Merry Christmas!!!

I was so sad that I wouldn't get to come home and be with yous all for Christmas-it just isn't quite the same....but having the homemade gifts made it extra special and much easier to be here by ourselves. Great idea, Melissa! I hope you all had a wonderful day, and I look forward to seeing pictures and hearing all about everyone's Christmas. I love you all!!

WHEW!

LATE Friday evening I finished up my home-made gifts and got them in Saturday's mail. Look for your packages! What a relief to have them mailed on time...although for what shipping cost, I could've bought a plane ticket and delivered them myself :( Although I was stressed out about what the hecknhell to make DAD and BENNY, I really enjoyed this gift giving/making experience. In discussing with Chris and Emily, we agreed that this cost more money to make our gifts. I don't think the idea of making our own gifts was to save money, but instead to give us a sense of thoughtfulness and service for our givee. I know this was true for me. I really put thought into this and while I was laboring, I did think alot about Benny and Dad and got warm fuzzy feelings for them. I don't know what anyone else thought about the experience, but I've got ideas in the works for next years gift---and I'm not going to procratinate :) I know we drew names in the summer, but time flew by and I felt paniced that I wasn't gonna get it done. So, whether or not we decide to do this again, or bag it...watch out!!! You're gonna get something home-made from me again next year. I love you all!

This is our Christmas letter we sent out with all our Christmas cards. We stopped doing a letter with lots of words and no pictures a couple of years ago. Nobody likes to read lots of words, especially "my children all are famous and the top of their professions, our grandchildren are all going to college at age six, blah, blah, bs, blah." Let's be honest...do you read those kinds of letters from your acquaintances? So anyway, pictures are worth a thousand words. All our friends that care enough about our family already are "in the loop" with the latest news. Those that don't care that much can oogle over the pictures.

We love youse all. And are very proud of you. And are glad you are normal and not famous and fabulous, and even that our grandchildren are not child prodigies (it's hard to really love perfect people). Merry Christmas to everyone. Hugs and kisses from:

Dad

DAMMIT----WHERE IS EVERYBODY????

DO YOU WANT STICKY BUNS?

Several requests have come in for the Christmas breakfast Sticky Buns, so here goes:
Version One (this is the last thing you do before going to bed on Christmas eve)
Rhodes frozen dinner rolls thawed out just enough to allow you to cut them into fourths.
Bundt pan with a couple of tablespoons of melted butter in bottom. Mix a cup of sugar with a tablespoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle a tablespoon of sugar and cinnamon mixture on top of butter.
Dip cut up rolls in melted butter and roll in sugar and cinnamon mixture.
Place sugared rolls in bundt pan until it is half full. If any butter remains, drizzle over rolls with a little more sugar/cinnamon mixture on top.
Sit out on ounter with dish towel over the top. In the morning they will be ready to put into the oven (that is, if you have an oven.......sorry, Emily!) Bake until golden brown. Tip pan upside down on deep plate.
Version Two (my favorite)
Rhodes frozen dinner rolls thawed out just enough to allow you to cut them into fourths.
Bundt pan with a couple of table spoons of melted butter in bottom. Sprinkle same aount of brown sugar on top of the butter.
Dip cut up rolls in melted butter and roll in instant butterscotch pudding powder.
Place rolls in bundth pan and for every layer sprinkle more brown sugar on the rolls. Continue until the pan is about half full. You can add chopped pecans or walnuts if you desire. Drizzle remaining butter over the top. Cover with a dish towel. In the morning they will have risen and be ready to put into the oven (again, that is, if you have an oven.) Bake until golden brown, Tip pan upside down on deep plate. ENJOY!

YOU TOO CAN MAKE YOUR OWN YULE LOG

To make your Christmas yule log, you just follow the directions for making a jelly role cake in any cookbook.......I use Betty Crocker.......It will give you the recipe for the cake and tell you how to roll it up when it comes out of the oven. The frosting recipe is as follows:
Cocoa Fluff Frosting
Mix in chilled bowl, and beat until stiff:
2 C. chilled whipping cream
Mis the following together and then fold into the whipped cream:
1/2 C. cocoa
1 C. sifted powdered sugar
dash of salt
Dad always put the finishing touch on the Yule log. He used a big green gum drop to cut out holly leaves to decorate the top.....red hots for the berries or you can cut those out of red gum drops. Don't forget a candle! Happy Birthday, Jesus!

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming."
--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Great Commandment", October 2007 General Conference

Jesus and the Abominable Snow Monster -- Brian's humor

Zack knows a funny word!

We were riding in the car the other day and Zack announces that he knows a funny word. "OH NO, and I cringe inside". "What's the funny word Zack?" "POKA-DOT!" "That is a silly word! (whew!!!!!)" So we are riding along, and he is repeating poka-dot and repeating and repeating it. Then he announces he knows ANOTHER funny word. Not worried this time, I smile in the rear view mirror at him and ask what his other funny word is. "SH*TNUT!!!" Ya, have to admit it really IS a funny word! :)

Jack's new swear word

Mindy had a much deserved "girls night out" last night so I was tending to the chillin's when Jack suddenly told me "Daddy, Hannah is not a b*tch, Mommy is not a b*tch, Jack is not a b*tch." Naturally, my curiosity was peaked, did I hear him correctly? So I asked him to repeat what he'd said, so he did. I did not want to make a big deal of it, but I was sure wondering what Mindy and Jack talk about while I am at work. He certainly did not hear that word escape my lips (seriously, he didn't................really!................I am being serious. I say a lot of other words, but not that............seriously). Anyway, Mindy swears she didn't teach him that word either, so now we're going to have to cut off his toungue. But the dirty word never appeared once today, so maybe it was a fluke. Hmm, now that I think about it.....he never said I wasn't a b*tch.

Hallelujah!!!

Since none of youse are coming "home" for Christmas I thought I'd send a wee bit 'o Christmas to you. So to our deer, deer children I say....Have a really happy holiday!!!

Where is everyone?

Where did everyone go? Are you all mad at me because I turned you into dancing elves (except Emily and Kallen - you beat me to it)?

I am in my final week of Business Law - it has been an enjoyable class, although studying poo and the human response would probably seem enjayable after 10 weeks of statistics hell. Anyway, that's my excuse for not blogging much last week.

Hope to see you on here soon.

bB