Sunday, December 28, 2008

Christmas '08

We were fortunate enough to see both of our families over this past weekend. On Tuesday morning we headed up to Prescott. We enjoyed relaxing and spending time with Ben's family. We headed over to St. Johns the day after Christmas and were lucky enough to play in the snow! I can't believe Christmas is already over - it always flies by too fast! On Christmas day we were able to talk to Richard (Ben's brother on a mission in Guatemala) and my family did a 3-way call with Joel (on a spanish-speaking mission in Washington) so that I could also talk to him. I would say that that was my best Christmas present! He only has six months left...the countdown begins! Both of our brothers seem to be doing very well. Richard has been out for about 7 months and is now considered the "senior" companion and Joel is now the zone leader for the spanish areas for the entire state of Washington! I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

The view from Ben's parents deck (granite mountain)...beautiful!

Ben made fun of me because I bought Hunter a bone that looked like a candy cane haha
Chillin with our laptops!
I love snow!
It was freezing! We didnt last too long! haha
The dogs were fighting over icicles...silly dogs
My mom's new car! (2009 Honda Accord)
Terrible icy roads!
My daddy...how can you not love him? haha

Monday, December 22, 2008

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Cookies!

So last weekend Lycie and I made TONS of sugar cookies! And they tasted amazing! (See recipe below!) Here is a pic of HALF of the ones we made (Lyc' had already taken her half home:)
SUGAR COOKIES:
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of margarine
1/2 cup of sour cream
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp of vanilla
3/4 tsp of almond extract
3 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of baking soda
2 tsp of baking powder
**Cream butter and sugar. Add sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat well. Mis dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add to wet mixture gradually. Refridgerate for 3 hours. Roll out on floured surface and cut out shapes. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degress for around 5 minutes. (Bottom of cookies should be barely brown)
FROSTING:
2/3 cup of margarine
6 cups of powdered sugar
3 tsp of vanilla
1 1/2 tsp of almond extract
milk (amount varies depending on the thickness you like)
**Cream margarine. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Gradually add milk until mixture is spreadable. Add food coloring.
YUMMY!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Our Christmas tree adventure...

Last Saturday we went up to Prescott to go pick out a Christmas tree with Arden, Capri, Wayne, Lisa, and Amanda. Besides the stickers in my socks and shoes (I was dumb and wore sweat pants instead of jeans!), it was fun to hang out with everyone! I think the dogs had the best time of everyone - Hunter RAN the entire time we were up there! So I thought we picked a little one this year, but no, they always look smaller in the forest! haha. Here are a few pics!

This is our attempt at a Christmas pic haha
Wayne, Ben, & Lexie (she never left within an inch of Ben's leg)
Lisa & Lauren
The HUGE tree they picked! (They can do that because their roof is so high! :)
Ben (on the ground) & Arden cutting down our tree
The finished product!

Monday, December 8, 2008

The Christmas season...

I love this time of year...sure I love the family, the food, giving gifts and all of that but most of all I love that every Christmas season I am reminded of how blessed I truly am. I was fortunate enough to be a helper at the "North Pole" this year. One of our clients creates a North Pole every year for children from poverty-level schools to come and visit. The kids get to do all sorts of things - ride on a little train, write letters to Santa, pick out a gift for a family member and wrap it, visit with Santa, pick out a toy for themselves and much more. I was "Santa's helper" - my job was to send the kids up one by one to Santa and hand them a coloring book as they went up. One particular little girl really touched me...
Little girl: "Who are those coloring books for?"
Me: "Well they are for you!"
Girl: "Do we get to keep them?!" (eyes brighten)
Me: "Yep, it is all for you!"
Girl: "AND we get to pick a present?!"
Me: "Yes!"
Girl: "For free?!"
Me: "Yes, all for free!"
Girl: "This is the best day ever!"
It really touched my heart - these kids weren't getting much - a two dollar coloring book and and ten dollar toy, but yet it meant the world to them.
After the event was over (these guys do this for three weeks! I of course only helped with one day), Santa came up to me and said do you know what most of the kids say when I ask them what their favorite part of today was? They open their bags and say look what I bought for my family! (The gift they get to wrap for a family member)
I hope I can come back to this post when I am having one of my "bad days" so that I can always be reminded that maybe my day really isn't so bad and that I am very blessed.

On another Christmas note, most of you have probably read this poem before but I just love it and I think everyone should read it every Christmas season. Brings tears to my eyes...God Bless the American soldier!

A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS

'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this little house lived.

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No Stockings by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
A sobering thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
The home of a soldier, I could now see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not how I picture a United States Soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wondering how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to one knee and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry, for this life is my choice".

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
My life is my God, my country, my corps."

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
as we both shivered from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave, on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor, so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "Carry on Santa...., It's Christmas Day...., All is secure. "

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend.... and to all a Good Night.

~ Author Unknown *~

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

~Thanksgiving 2008~

We were fortunate enough to take off Tuesday and Wednesday along with the Thanksgiving weekend. We had such a fun time with everyone! Uncle Jeff & family and Grandpa & Grandma Frazier all came out. There was lots of card playing, football watching (along with betting), coyote hunting, dirtbike riding, eating, getting "drinks from Bride's", and last but not least, grampa's ice cream! Thanks everyone for coming! And I must quote my cousin Jordan (this is after he just got in my car after buying a drink from Bride's), "St. Johns has ownage." LOL

Since it was Thanksgiving, I feel like I should post some things I am grateful for:
1) My family
2) Benjamin
3) My health
4) The gospel
5) My job and Ben's job
6) School
7) My house...in particular my bed!
8) The good example Joel sets
9) Good friends
10) My dogs
11) A car that runs
12) The Christmas season
13) St. Johns
14) Letters
15) Technology
16) Pepsi
17) Digital cameras
18) Freedom
19) Hot chocolate
20) Last but not least...DVR!


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