Milestones

The chubby man in this picture, is my dear husband, Eugene. I call him Gene. He doesn't like his picture taken, so I usually have to catch him with the grandkids or the dogs! We have been married for 31 years as of October 28th, and I love this man! He is a great grandpa, a wonderful husband and a awesome dad!

It was not always that way. There was a time about 15 years ago, I thought we were done. We both had different priorities and were making some pretty bad mistakes. It is not easy for me to talk about. One of those mistakes led to Gene losing his membership in the LDS church.

Thank heavens we both woke up and learned to fight for our marriage and not against each other. It was a difficult lesson, and took us a long time to get right! On December 20th, Gene was re-baptized and confirmed a member of the church. The next day, they gave him a church job, the Cannery specialist! This has been a magical Christmas for me and you will probably catch me tearing up on a regular basis, but they are tears of joy! It is kind of like when you have a new baby, that magic time that envelopes your family!

Eighteen years ago I lost a baby on Christmas day. So Christmas is usually a melancholy time for me! Until this year! I have a new joy to help!

Hug the ones you love today, for me, okay?!

Chris

Christmas Pajamas!

Ever since I was a tiny girl, my Grandma Alvey made us pajamas for Christmas. Our family would all get together at Grandpa and Grandma's and we had a pizza party and opened presents. The adults drew names and traded gifts, but us kids always got a present from Grandpa and Grandma; pajamas! Actually, us girls usually got flannel nightgowns. I loved those nightgowns. Even when we lived in California and couldn't come for Christmas, grandma sent us pajamas. One year, when I was 10, she even sent my mom scraps so she could make a nightgown for the Barbie I was getting for Christmas. To this day, flannel nightgowns are like comfort food to me! When I feel crappy or sad, I pull on a flannel nightgown, wrap up in a blanket and read a good book!

Well now I try to carry this tradition on with my family! These are my 6 grandchildren! On the Tuesday before Christmas, we all gathered at our house, made homemade pizza, ate Christmas candy and exchanged presents. The adults draw names and trade gifts. And the kids have a couple of presents under the tree; pajamas and toys! I was informed that the girls all like jammies, not nightgowns, so I adjusted! Here they are! The girls, even 21 month old Maddie, are in High School Musical pajamas, and the boys in Optimus Prime (Transformers) pajamas! Just before this picture Maddie was crying, Conner madly running his RC mustang, Jesson his train, Bailey danced in her Cinderella dress-up costume, Sydney played away on her electric guitar and Sarah was headbanging in her Hannah Montana wig! But for one brief moment, they put their jammies on and smiled for Grandpa and Grandma!

I know I am in heaven!

Love,

Chris

Merry Christmas!

I know it has been a looooonnnnnnggggggg time since I posted! I guess I just needed a break! But I am back and I will catch you up in the next few weeks! Anyways, Merry Christmas to you and yours and I hope that the weather isn't keeping you from visiting family! We have gotten at least 10 inches of snow today, adding to the 10 or 12 we already have! Who hoo, a White Christmas!

Remember the reason for the season!

Love Chris!