The baby took a half hour nap while the 4yo took a half hour tantrum.

But good news! All that screaming wore out the 4yo. I got him out of the bath and told him to go put his pajamas on and found him curled up on his bedroom floor fast asleep. He needed the nap so he’d be ready for our All Night Christmas Party that always follows cutting the tree.

When the oldest arrived home (around 10PM) from their YM/YW activity at Temple Square, we could finally all be together and start our traditional All Night Christmas Party. (All together meaning we’re all in the same house–the baby was too tired so I put him to bed.)

It was probably a good thing he missed the tree decorating. He began undecorating it as soon as he woke up. Then when presents appeared underneath the tree, he unwrapped them and tipped the tree over. So now the tree has a cooler under it propping it up. Decorations only adorn the top one-third of the tree, and all the presents have been removed. So far he hasn’t pulled the lights off. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for the next five days.

I’m glad we got a pic of what it looked like  for a few hours before the baby, my children have dubbed Walking Tornado, awakened.

It’s quite a houseful, and getting a turn at dipping is a challenge.

Grandma does her best to teach us the technique.

Her basement smells heavenly.

It’s one of those days my girls look forward to all year. Thanks, Grandma!

Dear Family,

Grandma and I wanted to thank each of you that helped in any way with the Fall Round Up. The Friday events were highlighted when my truck decided not to run. That part of the roundup ended for me and grandma on the side of the road  in Nephi with a load of cattle and a truck with no power steering, no brakes, and no battery.

The truck was taken by tow truck to be worked on in Ephraim.  We waited and waited and waited on the road until we were saved by Nathan in Travis and Maggon’s truck.  We finally got home after dark.

Matt and Stacy went back for the second load only to have two flat tires on their trailer.

Saturday went much better; in two return trips, we were finished.

Thanks go out to our two ranglers Lisle and Jessi as well as every one of our children and grand children. A very special thanks to Joe and Anna and Travis and Maggon who not only let us use their trucks but also their trailers when they had other plans.

Matt and Stacy and Kids really ramroded the round up and they both drove trucks.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!  I would like to report that the cattle are in heaven in the South Field.  They are wondering why they were so reluctant to get into the trailers.

We love you all very much!

Grandpa and Grandma

1) Go somewhere warm which equals south.

2) Go somewhere we could hike.

3) Go somewhere we’d never been (or even heard of).

Kodachrome Basin State Park fit the bill. Plus it had rocks for the kids to climb.

Even the baby had fun. BTW–I love whoever invented the Bumbo.

It was so nice to get away with just our little family and have fun together. We were even able to start back in with our nighttime reading ritual. (Soccer season is too chaotic–we have to wait until its over for bedtime stories.) We took along the third book, The Home Ranch, in the Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. We LOVE these books.

Speaking of books . . .

I promised a giveaway! Okay, so here’s what you need to do to be entered to win A Christmas to Remember:

Leave a comment telling one of your favorite places to go for a family vacation.

That’s it. Easy Peasy.

Random.org will help me select a winner on Friday night. Look for the announcement Saturday morning.

We haven’t decided on a name yet. Any suggestions?

Fifteen minutes. I was only in the other room nursing the baby for fifteen minutes.