It's not quite Norman Rockwell, but it is mine and I love driving up to my home on a snowy evening and seeing everything all lit up! Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Enjoying Christmas!

Have I said how much I am enjoying the Christmas Season this year?  I guess getting older is another thing to be grateful for, because I have learned that Christmas always comes on December 25th and somehow everything gets done and everyone is happy and what was I so stressed about?  So as I get old and a bit wiser I am learning to enjoy the ride, knowing that the season comes and goes all too fast.  Yesterday my two dear friends...Teri and Pat came for a visit.  It was fun to turn on the Christmas lights, some music in the middle of the day, so things would be relaxed and a little festive and then sit down for a nice chat.  I love them and it is comforting to have them take the time to come over and visit on a snowy day.  

Jim and I went shopping the other night and met some old friends we hadn't seen in about 20 years.  We didn't even recognize them at first. But after awhile we started visiting and talked for about half an hour.  He'd worked with Jim years ago..we got caught up on families, how we missed mom and dad,  and he told us some fun stories about teaching tennis with Tom, ..as we checked out and went to load our purchases, we realized we couldn't fit them into our car and our new found friends passed by and offered to pack them in their truck and follow us home! So we not only renewed an old friendship but were served by them as well.. I mention these silly little stories, because I call them Christmas miracles!  I wanted this Christmas to be lovely and have prayed for it to be peaceful, even praying for things like the Christmas lights to all work and the printer on my computer to run smoothly so I wouldn't be frustrated, and I realized that I must then look for and acknowledge when these small blessings come along...for it is answer to prayer. These small acts of kindness and seemingly unimportant gifts are given to me and can make the Christmas Season most meaningful and joyous.  

Went to Grama's ward party last night....

met up with my pal Warren,

we climbed around on the stairs for awhile

and then they took us off to see this

guy they called Santa Claus....

That's when the fun stopped!

Old Swedish Custom

One of my favorite Christmas memories was our great Lundgren Christmas Eve party. When I was little we would get together at Grama and Grampa Lundgren's house with all the cousins, aunts, and uncles. It was always a big deal when you where around 8 years old and got to be Mary in the the Nativity program. It was probably the last Christmas at Grama's house when I got to be Mary, because I remember Marty got to be Santa Lucia...and that somehow seemed even better! (how could that be better than being Mary)? At the end of the Nativity, Santa Lucia got to come in with a tray of cookies or sticky buns and pass them around to everyone. She had a crown painted red with candles on it. I can't actually remember the story behind Santa Lucia..so Marty, if you would like to blog about it, I would appreciate it. I loved that we continued with those Swedish customs. How fun that would have been for Grampa to pass on some of his heritage to his family. Memories and family traditions are wonderful. On Christmas Eve we now celebrate by having family and friends come over and enjoy homemade Chicken Noodle soup and on Christmas morning Jim always makes is delicious omelets. Hopefully these will be things our kids and grandkids will remember fondly. Do you have happy memories or traditions?

The Big 30!

Our St. Nick turns 30 today! He's alot like this guy...he's happy, like's to do stuff for people. Loves to tell stories. Has a jolly laugh.. He's a great teacher and a good

friend. He likes wearing the same clothes most

of the time, although they aren't always red and can be seen riding around town...not in a sled, but a little silver honda.. He brings great joy to our home, not just at Christmas, but all year round. Happy Birthday Nick...have a great year!

Snowy Days

Grama brought her camera over again today...oh no, all she did was follow me around all day
trying to get me to sit by the tree.

I just wanted to play

with

my

slinky.

this is my crib...I don't like it

much, so I just curl up and

and sleep on the floor.

This is my bed, I like it better than that old crib.

This

is a way cool toy. It has

a door

bell and a place for mail and a radio and all kinds of

cool stuff.

Grama sometimes jumps out and scares me when I come through the door..It's kind of fun, I guess.

I always love my books. Sometimes when Grama reads to me I snuggle up next to her and fall asleep.

Grama thinks it's cool that I can find the monkey and the butterfly on this toy..(I've always known where they were)

I'm glad it's time for her to go home..camera day is exhausting!

Christmas Music

I'm off to choir! Our ward is known for beautiful music and this Christmas is no different...another reason to be grateful. Haven't been able to sing in the choir for three years and so am having a great time rejoining my friends there. If you want to hear wonderful Christmas music join us on Dec. 21st

Christmas Memories

When I was young I always planned a sick day on the second Thursday of December...Thursday was Dad's day off and I knew that around the second week Dad planned a shopping trip. I perked up just in time to go with him. I remember several outings to Stevens/Brown Sports Store where ski gear was bought for family members. I was with him when he bought a Magnavox Color TV at Granite Furniture and I especially loved going to Arent's clothing store to get mom's beautiful outfits...where unfortunally my taste for fine clothing began at an early age. The model's would come out wearing the different dresses or coats. Lynn Arent would keep a file on each client (it was a very classy place). Dad always liked bright red or orange...he liked mom in bright colors! The clothes last, are timeless (I wore one of mom's Arent's outfit's to Whit's wedding) and so are my Christmas memories with Dad...what are some of your memories?

(the 30 year

old arent's

outfit)

For some reason I have a different feeling about Christmas this year. I am feeling very relaxed and happy about the season. Maybe it is because I am so grateful to be healthy and able to enjoy everything fully. For that reason I am sending Christmas Wishes through my blog most days throughout the month...hoping that those I love will know of my love for them and can enjoy this beautiful time of the year. Put aside some of the work that always shows up and do something unexpected...like sledding?!!

The Tree is Finished!

Starting out with all decorations for the festival of trees piled up in my kitchen...having lots of help from Jim, Craig, Bryce, Kirsten, Katrina, Colleen, Pat...working all day...we finally got the tree up...the picture doesn't do it justice, so you'll have to visit. It turned out fabulous!