Christmas 2016

The reason that these two pictures are here is, I had to pay a repairman to come and fix both. Right before Christmas of all times.  Truth be told I need my range fixed as well, but that wasn't in the budget so it will have to wait.

This is what I made for the ladies I serve with in Primary. They are called Whamit Dolls!  There is a darling poem that goes with it saying: "If you get frustrated just take the doll and, Whamit, Whamit, Whamit." I thought that it might be appropriate seeing as we are having a heck of a time finding teachers to accept a calling let alone do there calling.

First snow of the year. Just a skiff, but enough to play in.

Of curse this was Christmas morning, andTucker has now officially hit the stage of over excitement. He gets what is going on. We were up two to three times before it was actually time. Tucker had been asking all the way back in the summer for a fork lift like his dad see's when he goes out to a rig. He wanted it to be able to change from a bucket to forks if possible. I was thinking where, and the heck am I going to find one of  these!  Thank heavens for Amazon, because they came though with that.

Reagan all summer, and fall has wanted a doll house. I know that the Barbie Dream houses are very expensive, and not worth what you pay.  It would probably only last a month before it was broken in our house, so I started pinning doll houses to see if I could make her one. I wasn't sure how I would accomplish this, but wanted to try, so she could have her house.  Out of the blue Shasta (My cousin) called and wanted to know if I wanted the doll house that my mom and dad had given me when I was little. My mom had given it to her when I grew out of it.  I was almost in tears with gratitude for answered prayers. I told her absolutely YES! I wasn't sure what kind of shape it would be in, and she warned me that it was looking it age, so I was still nervous until I saw it.  It was definitely something I could work with. I had her drop it off at mom's so she wouldn't have to make the hour + drive from Roosevelt,  I had to wait until after I had Madalynn, but once I had a month or two under my belt with her, I would go on weekend and work on it.   There is a wood shop in vernal that sales hand-made wood items for kids, they do cabinets and specialty items also. Mom had a table re-toped there. I got all the furniture there and painted it colors I hoped Raegan would like. I sanded and painted the house, put it on stilts with casters to roll, put some wall stickers for decoration, hung a mirror, and some pictures of the kids, and got some place mates for rugs. I even found some food and dishes at amazon for not to much so I got that to make it (what I think would be) fun.  You need to know that I was really trying to be frugal, and not spend a lot of money this year, because we one didn't have it, and two was expecting some decent doctor and hospital bills for Madalynn, and I. So I cant say enough what a blessing it was that Shasta made that phone call.

Madalynn was a little harder to get, or I should say come up with, something for. I wanted the kids to think it was fun, but she really didn't need anything. She has acid reflux pretty bad they have her on a prescription of zantac, and I have learned that she dose better sleeping if she has a incline, so I found a bed with a incline that is portable on amazon, (are you all thinking I am addicted to amazon? Well you might be right!) and ordered it. I was getting worried because it want coming and Christmas was in a week. When it finally came it was the wrong thing.  It was a shock absorber for some king of vehicle, so I sent the shock absorber back, and luckily was able to find one at Walmart in town.  I should have started there first, but was on such a roll with Amazon.

For Randan I splurged, and got him a chain saw. We don't have one, and thought that it would be the prefect thing. He even had mentioned that he would have liked the one mom gave to Justin.  I had been asking all season what he might like, and he would give me anything, so  I had, what I thought was a light bulb go off, and came up with this idea.  He wasn't as excited as I was hopping for. Bummer.

I got a mate that goes under the desk so that your desk chair will slide around better. I also got a gift certificate to T J Maxx. If you know me you know I love that store.  Of course we got gifts from grandparents and in-laws, but I am not going to type all day.  My shoulders at definitely feeling this.

All in all I think we had a great Christmas, and am so grateful for tiny, but significant miracles.  

Last but not least mom was able to see Drake for a day, a few days before his birthday. She likes us to come up and visit so that the cousins can get together and play.  Mom baked a cake, and we sang Happy Birthday to Drake, knowing we wouldn't get to see him on his actual birthday.  I think, and hope that he had lots of fun.