Christmas Traditons

Way back in the day, Christmas Eve was spent at my grandma Hale's home. Remembering these precious times gives me huge warm fuzzy's! She always made a ham, cole slaw, rolls and decorated Christmas cookies. She also made weird stuff like oyster stew and bread pudding loaded with boiled raisins. Had she left out the raisins it would have been delicious...her rum sauce was to die for. Of course the aunts, uncles and cousins came. We usually played games. "Pit" was the game I remember playing most. I can still hear grandmas high, gravelly voice..."corner on rye!" She had a tree set up which we helped decorate and we sang carols around the piano. Later in the evening the presents were brought out. Grandma sometimes made crocheted slippers for the grandkids. They were great for sliding around on the kitchen floor. That kind of shortened the life of the slippers, but oh well! There was always a fire in the fireplace. After the presents were opened we threw the gift wrap into the fire. Our faces got so hot! It was a pyros paradise...except that it was contained. We usually left about midnight. As we travelled home I swear I could see Rudolph's nose gleaming in the distance.

Christmastime doesn't seem to hold the magic of my youth. But I still feel the love of family and togetherness, which is the most important. I try to reflect on the Savior and his miraculous life and try to behave as he would. So, my wish for you, is to have a beautiful Christmas, centered in the life of Him who we owe all our love and gratitude.

Merry Christmas!!!

Quotes from A Christmas Carol

"Mankind was my business" Jacob Marley

"I am not the man I was. I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me."

Ebenezer Scrooge

I did it!!!

I greatly feared the guilt I would incur had I not completed my TAG, so here it is

7 Things Tag

7 Things I Can Do....

1- Remember movie quotes
2- Cook
3- Listen to scriptures on tape or CD
4- Be empathetic
5- Clean
6- Play the piano
7- Spell and read well

7 Things I Can't Do...
1- Tell jokes
2- Bear my testimony or give a talk
3- Eat healthy
4- Update my blog
5- Save money
6- Run or jump
7-Water my plants regularly

7 Things I Always Say...
1- You funny!
2- Love you
3- You're awesome
4- Holy Smokes!
5- Hello, love (with a British accent)
6- That’s cool
7- What the crap!7

Things I Always Eat...

1- Candy
2- Bananas
3- Fiber One Cereal (only the flake kind)
4- Roast and mashed potatoes (almost every Sunday)
5- Broccoli, green beans, corn or peas
6- Crackers with some kind of cheese
7- Diet Coke (preferably with lime)

Strange Things Are Afoot In Beaver Utah

Paul and the kids were at a mutual activity when a cute little Beehive says to Paul, "Did you know your son's dating?" Naturally, Paul was shocked. I don't know how things are done in other cities, but in Beaver, when a boy and a girl like each other they refer to it as "going out". Going out means that, yes, the boy and girl like each other but it doens't go beyond that. They may smile at each other, they certainly never speak! So Jake likes this girl...its a mystery how long it will last...this "going out" thing!

FALL HAS FLUNG

I had to take a pic of my front porch for my dad. He loves the corn stalks! Fall is my favorite time of year. The colors are awesome! Halloween is pretty fun too.

The democratic parties mascot is a donkey....that makes sense!!!

I'm not really sure what has come over me! I have become a talk radio junkie. I only listen to the consevative side which makes me kinda biased. I have formed strong opinions concerning the upcoming election. Its all very weird, because I hate politics!

Poor, busted up Jake!

Our Jake loves football! He thinks its great to make a big tackle. As opposed to last year; Don't hit me, don't hurt me, and I'm probably going to stay on the line far away from the coach. Well, the 7th grade Beaver team played Millard (which is in Fillmore). In the 4th quarter, Jake went for the tackle. He ended up on the ground and got stepped on by a guy on the other team. He didn't play the rest of the game much. But they did win! On the way home, you'd have thought he was dying! He's usually not a whimpy kid, so we knew he was broken. We took him to the emergency room and sure enough the x-ray revealed a break on his left hand. He hates his cast, but only has to wear it for a month.

Our not-so-new puppy, "Roxy"

Roxy Elieson was born to Gizmo the St. Bernard and his wife the black lab. They were the proud parents of 10 puppies. 2 are brown (like Rozy), one is a beautiful cream color and the rest are black. Unfortunately, the puppies contracted parvo. I only know that its a virus and can live for seven years in the lawn or where ever. The puppies were sick for a few days and one puppy died. For some strange reason we allow Roxy to be an inside dog when we're home; even when she relieves herself on the carpet. We love her even though she behaves like a typical puppy. Here she is having a most-hated bath.

Jake is the pitcher in this tournament in Kanab. He hadn't ever pitched before and Paul and I were scared, but he did a great job.

The cabin steward made towel animals for us every night. This is my favorite pig!

We all went parasailing, which to me, was the highlight of the trip. too bad it was so short!

Very smelly sea lions!

Too cool for you!

Shortly after graduation, I chaperoned Seth and some friends on a cruise from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, to Ensenada and back. It was a fun, relaxing trip. The kids were well behaved, so I didn't worry much. Where could they go, we were on a boat in the middle of the ocean! They couldn't get alcohol, they were all minors! I'm actually NOT pregnant, contrary to this deceiving picture.

He also graduated from seminary!!! Yahoo!

Seth graduated from Beaver High School May 2008! Walking through the "B", he chose to wear his tassel in his face!

Jake the Giant! He's taller than me now. In May, he participated in a track meet. He got second place; doing best in the running and standing long jump. Paul and I were hoping Jake would get "All-around-boy", but Jake's good friend, Bryan, got first place. I asked Jake if he felt bad, but he said, "No, Bryan deserved it." I was pretty proud of him. Jake also received the principles award for his good grades.

Abby graduated from Snow College May 3, 2008 with an Associates of Science degree. She plans on attending UVU in the fall.

Easter 2008

We have typical Easter traditions. Big egg hunt and dying eggs. This year Paul's sister, Sue and her family came to visit. We hid money in plastic eggs. Seth found the majority of the cash.

Seth received his Eagle Scout Award March 16, 2008. Handsome Elieson boys!

Abby, Samantha, Seth and Jacob 2006