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.

Seussical !

I'm happy to say that when I walked into the Red Barn at Thanksgiving Point with my newest gingerbread creation, the first person who saw it said "oh it's the house from Horton hears a Who". I actually watched The Grinch for inspiration, but close enough.

This is the sixth year of the Festival and I haven't missed a one. I LOVE making gingerbread houses! Playing with fondant is just like playing with play-dough, and when you plug in the lights you get that Christmas morning feeling. Brad was a real good sport, putting up with the mess in the kitchen and I did actually manage to still feed the family while this was going on.

I had my doubts about this one, probably because I started so late and didn't really have a plan until last Saturday, but it turned out really cute. The best part is that I think it will really appeal to kids (or the kid in all of us!). Nicki had the idea to put the car up high on the wires... so fun. I want to do more with lights but it was a pain to hide all the cords, so keep your eyes peeled for mini lights that are spaced 1 inch apart!

The Gingerbread House Festival is this Thursday & Friday 1:00 to 9 pm and Saturday 10:00 to 6:00
GO CHECK IT OUT!

Now... on to more important things: 'Solve world hunger... tell no one!'

Trip to Sunny California

Well, this picture of Nicki on the beach says it all. It fits into the Happiest DAY EVER category! We went to several beaches but my favorite was called "Crystal Cove" and yes, it was as idyllic as the name sounds. Mom & dad taught us how to boogie-board (these are my parents! & they're great-grandparents... how cool are they?) and it was so fun. I will treasure the memory of catching a good one and gliding in right next to Helen, laughing all the way.

Nicki survived almost a solid week of 'old-folks' (myself included) with her sanity in-tact. Her i-pod battery died so she was stuck listening to hours of The Carpenters and Frank Sinatra and she didn't even complain but yesterday when she was in charge of the radio it was anything but oldies.