"Playing Hooky"

Not often do you take a mini-vacation during the busiest time of the year....yeah, I did that and felt pretty darn guilty about the whole thing. Well, most of the time. The rest of the time, I had a blast!

Don and I had to go to Salt Lake for the company Christmas dinner. And Don was asked to "ask his son-in-law" to come and entertain the group. So he went all out and invited Kim Robison to come and sing also. THe company agreed to fly her to SL to sing for us. Wonderful.

We spent a long day looking at yet MORE HOUSES I CAN'T HAVE. (ok, yet). I find it to be sobering, tiring and darn right frustrating. Don finds more fun in the "HUNT" than I do. Could it be that cave man mentality? Ug-let's look at all the for sale houses. ARGHHH.

So after we got that chore done, we spent a wonderful evening taking in the lights on Temple square.

Ok, so I didn't mention and you can't tell by looking at these pictures how COLD IT WAS!!

So, we headed inside for a look at this goregous tree. Don wonders how they got that big ornament to stay ontop!! Such a kidder. We headed back to the Marriot and stopped for a second to enjoy the bagpipe music by this dedicated crazy guy in his kilt! BRRRRRR.

I spent lots of time shopping and enjoyed spending a bit of time with Alicia. I was hoping for a great big hint on what she would like for Christmas. We did find her a cute little black dress and some sassy red shoes to go with. Here she and Brian arrive for the evening festivities.

Kim looked fabulous in her sparkly outfit and sang like an angel.....That "O Holy Night" was just amazing. And of course, that cute couple at the piano are my favorite Utahns.

Then we ran over to the conference center for the dress rehearsal of the Tabernacle Choirs Christmas concert. Did I mention that we ran?? Yes, the man in charge really did charge over there...we had great seats to enjoy an amazing evening.

One thing about the church...they really do know how to do it up right. There were dancers, and bell ringers and singers and all. We clapped in great delight.

So how does one spend the last morning of "hooky"? I was shopped out. I was sick of being glared at and "waved" to when I was driving on the crazy freeways... only one thing left I needed to do. It took courage, and probably a little craziness thrown in for good measure. I went ICE SKATING!! It's only been oh, about 20 years since, but I was determined in my 15 year old mind to try it again. At the hotel there is a skating rink just outside the courtyard and i kept looking at the skaters with real envy. So I bucked up and strapped on the renters with a pit in my tummy. Would I fall on my face and crack out some really expensive teeth? Or would the joy of my youth winters return?

I am so thrilled to say that it all came back! It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, and the air crisp and not too cold. Only a few others to share the ice with. PERFECT. And I only biffed it once...and I scrambled right back up. (My neck is still complaining!) But it was like being a kid again...and the skates were phenomenal. No ankle fatigue whatsoever! Amazing! I skated for nearly an hour and only quit because it was time to pack the car for the airport. SWEET.

I really did enjoy the mini-vacation.

If only my Christmas stuff could have gotten done while I was away....now THAT would be my Christmas miracle....

"HotDog" Deja vu

"Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer weiner,

that is what I truly want to be....

cause if I were an Oscar Meyer weiner,

everyone would be in love with me!"

We heard it was coming.

We couldn't resist.

It is a tradition.

Picture takers welcome. Come sit a spell under the shadow of the biggest buns you've ever seen. Emma seemed as excited as my oldest kids were the day they saw it-oh, yeah about 20 years ago....

This is Steven, Alicia, and little boy Neil posing in front of the large meat tube in Salt Lake City.

We happened to be in town when it was there.

So fast forward about 20 years and there it appears again. More kids, more memories.

I am thinking I will be singing that tune for a few days to come......oh, I wish.....

Wonder "FALL"

Ok, so I admit it. I LOVE FALL! I love the crisp feeling in the air, and the chance to wear a sweater. (OK, and coat season is just around the corner and I LOVE COATS...)

But mostly I love the glorious colors that happen all around. Here are a few pics that I took on my walk the other day. ENJOY.....

Life in the "Limbo Lane"

So just so you know...NO, the house HASN'T SOLD YET, and YES, I am really TIRED of being patient. AND No, we don't have any bites yet (unless you count mosquitoes). And YES, I am really sick of cleaning up the house for strangers I never see and hauling the dog with me everytime a realtor wants to "show this place".

But life trudges on...and someone in my family hinted that I hadn't BLOGGED for a long time. So here you have it-

My life these days...

Is this the way my house appears to all those potential buyers?

If so I think I need a different realtor...

Meet FRANK JR. - maybe he can find me a buyer.

Back to "Limbo Lane"...

I'm trying new things to do with my time beings my life is being stored away in the Storage Unit. I hope Emma won't mind....

I've been storing some of my stuff out there too but everytime I go out to find it...Don has hauled it off to that darn Storage Unit!

It's really hard to be crafty and all when you can't make a mess. (cause the realtors might call and then you have to run really fast to get it all cleaned up.)

It really gets me down.....

(I also need to work on my roots!) BOOOO.

Waiting for your house to sell is a real test....and I am trying to be upbeat. Trying to think of inovative ideas to help. What do you think?

It's NEVER enough....

Got to have Alicia and Brian for a few wonderful days. Screaming monkey and all....

We had a wonderful time together. This is what a mother loves....when her married kids come home....it just feels right. Whether it is the sound of Brian and Emma laughing and tossing the "screaming monkey". Or girls giggling (a constant around here) about who's got the cutest SHOES....

Or staring at my magnificent golf shot.....

And we ate some good stuff! Pica de something....really good. And that Brian knows PIZZA...just ask his fans.
This boy LOVES PIZZA!!! We all love the pizza that Brian makes. And the music.....

We went to the river and tossed the toy for Belle to bring back-oh 75% of the time.

We shopped, and ate and shopped and then ate somemore...

And we went to their temple and did sealings...it was wonderful too. But before they left we wanted to take a few nice family photos.....

ok, ok- so we clean up pretty well... All I have to say is I really hate

This part..... So, daddy "money bags" get out the cash and buy me a house in Utah!