Ta da !!

Well, it's been ONE YEAR since I have had a carbonated beverage, aka pop, soda, etc. My drink of choice was the dreaded DIET COKE. Last year at a New Year's Eve party with friends, I put my hand to the square, and swore that I would NEVER have another pop as long as I lived. They got it on video !! If that isn't enough to make you live up to your commitment, I don't know what is.

After about a month of headaches, and feeling like crud..............and another few months of CRAVINGS................ I no longer even think about or consider having one. Roger comes home from work almost daily with a Pepsi in a cup, full of ice, and it doesn't even make me break a sweat. When we go out to eat - it's WATER FOR ME. I've probably had about 4-5 bottles of Country Time Lemonade over the past year (which I don't count) and also at two parties there was homemade rootbeer (which I don't count) and then there was the dreaded FLU episode in November, when I lived on soda crackers and FLAT SPRITE for 3 days (which I don't count).

I had actually forgotten that today was the 1 YEAR anniversary. My co-workers reminded me. They are PROUD !! So am I :)

The Many Faces of Christmas at the Rich's

Christmas so far...........

Cam and Manda are HERE !!

Tagg's Happy !

Uh......maybe not :)

I know Treyson - he looks pretty sketchy to me too !

I spy......... Apples.......Pupplies........Candycanes..........Rain boots........

Cam wouldn't got near Santa, until Treyson took her by the hand and helped her. Also, she could barely get a word in........because Treyson wouldn't stop talking. Thanks Santa !!

Making and frosting sugar cookies

Plowing the snow.........Cam lasted about 5 minutes. Must be that Arizona blood in her veins :)

Check out the neat Alpaca Hat that Landon sent home.
Treyson thought he'd try it out.

Snowy Day

Well, the weather outside has ruined my plans for the day. You can't tell by the picture, but it is snowing lightly. I was going to head down to SLC with mom on Front Runner, to see my niece, Tiana, perform with her high school show choir at the Joseph Smith Building. I've been listening to KSL radio all morning, and the roads are a MESS !! Including a multi-vehicle accident at the mouth of Weber Canyon where I-84 meets Highway 89. I'm such a BABY on the roads since my accident last year, so I guess we won't be going. I would have to be back by 4pm for a dentist appointment anyway, and it would be cutting it close.

I guess I'll just stay home and bake. Last night I finished the caramels and sugar cookie dough, so far this morning I've done fudge and slush, now I will work on carmeled popcorn and chicken noodle soup (for tomorrow), and broccoli salad. I'll save the funeral potatoes, and spinach dip, and rolls and ham till Christmas day.

Manda and Cam fly into SLC tomorrow morning at 10:30 am. We can hardly wait !! The weather is supposed to be better, and Roger will be driving, so I should be okay :) We will stop at Vanessa's store, El Inka Market, to pick up a package that Landon sent from Peru, and then head home. Santa will be making an appearance at our home about 4pm to see the kids.

This morning at 5:20 am, I was awakened by the phone..............numbers were 51.51........... PERU !!! First words out of his mouth.... "Hi mama!" I just love that boy!! He thought Roger would still be home, but unfortunately he had already left for work. It was a short sweet conversation, and he let me know that his Christmas call will be on Christmas night at 6pm - so any of you reading this who would like to drop in and say HI to Elder Rich, come on over !! We'll have food aplenty for all.

In case I don't get back to posting anytime soon - Merry Christmas everyone ! We love you !

The Whole Fam Dam

Back: Linda, Lynette, Kelly, Layne
Front: Joni, LuAnn, Ben, Roger

Whoops !

What happens when you delete a bunch of pictures from your camera.........without checking to make sure they transferred to your computer correctly? THEY ARE GONE FOREVER !! WITHOUT ANY HOPE OF RECOVERY !!

So here I end up posting a couple of old pics......... AND a newly scanned picture.
Oh Joni.......... thank goodness we took the most IMPORTANT picture with YOUR camera........ anytime girl..........anytime........ :)

Someone help me pull my FOOT out of my MOUTH - Please !

So, I'm sitting at Amie's (my hairdresser), waiting my turn. I recognize the woman in the chair, it's the (Insert last name here) lady. They are talking about new babies, and names, etc. etc. The name Nora comes up, which I personally would not choose.......but like all of the "older" names, i.e. Hannah, Olivia, Maisie, has come back in vogue.

I say to the woman {SOMEONE STOP ME NOW}, "Can you IMAGINE someone OUR age, having a name like NORA when WE were in school? THAT would have been a death sentence!"

There was an UNCOMFORTABLE pause.......... my hairdresser looks stricken..........I'm thinking, "What the heck did I say?" I start wracking my brain........what was her name? Something......... (insert last name here)?? Something (insert last name here)...............??? OH - ya, right......... NORMA!

Please, someone get a crowbar......it doesn't get much worse than that :0

Something New

Yesterday I did something I’ve never done before. Dun Dun Dun…… I joined with some friends and put together some “freezer” meals. We all met at Teresa’s house and brought our meat and ingredients. Jill Melle showed us how to put them together, and added some of her secret recipe spices.

Some of the new meals we will be having: Italian Mozzarella Meatloaf, Chicken Pot Pie, Cilantro Citrus Chicken, Sticky Chicken, Garlic Basil Chicken, Taco Soup w/ Chicken, Western Meal, Cheesy Mexican Chicken, Mexican Cornbread Casserole, Cranberry Pork Roast, Asian Pork Tenderloin, Teriyaki Pork Chops. These yummy meals will be pulled out of the freezer, and put in a crock pot for the day. When Roger and I get home at 6pm – Voila !! Supper is ready :)



Here's the final "stash", in the freezer. I can hardly wait to try them out. Now the only thing I need to do is convince Roger that the pork (shhh!!) is chicken, and that the diced tomatoes and green chilies are good for him :) Wish me luck. Who knows?..... I may be sending meals over to Zac and CJ’s, and home with Manda after Christmas.

**PS - I put the Taco Soup w/Chicken in the crock pot a noon, and at 9pm when we got home from the wrestles, it was ready to eat, and Roger's pronouncement? "Pretty Good" - even though he picked out all of the diced tomatoes, and green chilies. What a guy :)

Tagg and the Tree

Woah......... What is THIS ????

I think I'm going to LIKE it !!

I'm going in.......

Gotcha !


What? You got a problem with this ??

Come What May and Love It

One of my favorite talks from last conference was by Elder Wirthlin. I felt inspired to share it during November when we went visiting teaching, and as I studied it, and prepared the message, I felt it had such meaning in my own life. Elder Wirthlin passed away a few days ago. He will be missed.

Another Christmas Tag !

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both (I recycle the gift bags for sure !)
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, since 1993 (when we moved into our new home)
3. When do you put up the tree? Depends........This year, Roger brought it up out of the basement on the day after Thanksgiving. I take the ornaments off every year, but the tree stays INTACT, with the lights on it. So there it sits... Haven't decorated it yet.
4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime in January (see above - it's not too hard)
5. Do you like eggnog? It's okay - Maybe a little IF it's homemade by my mom....and COLD !
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Maybe my Chrissy Doll, whose hair grew?
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes - I have Grandma Tonks' old one (nothing fancy, but just sentimental), and I'm going to see if Landon can get me one from Peru.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Roger's parents.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Grandkids
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't remember. I don't think I've ever gotten anything I hated.
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story. Camryn watched it the other day, and was telling Roger about the part where there Santa was mean to Ralphie and pushed him down the slide. Hope it didn't scar her, because Bruce R. aka Santa, is coming to our house on Christmas Eve.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? First part of December, although I started on the "I SPY" quilts earlier this year.........like about FALL of 2007....
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, I don't remember.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's waffles on Christmas morning. Mom? hint, hint, hint??
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Either.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
18 Travel at Christmas or stay home? Either - just as long as my family is together. Manda and Cam are coming home THIS YEAR........but next will be a different story :(
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Of course
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Crowds
23. Favorite Christmas tradition? From my childhood, would be Christmas Eve at Grandma Dicksons for sure. For a few years (late 90's, early 00's) we took the boys snowmobiling.
24. Up early or sleeping in? Our kids were NEVER the early early birds. 6-7 was usually the norm.
25. Who hands out the gifts? Me.
26. Does Santa wrap your gifts? Sometimes.
27. Do you tell the Christmas story? I read it.
28. Do you leave cookies for Santa? Nope.

Saturday Savior

I forgot to blog about this - and it's important ! On Saturday, November 22nd, I was able to take my Sunday School class to see Savior of the World. It was wonderful. We had a great time. These young men and women are SUCH a great group. I love them.

Mindy (mom) with Austin and Hans

A brother and sister who actually get along ! Tim and Deborah (home from college)

Riley and Colton, entertaining Karen

Havala, Tiffany, Deborah, with Karen in front.