linda winnie: January 2009

Maybe its because i refuse to listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, or maybe its because Christmas songs can take me back, in a instant to Christmas as a little girl. (awe such sweet memories) anyway for some reason i cant seem to get Christmas songs off my mind.

Our Holidays started out with...

I DECKED THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY,

I love Christmas, and I Love decorating, but for some reason i don't like decorating for Christmas anymore. I don't know why, I guess its because it is just so exhausting, and takes so much time. I always wish i could spend a day at a nice luxurious spa when i get done! This year I didn't get out a lot of my decorations, and i really missed it, so next year I promise, no matter what, I am decorating everything! (well, only if i can get a massage!)

FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

OH THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL

BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL
And so are my neighbors in Autumn Ridge.. I was in charge of our neighborhood charity drive this year, and our friends, the Debenhams, helped us pull it off, this is how it works... Every year the first Monday in December the neighbors get together and bring unwrapped gifts and or money donations for the Boys & Girls Club of Sandy. This year we built a big bonfire in our driveway, roasted some hotdogs, and had hot cocoa. Friends & neighbors young & old come bundled up to enjoy the evening together. It is a great way to start the holidays off, giving and sharing what we have with those who are less fortunate, This is what Christmas is all about. Thanks Lynda Orme for starting such a great tradition!

Me & Mona

A bunch of friendly neighbors

Courtney with cute laura & Ellie

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

and this year my dream came true! We had so much snow, I loved it!
Every time I was in a great mood this holiday season I noticed it was when it was snowing!!! And I'm not just talking a few flakes either, i am talking a snow globe kind of snow storm, (my favorite kind.) and all though i love to be home baking cookies, or making a delicious soup for dinner when it snows, I'd much ratter be out in the middle of a snow storm. How else can you

really enjoy it?

MAY ALL YOUR CHRISTMASES BE WHITE!

DON WE NOW OUR UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER APPAREL

We attempted to make gingerbread houses this year. We mixed, & rolled, cut, & baked, & assembled our little gingerbread houses... then the night we got together to decorate them the kids decided to have a ugly Christmas sweater party! We had so much fun laughing at each others hair styles & ugly sweaters that we didn't quite finish our houses, but they still looked great, and we had such a fun time. Ugly Christmas sweater party is here to stay. And next year we will start making our gingerbread houses Thanksgiving weekend, then MAYBE we will get them done!

FA LA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW

Call me crazy but we spent the day before Christmas Eve snowmobiling! The crazy part is, I had so much shopping left to do, but it was so worth it, because OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE! It snowed the whole day (which I loved!) we had some veggies, chips & queso dip, pulled pork sandwiches, hot cocoa, & chocolate chip cookies. Which all tasted so good after being out in the cold mountain air. The kids had a blast driving the snowmobiles through the freshly fallen snow. Thanks Debenhams for planning it, & thanks McDougals for letting us enjoy your cabin!

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY!

SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN

This Christmas Eve it was just the Winnie crew,

it's a good things we like each other!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU... BABY

I got a early Christmas present, a granddaughter! Her name is Navi. As you can see she is so precious. I can't get enough of her. She is the best Christmas gift of all.

FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA AWWWWW!

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, ALL IS CALM ALL IS BRIGHT

December 28 was Navi's blessing day. Robyn's brothers & sister were all in town for her blessing. She was blessed her in our home Sunday afternoon, around 2:30 p.m. Brandon gave her such an amazing blessing, there was a really strong spirit here, what a special day. This sweet little baby girl is so loved. Navi was sleepy all day, & she was so good during the blessing, she even giggled, how cute is that! This is such a great time of year to have a new baby, & to see her dressed in a beautiful white gown, i have no words, only tears!

Navi's blanket is the blanket Brandon was blessed with almost 27 years ago. Crocheted by Dave's mom, to our surprise the design on the blanket is the same design that is on Navi's dress! And the really freaky thing is... things that I used for my babies are now heirlooms!

MOTHER, FATHER, & CHILD

HOLY INFANT SO TENDER & MILD

Chicken curry haystacks & sticky rice with all the toppings, black berry & pomegranate salad, coconut & chocolate cupcakes for dinner.

Thee cutest great grandparents, grandma & grandpa Atwood

The Winnies & the Rupps

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE.

OH HOLY NIGHT, THE STAR IS SHINING BRIGHTLY

Finally to end our holidays in style, we hiked to the STAR! For the past three years on New Years Eve, we have hiked to the star, & it is always the highlight of our holidays. We are so lucky to have an amazing neighbor named Harold Haugen, who 5 years ago had a dream that he put a star up on our mountain, & that year he made his dream come true. He hikes up every night to fill the generator with gasoline, which lights the star. I always have such a peaceful feeling on our journey to the star, there is just something about climbing up a mountain in the snow at sunset, seeing the twinkling lights from the houses below, reaching the top to see this giant star shining in the dark. It is breathtaking. This star brings so much happiness to so many people. It helps to reminds us all, the true meaning of Christmas!