Where does time go?

This is a picture I found of Calvin with Grandma Bowler at Christmas when he was just barely one years old, so it would have been 1996. I find it really strange that it has really been since October that I have blogged...I am generally pretty good and keeping up with it. Where does time go? Well, we are in the thick of the holiday season, getting gifts for others, making cards, treats, etc. We love this time of year. We love the music, the cold weather, the lights all around, and we love the feelings that we get this time of year. We always say we will try to have this same spirit all year, but for some reason it doesn't seem to last like I would want it to. I guess that is something I could work on!

We went to Phoenix for Thanksgiving and it was good to see everyone again. Scott was soooo nice because I was really freaking out about possibly gaining more weight because the past two times I have been down there I have gained 7 pounds collectively and I have worked so hard this past year and a half and I didn't want it to be another hurdle. So he exercised with me every morning and then helped me to remember to control myself because he knew I needed that. So, we made it back and I achieved my goal of not gaining anything. So, I considered it a very good vacation! I think my favorite part was our traditional shopping on Black Friday and then the girls getting together and having breakfast at IHOP or somewhere like that. I just love that we are all friends and really love each other.

We are all doing good. The kids are trying to finish getting things in before the quarter ends. I am proud of them because they really check their own grades and push themselves to get things done they know they need to.

We went this last week to the Temple Visitor's Center where they have the Reflections of Christ photography on display. There was one of the manger scene that I really liked. We all reflected on our love for Christ. We had our Ward Christmas party and Scott, being Bishop and all, had some teen-age girls singing "Santa Baby" to him and kissed him on the cheek a couple of times during the song. He was dying from embarrassment. It was funny, to me, though, because several people asked me if I was mad about it. I was laughing.

Something else that was funny, this last week, was that Scott asked me to print off a new family picture for his frame at work (which currently has a "horizontal" picture in it) and he asked if the pictures my dad took were horizontal. And I said, "well, the best one is vertical, but that shouldn't matter, we can still use your same frame". He could not picture how I could put a "vertical" picture in his "horizontal" frame. He was almost arguing with me and basically saying that I was wrong. So, we were at my parent's and I was working on the pictures to send to Wal-mart and he comes in and says, with a "horizontal" frame in hand and a "just prove to me" attitude, "show me how I could possibly use this frame with a vertical picture" and he throws it in front of me standing "horizonally". Without saying a word, I just turned it "vertical" and it still stood and then went on with what I was doing. It was so funny. He grabbed the frame and just walked away and didn't say anything. Now he says, after I say I did something stupid, "well, at least you knew how to turn the picture frame". It was definitely a classic moment.

So, I found something I would love to have, and thought I should pass it on...

http://www.perpetualkid.com/to-do-tatto.aspx

I am always writing stuff on my hands to remember what I need to do...I just figured this was for me :).

Well, hopefully you are enjoying yourselves. Oh, I forgot to say...no gingerbread house this year. But Scott said that everyone that entered this year stepped it up a notch from what was brought last year! He feels he contributed that way...they were able to raise a little more money, anyway.