It's official!

I have to pinch myself but yes, Blake and Whitney are finally engaged. All through the Christmas holiday we had to keep our (my) big mouths shut so as to not spill the beans about THE RING!! Those who know me are aware of how difficult that must have been.

The shocking thing is the date for the wedding is March 14th! I was certain they would wait till school was out but because of a job opportunity immediately after the semester ends, they thought it best to have a short engagement. Two months, WOW! Martha Stewart would be appalled~but that's how we do it here in Utah. We are really excited about our new daughter, she is a peach. I feel so blessed.

The house is kind of quiet now that it's just Brad, Haylie and me (and Oscar!). Nicki says she likes her roomates and school but it's a bit tricky for me to get much info from her. Tonight she called but then was rushing off to a fireside so she couldn't talk much. Hard to believe that this phase of my life -the raising kids part- is winding down. Weird... people used to say that it goes by fast when I was up to my neck in play-dough and diapers, I had to disagree! At the time life was moving incredibly SLOW. But now that I am looking back on things, well it's a strange perspective. Good, in lots of ways ~ but strange. And now it does seem to have flown by. One thing I am really thankful for and that is being a stay-at-home mom. I followed my heart on that one and there was some opposition along the way but I know it was the right thing for me. That reminds me of one of my favorite movie quotes of all time:

"Girl, you gotta run your own life!" ... Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner's Daughter.

That's a good old classic flick, if you haven't seen it.
Happy New Year, ya'll

With each telling, the flames get higher!

I'd like to publicly apologize (again) to the Santaquin City Firefighters for making them suit up and leave the comforts of home on Christmas eve to respond to a frantic 911 call about our holiday bonfire. My intention was to start a new tradition that was both memorable and didn't involve money & gifts. Well, this is one Christmas eve I'll never forget!

Grandpa Dick (who passed away on August 3rd) used to tell stories about the Christmas Eve bonfires they used to have when he was a kid. It was all very nostalgic and since I have grown a bit cynical about gifts as of late, my goal has been to do things at this time of year that create memories. A couple years ago we went cross country skiing at Soldier Hollow where Brad set up phone communication for the Olymics in 2002, one year we saw A Christmas Carol at the Hale theatre... you get the idea. So in memory of Grandpa, Linds and I thought it would be sweet to sing some carols around a little bonfire. Then the Henders got involved (they add excitment to any gathering) and donated some cookie palets, Brad got the back-hoe, and another neighbor showed up with some gasoline. Can you see where we're going with this? By the time I realize this is gonna be a BIG fire it's too late to notify the authorities because they were already on their way over. Good sports that they were, when they saw that it was 'under control' they asked "where's the marshmellows?" Funny thing is, this fire was so hot, you'd need a roasting stick fifteen feet long to avoid singeing your eyelashes.

Good times... they're already talking about next years bonfire and how it's going to be even bigger. Heaven help us [and someone get the proper permits!]

Christmas is Creeping up on us again!

I'm so glad it snowed! I love snow. It really feels like Christmas now. Maybe it''s because I moved to Kanab in the winter of 1974 and saw my first icicles and snow when I was eleven that I really knew what I had been missing!

I just got back from Idaho where I attended the Rexburg Idaho temple (my niece's wedding) so Utah feels downright balmy. I got to drive up with my sister and her family and they actually like to sing Christmas carols while driving in the car so I was loving it. We got bored with just singing them so we started using special sound effects like 'the opera voice' or 'under the sea'. We sounded pretty bad but it was a riot.

Well, it's less than a week now and I still haven't thought of a good present for my hubby (any suggestions? I'm desperate). I know I can just get something boring like a corduroy shirt but that would just be.............................. boring. Help. What he really wants is to be in Hawaii with the Jones but that ain't gonna happen (man, it's tough trying to keep up with the Joneses!). Haylie got a pricey gift this year. I'll give you a hint... they are silver and shiny with red & green elastics on them.

Well, have a Merry one everybody and remember; you won't get it all done before Christmas eve but you will get to the most important things becasuse somehow they always get done!

Turkey Leftovers!

Aaaaaaaah, Thanksgiving. Blake came up from Cedar and brought his girlfriend. All I can say is... if he breaks up with her, we're all gonna clobber him. She's that nice. After stuffing ourselves, we watched a Holiday Classic: Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation. Giggles all around. I have an edited version in case anyone wants to borrow it. Saturday morning we left before daylight on our annual adventure to pick out the perfect tree and I was so happy -there was even a little snow up there! Campfire, hot dogs, mud, four-wheelers... you get the picture. I only wish I'd brought the camera! We found a beautiful, but very prickly, evergreen and put it up today (since it's Sunday, we tried not to curse too much). I love this time of year. Ya, it's stressful and we all eat too much, exercise too little, spend too much, and get on eachothers nerves, but I still love it! Here's to TRADITION... stuff you do whether you want to or not! [Ha Ha]

Movie quote: "They want you to say grace! Grace?... she died thirty years ago."

I know, it's a goofy movie but it really tickles my funny-bone. Other holiday flicks that are a must this time of year...
The Grinch
It's a Wonderful Life
A Christmas Carol
A Charlie Brown Christmas

***Dad had open heart surgery and I think he's breaking records healing up so quick. He went to the annual feast (80-plus people!) less than a week after getting 5 bypasses! Whoah.

I had a request for the picture of my gingerbread house from the festival. Here goes...

Are you a fan?

I just loved the Carol Burnett show when I was growing up! Classic TV, I say.... Silly to the bone and sooooooooooooo funny. But when they did the spoofs of Nora Desmond (a.k.a. fading film star who's koo-koo) I really didn't get it because I never saw the movie. Well, last weekend I did.

I don't think it's for everyone but if you are a fan of old, campy movies, you will love it. For the last few years I have been watching all the old flicks I can get my hands on and it is so much fun! Of course, Hollywood churns out garbage-- then and now-- so you have to be choosey. Even so called 'classics' can be dissapointing and pointless, not to mention morally bankrupt. Breakfast at Tiffany's & Dr. Zhivago are two examples. If any of you have recommendations for me, let's hear 'em. I'm always looking for good entertainment.

Here's some of my fav's:

Daddy Long Legs (Fred Astaire!)
Funny Face (Audrey Hepburn!)
The King and I
Gone with the Wind
Mary Poppins

I love my Netflix membership because they have all the oldies and documentaries. Here is a good quote from the movie Sunset Boulevard:

'Norma, you're a woman of fifty. There's nothing tragic about being fifty.... unless you try to be twenty-five!'

I haven't seen Twilight yet so if you have... let me know what you think. I'm not crazy about vampire stories but curiosity will probably win out.