Have a very Merry Christmas!

Snow! Snow! Snow!

Okay I know that the state is getting coated in the white stuff . . . as are we . . . Toph shoveled the sidewalks (our apt manager never does . . .) and five minutes later it was piled high again! Right now the soft stuff is falling . . . my favorite kind! But mensch is it coming down!Softly falling . . . covering my car and leaving my clean floors slick and salty . . . too bad I volunteered to work tonight! We are planning on watching the Utah vs SUU game tomorrow . . . hopefully we will be dug out by then!We hope that everyone traveling for Christmas is safe! Be super careful kiddles! It is nice if you can just stay inside all day . . . but it is not so fun having to go out and drive in it . . . plus our cities 1 snow plow (okay we may have more . . . just not as many as the North . . . a little joke between us . . .) is kept busy avoiding our street! To top things off . . . I discovered that the holiday drink that I am is MILK! I was so pulling for hot chocolate! I am not quite crazy enough to be eggnog, which I can understand . . . but Milk?

You Are Milk

Your holiday personality is innocent. The holidays make you feel like a kid all over again. You love every part of the holidays, and you anticipate Christmas morning. You enjoy getting presents as much as you did when you were young!

What Holiday Drink Are You?

Okay Toph took the test and we discovered that he is hot chocolate . . . so it makes sense now since his drink of choice is milk and mine is hot chocolate . . . what a relief! (Okay I am in between semesters and my brain has turned to jello and will hopefully set again before school starts! . . . hence the reason that I feel things like this are important . . . give me a break!)

You Are Hot Chocolate

Your holiday personality is generous. The holidays are your favorite time to practice the art of giving. You enjoy picking out presents, sharing treats, and making everyone's day a little brighter. And you don't even notice if you don't get anything in return.

What Holiday Drink Are You?

Things that make me go . . . wow!

Okay I honestly get star struck pretty easily about some things and over some people . . .

Example A: My cousin and I went up to SLC for Spring Break I think our freshman or sophomore year of college (I was 19 I think) . . . anywho we were at the mall across from temple square eating in the food court and all of a sudden these two guys file past us . . . my cousin had her back to them but I was able to see them head on and about passed out . . . it was 2 guys from Jericho Road (okay you now know I am a major fan . . . but I think that was already fairly common knowledge) anywho I was all ga-ga and my cuz was looking at me like "what the hay" and then the other 2 walked by and I really about passed out! I started doing the "refrain scream" (grit your teeth and quietly let out a little shrill) . . . so after finding out what the dealio was my cuz said well lets go say hi . . . so we ran outside and they were across the street doing a photo shoot . . . but we were brave and got pictures with them on our cell phones! (In fact I passed that cell phone on to one of my little sisters . . . I think that the pictures are still on it). Okay now you know I am a little dorky!
Example B: Well shopping black Friday reminded me of that experience when we found our way to Santa's workshop and of course the first booth we see is the one and only Del Parson's! I absolutely LOVE his pieces! They are just incredible! Toph and I have talked about different paintings that we want in our home and Del has painted many of them!!! I absolutely love the American Revolution history and have total respect and gratitude for our founding fathers . . . so when I saw "The Old Man Wept" out on display I knew that I had to get it! Well then Del himself (who ironically attends church in our meeting house and who honestly doesn't live too far from us) sat down and offered to sign it for us . . . (so nice) then of course I was awe struck and had to tell him of one time when I was leaving my water color class at good ol' DSC and I saw him carrying out a massive painting (that I have yet to see released) and was in total awe! . . . Yeah I get pretty excited about stuff! Anywho story time is over . . . and it looks like we are going to be getting a mountain of snow for the next 5 days or so! Look for us when the pass opens in the spring! (from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". . . "the pass is open, the pass is open, . . . all able men meet at the preachers house . . .")

Toph is Graduating!

Raise the roof! Toph is graduating with his bachelors degree in Sociology! I am so proud of my handsome husband! He has been such a good student and is SOOOOO excited to graduate, enjoy a semester break and decide what he wants to get his Masters Degree in! He loves working at the Elementary School and is leaning towards Special Education . . . whatever he chooses I know that he will shine! Toph I am so proud of you hot stuff! You are the most amazing husband and make each day of my life a delight! I appreciate so very much your personality, your appreciation for the many blessings and opportunities that come our way, your willingness and desire to serve others and continue learning, your patience with me, and the example that you are! I love you! The world is your oyster! Happy Graduation Love!

Well it is officially white outside! We have been waiting and waiting and finally our first "sticking snow" has fallen. It is something crazy outside . . . very windy! I love the snow when I am driving home and it is so quiet and peaceful outside! Well I like it when it isn't such a pain to drive in! I have decided that 97.2% of Utahns drive WAY TOO FAST IN THE SNOW!!! From work I always see cars sliding across the road like hockey pucks because lets face it . . . were driving like and idiot!!! You can never be too careful. Anywho it is beautiful . . . until you go out in it . . . or it gets tracked through your house . . . or you have to dig your car out of it . . . or you get stuck . . . or someone who has never seen snow is driving in it next to you or in front of you or within 300 feet of you!

And now for some holiday entertainment . . . this is what you do when you need a lil' break from writing papers and studying . . .

P Girls go Country

P Girls Disco

With Mama P and Papa P

From Em's e-mail . . . some Holiday humor!

The wife has been on my case to get the Christmas lights up for a couple of weeks now. They are up now and for some reason she will not talk to me.

Okay a must share . . . I just spent one and a half hours uploading pictures to get developed at Wally's . . . it wouldn't let me check out . . . it just gave me Canadian cities and provinces to choose from as to which store to have them developed at! It turns out I was on Walmart Canada instead of the US website! What the hey! My hair was seriously going gray with all of the errors that popped up! Grrr!!!! Oh and heads up Canada . . . it was WAY easier to upload photos under the US site!

Congrats Lowry's!

Congrats Dan and Luisana!!! We are so excited for you and your new arrival! A healthy beautiful baby boy! We can't wait to see your little Logan and his loads of dark hair! We wish that we could bring you dinner every night! What a great gift to be blessed with right before Christmas! We wish you all the joy and happiness that a new baby brings! Congratulations!!! We miss you guys!

Wisdom from the past . . .

Thomas Jefferson is one of my favorite people in history! When I was in 8th grade I went to visit his home, Monticello, and became obsessed! If I see a book about him I read it! I think that he was incredibly inspired and had his on head straight in regards to what the United States needed (still needs). I wish that our country followed his counsel, I think that we would be in a much better boat if we did! My Mutti sent me these quotes . . . I second all of them!


When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe .
Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas Jefferson

Very Interesting Quote

In light of the present financial crisis, it's interesting to read what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

We are grateful . . .

This year has flown by so fast (again) that I feel like I haven't taken the time that I would liked to have had to stop for a moment and remember how blessed we are and how grateful we are for so many blessings, experiences, and people who are part of our lives. A few days ago we received a letter from a friend serving in Iraq that stopped the world and really helped us to remember so many blessings that we enjoy. I was overcome by the things that he said and little did I realize how much I needed to hear his words and how grateful we are for the great love and appreciation that it brought into our home! For this brave soldier we say THANK YOU!!! While his words were so kind on behalf of our family I couldn't help but think about how blessed we have been by serving others and how grateful we are for the gospel in our lives and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We would feel most unappreciative if we didn't send out a quick we love you to our family and friends . . . people who have and who continue to serve as lifelines, guides, and helpmates in life! We love you all and hope that each day the joy that life brings will touch your hearts and let a little more sunshine into your soul each day! Above all else we are so very grateful for Jesus Christ, the savior of the world and for this special season to celebrate his birth! May we all heed the words of our beloved prophet by following the Saviors example and offering the gift of charity and service to others throughout the year and especially during this wonderful Christmas Season!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! It was a nice break before the onslaught of finals next week! We headed down to SG and celebrated with the Parry family. Toph and I continued the pie making tradition and watched "Son In Law" while making chocolate cream, coconut cream, and praline pecan pie the day before! After dinner the gals gathered around the table and planned our shopping strategy for "black Friday!" It wasn't as crazy as in years past . . . we honestly did less shopping that day and avoided the stores bursting with people who were foaming at the mouth and ready to fight! Erin and I being the adventurous ones that we are went to a midnight showing of Twilight Friday night!! Yep we were up for 24 hours by the time our heads hit the pillow (crazy I know!) But it was fun . . . and now onto Christmas! I did get my fall/Thanksgiving decor put away Saturday and have started hauling out Christmas boxes . . . but we are honestly a little too stressed and busy with school papers and final prep to decorate today! But it will get done! Oh, the Childrens Christmas parade is this Saturday, Dec 6th @ 2:00 if anyone wants to come! I will make goodies and we can do lunch! It really is fun!