I am PoOr...

One day a few weeks ago when I was tending Ashley she asked me how to spell "I am poor". I wrote it on a piece of paper not really knowing what she was going to do. She then went down in the basement and found a piece of styrofoam and a marker and proceeded to write in her cute little handwriting "I am poor". Then she asked me for a cup and a chair, and told me she was going to go outside and sit on my sidewalk and collect money. When I asked her why, she said "My dad needs money". (Chris sold his jeep recently, and I guess she overheard him say that gas was too expensive-he now owns a Jetta which gets super good gas mileage). I agreed to let her sit outside (yes, in her pajamas with boots on, but no coat). She finally got cold and came in. I put a dollar in her cup and she was happy. I guess she has seen homeless people with their signs and their cups, and she decided to give it a try. She might be a little mischievous at times, but she really has a heart of gold!! Thanks for making my day Ashley, and teaching me a lesson about truly loving thy neighbor as thyself...

Happiness...

Christmas "Miracle"!

About one month before Christmas, Darren spotted this coat at The Gap and said he wanted it for Christmas. They didn't have his size so I told him I would keep looking for it in other stores and online. I found it in his size a few weeks later online but decided to wait for a few days before ordering it because I had a 40% off coupon that wasn't usable yet. Well, of course it was sold out online and in all the Gap stores in Utah by then. A few days before Christmas I was at the Fashion Place Mall and decided to just take a peek in Gap to see if I could find the "Wool Zip-front black jacket". It was no where to be found in the coat section, but as I turned the corner to leave the store, there was a black coat in the middle of a rack of shirts, and...it was THE coat in his size and it was even on sale!

CHRISTMAS 2009

Christmas Eve 2009

This year instead of going out to dinner on Christmas Eve, we ordered Robintino's and ate at home, followed by watching a little bit of The Christmas Story on TNT, a hot chocolate bar (milk hot chocolate with lots of toppings), watching Mr. Krueger's Christmas & Luke 2, and then opening pj's and driving around to look at Christmas lights (I wanted to go to Temple Square but I got out-voted!!)

SUGAR COOKIES

One of my favorite childhood memories is making sugar cookies at Christmas time. December 23rd I got out the Cutler's sugar cookie dough that was in the fridge and let my grandkids cut and decorate dozens of cookies! Flour, frosting and sprinkles were everywhere, but we had a fun time! Thank you, Mom for taking the time to make sugar cookies with me when I was a little girl!

Mom's Sugar Cookie Recipe: 1 cup shortening, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 T. evaporated milk, 1/2 tsp. salt, 4 tsp. baking powder, 4 1/2 cups flour.

Beat shortening and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, salt and baking powder. Add flour until dough isn't too sticky (add more if needed). Roll out 1/2 inch thick and cut out with cookie cutters. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes.

Front Runner Adventure

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Muir Family Christmas Party - Dec. 13, 2009

We had a super fun Muir family Christmas party at Mo & Paul's house. Some of "The St. George Bunch" even came!! We had soup, salad, and yummy desserts then a SURPRISE visitor came!!

Ashley (yes, she's in her pajamas). Her candy cane was broken which meant she'd been "naughty"...
Jensyn receiving her gift from Santa...
Jacob's not afraid of Santa at all!
Jon & Tracy with the best "gift" of all...Oliver!
Fun with cousins...Bree, Jacob & Natalie.

Festival of Trees - Dec. 5, 2009

Despite the crowds, no place to park and very snowy roads, watching our Granddaughters dance at the Festival of Trees was worth it! Jensyn was on the back row with a tall girl in front of her, so we didn't get her on video...

Jacob was "all smiles"
Jensyn & Ashley on stage after their performance. The TJS stands for The Jazz Studios...

T - R - A - D - I - T - I - O - N

For over 30 years now some of my best friends from high school and I have been getting together at Christmas Time. I LOVE this tradition. It's so fun to see them (although we all live in the Salt Lake Valley, this is usually the only time we see each other during the year). I'm so grateful our friendship has lasted "all these years". We take turns hosting the party (we used to have it at our homes, but now we go to a restaurant)...We usually go to breakfast and always draw names and exchange gifts. I cherish each one of these friends and treasure the bond that we have from good ol' Murray High! I even went to elementary school with a few of them...

This year we went to Mimi's Cafe in Murray. Deb had the date wrong, so she wasn't there this year...we really missed her!

I love them for their unique qualities and hope we'll be friends forever!

Meet: Laureen (spunky!), Stefani (funny), me, Janet (crafty), Marti (stylish), Deb (kind)...
This is a quilt Janet made and donated to Festival of Trees-what talent!