Weird Shopping Experience!

I had a very weird shopping experience today. We dropped John off at the airport at 4:30 a.m. and were back to our area by 5:00 a.m. I was wide awake so decided to do my grocery shopping at our local :

It is open 24 hours.

I thought it would be great to avoid the crowded aisles and long check out lines:

Here is what I was expecting:

Instead, this is what I was up against:

There were workers and fork lifts and food stacked on every aisle! Although the workers were very polite to move themselves and all of their stuff out of my way, I felt like I was causing a problem everywhere I went. It took me just as long as if the aisles were busy with shoppers. Then when I went to check out, this is what I found:

And it took quite a while for someone to respond to check me out. So no more 5:00 a.m. shopping for me--from now on I'll wait until at least 6!

Remembering Christmas Past!

My Mom loved Christmas, and she did so many things to make it a wonderful season in our family! Thanks to my Aunt Nancy for sharing this photo of her taken probably in 1984.

One time in the mid 1980's we visited San Jose and my Mom was going through her Christmas decorations and throwing most of them away. I asked her why she was doing it and she told me that a lot of the decorations were old and worn out and out of date. She wanted to get some new things. I asked her if I could look through the throw-away pile, and of course she said I could take whatever I wanted. Yes, most of it was worn out but I couldn't resist taking two items which I have put out every Christmas since then. They remind me of my Mom and of all our wonderful celebrations. These little reindeer were always placed somewhere in our home with some decorative greenery.

And this lighted Church was always under the Christmas tree.

Now they have been special decorations in my home for at least 20 years. I remember that my Mom always put out the Christmas decorations each year in such a loving way as if she were greeting and making room for old friends.

It's good to pass along family traditions and never a better time than at Christmas! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all those wonderful Christmas celebrations!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Then and Now!

Christmas in San Francisco: 2004 and 2008!

First Christmas in Love!

After delays, missed connections and then put on standby, she made the later flight but then another delay! But we finally got Sara here to our home!

We were very happy to meet her, see Sara and John together and to spend some time visiting.

The traditional photo in front of the Christmas tree before Church:

Watching "The Muppet Family Christmas":

Hurray for another daugther-in-law!!!

Christmas Memories 1997!

Josh and Andrea surprised us by arriving a couple of days early!

Harrison Kids Surprise for the Program: Whistling

Other fun events of the month:

December 10th: Amanda went to Christmas Around the World

December 2: John put up outside Christmas lights

December 6: MaryAnn made mints

December 23: Took Josh to Chevy's for his birthday

December 21: Heidi sang in a trio for Sacrament meeting program

December 9: Jeff went to see the lights at Temple Square

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

Since I told everyone about the new ornaments I made for our tree, I thought I ought to show the end result. Here is our tree from two different angles. You can see quite a few of the girls' stockings and if you look close, you can see some of the sleds for the boys. Christmas trees are so festive and one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season. I have a small tree in most of the other rooms of the house.

And of course the best part of the Christmas tree is the lights!

Christmas Memories 1986!

The Christmas Party
by Jeff

"On Wednesday, December 4th we went to a Primary Christmas party. While we were there, we made a manger with baby Jesus in it. We used popsicle sticks and a clothespin. Then we made a book about what happened when Jesus was born. After that we made a dough ornament in the shape of a teddy bear. Then we decorated a cookie with sprinkles. After that we played a game kind of like musical chairs. On the chairs were pictures of Christmas things. When the music stopped, we sat down, and if she called your picture, you would get a prize."

Other activities included MaryAnn's kindergarten program (December 11th):


Ward Christmas Party--December 19th
Family shopping--December 8th
Amanda's violin concert--December 18th
Tree cutting party--December 6th
Josh's Birthday party--December 20th
Heidi's violin concert--December 16th

Happy St. Lucia Day!!

Continuing a Swedish tradition!

I made these for any of you stopping by in the next few weeks!

But if you can't stop by, you could make your own! They are yummy!!

Recipe: Breakfast Puffs

Mix thoroughly:

1/3 C. shortening
½ C. sugar
1 egg

Sift together:
1 ½ C. flour
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg

Stir in the above into the shortening, sugar, egg mixture

alternately with: ½ C. milk

Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. This recipe makes 12 small muffins or 10 larger ones.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. While hot, roll top of each muffin in:

6 T. melted butter or margarine

And then roll each muffin in:

Cinnamon sugar mixture (1/2 C. sugar to 1 tsp. cinnamon)

Christmas Memories 1984!

Kindergarten Program
by Jeff
"All four classes did a program on Thursday night (December 13). We sang a lot of songs. My favorite was "Rudolph" which we sang a very funny way. We also did some poems (below). I got picked to be one of the announcers. I got picked because I could yell the loudest across our multi-purpose room at school. I got to talk into a microphone. We all got cookies afterward. About a week ago our teacher gave us a piece of paper and told us to draw a picture about Christmas--anything we wanted. I drew my Christmas stocking with me standing by it and a Christmas tree. It got picked to be one of the six pictures in our printed program for our show. I like kindergarten and I like Christmas!"



"I had a little candy cane.
I knew it tasted yummy.
It used to hang on the Christmas tree,
But now it's in my tummy!"

"When Santa comes to our house
I would like to take a peek.
But I know he'll never come
Until I'm fast asleep!"

The Christmas Party
by Mandy

"Heidi had a Christmas party on Saturday night. First we painted Christmas tree ornaments. Then we did a search-a-word puzzle. Next we played a Christmas trivia game. After that we made mints. Everyone got to take some home. Then we painted the other side of our ornaments. The end of the party was to play Bingo with Christmas carols and to have a gift exchange. I ended up with the gift I brought. The we had refreshments. It was snowballs made of ice cream. The end.

I Tried!

I have been trying SO hard not to get sick, even though I have been surrounded by sick people. But my best efforts were not enough and so I am now suffering through the sore throat and runny nose and just waiting for the cough to begin. I think many other people know exactly how I feel right now! But if I had to miss Church on Sunday at least I had some wonderful company on the computer!

I watched the funeral for Elder Wirthlin. It was so uplifing and inspiring! Don't miss his final testimony read by President Packer!!

Then I was also able to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. This is always a highlight for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it all! It's always the perfect way to keep focused on the reason we celebrate at this time of year. What great messages and beautiful music.

I keep good company when I'm sick! In fact I'm starting to feel better already!!

Joshua's First Birthday Celebration!

Our little Joshua Perry turned one year old today!

And we were invited to his party!!

We arrived with presents and handed them over to Joshua and his daddy:

He loved his new farm and farm animals:

He also seemed to enjoy the pounding bench:

The cake is ready:

Joshua wasn't too sure about that candle:

But he was definitely sure about the cake! He started digging in before blowing out the candle!

Happy Birthday!!

(And Happy Birthday to Suzie too!)

Wonderful Weekend of Winners!

Winner for the Most Beautiful Fall 2008 Bride:

Sally Wismer Darley!

Winner for the Happiest Couple November 29, 2008:

Colt and Sally Darley!

Winner for the Most Amazing Mom and Grandma of November 2008:

Becky Wismer!

This winner had Thanksgiving dinner for her entire family the day before her daughter's wedding, gave prizes and attention to all of her children and grandchildren, helps her mother-in-law and father, and even had time to visit with her sister! (Plus she designs amazing houses!)

Winners for Outstanding Hospitality 2008:

Grandpa and Kathy Bates!

Provided luxurious accomodations, yummy food, and good company November 28th-30th!

Winner of the Fun In Olympia Award for 2008:

The Bates Family!
This winning family provided sparkling conversation, Christmas crafts, tree decorating, organ concerts, funny jokes, tours of Olympia, walks in the woods and even some computer help!

Congratulations to all the winners! It was a fabulous weekend!!