December Birthdays

For our family, along with Christmas, December is the month of birthdays.
Yes, I know... bad planning.

T turned 4.

R turned 43.
I am not sure why, but we always have about 5 cartons of ice-cream to choose from...


L is now a double digit.
Remember how cool that was?!
By this time we were all caked-out. L chose a delicious dessert with an oreo crust, mint-chip ice-cream, hot-fudge, and whip cream. YUM! We put all the candles in his piece.


Happy happy birthdays to 3 of my favorite men!

Christmas 2010

My sister and her husband (L & M) host a fun Soup and Singing Christmas party. One of the favorite games is passing a couple of pennies around a circle while everyone sings "Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat..." When the song ends, the holders of the pennies are out. This year, we had to do a childrens' round first as the adult round has becomes progressively rowdy!

Grandma L joined in the festivities. She came home from Idaho just in time for the fun. Her annual Christmas breakfast was held in Mom & Dad's home for the first time and I think she enjoyed it more than ever. She gave us the wonderful gift of our grandfather's written life history. It is truly a treasure.

We also enjoyed the annual West family breakfast, but missed having a Huber gathering. It's a blessing and a curse when families grow so large that it is hard to plan BIG activities.

Spreading ''magic reindeer hay" that T brought home from pre-school. It is a magical concoction of hay, oats and glitter. It helps the reindeer fly, you know!

The "line-up"!

Much anticipated fairies :)

Our official garbage bag holder... Thanks, Papa!

See all the treats on the counter? They mostly aren't there, now... Yummmmm!

Afternoon lounging in new chairs.

Simultaneously installing new drivers and learning the uke.

The backyard battle zone.

And here is the photo taken just a few minutes ago. Obviously, it's time for the bail-out! I know that I need to remove the fire hazzard/tree that is filling the corner, dropping ornaments and pine-needles but still smelling pine-y.

The problem is, I just like the lingering holidays. For me, it's kind of like the smell of bread that stays in your house all day long after you have baked it. We all stay in our jammies way too late. We play together, we nibble on treats and candy even though we have just had breakfast. And, I don't have to think about the babes returning to schools... near AND far.

So, if you don't mind... we are still having Christmas for the rest of the week. ...even if we do end up tidying up a little :)

I love the holiday season.

After my birthday in November, the days are just more and more fun.

I love the concerts, programs, parties, decorations, fun and festivities.

Once upon a time, I finished all my shopping and preparations before November.
That was my standard.
Now, it's my dream.



So, here I am on the 20th (Oh! MY! Gosh!) of December and I still have a list of things to go and do and get.

That is the part that I just don't like this year.
The Getting.
Shopping.
Buying.
I have no oooomph or even desire to go and do it!


We have what we need.
Why clutter and complicate our lives with more?

These thoughts have been pressing on my mind.

And, in that perspective,
I have been enjoying the concerts, programs, parties, decorations, fun, festivities and family
even more.

I have been aiming for simple and uncomplicated and joyful.


Simple.





T and I shopping for the tree and surprising all her brothers.


Uncomplicated.




Listening to the Mtn. View choir sing at the AZ temple and enjoying the light display.



Joyful.


My mother and aunts performing for the family Christmas party and laughing til they cried when they received a standing ovation.

Simple. Uncomplicated. Joyful.

Provo or Bust

We have been looking forward to the first weekend of December for a couple of months.
It's a rarity, but we had planned a trip.

K, in Provo, was performing in BYU's Celebration of Christmas.
All the choirs and their Philharmonic orchestra were on the docket.

We were told not to miss it, so we didn't.

We invited grand parents.
We bought tickets early, as they "always sell out".
We arranged transportation, because our van just isn't large enough.
We made sure everyone had clothes and shoes that could withstand blizzard conditions at least temporarily if needed... we lucked out and had beautiful weather in the 40's :)
At the last minute, we invited a niece to join the fun.

The whole trip as wonderful as we had hoped.
The roads were clear.
The children were pleasant.
We had food.
I'm not sure there is much more I could want.

Here are some photo highlights:

On the way, we walked across the dam.

When we pulled in and stopped at K's job, everyone had to throw snow... shoes or not!

Here we all are with the "real cougar"!

Not bad for an "old guy"! Of course my camera skills didn't catch the good stuff :(

L could reach the rings flat footed. That cracked us up!

The concert.

Our Star.

The proud parents.

Down time and tickle time.

We went to Music and the Spoken Word Sunday morning in SLC.

Now we can get ready for Christmas!