O' Christmas Tree

I loved decorating our Christmas tree as a kid. I can still remember the smell of our ornaments in the boxes, pulling them out with tinsel trailing along. I would help my parents untangle the lights then crawl behind the tree to help string them around and around where the adults couldn't reach. One year I got a small shock when plugging the light strand in. My Grandma Mac used to paint ceramics and would send my sisters and I ornaments along with her tin of goodies. She made amazing peanut brittle and fudge. Aaron and I love telling the kiddos the stories behind the different ornaments we have. Some were wedding gifts, several Aaron received while on his mission. One of my recent favorites is from the Empire State Building when I went to NYC with my mom in 2009. I also received three beautiful wooden ornaments from my in-law's trip to Germany last year. But my absolute favorites are the two I have left from Grandma Mac. I love feeling like I have small pieces of her with me, especially during the holidays. They even had the slight scent of my parents old ornament box. I wish I could figure out how to make our boxes smell like that.

Beware of Yellow Snow...

We got our first snow of the year.

What better way to celebrate than by sledding?

Aaron and I took the girlies

(Little Man stayed with Grandma)

to Panaca Summit and hit the slope.

My first run with Kaitlyn was so much fun.

We crashed through a snow bank and had a spectacular wreck.

It was so awesome that we were laughing and crying,

which made me laugh even harder because we were crying.

Let me just say that Kaitlyn preferred to ride down with Aaron after that.

The girls did awesome and cannot wait to sled again.

They attempted to build a snowman but the snow was too powdery to form balls.

We were soaking wet and very tired when we got home.

It was oh so worth it.

They're Creepy and They're Kooky...

Halloween was super fun this year.

It was Aaron's first Halloween night with the kiddos in several years, so he really enjoyed it.

The kids looked great in their costumes and they seriously brought home at least 12 pounds of candy.

It seemed like more.

Probably was.

The elementary school's carnival was fun.

I love living in a small town... you actually feel safe taking your kids trick-or-treating.

The kids were all troopers and didn't complain about the walking or when it started to get chilly.

They were in the zone.

The candy zone.

They brought home so much candy that we decided to have an intervention.

It was called "The Candy Fairy."

Haven't heard of him?

Hmm.

Well, I believe he's the Tooth Fairy's brother.

He decided to pay our house a visit.

The kids left a huge bag of their candy

(not ALL of it... I'm not that mean plus I enjoy chocolate just as much as the next mom)

sitting on the table night before last and the Candy Fairy exchanged it with a

brand new game.

Spencer got an inflatable, punchable tiger.

So now we have much less sugar and much more fun.

It's a win-win.

I think Laura told me that the Candy Fairy must help make Candy Land with all the kids' candy he collects.

That makes sense.

'Til We Meet Again...

On October 16th my Mimo passed away.

As I sit here wanting to express the love I have for her and

some of the memories I will always cherish I find it difficult to do so.

I spent all of last week in California helping Mom make the arrangements.

Mimo moved in with my family when I was 14.

Though things weren't always smooth sailing it was impossible not to get to know her really well.  She had a fun sense of humor and her knowledge of older films was amazing.

Must be where I got my ability to remember movies and actors.

When I was a little girl I'd spend a few weeks with Mimo and Grandpa in the summer.

Mimo and I would sleep in my mom's old pink bedroom (super 70s pink).

After we said our prayers we lie there and make up songs about little fishies swimming in a pool.  They usually rhymed and had them pooing at some point.

Of course I found that hilarious.

We'd laugh as quietly as possible, but inevitably get louder.

My grandpa worked for the post office and got up pretty early.

He's usually end up pounding on the wall and yelling, "Shutup!" which would make us laugh even harder.

Mimo had recorded a Stevie Wonder music video: "I Just Called to Say I Love You."

That kinda became our song.  It's not one I hear often but I can't help but think of her.

Before she lived with us and after Grandpa had died, we'd want to call each other often but since she lived in Missoula it could get expensive.

We started to "one-ring" each other.

Basically whenever we thought of her Mom or I would call her, let the phone ring once then hang up.  She'd do the same to us.

I still remember her old phone number.

I wonder if she'd know if I one-rang it.

I planned her graveside service.  I'd never done that before.

I feel like she was there with us.

There have only been a handful of times that I've felt the spirit testify so strongly of the gospel principle of eternal families.

I am thankful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

I sure hope she knows how much I love and miss her.

Mimo is mexican.  Her parents migrated to the U.S. in 1917.

Since she grew up speaking spanish she taught me a bit when I was little.

The one thing I really remember learning from her was:

"Te quiero mucho mucho mucho con todo mi corazon."

"I love you with all of my heart."

We'd always add, "whole bunch by golly" onto the end for Grandpa.

Te quiero mucho mucho mucho con todo mi corazon whole bunch by golly Mimo.

I know that I will see you again someday.