Christmas Celebrations and a Birthday

On Saturday, December 3rd, it was our annual Grandkids Christmas Movie Day...and also the celebration of Logan's birthday! We all met at the District (except for Dan and Stephanie who were preparing for McKenna's gala birthday party to be held that evening) for the movie "Hugo". We had a great time and as you can tell those adorable (?) personalities came out in many facial expressions of mirth!

Afterwards, we all enjoyed lunch at Red Robin just across from the theatre. Yummy! We also gave Logan his birthday present from us (Navy Sweatjacket, Navy sweatpants, and Navy socks that I purchased for him when I visited Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Waukegan
, Ill. with Cheryl and Maddy). See all the happy people!!

This evening for our Home Evening we did our annual tradition of going to see Christmas Lights (wish I could show Dad the house near you, Cheryl!). We went to the Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork (it is a really good display) and then went to McDonalds for our traditional Chicken MdNugget meal! Fun! Isn't Christmas FUN!!!!?!!

Sorry this one is a mite blurry! It is supposed to be a Nutcracker ballerina.

This is a Candy Cane making machine. My camera didn't do the lights justice but I thought I would share just a few pictures. We hope you all enjoy the Christmas Season...each and evey day!!

October...November...Time To Catch Up 2011!

I'm back...after taking a "break" for several weeks! What with one thing and another I can hardly believe it is the last day of November!! So here I am catching up on the last of October and some fun times in November. Are you ready?

Above is a picture of Matthew at a flag football game. He is the one with blue underarmour under his shirt. Cute, huh!?

The latter part of October I was part of a 12-member team (Brent was on it!) that participated in the Las Vegas Ragnar Relay Race. It was my first and it was quite an experience. We each ran three legs of various distances that comprised 188 miles around Lake Mead and Henderson...and took from 1100 on Friday till after 6 p.m. on Saturday! Brent finished the last leg. Wow, with only 2 1/2 hours sleep and little food except for Gatorade and Clif Bars I was tired and hungry. Our team filled up our bellies at Outback...yummy! Above is the finisher medal I got and our number.

The following weekend my sisters, Jennifer and Maureen, and my Mom and I got together for a girl's night out for my birthday. Above...Jennifer making the Nachos Supreme. Of course we got into our jammies before the meal and chic flick..."Persuasion". The next morning we had breakfast and watched "Sense And Sensibility" (a new BBC remake).

It's birthday party time! Grandma even made a cake for the occasion.

Happy Birthday to me!! Make a really good wish!

Maureen made me this really awesome "book" with paper for a shopping list or other notes and an envelope for coupons, etc. Thanks again, Deeny Bug!

At home on the 30th...my birthday cake! Just right!

Our porch on Halloween! We stayed home this year and treated the neighborhood trick or treaters!

O tne 3rd of November I flew out to Cheryl's to spend nearly 3 weeks! The next day I went to Grandparents Day at Abi's school...and what fun I had being with Abi! We are making a paper plate turkey. Abi made me a bookmark with her picture on it! Cute. Thanks Abi! I had so much fun going to school and be with her!

Abi in the purple coat...waiting to cross the street...after arriving home from school!

Maddy and Abi on Matty's birthday...playng with new Minne Mouse stuff.

Playing "Pin the Tail on Kitty!

Abi ready to get on the school bus!

Saturday, the 19th, The Elves visited the Van Wagenen home! Wow...what is in the padkage!?!

Introducing all the fun stuff that came in the package is Elf Eggnog and his sister, Peppermint Sprinkles! We had a really fun breakfast with all the goodies the box had! (See the picture below!)

Have you ever tried to decorate your Christmas Tree sideways? Cheryl, Maddy, and Abi did! (Hee-hee)

And isn't it fun to have Candy Canes after!? Maddy's first one...and she loved it...and made quite a sticky mess! But you gotta have fun, right?!

Abi trying to go to sleep after the tree decorating...and isn't the tree pretty? My pillow is next to hers. I "slept" till she went to sleep and then went upstairs as I had to finish packing for my early flight home the next morning! What a fun trip!!

Matthew, a friend, Alex, and me playing a rousing game of "Mormon Poker" on Thanksgiving

Day after a delicious dinner at Brent's and Karen's!

And then delicious Apple Pie enjoyed by scary - looking me!

Relaxing after the consumption of too many delicious calories!! And enjoying some football, too!

On our way home from Brent's we stopped at Stephanie's to wish Courtney a very Happy Birthday! ...And present her with something from American Girl!

I've slowly been trying to get Christmas decorations up and last night was Tree decorating night! We have it done and I am just tying the finishing touches...bows.

Our new ornament for this year...Frosty the Snowman! I saw an ornament while out at Cheryl's at Hallmark that I wanted but it cost $40.00. I thought it might be at the Exchange for a lot less when I got home but they didn't even have it...so Frosty was the next best thing!

The finished product! Tonight I may set up the train and tomorrow start on the villages! Oh...isn't Christmas time "the most wonderful time of the year"!!!

A Super Saturday, Birthday Time...Halloween Prep

On Saturday, October 8th Maureen came down to join me in making crafts at our Relief Society super Saturday! What fun!! She helped me complete my Nativity Blocks. The Shepherd Block lights up also...but the plug was not long enough to stretch to the cupboard outlet.

The next project shown are adorable "Boo" blocks! We both made a set of these and mine are now adorning the T.V. cabinent.

We also both made bracelets. They were pretty easy and turned out so cute. Not bad for $10.00! The "Boo" Blocks were $6.00 and the Nativity Blocks were $37.50...so all in all a very economical craft day! Afterwards Maureen came back home with me and we had a movie day/night...watching "Two Weeks Notice" with Halloween candy treats, then "The Proposal" with Nachos Supremes, and then "People Will Talk" with popcorn. To say we were stuffed is just about right! But what fun! She then spent the night and left for home the next morning.

On Monday, the 10th, it was Daddy's birthday. I didn't get too fancy this year....just Halloween sprinkles and Peep ghosts and pumpkins...but he thought it was really cute and enjoying a big slice.

The birthday boy and his cake.

I got the house decorated inside before the marathon but didn't have time to do the porch...so on his birthday morning we tackled that job...with lights (a new purchase this year), cornstalks from our garden, and a small straw bale and pumpkins from a Payson farmers field. I am ready for Halloween now!

Hard Work...And Then Party Time!! October 1-2, 2011

The St. George Marathon was held on a very hot October 1, 2011! Here I come and the Finish Line looks sooooo good!! It is always so wonderful to have my family waiting along the chute for me...and this year for Brent, too! This run completes my 14th St. George Marathon and my 20th marathon overall! Yeah!!Here comes Brent...finishing his 1st marathon! The balloons up ahead are at the Finish! I am so proud of Brent. He completed his race on a very sore (and previously very severely injured) foot. He is my hero! He ought to be so proud of all he has done this year!

Sorry this is blurry. Dad took this family picture at Iggy's and I think he was just so excited that he shook the camera!? Or else he was just so relieved to have Brent and me safely done with the race and alive! The food at Iggy's was wonderful...a very fun place to celebrate!

The next few pictures are condid shots of the family...my favorite fan club...and people I really love a lot!! (By the way...we sure missed Greg's family and Cheryl's family!)

Brent opening his "My First Marathon" goodie bag that Karen made up for him! Good things inside! We, also, wanted to get him something for his wonderful achievement but couldn't decide what to do until later that evening Dad suggested we get him some badly needed new running shoes...so we are heading to Salt Lake Running Co. on Friday for the analysis and purchase.

The following shows the items Brent, Karen, and family gave me for running my 20th Marathon! Every item I can definately use in my running...and the rolling stick will replace my foam roll when I am traveling! Thank you so much for such a wonderful gift!!

At home...my St. George Marathon Finsher's shirt and Finisher's Medal!

Dan, Stephanie, and the girls gave me a very awesome gift, also! Courtney knows I love American Girl Doll stuff and saw a running outfit with shoes, socks, top, shorts, warm-up pants and jacket, and Bib# for my doll. Courtney pursuaded Stephanie that that would be a great 20th marathon gift for me...and so now my Elizabeth doll is a runner, too! And isn't she adorable!!?! Thanks Court...and family!!

And so there you have it! It was so nice to get the hard work done...enjoy the Finish...and then get down to having some fun! Next run: Ragnar Relay in Las Vegas for Brent and myself on October 21-22nd! And then we are going to "rest from races" for the remainder of 2011! Thanks to all of you for your support and love!