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.

Hot to Trot

So . . . last week at school the annual turkey trot was held. The older kids have to run a mile and the younger kids have to run 1/2 mile. Kennedy didn't want us to come and watch her so she wouldn't tell us what time her grade was running. We went anyway and got there just in time to see her cross the finish line. She came in 4th place for her grade! Way to go Kennedy!!

While we were there for Kennedy we asked what time Klayson's grade would run. We were told it probably wouldn't be until after lunch. So I went back to the school around 11:30 thinking Livie and I could have lunch with him and then stay for his race. When I got there he was already eating and told me that he had just finished his race. He tied for 2nd place in his grade and won a pumpkin pie! Way to go Klayson!! I was so sad that I missed it.

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Usually after making a mistake you learn from it and it isn't repeated. Not the case with me. A few years ago I decided to buy myself some wax and one of those little heating pots. I figured I could save a few bucks and wax my own eyebrows, instead of paying the extremely high price of $5 every 3-4 weeks.

The first time I tried to do it I was quite successful waxing my armpits. So then I went for the eyebrows. Again, I was successful doing the uni-brow area. I was feeling rather confident in my abilities and tried to "sculpt" my eyebrows. At this point I had wax smeared all over into my eyebrows. I knew I couldn't put on the muslin strip because I would rip off half my eyebrow. I got soap and water and tried to scrub it off. I rubbed my skin raw, but no luck.

Then I remembered a time when my cousin's little boy spilled a candle on my carpet and that Thoro took it out. You guessed it, I found a bottle of Thoro and rubbed it all over the wax covered area. Yes, I do believe I gave myself a chemical burn. My friends at school were quite concerned for my well-being because it looked like CJ had decked me in the eye.

Now this is where history repeats itself. Keaton was feeling like he kind of had a uni-brow and wanted to shave it. No, no, that's not the proper way to take of it. Let your mother wax it. So I did. All went well!

The next day Kennedy asked if I would wax her eyebrows. Sure! It's good fun putting hot wax on your children's faces and then inflicting pain by ripping out their eyebrows.

Well, Kennedy was a bit squeemish and kept crinkling up her face. As a result, wax got into her eyebrows where it shouldn't have. Had I put on the muslin strip and ripped, she would look like a complete freak!

So, out comes the soap and water and as she cries I scrub. Don't worry, I learned something from my own mistake: Don't use Thoro, use baby oil instead.

Now doesn't she look much better without the uni-brow?! NOT!! I love you Kennedy, be patient with me!

I Want to Rock All Night

When our good friends, the Dotsons, moved we decided that our families would get together at least once each month. Well, Melanie held up her end of the deal, but it kind of died when it was my turn last Spring. I know, I'm a loser!

Sunday evening we invited the Dotsons to come for dinner and some games. To our pleasure, they came! The girls always have a wonderful time together. Klayson kept their boys entertained. Keaton is too cool to deal with any of us. CJ and I had a great time just visiting with Travis and Melanie.

We broke out the Wii and all had fun playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero. No one could top Kennedy's high score. (I think she might spend a bit too much time on the guitar.) The girls named their band the BFFs.

We're blessed to have such good friends in our lives. Thanks for coming Dotson family!!

Follow Me Boys! (To a cabin)

"I am not a camper." This is the declaration I heard from CJ a couple of weekends ago when he returned home from an overnighter with the Deacons at the City of Rocks. He is the Assistant Scout Master and father of a Deacon, so he will be doing a lot more camping and better become a camper.

That particular night CJ and Keaton slept in coats and two sleeping bags, each, and still froze. When they got home Saturday evening, CJ spent a good two hours on the internet and phone trying to find a good sleeping bag. He had to have one before Thursday.

This past weekend he put his new sleeping bag to the test when he camped out at Wood Badge, which was held at Camp Keisel.

When he came home I heard again, "I am not a camper, BUT I stayed warm!"

Taps Anyone?

So we heard the talk, by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, about good, better, and best. I think our family is pretty good at filling our lives with "good" things, but we've been trying to step it up a notch and do "better" or even "best" things.
Keaton is in beginning band at school and they were to have their first concert at the end of the term. Well, we found out that the concert was the same night that the Young Men in our ward were to go do baptisms for the dead. Dilema!! We wanted him to keep his good grade and knew that if he missed the concert if would have a detrimental effect on his grade. We also wanted him to be able to participate in the baptisms, especially since this was the first time they've gone since he turned twelve.

Thanks to Mr. Walton!! He said that Keaton could invite at least ten people and do a mini concert. So we did. His great Deacons Quorum, the Bishop and his wife, grandparents, and friends came to the "concert."

Keaton did a great job!! We really appreciate his teacher for being so cooperative, making it possible for Keaton to participate in those things that are the "best."