QuickChristmas, unsorted, unspoken!

Merry Christmas to all! We had a great, great day. After a Christmas eve tradition of pajamas, (hand made by John with monograms!) Are Christmas day's have evolved into a day long event. We don't rush, and with a missionary call that lasts 2 hours in the middle, it is fabulous. Parents, as usual were tired, and the kids are patient. In fact, when John finally got up, instead of opening presents, we played a game that Roxanne and Larry had received on christmas eve. (They came down to have fun in the morning, also! What a treat.) So, stockings, playing a game, then eating Christmas Strata, then opening one by one... It was a delightful day. A few highlights in no specific order are Daniel with legos, Kristina with a new webkinz, other odds and ends, and the 12 year old highlight of my children's life, a custom quilt from the grandma Kenna. Kristina wanted a crocodile quilt, so the master crafted a piece of art. It is usually the last present opened, but Christopher wanted to see (he was skyping) so she opened it while he was online. So, here is a scattered montage of Christmas morning (with a christmas formal dance picture thrown in for good measure!) We love all of you who have made into our life in one path or another. We are greatful for each one of you. It slipped out while we were talking the other night, but I found it a wonderful thought…

"Traditions give focus to our life."

Thinking of the past…

While attending our ward party last night, Kristina leaned over and said, "Didn't we used to act out the nativity?". All of a sudden, a thousand memories flooded my mind. Thank you to all of you that have made an everlasting impression on my life. Those that know me, know that I went from hating december, to loving and looking forward to a special ward christmas party. That party had santa clause, music, children and parents acting out the nativity, an ornament tree, and memories that will never die. I can remember sitting in the bishop's office with santa clause and mrs santa clause, waiting for the moment to escort them into the party. Not many noticed, but it was an old cotton pillow case grabbed from the linen closet. Everything from that closet smelled so good. It was filled with goodies for the kids. Everyone had a chance to visit. I remember randomly passing out costumes for the nativity. I am grateful for a friend when entrusted me with her collection. No one hestitated. The angels, the donkeys, all were there. Then, the ornament tree, with each families name on it. The acts of service that would extend through the season. I will always remember those parties. We were surrounded by heavenly angels as we celebrated as one big family. Thank you to all of you. Merry Christmas!

2 Dates in 2 Days

Okay, the joys of parenting is taking photos of your children as they go on dates. We have two pictures for you. Number 1 is Girls Choice at LHS. Haley Wellings asked Daniel to be her date. Despite a cold, exhaustion, and a few other issues, it was reported that the date was great. This picture reminds me of a show I did almost thirty years ago. It was a two magician "show de magia". My partner was not as vertically blessed as I was so we played off the height difference through the entire show. We had placed an orange box at the front of the stage. During the entire show, the audience wondered what it was for. Finally, as we took our final bow, my partner stepped up so that we were the same height. I should have held on to that box. Maybe I'll get Daniel one for Christmas. Might come in handy for future dates. I can see conversations in the future... Date:"That was a great evening" Daniel:"Yes it was, I had a great time" (as he places the box at the doorstep.) Date: "What's the box for?"Daniel: "Well, if you'll step right up, I'll have a better chance of hitting my target instead of feeling like Father Pepscialla blessing your forhead."

There are advantages to the box. First and foremost, said date can't run as fast for fear of falling off of the box. Second, If said date steps up on the box, chances are she knows what's coming!

And finally, if she boots you in the rear with a swift kick while you are placing the box in position, you are absolutely sure that the pursuit of said goal is superfluous.

No Box Needed:

Ah, the military ball. Air Force meets Belle. "Que Bella!" As the Merket's attended their first Air Force Ball, they graced us with their debonair style. It, too, was a great evening.

Funny story #2

JODAC 11:50: mama says you left your mixer here

rjamilla 11:50:

my mixer?

JODAC 11:51: Mama doesn't remember that she wanted a hand mixer and I bought it for her last gift day

rjamilla 11:51:

ha ha ha

rjamilla 11:51:

its hers

rjamilla 11:51:

we didn't bring ours!

rjamilla 11:51:

has she used it?

JODAC 11:52: It's pretty, she's admiring it, she's delighted to know it's hers

rjamilla 11:52:

hahahahahaha

JODAC 11:52: It's snowing... she's a little goofy.

Remember when all things began to make sense…

I have to post this story. First, let's set the scene...

Remember how a certain feature on the male anatomy is called the "adam's apple". Okay, now remember all the things that it does… it goes up and down, some stick out more than others, when really relaxed they lay low, when tense they are high. Well, now for the statement of the week from Kristina…

"I finally realized today that when they talk about the adam's apple, they're not talking about somebody's bum!"

Now, go back and review all the things it does. It was classic.

"Man, that kid's got a big adam's apple."

"You think that just because his adam's apple sticks out so far, he'd have a lower voice."

"Isn't it cute how his adam's apple goes up and down when he talks?"

Meet the fam!

Here is this years buzz saw awards:

Cleopatra!

Toothy!

Meet me at the tree!

It's so nice to be me!

Halloween!

Okay, it's past. I love all the candy my kids bring home. I can't stop eating it. Never could, never will. I now take it upon me to make sure there isn't anything lying around to tempt Karen. It's my husbandly duty. Yeah, that's right, husbandly duty! I like it. It's been a great weekend. I recorded a great concert in the catholic church on friday. Kristina came with me to enjoy and be a helper. Asking questions to understand recording in a brief moment. I like it. Saturday was a great day. Kristina and Daniel went to EFY in the tabernacle. Then, in the mid afternoon, we went to the temple to do family names. This was Kristina's first visit to the baptistry since turning twelve. It was great to have Roxy and Larry, Daniel, Kristina, Karen and I all in the temple. It was a hopping place. Br. Hernandez (from the second stake episode of our life) works in the baptistry and is always loaded with candy. Talking about scoring big while waiting to do eternal work! Yes. (Funniest story of the season comes from this... It goes like this...

The candies Br. Hernandez smuggled to us like contraband in the temple were Reeses's peanut butter cups. I can hardly spell it, let alone eat it wth my allergy. We all know Peanuts are deaths' calling card for me. The big A, and I don't mean Aggie. (Anaphylactic reaction) Well, my kids are so alarmed by this concept they have stayed away from peanuts. Little by little they have experimented to see what it is they have been missing. Kristina has recently learned she loves peanut butter. She is careful to have it away from me. At school, they have used it as a staple in their cooking classes. Well, Daniel announced in the car that he feels a little zing when he has peanuts, also. Krisitina burst out with the following reply:

"That's not an allergy, you don't even die!"

We all busted up laughing. So, all you wimps out there who don't die with your allergies....Let's show a little more effort...)

After the temple, we prepared for the evening. A chili party and trunk or treat at the church house. Well, it rained out the trunk or treat, so it was more a walk around the perimeter of the basketball court multiple times until the barrels of fun were empty. We made two pans of corn bread. Karen said everybody loved it. I was a little late as I sewed a cape for Prince Charming. Then I did a count.... there where three pieces eaten. Karen had put two in my bowl and she had one.... Where is the everybody who loved it? Funny...

We after coming home, we made a visit to paul, (random thought, I bet he has candy left over...) then to a little friend, and then home to watch a movie. We watched one of my all time favorites.... What about Bob! I still laugh when I watch this movie. Karen even laughed until the ending when they destroy the house that she loves...

Well, that was the halloween of 2010. Extended over for church with a lesson by Roxanne on the "Dia de los muertos", but that is for her to tell.

Enjoy some pictures…

The Two Treaters....

A little bit of attitude…

Yes, a great costume. John has decided that he will wear Daniel's handmedowns in the future…

The bearer of all bared costumes.... (it's amazing how much cleopatra resembles katy perry at different stages...)

True Blue

Larry, Roxy and Kristina at the peak of excitement on Friday when USU defeated BYU at home!

There is something glorious about standing over the stadium while thousands rush the field. Like a surfer riding a giant wave, (though I've never surfed and giant waves usually crash me into the bottom of the ocean, but that's another story...) It was a repaying for so many other times when the outcome was not so euphoric. It is amazing how one win can so easily blur 17 years of misery. How long ago… Daniel would have been a new born, Christopher 3 years old. There was a family dear to us who are die hard byu fans. The first phrases they taught there baby boy, "Go BYU". They though it was so cute. Well, I added a phrase to this... "In the toilet". Imagine their surprise when their baby byu fan so proudly pronounced "Go BYU in the toilet". It's amazing they still love us. I sat with his older brother at this game. He drove up from Provo. He is now a graduate of BYU and pursuing a masters in business. He said to me, "Remember the last time the aggies one? I was in sixth grade and sitting right up there under the press box." I was able to share with him what the aggies have taught me (as spoken by my mother) "It's easy to be a fan when your team is wining. But a true fan will be loyal even when you are losing."
Go aggies!

A few thoughts… September 2010

Hola from Logan.

No pictures, just typing…

So much happening, so little memory! We'll just run through the family and see what pops back in my mind...

Midnight- Fired from her watch dog duty. Trying to earn back her reputation as guard of guards, barker of barkers. She was fired on an average night. John went outside at about 11pm to turn off the sprinkler. Midnight barked at him. good. Then, five minutes later, the doorbell rings... (11:05pm) No one there. But, strewn across the entire lawn is a trail of yarn. Starting at the front door, down the steps, around the tree, over and under the lawn furniture, back to the studio landing, out to the tree, to the tramp, over and under, back to the trees, back to the sprinkler then to the mail box.... Yes, an elaborate answer to a homecoming date and Midnight didn't make a peep to let me know anybody was doing this to our lawn. Not a peep. Fired! What good is a watch dog if it doesn't watch and only dogs... I don't know.

I did find out later that this blond bombshell loves animals and enticed midnight to not bark a sound. So much for being faithful to her master. fired. Again. Now trying to earn her job back by barking at all things trivial.

Kristina-begging for john to rehire midnight. Okay, okay, already! Kristina loves middle school. Kristina loves young women. (SHe's a Beehive!) Kristina loves math. Kristina loves reading the "Red Pyramid". Kristina loves walking to the bus. Kristina loves the violin and her teacher. (We have managed to acquire the best teacher in the valley. Patient, good with kids, talented, fun loving, inspiring) Oh, did I say that Roxanne is teaching Kristina the Violin?

We have three birthday signs hanging in our dining room. Yes, it has been birthday season.

Daniel has recovered from surgery. Nice scar on his leg. Well crafted. He is now preparing for the school musical and has had a great homecoming date with the aforementioned bombshell. He is still the shortest of the men living in the carter house by 2 mm. We list it metrically, sounds so much greater than reality. He is also selling cookie dough and happening books for various school fundraisers. cookies anyone?

Christopher hasn't been seen for about 18 months. I'm sure he'll show up sometime. We did get a call from someone that knew him and said his driver's license was about to expire. Parents then madly learned how to deal with the new laws that require in person visits for license renewal. No problem-with a notarized form and a few drops of blood you can get it renewed in 6-8 weeks. Oh, and you can't go to your local department of motor vehicles, you have to go to West Valley where they handle things like this. (so the first caller said, but not the second, or the third, but the fourth tended to agree, but not the fifth). final decision. Send the birthcertificate to the said absentee and have them apply for a driver's license in their appropriate state. (Confusion). We opted to mail the notarized form, and submit verfifed documentation to the system. And, miracles upon miracles, we had a licensed returned to us in 3 days. Mailed on monday, arrived in slc on tuesday, processed, mailed and back with a license on thursday. Overnighted to those that know his whereabout and in his possession by birthday. (well, almost... If we hadn't stop to sing to him we might have made the post office cut off...)

Roxanne, let's see, can I still write about her though she's moved out. No. Roxy, where are you? She is a delightful encounter at every moment.

Karen. Working hard. Arranged music for Christopher's birthday. Too low, christopher says, come on mom, I'm a tenor! If Daniel can sing it, it's too low for me! She loved seeing her brother (Mike) and his wife Debbie. What a delight to have them 20 minutes away instead of across the ocean. And such cute cars they have!

John- Been restoring the house. Yes, we have moved from painting to restoring. The term more aptly deserves the time given the job. The windows in the house are old double hung rope weighted. Every window had a broken cord, so, john has taken them apart one by one, rebuilt the sashes, reglazed and repainted each one. He breaks upward of 25 percent of the windows.. (actually more, but who's really counting the 11 broken pains out of 32 in the living room, 4 out of 18 in the east living room, 2 out of 9 in the dining room, and who knows how many in the bed room and kitchen.) John should learn to cut his own glass. The siding has been returned to it's unpainted state in prep for the new coat of paint. There are only 1 and a half sides left unpainted. Who knows, by tomorrow night, maybe only 1 side. but it still needs paint removal and window rebuilding.... oh well... maybe by conference weekend it will all be done. John is also back on the high council. Talk on 3rd sundays. It is great, because he brings Karen and Daniel to sing music. People love that.... diverts their attention from John, who is rusty.... He prepares talks, but never gives them like he writes them....

Other stuff... Nice visit by Keith and Barbara for a celebrate america show. All young kids, could have called it celibate america. Lots of other stuff, too, but I can't remember.

Love to you all!! The Carters

Homecoming LHS 2010

All right, a quick pic from the Homecoming dance at LHS.

Such a busy week… from Driver License renewal for a non present resident to all the homecoming activities, an art show, and a talk in church-all interspersed with 100 more daily routines....

Kristina's 12th Birthday!

It was a great week in the Carter house. Not only did Kristina turn 12, but she had a party, and then was able to attend her very first young women's event. I wish I had more pictures of that event, when all the young women gathered at the church, were given special hair and makeup treatment, then took pictures in wedding dresses at the temple. What a way to start this epoch of life. Well, I do have pictures of the party...

It started out with lots of help in the preparation, with Daniel and Cousin Bridgette doing all the leg work.

Guests arrived quickly and soon it was a full fledge party.

We began our Polynesian Island Festival with a drum call from the best drummer in the house, Karen.

After quickly removing the beater from her hand, all the kids were quickly immersed in a game of Hawaiian bingo followed by "How do you spell your name in Hawaiian?". It was loads of fun. Then, a treasure hunt.

"X" marks the spot!

Kristina loves treasure hunts, so John designed one that walked the entire neighborhood, including up to the temple and down. The final clue was: "Go back to the bridge and look out over the Island (that's what they call the area where we live... funny, no?) and search for an "x". An "x" marks the treasure spot. Well, from the bridge, you could see a giant "X" marking the treasure spot.

Following the treasure hunt, we had a "dress like a hawaiian" relay.

Yes, those coconuts have dual purpose, the traditional, hold em up kind of purpose, or... "Hawaiian Earmuffs". That seemed to go over well. Eliminated any funny feelings... Then, after Relay race, in for some pizza, presents, and smoothies!

I loved this party.

Post party notes: Kristina had to leave to attend her first young women event at the church. While she was gone, her two best friends reenacted every scene from Gilligan's island, without ever having seen the show!

Larry made a great "skipper!"

The had a great time together.... Hum... could this be rivalry in the making.... Moral of the story, don't leave your best male friend alone with your best female friend with grass skirts and coconuts laying around... you never know what may occur.

A Center piece designed by Daniel!

An Oragami Crocodile from Elder Carter! What a special surprise!

After a second round of festivities after Young Women, all were tired and the day ended. Memories made that will last a lifetime...

Happy 12th Birthday, Kristina! We love you!