Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Wii Like It!

My family got a Wii Sports for Christmas. Within an hour of getting back from Grandma and Grandpa A's house, we had it set up and playing. Needless to say, since the kids are out for Christmas break, they have been playing this constantly since then (at least when they are awake, and maybe in their sleep). I have to confess that I have been having fun with it as well. They say that if you do it right, it is proven to help you lose weight and get in shape. Here's hoping.

Get out there and get fit! Stick.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Driving me Crazy

We just returned from a trip to my parents home where we went for Christmas. This is a 7+ hour drive that in winter can be especially challenging. We were grateful this year to be making this drive in a nice vehicle, capable of handling winter roads, but it is still a long drive with a car load of kids. BY the time we got home, we had driven almost 1500 miles (including a side trip to St. George), and we were more than ready to get here and sleep in our own beds.

No offense to anyone, but I don't think we will do this again any Christmas soon. We have decided to just be stick in the muds and stay home for a while. We have already been staying here for Thanksgiving (inviting others to join us here so we don't have to travel :o)). Maybe this is a sign that we are getting older, or wiser, or lazier (take your pick), but it is always such a hassle to pack up all the presents, kids, clothes, and assorted items that we just don't feel like doing it again. At least not for a while. Maybe our minds will change over time. Seems like we said this last year too.

For now, Have a Happy New Year (without us), and we look forward to seeing you all soon, When are you coming?

Drive safe. Stick.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Taking the Plunge

As many of you who read my blog know, I am an aspiring author. I have one completed book, and another underway. I recently finished the first proofreading of the original text, so, yesterday I sent the first contact to a literary agent in SLC. The agent is associated with Harcourt publishing, and they accept writer’s submissions. They did say that it could be a couple of months before I heard anything, but it is a step in the right direction.

Keep your fingers crossed. Stick.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Naughty List is Getting Longer

My school had gone the entire school year without any kids fighting during school hours. This week, we had 5 different fights break out, two of them within 3 minutes of each other. It's not just the boys either. We're just not sure what is going on. Full Moon? Just found out they were already getting coal in their stocking? I just hope it settles down soon.

Take care. Stick.

Christmas Memories

Nene just blogged about her Christmas Memories, so I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring. My first memories of Christmas come in the Omaha house. I can remember how hard it was to go to sleep on Christmas Eve, and once we did finally fall asleep, it didn’t last long. We’d wake up wondering if it was morning yet. We’d laugh and talk, whispering in the dark about what we hoped Santa would bring. Finally, we would get up to sneak downstairs, usually only to find my dad there telling us it was only 12:30, and to go back to bed. Invariably, we would be up again and ready to open presents by about 4:30 or 5:00, and then we would line up, and rush out to see the presents.

I remember the year that someone got the rocking horse, I believe it was Nene, but it might have been Twist, though I really don't remember now. I just knew it was for me, and we did play for hours on that old pony before it finally gave up the ghost.

Probably the most memorable gift was my ten-speed bike, which I got along with a pair of leather gloves when I was maybe 14. That bike made me free. I rode it for miles. I bought a speedometer/odometer, and would ride up to 25-50 miles a day. I always wanted to ride it from Texas to Utah, but was never allowed.

The last major memory I had of Christmas came while I was at BYU. I went home that year for Christmas, driving down to Hatch, and meeting Inklings and her family. We then caravanned from there to Texas, with grandma. We had family come from everywhere to be there that Christmas, and you could hardly see the tree behind all of the presents. They were stacked almost 3 feet high, in a circle that came out almost that far from the tree, and once we added the Santa presents, it was difficult to even walk around in the room.

I have had many more wonderful Christmases since then with my own family, but none that were any more magical than these.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Stick.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

I think I'm Channeling Scrooge

I have always enjoyed Christmas. I love decorating, putting up lights, hanging tinsel, putting up the tree, everything. I enjoy singng Christmas carols. I have a good time looking for just the right gift for the people I give gifts to. Usually.

This year, I can't seem to get into any of this. No one can see our house from the road, so why decorate? We've been practicing carols for two months, so the blush of excitement there is gone. I need a shot of Christmas spirit, but I don't know where it is going to come from. I guess I just need to remember the real reason for the season. I hope so, and I hope it works soon.

Have a Merry Christmas regardless. Take Care. Stick.