The Year of the Ox

If you are at all familiar with Chinese New Year you will understand that at the Roberts house 2009 is the Year of the Cow, the Year of the Chicken, and the Year of the Dog.

Let's start with the cow. In CJ's younger days he was a definite cowboy. He wore nothing butt (not a type-o) tight Wranglers and ropers. He always raised a steer, or two or three, to show at the B.E. County Fair, the State Fair, and sometimes Spanish Fork or Grantsville. He was pretty good, too.

For the past couple of years Keaton has wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps. We were able to buy some land behind our house, get it fenced, and now we have cows. You can't by just one, according to CJ, so we have two.

On to the chickens. CJ proposed the idea of getting a couple of chickens so we could have fresh eggs. He found a cheap chicken coop on KSL and then discovered three chickens. We bought these and quickly became chicken fans. We were all so thrilled when we found an egg. Then it was two eggs, and finally three. The kids would rush off the bus to look for eggs. There is even one chicken who lays kind of a green colored egg. Dr. Seuss was definitely on to something. My parents were wondering what to get CJ for Christmas and I flippantly said that we had room in the coop for three more chickens. So that's what he got . . . three chickens and a cute little basket for gathering eggs.

Finally the dogs. We had three very smelly hunting dogs. He gave one, Maisy, to a contractor buddy. That left Elvis (I wish he had left the building because he stinks the most) and Jenny (I know her name should have been Priscilla). I thought Olivia needed a playmate so Santa brought the kids a puppy, named Roxy. She is the cutest mini schnauzer. CJ is not as fond of her as the rest of us because he is definitely opposed to house dogs. That, and the fact that she spent more time at the vet clinic than at home. I think the vet bills might have a little something to do with it, too. We're working through the potty training with Livie and Roxy.

' Twas the Night Before Christmas

I'm truly hoping a tradition has been started in the Roberts household.
For the past 14 years we have always spent Christmas Eve with the Roberts family. For the past 12 years I have wanted to change it up a bit. Maybe we can continue with an every other year thing. I want to have traditions with my kids that they will remember when they are grown.
In 2006 Olivia had her head surgery and came home from PCMC on December 23, so we definitely weren't going out and about that year.
In 2007 we went to the Roberts' again.
In 2008 my sister's family came from Virginia so we spent Christmas with the Firth side.
Ashley and Adri were the party planners, mostly Adri, she likes to be in control. (Sorry Adri, it's true.) The theme was Mexican Fiesta!! Ashley made delicious enchiladas. Adri and I did tacos and Mexican rice. Granny & Grandpa provided the drinks. Craig's sister, Cindy, and her family joined us in the festivities. I have to say we all had a great time. It was nice and simple!
That night Jayden didn't want to leave the fun and head back home, so Ashley, who I think had lost her mind, drove home loaded up Christmas and brought it here.
It was great to have all the kids and my sisters here for Christmas. Granny and Grandpa decided to get some sleep, so they went home, but they showed up here early Christmas morning.

A Visit From Peru

Last April CJ and I were able to take a trip to Peru. We had a wonderful time and made some great friends. (If you know CJ, that shouldn't surprise you!)

Our travel agent, Carmela, has two daughters that live in Utah and one of them was due to have a baby in January. Carmela told us, while we were in Peru, that she would be here for Christmas. We called her daughter, Melanie, and made plans to get together for dinner and see the lights at Temple Square.

It was so fun to see Carmela again and meet her son, Aaron, her daughter, Melanie, and son-in-law, Roy.

She became a new grandma on January 6th when Stephanie had a baby girl!

A Great Tradition

Every year, from the beginning of time, we have had "The Lasagna Party." This includes the Firth, Knudsen, Gephart, and Petersen families. The party is always held on the Sunday before Christmas. The menu always includes lasagna, garlic bread, green salad, and bring your own drinks. Tiffani added a new menu item one year when she made stuffed mushrooms. Then Lisa followed it up with some kind of sausage chip dip.

It rotates each year as to who hosts the party. But if you host the party I don't think you have to prepare any of the food.

As kids we would always draw names for gift giving. The "moms" just bought gifts for each other. About 20 years ago the "dads" started giving white elephants.

Once the kids moved out or got married, we were no longer invited to come to the party. Many of us had issues with this, but that's just the way it was.

The the "oldies" realized the party wasn't near as fun without the kids . . . Soooo, we were invited back. Now we host the parties, but everything else stays the same. The great part is that just the parents exchange gifts with one another. It's nice that our kids get to go to a party where they see others "getting" and their "gift" is just being together.

This year the party was at the Summers' house. Tiffani and Layne were wonderful hosts. This year no stuffed mushrooms or sausage dip, but they added a new element: Chimes. Great Fun!!

It was so fun to get together with such great families and friends. It's fun to see how much our families are changing and growing. We definitely missed those who were unable to come, but it was fun to see friends who we've missed for a couple of years.

This is definitely one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

Let's Back Up a Bit . . . Quite a Bit!!

It seems that life during the holidays got a bit crazy once my sister and her family showed up. Craig, Adri, and the kids flew in on the 17th. Ashley (bless her heart) came up that morning to help me have a "house of order" and dip candy. Now I need to say that having the Sleights for Christmas was kept a secret from my parents starting clear back in October.
So the plan went down like this: Ashley and I headed to the airport at about 5:30 pm. When we left my house I asked her if we needed to park her car in the back, just in case Mom came down. Of couse we didn't do it. Who knew she would come back, especially after being here most of the day. Thus the lying began! I left that part to Ashley and CJ because I'm not a very good liar. It had something to do with Ashley and I going shopping, not telling CJ where we were, and CJ being fuming mad. (Sounds like reality, huh?!)
So . . . their plane was late. Poor Craig flew in with Adri and the kids then turned around and flew back home (on the red-eye) to work a few more days, then flew back out on the 23rd.
The next morning we all went to Grandma & Grandpa's. Ashley, CJ, Livie, and I all went in first to drop Liv off so we could go to a school Awards Assembly for Klayson. A couple of minutes later the doorbell rang. To Granny's surprise there was Adri and the kids singing Jingle Bells. My dad just sat in the family room wondering who the h _ _ _ was Christmas caroling at that time of the morning. :)
Quite honestly it was a great start to the holidays!! We kept asking Mom and Dad if they were really surprised because we had all slipped up so many times. I guess it's a good thing our parents are usually clueless.