleared. No one asked them to do it, it's just done.

I thought it was very cool. (It's another secret that Calvin has been keeping to himself.)

Grinch Is Loose

Is it just my house...

my kids...

or is there a big

whiny

GRUMPY

Cantankerous

bug biting children as

Christmas draws nearer?

. . . . . . . . . . .

I'm thisclose to calling

Santa Clause and

telling him to skip our

house this year.

Christmas Playlist

I have never done a post about a "playlist" before because I don't usually have one. I'm a music idiot. I love listening, but I never know who is singing and I rarely know the name of the song. I focus on enjoying the music of the moment and then it goes away, until I hear the song again and I say, "Hey! I remember that I like this song."

Like I said, I'm a music idiot.

However, I bought some new Christmas CD's this year and I'm really excited about them. My first and favorite CD is Kristin Chenoweth. You know, she plays Olive Snook on Pushing Daisies (stupid network that cancelled it), and Mrs. Gornicke on RV as well as a gazillion other wonderful parts. (I'm a fan.) I listen to this CD 20 times a day and it hasn't gotten old yet. L.O.V.E it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKjDPl1x98I

I finally broke down and bought Josh Groban's Noel this year. I've wanted it for a couple years and I thought with the economy in the tank, I might as well do my part to give it a boost. After all, my favorite Christmas song of all time is his version of O Holy Night. Sure, that song isn't on this CD, but there are many songs on this CD I enjoy and he sings with MoTab. Can't beat that!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIFH0TUWcBA

The third new CD I got this year is Christmas Number Ones. I got it as the music selection from BMG. It's just a collection of popular Christmas songs by popular artists -- both new and old. Gene Autry is the best....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFtOQfuNZLA

And that's what I'm listening to this Christmas.

I Believe...

Dude, You're Soooo Grounded!

I read this story in my local newspaper today and found it amusing: (I have deleted local names)

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Juvenile Fakes Kidnapping To See Movie
Published: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Police say a reported kidnapping of a young man Monday evening, which turned out to be fabricated by him, interfered with responders' duties.

Because the person who made the false report is a juvenile, the information about it has been referred to the county prosecutor.

The incident occurred around 9 p.m. when police and ambulance crews responded to a 911 cell phone call from a young man who said he had been kidnapped and then locked in the trunk of his car.

(Police) said the teenager said he had been hit on the head before he was put into the trunk.

The boy told police that he initially didn't know where he was, but after officers told him how to manipulate the trunk latch from the inside, the boy was able to get out and let them know his location behind the (local) Kmart store.

When police arrived at the car, they found him sitting on its bumper.

(Police officer) said ambulance personnel who checked him over could not find anything wrong with the boy.

And under further investigation, the police determined that the story didn't appear credible and the "victim" then admitted the story was untrue.

(Police officer) said after police interviewed the boy, they concluded that he had fabricated the story as an explanation for not being at a family event at his home, when he was actually at a movie with a friend.

"What we found was that he had left a family home evening and went to a vampire movie without permission," (police officer) said, "This fabrication of being kidnapped tied up six officers, the dispatcher and a number of medical personnel who had other duties to fulfill."

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Only in this town (and possibly Provo/Orem) can the newspaper print "Family Home Evening" and not have to explain what it is.

O Tannenbaum

Christmas time is a time of family traditions. I'm sure your family has many, as does ours. Yesterday we partook in the merry tradition of tree decorating. This is how it played out:

**We are one of five families in the whole world who still purchase a fresh tree. There is nothing pre-fab or synthetic in our tree stand!! We like to drive 1/2 hour to the big city south of us to purchase from the YMCA lot at the mall. No, we don't have a membership there, we just like their trees. (the only place here to buy a fresh tree is at the grocery store, along with some canned beans.) This year, we switched up the tradition. Aly was in school when we left, so we didn't bring her. The usual tradition is that she comes along and sits in the car complaining about how cold it is, constantly repeating, "Can we go home now?" Even though we were in jackets (Calvin was just in shirt sleeves) we knew she wouldn't miss the adventure.

**After living in Oregon for a few years, I grew quite fond of Noble Firs. They are the most gorgeous Christmas tree you can have. Also, in Oregon, you can go to a farm and cut your own Noble for $5-$10. Not here. Nobles cost around $100, which makes them slightly out of my price range. I have switched my allegiance to Fraser Firs. They are almost as beautiful and quite aromatic. The three of us (Calvin, Adam and myself) sequestered ourselves in the Fraser section of the lot and had a healthy debate over which tree was best. I wanted the 7 foot, Calvin wanted the 6 foot (it's cheaper) and Adam just wanted to pick it. We started a new tradition: Rock/Paper/Scissors determined who got to pick the tree. Lucky for the men, I won. Yet, suspiciously enough, when I pointed to the tree I wanted, Calvin kept pointing at another saying, "I think you want that one." Suspiciously enough, we ended up taking home the tree Calvin kept pointing at (the 6 footer).

**It's an interesting tradition getting the tree home: It is tied to the roof of our car and I spend the half hour on the highway looking at it through the rear-view mirror, making sure it isn't moving too much, or that it will unexpectedly flip off the car and impale the driver of the car behind us. I end up with a crick in my neck by the time we get home. (I never trust that the guys get it tied on securely.)

**Once we're home comes the fun part. Debating whether we need to cut the end off again (has it been longer than 1/2 hour since the guy at the lot cut it off?), getting the tree in the stand and getting the lights on. I'm very lucky that Calvin takes care of all this dirty work. (Give it a year or two and Adam will be out there with him!) This year was fun. No matter how he tried, the tree is crooked in the stand. But, if you hold your head at an angle, it's okay.

**This year Calvin worked for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes making sure all the lights work and getting them on the tree. After it was finished and with sweat streaming down his face and dripping in his eyes, he plugged them in. Half didn't work. Of course, it was the half in the middle. I was quickly dispatched to Walgreens to purchase new lights.

**600 brand new lights on the tree. Who needs a lamp in the living room?

**This year brought Aly into the living room with us as we decorated! This, again, is new and much enjoyed. When she was a finicky 14 year old, she sat on the stairs, frowning and not helping. (She still insists that she won't carve pumpkins with us.)

** For as many years as I can remember, Santa has given me a new ornament from Hallmark on Christmas morning. I'm kind of old, so I have a lot of ornaments. Santa started bringing them to Calvin when he married me, that has been almost 21 years, so he has a lot of ornaments. Santa brings ornaments to my children, which adds to the numbers. I have two Rubbermaid boxes filled to the brim with Hallmark ornaments. My job is to go through the boxes, pull out the ornaments, remember whose they are and give them to that person to hang on the tree. I love that job. Adam wants to take it from me. I won't give it up willingly. Aly, actually hung her ornaments on the tree. That is 17 ornaments!! YOU GO GIRL!!!

**Finally, the lights are on, the ornaments are hung and we read our scripture and story from the 24 Days of Christmas. Family prayer and everyone heads to bed. Everyone but me. Now I get to move that huge mass of ornaments that is eye level to Adam and in one place in the front of the tree to create a more aesthetically pleasing balance. I pour two more pitchers of water in the tree stand, remind the dog and cat that the water is for the tree NOT them, turn off the lamps and bask in the glow of fresh pine scent and multi-colored lights twinkling at me.

It's soooo worth it!!

(Hold your head crooked and the tree looks straight)