Christmas tradition #2

My second favorite Christmas tradition is taking the kids to see Santa and getting their picture taken. I have a wall full of pictures... I love to look at them. This tradition started when I was a child. I remember my parents taking the whole family (9 kids) to downtown Seattle to the Frederick & Nelson's department store. We'd follow the Grinch footsteps through the store to find Santa and then we'd get our picture taken. It was always a big scene to get all of us to fit in the picture. I loved this tradition so much that one year when I was home from college, I was a Santa's elf at Frederick and Nelson's in Bellevue square. It was so fun. Maybe later, I will dig out my pictures and scan them.

Anyway, we picked up the boys from the airport last night and went straight to Town Square to see Santa. I usually try to go early in the season to avoid the lines... but somehow it didn't happen this year. So, you guessed it, there was an hour long line! and to make it worse, it's an outdoor mall, so we were freezing inline. The kids were so happy by the time they saw Santa....
Luckily the professional shot turned out a little better.

The boys had a great time at the big game! It was 7 degrees at the game the beginning of the game, 3 degrees by the end. with a wind chill of -15 to -17. The coldest game ever in the history of Bears games and it went to overtime so it was longer than normal! Like 3 hours isn't long enough! Doesn't sound fun to me. John said it was cold the first half while they were loosing.... and then they warmed up when they caught up at the end. It was a pretty exciting game and the fact that they won made it all worth it! I'm glad they were able to go. I was especially glad that they made it home last night. Flights were delayed in Chicago and we got a little nervous that they might get stuck! They had fun spending time with John's sister and her family.

Early presents for John & Mitch

Mitchell and John both got early Christmas presents this year. Mitchell and John are flying to Chicago right now to go to the Monday Night Football game tomorrow night. The Bears play the Packers in Chicago. John was able to get the Chicago Tribune to give him free tickets for all of the advertising they do in that paper. It was kind of a long story, but in the end, he ended up with two free tickets to the game. We decided to surprise Mitch with the news of the tickets. We told him Friday night. He was so excited!! They were able to use frequent flyer miles to get there and they will stay with John's sister Annette. Its suppose to be like 6 degrees that night! COLD! JOhn was so excited that he could hardly sleep all week! It has been one of his biggest dreams to go to see a Bears game at Soldier Field. I am happy that he gets to cross this off his bucket list!

John has been asking me for a few years to make him a train scrapbook to display at the train party. I decided to surprise him with one Thursday night. It was a little crazy trying to get it done this week and get the Christmas cards done and get the house ready for the party.... but somehow I did it! He loved it!

Train Tradition

Its train time at the Barnes house... Every year John sets up his dads train set that he inherited. This is a train that John's dad set up every year while John was growing up and some of the pieces are over 50 years old. John starts setting it up the weekend of Thanksgiving and then he spends every spare minute working on it. We always have a little open house to show it off to people. This is our favorite Christmas tradition that we do. You are all invited to come! Here is the invitation...

Blinker fluid...

So we are all driving in the car today and we were talking about John's car needing an oil change and that reminded me that sometimes Ashley's blinkers don't work right in her car. So I asked her how they were working these days and she said that they work sometimes. Then she said, "Todd said I need to get some blinker fluid." John and I look at each other and bust up laughing. She looked so confused. I said there was no such thing as blinker fluid and she realized that her Uncle Todd had been teasing her! When he was here for Thanksgiving he ran an errand with her and her blinkers weren't working, so Todd, knowing that Ashley knew nothing about cars told her that she needed blinker fluid! We laughed for a good 5 minutes. When we got composer we called todd and told him that she believed him. He had a good laugh! We LOVE our Ashley!

This reminds me of last year when she was leaving for seminary and her windshield was covered with frost... she didn't know what to do. She came inside and got hot water and poured it on the windshield! Thank goodness the glass didn't crack. She told us about it when she got home from school and I asked her why she didn't turn on the defrost and she said "what's the defrost?" I guess that's what happens when you learn to drive in Vegas!

lucky me...

I know I have written about this before, but I absolutely love my calling. I get to know so many amazing young women in our stake. It is the season for the Young Women in Excellence programs. For those of you not familiar with this, it is a program that celebrates all the value projects and and value experiences that the girls have worked on all year in the personal progress program. I was able to go to 4 of the 6 wards this year.... I would have gone to all of them but they were on the same night and I couldn't be in two places at one time. Anyway, I love these programs because you see and hear what the girls have been up to. These girls are so talented! Each ward does something a little different, they all did a great job. I couldn't fall asleep last night because I went to the Palmhurst wards program last night and the girls were so amazing. I couldn't stop thinking about them. (this happens with all the wards, but this one is fresh in my mind, so I am going to talk about it) Palmhurst ward is on of our smaller wards, they don't have a ton of girls, so they were able to let each girl get up and either explain some of the things they had done or some of them performed for us. A few girls sang and did amazing jobs. One little beehive was so dang cute, she melted my heart. I want to have her sing at one of our stake events or at camp next year. That's why I couldn't sleep, I was trying to figure out when I could have her sing, and then my mind went to camp and I was all of a sudden overwhelmed. Camp makes my head spin. Oh no, here it goes again, constant thoughts and questions, how are we going to make it as good as last year? who will our level leaders be, who in the world can we get to be our cooks this year and on and on....it never ends! Back to last night, one of the girls talked about how she started a blog as a project. She brought a computer and showed it to everyone. I came right home and read up on her life. She is hilarious, check it out, her link is on the right, her name is Alex. But if you think about it, blogging is so cool, it is a life history, it connects you with friends and builds friendships. I feel so connected to my ladies in the ward who blog! It's so cool. She made me think about how I blog and i realized I need to write more feelings and not just a travelog! Then a girl played the flute, it was great. There was a group of girls who sang together, some girls talked about their favorite scriptures, one girl read a beautiful poem that she wrote. I want a copy of it! Alex, can you get that for me? The a girl did a polynesian dance. She was so nervous, it was cute. Anyway, I could talk all day about the girls in our stake... Lucky me! I get to go enjoy all these programs. Thanks to all the wonderful YW leaders in my stake!

Just a side note, since I have been talking YW's. DId you know there is a new value being added to the YW theme? It is Virtue. So cool. You can read about it here.

Weekend highlights

I've finally got all the pictures uploaded on my computer from our fun holiday weekend. I want to remember some of the highlights...

This is how I felt all day... wanted to be in on the action, but felt horrible!

Even the boys helped!

Not sure if grandpa was helping or snacking on the pies!

Ashley and Jenn showing off their masterpieces!

Friday morning some people got up early and went shopping, I was still a bit under the weather so I slept in! After lunch we all headed up to Red Rock for some hiking and climbing. It was such a beautiful day! The perfect time of year to hike up there! Some of my children weren't too excited to go....

They eventually liked it... seems to be the story of my teenagers... why can't they just start off happy?? It would make life so much better!

The happy family!

Todd's cute family!

Cute Grandma and Grandpa!

She didn't think I could do it!

We saw a tarantula on the trail! Of course the boys wanted to kill it! We wouldn't let them.

Love my man!

A trip to Vegas is not complete without a night at the Bellagio fountains and gardens! They are my mom's favorite! We have to drag her away... no kidding. Parking was a nightmare... 

but it was worth it. 

The gardens were amazing! 

To finish the weekend off I took the kids to the park on Saturday while everyone was off doing their own thing. John and Mitch went to the James Bond movie, Grandma and Grandpa got pedicures with Jenn (wish I was a fly on the wall there!) Todd and Sharolyn went Christmas shopping and Ashley went to the gym! For you locals, I found a new park on Cimmaron just south of Sahara... it was so fun. It's all about the Spanish Trail. It was very educational and fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving! My parents are here and my brother Todd and his family and my brother Scott and his cute pregnant wife! She's finally showing a little. I love Thanksgiving because I really try hard to think about what I am truly thankful for. We had great talks in church last Sunday that helped me mentally prepare for this day. Thank you Hodsons! I have so many things to be thankful for. We went around the dinner table and we each said what we were thankful for. It was a neat experience. I love my family! I wish all my brothers and sister could have been here!

The one bad thing of the day is that I am sick! No fun. I woke up with the stomach flu. I didn't throw up... it was the other one. I had terrible sharp pains in my stomach all day, I actually still do. I would try to help get things ready for dinner and would end up on the floor or the couch for an hour. Its been a real bummer. I hardly ate a thing at dinner... hopefully I will feel better and be able to enjoy left-overs tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all my friends!

Costco vs. Sam's Club

I don't want to sound snobbish... but, there is a huge difference between these two stores. When I moved here, I thought I didn't like Sam's Club because of 2 reasons. 1. I had never been to one. 2. I am from Washington, the home of Costco corporate. I like to stay loyal to my home town. But today, I have realized those are not the reasons I prefer to go to Costco. I just got home from Sam's and I was so frustrated by the time I left... I waited in line to order a pizza for no joke, 10 minutes. Did they not just finish remodeling the snack bar?? shouldn't things be faster now? Not with only one person working at dinner time?? what are they thinking??? (they took out their soda machine in their remodeling?? All they have is bottled pop now and I heard the lady in front of me say it was warm. I hate bottled pop. Way too carbonated for me.) Then I walk over to the photo center... the photo center is really the only reason I like to go to Sam's. I prefer their photo finishing to Costco. I think their color is so much better. So, I go over to pick up my enlargements that I uploaded and there is no one there?? what?? I go find a worker who is totally dressed like a total slob and ask him if anyone is working in the photo center and he tells me she is on a break?? How can you close a department for a break at a big store like that? I don't think that would happen at Costco. So, I had to wait another 10 minutes to get pictures. Then I grab the 2 things I needed and I wasn't about to shop around because I was a little mad, so I grabbed my pizza and left. Very frustrating. I don't think Sam's gets the whole customer service thing... I will admit, some of their prices are a bit better, but not enough to get me there all the time. It's kind of like Target vs. Walmart. Love the class of Target, but love the prices of Walmart. I guess you have to pay for class. Enough of my venting... I hope I am not offending anyone. sorry.

Advertising advantages...

Once in a while John gets free tickets to things from the TV stations that Sunburst advertises with. This happened to be one of those weeks. Thursday afternoon he was given tickets to the "Trans Siberian Orchestra." It was at the MGM Arena and it was packed. I wasn't really sure who they were... I guess I need to get with the times... You can check them out on this YouTube link: It was a great concert! I need to go get their Christmas CD.

Yesterday he got tickets for the filming of the Ellen show here in Vegas! It was so fun! We got to go to a luncheon first with the channel 8 people. This guy at our table works for the Ellen show and he gave me his business card and told me I could call him to get tickets anytime! I think I will take advantage! The show was lots of fun. She had Bette Midler, Hans Klok (sp?) he's a magician here in Vegas and then the singer Pink. She was great. It was a fun show. It will be on TV on Monday... you will have to watch. I am so lucky! Ellen and Oprah in one year!


I have more to say about it, but I have a ton of stuff to do today to get ready for family coming for Thanksgiving!!

Happy Birthday Cindy!

It's my sister Cindy's birthday today. I hope you have had a great day! Cindy is the oldest girl in my family, so she was always like a mom to me when I was little. My other sister Julie and I would try to make Cindy cry when she baby-sat us... sorry! We were pretty rotten. I didn't really get to know her very well until I had kids. Then we hung out and let the kids play and we tole painted. Cindy is the artist of the family. She paints kids rooms, she's painted sea creatures at Seven Peaks in Utah... she's amazing. She's the one who taught me how to make those cute little covered Books of Mormon. She's selling them in an Etsy shop. You can buy them here: www.CindyRoutson.etsy.com

Happy Birthday Cindy! Love you! Here she is at the cabin a few weeks ago after we finished a puzzle...

On the Road Again!

It was tough to get in the car again, but very worth it. John, Tanner and I decided to hop down to Hesperia, CA yesterday to meet our new niece Cienna. I really wanted to see Cienna while she was in the newborn stage. Newborn babies are my favorite... sorry kids, but my favorite stage of life is when you were under 2 months! You know I love all the stages, but there is something so special about a fresh new baby. They don't try to leave you, don't talk back to you, they just want you to hold them and snuggle them. And I did. I practically held her the whole time we were there. I got my baby fix!

It's only about a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive depending on whose driving. John has slowed down in his old age... actually I think it's a fear of another ticket... remember our 3 ticket day last May? If you've forgotten, you can read about it by clicking here. We finally had to pay the fees last week. OUCH! Our sweet attorney neighbor tried to take them to court for us and the judge was in a bad mood and wouldn't lower any of the fees. He did take my speeding ticket down to a parking ticket, but it still is cost me $190. He wouldn't budge on the "full attention to driving ticket", that one cost $280. (I have to do traffic school for that one! I'm doing it online, so for I've passed 2 of the sections!) then the ticket John got for running the stop sign on his bike cost $190. Can you say Merry Christmas John and Allison! Anyway, it wasn't too bad of a drive to go down there. We forget that they are so close. We need to go see them more! The kids are so cute! Edie sure has her hands full! 3 kids under 3! 3 kids in diapers. fun fun. Carter is a typical almost 3 year old... into everything. Caden is a little angel boy. He will be 1 in January and little Cienna was precious. Grandma Barnes was there, so that was an added bonus to see her.

We went bowling and Grandma won! I think our excuse is that we were all stressed out taking care of 3 little kids, so they wouldn't disturb our serious bowlers in the next lane, that we got a little distracted and lost focus on the game! haha

Here are a few pictures:







Edie and Luke: You are doing an amazing job! You have a beautiful family! Remember, don't listen to those who, shall we say aren't mature, and know that it doesn't matter how you received these little angels into your beautiful family. You ARE their parents! Being parents is the hardest and the most rewarding job you will ever have! Love you both, so glad we got to spend the day with your family!

Home Sweet Home!

I feel like I've been gone for weeks! We went to the cabin over Nevada Day weekend and came home for 1 and 1/2 days and left again. I wrote that like the cabin was ours... I wish! Anyway, we had a wonderful time at Dix's cabin in Brian Head with my family. My parents came, my sister Cindy and her family, which included her married daughter and son in law and my brother Todd and his family. It was so fun! I wish all of my family could have made it! LOVE them all!

We spent the weekend doing puzzles, learning how to make digital scrapbook pages, eating, watching football, 4 wheeling, shooting bb guns, watching movies, the kids played the Wii and of course spending the late hours playing hearts. My family is pretty serious about hearts! We taught the teenagers how to play and they did pretty good. I believe I won the first night and Cindy lost big time! Fun memories.

We came home Tuesday and then I left for Spokane on Thursday morning. I had a great time up there visiting with friends. I spent the first 3 nights at Stacy's house. Stacy is such a wonderful hostess! She picked me up at the airport and took me straight to the mall for pedicures, well we actually had a short $200 dollar stop at Target. That's not hard for Stacy... she loves Target! I love shopping with people who love to spend money! I showed her 3 games my kids love and she bought them! Pedicures were wonderful. They brought back memories of my days working for her. Before every big scrapbook show that we would go to, we always made time to run and get a pedicure before we left. When we got to Stacy's she had a big basket of fun treats for me in my room. She bought me these cute DOTS slippers and the most cool box of candy. It's called "the best candies from the 70's". She knows me well. We spent each night talking for hours! Geof even joined in on the conversations one night!

Friday was the big card party and I pretty much got nothing done. I brought my laptop hoping to make a few digital scrapbook pages, but I spent the whole day and night talking and eating! It was wonderful to catch up with so many of my friends. I am so sad that my camera is still broken! I have no pictures from the whole weekend. I was just on Stacy's blog and she did have one picture of us making brownies. I know she took a lot more, I will have to get them from her.

Saturday night Stacy, Whitney and I went to Coeur d' Alene Idaho for dinner. We ate at the Dockside restaurant that is right on the lake. It was amazing! I think they were trying to remind me how beautiful the Pacific Northwest was! It's definitely got my heart. I haven't grown to love the desert beauty yet. But, I must say, it did rain every day I was there! No joke. Not a bit of sunshine. I got my rain fix for the year.

Sunday night I spent the night at Whitney's and we talked the night away! I flew to Salt Lake on Monday and drove home on Tuesday with Ashley and Mitchell. They had their first road trip to Utah without us! They went up and visited friends. Thanks Barb for taking Mitchell for the weekend! He had a great time with Jake! You can move back anytime! Ashley had fun with Alex and Kristine.

I came home very tired! It's always fun to get away for a quick trip, but I LOVE coming home. Nothing like your own bed, your husband next to you in that bed, and your kids! I spent the day today trying to get caught up on laundry, emails and all that fun stuff that you ignore when you are away!

I will post the pictures of the cabin tomorrow... I've got to get to bed!