Catching Up...

Seriously... it's been since October?? How can that be? Let's just go with it's been crazy.

Some highlights and happenings of the last two months:

My faithful 1999 Nissan Altima, despite all of the abuse piled on to it, turned over 100,000 miles - in the intersection of 21st South and 7th East to be exact - in November . Knock on wood, but other than routine maintenance and new tires, the only part I've had to replace is the alternator. Now if it can just keep that up for a couple more years...

I got to spend a morning with my cute boys and the Love Bug really wanted to take pictures to send to Grandma Betty and Grandpa Al because they are so far away (first it cracks me up that he actually calls them that and second I am really grateful not to be in Saskatoon right now - last Sunday when I talked to them it was 48 below!! I am too much of a wimp for that!) and for Aunt Debby and Aunt Sara. I sure love those two rascals!

In November I also got to make a quick weekend trip for Princess K's 8th birthday - and got to hang out with Maryland Robinson crew ....

Princess K the birthday girl

Diva K (it was a toss up who got to be Princess and who got to be Diva... )

And Bear... who was my bunk bed buddy for the weekend!

And last but definately not least... a mobile Crabby A!!!!

Friday the 13th festivities included duck pin bowling - my first time!! Check out the ball that Diva's holding... the pins are short and fat pins and it was a riot!

Look at these cheesy grins - are we related or what??!!

After bowling was eating (always a favorite activity!), and then some quality game time spent at the local Chuck E. Cheese (not as cool as I remember it being when I was little!)

Before heading back to the homestead, Deb, Diva, Bear and I made a stop at Target to to get Deb a new Christmas tree (since only half of hers made it down in Bogota... half a tree isn't such a useful thing!) and well... there was no room in her trunk because she stocks up when she's in

the States on stuff that she can't get in Colombia or that's too expensive down there. So Bear and Diva K got to ride in Buster's car with a Christmas Tree in a box on their laps... it was pretty funny to listen to the box shifting and the giggles!

Saturday morning started off with some boxing... those girls don't pull their punches!!

Watch out!! Bear's out for the count... KO for the Princess??!!

And Saturday afternoon was Princess's baptism. It's so hard to believe she's 8!! You know how you have moments where you are just really grateful?? This was one of moments... I was so very grateful to be there - grateful for the sweet girl she is, grateful for her really amazing parents and her crazy/funny/lovable siblings, grateful for a brother who is an honorable priesthood holder, grateful for the good family that I am lucky enough to be a part of...

Love, love, love the Maryland crew!!

Bear cracks me up... He checked himself out in the mirror and his comment was "I look like a Dad!!" and that was a really good thing for him!! Although he did tell a lady in Target she was creepy... apparently Aunt Rosann taught him that one when she called Chuck E. Cheese creepy... oooops!

And one more Maryland picture... Poor Crabby A was having a rough night, and when her Mom rescued her from her crib, well the sad face and snot bubble was just priceless!!

I got to go the BYU-Utah game with Kirk, Luci and Ben - and it was AWESOME... I wasn't sure that the Cougars would pull out it... prove me wrong! It was crazy...

Even though "A Christmas Story" is all over cable during Christmas I've only seen the part where the kid talks to Santa and then gets booted down the slide. A couple of years ago I

started noticing all these crazy leg lamps that started appearing in windows after Thanksgiving and I just didn't get it. They're kind of tacky, why would someone put that in their window instead of a Christmas tree? Well, last week I finally saw the play at Pioneer Theatre Company, and I now get it! I must say that I'm somewhat relieved that there's a reason for these lamps, because I was having a hard time figuring them out!!

And last but not least, I got to go to The Nutcracker ballet this week with my dear friend Krysta. I've been hooked on the ballet ever since seeing one in Ukraine when Mom and Dad were serving their 1st mission there. Kirk and Marc talked about the ballet after serving their missions in Russia. And now I just really love going to the ballet. Kirk claims the best version he's ever seen of The Nutcracker was in St. Petersburg... maybe I'll get to see it there one day, but I really enjoyed Ballet West's version this year.

With everything that's been going on, my Christmas cards have not happened this year... maybe Valentines Day cards instead? But Happy Christmas to all... Love, Peace and Joy.