Luminarias by night...

Christmas eve brought rain and thunder. Christmas day brought high winds and a frosty breeze too cold to stand outdoors in. Tonight was clear, calm and cold. Perfect conditions for lighting the luminarias we prepared several weeks ago during one of our family home evening activities. Arnold grew up in El Paso, Texas where luminarias are lit during the holiday season. We tried making luminarias a few times in Utah but this year it seemed to be more of a hit with the kids than in years past. Maybe it was the decorating. Maybe it was the assembling. Or maybe it was just the fact that we could play with matches and light a fire while watching the flickering candles beneath each decorated bag light up the walkway at night. Whatever the case may be...it was a fun activity for the day after Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all...

This morning although Arnold had to be in to work by 5:30 am we were able to spend an hour together opening presents before he left. The kids woke up about 4 am and luckily Santa had just enough time to get everything in order before they ran upstairs to see what he had left for them! Merry Christmas to all of you! We hope you have an enjoyable holiday season!

Tea parties and sombreros...

The Gulf Coast children's museum was a fun place to spend the day! Airplanes, train cars, open air markets, and restaurants helped fuel the kid's imaginations! Even Lisa got a little involved when Jessica insisted she join in for a "tea party for two". Notice Jessica's pinky finger? She's done well with learning the ins and outs of how to be a true Southern Bell!

One of Kenny's favorite stops was Mexico! (After he flew us there in his own private jet!) The museum offered several different rooms that each had its own theme. A pilot's cockpit, a traincar engine, a supermarket, Seafood station, an outdoor restaurant, and a hotel lobby. Later that afternoon Clifford - the Big red dog came for a visit and dinner was sponsored by Chick-Fil-A restaurant. We love it when that happens! May I say again...it was a very fun place to spend the day!

Christmas cheer...

Its never an easy task to get three grown children to stand and pose for a picture they know is going to be sent out to everyone they know for Christmas. Amidst the complaining and whining we manage to get a smile or two out of them and hope that one day when they're out on their own they'll be grateful for the family pictures we took when they were young. Even if it meant posing for a few pictures in front of a half decorated Christmas tree on an early Saturday morning when they would rather be in bed watching Saturday morning cartoons! (P.S. Its also quite enjoyable to see the expressions on their faces when you use the one they least expect! Merry Christmas! And have a funfilled joyful New Year!

A glimpse of hope...

This year Arnold's work party was held at the Jackson County Civic Center in downtown Pascagoula, Mississippi. We were thrilled to see people we hadn't seen since last year's get together. The stark constrast between this year's party and last year's was simply unbelievable. Still cleaning up from Hurricane Katrina many of the employees who attended last year's party came in everyday street clothes. The only clothes some of them had left. Tired, worn and ragged many employees spent their time talking, sharing, reminiscing, and shaking their heads in disbelief. This year's party showed a very different side of life for those affected by the storm. One of happiness, gratitude and love. One of smiles, laughter and excitement as they saw others who too had made it through all the rubble and pain Hurricane Katrina left behind. One couple in particular made us literally jump out of our seats as we saw them enter the ballroom. Rick and Patsy lost everything they owned to a 8 foot storm surge that came rushing through their home in Ocean Springs. Arnold and I spent countless hours after the storm pulling out carpet, sheetrock, and furniture too badly damaged to salvage. The interesting thing about this couple is that at the time of the storm, Patsy was in Tennessee undergoing treatment for breast cancer. It was wonderful to see them again and to hear of their "new" home and all the joy that it brings them! Patsy's cancer is in complete remission and as you can see the best part of all she says is that her hair is finally growing back!

A day with oma...

So what is it about being a grandma? Is it the lessons you learned while being a parent? The What if's the Should've's the Maybe's and the Would've's? Well for me it seems to all be just about seeing your kids enjoy your mom in a way that you remember doing as a child once long ago but haven't done since claiming your independence. Since staking a claim on your life as an adult. Since telling yourself that there was more than what you had in the confines of your childhood home. Since venturing out on your own and declaring that you would do it all differently given the chance. Since finding out that what you had wasn't all that bad anyway and that you maybe should've cherished that time you had as a child with a parent who did a pretty good job with you after all...

Dauphin Island, Alabama with oma here at our favorite Shark spot. We have to take a picture here everytime we travel out to the island. On my parent's very first trip to Mobile my dad and Kenny were standing underneath the shark for a picture when a bird flew out of its mouth and scared Kenny half to death! My mother swears everytime she thinks about that day she starts to giggle and can't stop laughing! We think it will be one of those stories Kenny hears about for the rest of his life! One that we will have to share everytime we're at Dauphin Island, Alabama taking another picture with the Shark!

Two turtle doves and a....

Okay so its not a partridge in a pear tree. But there really was a live rooster on Jessica's head and one on Kenny's shoulder! The city provided several activities for the kids to do while we were waiting for the Tree Lighting Ceremony to begin. The children's favorite activity (of course) was the petting zoo. Besides the rooster, there were goats, geese, bunnies, and a really big pig. (Not FIVE...just one.)

Anyway, it was fun and we had a great time. Except for Lisa who is still afraid of geese because one chased her and bit her on the finger when she was three years old. Lisa made sure to stay as far away from the geese as possible. She did however like the fire dog who was dressed up like an elf and sitting on top of an old fire engine. I refused however to waste a picture on it. He looked silly and terribly upset that he had to be in that costume all night. I don't blame him. Pets in costumes are silly. Ask Jay Leno. Its one of his pet peeves. No pun intended.

Snow in the middle of Mobile?

NO not really! But for a quick second we all thought the weather had turned wacky on us! Come to find out the city of Mobile had rented a bubble machine and had it put out for the official Tree Lighting ceremony at Bienville Square. With the bright lights illuminated on the bubbles joined in with the sqeaks and squeals of excited children we thought for a brief moment that it was actually snowing! It certainly made for a fun picture!

Jessica and Kenny got to visit with Santa on his sleigh while we were at Bienville Square. Neither of them spent much time with him because all they could think of was jumping down and petting the horse at the end of the sleigh! I figured since I missed the photo op with Santa I might as well get one with the horse. Just as I was taking the picture, Santa's horse nibbled on Jessica's hair! Everyone in line giggled! And Jessica loved every minute of it!

Why isn't anyone dancing?

One interesting thing about the night of the dance was that most of the youth were sitting around visiting, laughing, talking, and joking with one another. Jessica kept asking me everytime we peeked in to see what was happening why no one was doing any actual "dancing". I told her that typical teenagers liked to just "hang out" with one another and that when a popular song came on they would all jump up and dance for a bit. Which they did.

And they continued to have fun and enjoy one another's company for the rest of the night. I guess that's what dances are all about. That....and having cute friends to rely on for all the slow dances.

Oh to be young again...

Lisa attended her very first church dance this month. She finally turned fourteen in September and thought this day would NEVER get here! Twelve youth from our Ward met us at the church and we all piled into our van to drive to Gulfport Mississippi for a combined Stake Youth Dance/Dinner. There were 72 youth in attendance at the dance. Most of them were Young Men. I think Lisa had a fun time although I do think she hoped there would have been more young men to choose from. Hopefully she realizes that there will be many more dances to attend and many more Young Men to chase in the future! (Thank goodness!)
As always, Kenny and Jessica got to be there with us but were virtually unseen as per Lisa's very strict instructions! Tucked away with a portable DVD player and earphones really helps to pass the time while they were waiting for the dance to end. Jessica and Kenny did get to come out for the very last dance and Jessica LOVED being asked to dance by one of our Priests who was cut in by the Young Men's president. Now if you didn't think Jessica wanted to grow up in a hurry before! All she can talk about now is how SHE can't wait until SHE'S fourteen!