Tis the Season

Tis the season for school Christmas programs with visits from Santa:

Tis the season for birthdays. In my family, just in December, birthdays include me, my mom (she turned 60 this year) my nephews Clayton and Frankie, and Alex. And just added to that December birthday count: new twin nieces, Erica and Elizabeth. These are my mom's grandkids singing at her birthday party.

Tis the season for big family get-togethers that include good food and good talent.

Tis the season for snow days, although where we live that is rather unseasonable. There was just enough snow for it to be fabulously fun and to make a few snowpeople. That really is almost a once in a lifetime memory.

Tis the season for the magic and joy that Santa can bring into a child's life.

I love this season!

Happy Birthday Alex

Alex's birthday was yesterday, Dec. 28. The card I got for him says everything I feel:

Birthday after birthday

year after year,

we live and we laugh and we grow.

We savor our joys,

learn from mistakes,

let life's little heartaches all go.

Birthday after birthday,

we're grateful for memories we've made

and for goals that we've met,

And the beauty of life

is that every new year

holds the hope it will be our best yet.

For all the beautiful days

and nights we've shared,

for all that's still to come-

I love you.

Don We Now Our Gay Apparel

I love dressing up. Fortunately for me, my husband works for a company that has a formal party every year. The annual Discount Tire Company Party was last night at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. For a bunch of tire guys, they really go all out for these annual parties. I found a great dress for this year's party: plum colored, mermaid style, slightly rouched and beaded in the middle. I love feeling like a princess! The party was fantastic! Excellent food, a surprise proposal (almost any proposal brings a tear to my eye), dancing with my husband (that's an annual event as well), and the company put us up in the hotel for the night! That's really livin' the high life! Also, I just have to say that Alex really cleans up well.
Here's a better look at the dress.


Alex and Carmen with Bruce Halle, founder and CEO of Discount Tire

HBDT Me!

So today is my birthday and I am 35 years old. I can hardly believe it myself. Thirty-five seems so old until you actually get there. Whenever I see someone that is 28 or 29 or 30 I always think they are the same age as me. Two years ago I was talking to the father of one of my college roommates and he said that I looked the exact same as the last time he had seen me ten years before. I guess I'm aging well.

However, there are times when I feel old. It seems I have to take extra time and make-up to cover up the dark circles under my eyes. Recently I substitute taught at the high school I graduated from and where I last taught. I was filling in for a teacher who co-taught with other teachers and one of the teachers I co-taught with was Mr. Purtill, the same Mr. Purtill that was my eighth-grade Algebra teacher in 1988. That was 20 years ago! And I'm really out of it when it comes to text-messaging. If I ever send a message it takes me forever because I don't know the lingo. And I am super annoyed by people who text while I am talking to them. It's not multi-tasking; it's rude!

I was looking at my baby album and I noticed this picture of me and my mom. I am about sixteen months old. I think it could be a picture of my own little girl Lacey, except her eyes are blue.

Here I am: older and wiser.

Lance's Testimony

Once when Lance was two he wanted to bear his testimony, but I said he had to wait until he was three. He has borne his testimony quite often since he turned three. At first Alex or I would tell him what to say. Then I would ask him what he wanted to say and if he got nervous, I would remind him of what he had already told me. Well today he decided that he wanted to go up to the stand all by himself and bear his testimony by himself. This is basically what he said:"I want to bear my testimony. I know this church is true. I know Thomas S. Monson can be the prophet. I love my mom and dad and my sister and my brother and my grandmas and grandpas and my teachers. I know that if we be good we can live with Jesus someday. I want to be a missionary when I grow up and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Alex and I looked at each other and said, "Wow!" It was such a sincere, sweet testimony that it brought me to tears. I was so proud of my little five-year-old.

Happy Birthday Luke!

Luke turned 3 on Saturday, November 29. (Hopefully the terrible twos are behind us!) He spent all day Saturday playing with his new Bat Cave. Although Luke can be a handful sometimes, he is also quick to forgive and say he is sorry, and he always shares with others. His new thing is when he is in trouble he says, "I sor-ry. We be best friends." So now Alex always says to Luke, "Hey, it's my best friend!" He gets super excited about Batman and Superman. When the opening sequence of the cartoon comes on, he does a little dance. It's hilarious! We love you, Luke! Happy Birthday!

Lance and Luke's Birthday Party

The boys had a fun birthday party on Sunday, November 30. Grandma Sharon, Grandpa Bill, Grandma Susan and Grandpa Lowell, and most of the aunts, uncles and cousins came to celebrate. We had dinner then the boys blew out the candles of their specially home made Spongebob and Superman birthday cakes. (I spent about three hours decorating cakes on Sunday morning.) Before they opened their presents I asked a question about Lance or Luke. Whoever answered the question right got to give their present. It was a fun game. The boys definitely had fun dressing up in their new Superman and Batman pajamas, and also Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costumes. Other fun presents included a tee-ball set, Nerf guns, new books, more pajamas, and Disney coloring and activity books.


Who is the Ace of Cakes now?


Heroes on the half-shell!

Christmas Cactus Garden

In honor of Luke's birthday as a family we went to Ethel M chocolate factory to see the lights in their cactus garden. Christmas is so magical when seen through childrens' eyes. Lacey kept saying "Oooh star! Oooh Christmas! Oooh Santa!" And the boys were so excited to see all the displays. Lance stood in line to see Santa, but Luke said Santa was too scary. So Alex took Luke to get a candy bar while I waited with Lance and Lacey. Lacey wouldn't sit on Santa's lap, but she happily took the chocolate coins he gave her.