Ladies Luncheon 2010

Every Christmas Season the Beckstrand ladies all get together and go to lunch. It started 6 or 7 years ago when Debra and Katie were in town for the holidays. We thought it'd be fun to get away from the kids and hubby's and just enjoy each others company. This year we went to Olive Garden. It's never about the place we go, it's about the time we spend. We really should do it more often and not wait for a holidays. We do get together once a month for Family Home Evening which is really good to keep updated on when everyone's activities. We are lucky to have Kellie with us this Christmas and look forward to the next time Debra and Katie can join us.

Happy 72nd!

My Dad turned 72 yesterday. WOW! Where does the time go? I remember when he was just 70. My Dad has always supported all of his kids and grandkids in all he can. Sometimes it's hard to be 2 places at once especially when he is up in Lehi and half of us are down here. But he always seems to do it. Everyone who knows my dad LOVES my dad. Recently he's gone through cancer and is currently cancer free! He doesn't have time for cancer. He's too busy and as soon as the ground thaws he's got a huge garden to plant. My dad has always been a great example to us all of hard work and kindness to others. We love him dearly. Happy Birthday!

On the way home from the cookie party...

Shayne hit a HUGE pothole and slashed both of the passenger side tires. With Kyson in the car. Nice. We tried to do everything to get the tires off but they just wouldn't come off so I called our neighbor Daniel Cluff and then hurried and hung up because I realized that with only one spare we'd have to leave the car there until the morning anyway. But he called me back and I told him what happened and thanked him for calling but there wasn't much he could do. 2 minutes later our YW President (Stefanie Turek) called and told me that Daniel called her and she said that she has the same car and could run us out the other spare so we could at least get Shayne's car home so we wouldn't have to do anything on Sunday. So that's what we did. And today we spent $283 to get it all fixed. I am currently taking all of Shayne's presents back to the store to get cash back. Actually I had that $50 gift card to Big O Tires and that helped a little. Here's a picture of her car with the 2 spares on it. Yes they are different sizes. But they fit and did their job. I am very grateful that Shayne and Kyson were alright. I also called Ivins city and complained about there STUPID pot holes! Merry Christmas! (bah humbug)

Annual Aunt Jan Christmas Cookie Party!

There are 2 things that the kids gauge how close Christmas is:
#1 Aunt Jan's Halloween Doughnut Party
#2 Aunt Jan's Christmas Cookie Party

The doughnut party is the welcome party to the Christmas season. The kids know that Christmas is right around the corner. But the Cookie Party means that we are within a week of Christmas and that they need to be extra good. It also means that Mom needs extra insulin to combat the sugar intake because she has no self control. I dare anyone to go to a cookie party of Jan's that has 500 thick, soft, sugar cookies in 20 different shapes with 20 different colors of her famous buttercream frosting in decorating bags and tips to make any design and 20 different sprinkles and candies to decorate with and not eat one. It's impossible! Shayne brought her best friend Kyson Sullivan to the party this year. They made a plate full of cookies for his family and then ate themselves into a sugar coma. JoEllen tends to decorate the best cookies but mine are all about the flavor. The Chocolate Santa is for Eric. It's hard for me to recall when this tradition started because I don't remember not doing it. I remember her doing it up in Lehi with our family up there and feeling sorry for myself because we couldn't be there. But now I have her here. YEAH!!!! Sorry Northern Shelton's. But you had her long enough. This tradition must cost her a fortune in time and money but she never complains and we love her for doing it!

Santa pictures

This first one is at our ward Breakfast party. The other 3 were at the Washington City breakfast with Santa. Same Santa. It must be the real one!

Finally! The Christams Spirit has arrived!

I don't know what the problem was this year because I was ready early for Christmas like usual. Decorations up, neighbor gifts had been passed out, cards sent, but still no true spirit. The one radio that was playing Christmas music was already starting to wear on me. What was the deal! I just couldn't find the true spirit of Christmas. Until...this morning. A couple of weeks ago I heard on the radio how our local Big O Tires was giving out 12 $500 gift certificates for services or new tires and I knew that Patty LaForge's (Dausi's Mom) car had been breaking down all of the time. So I wrote them a short email and asked them to consider her. Well on Wednesday I got a call from the radio stations producer and he was asking me if they could surprise Patty Friday morning live on the radio. I was stoked! So last night I told her that a guy in our ward was coming over to take a look at her car to see what he could do. At 8:30 this morning I went over to her house and visited with her until they came. It was AWESOME! It couldn't have gone any better. She was totally shocked and when that wore off she was just giddy. Right at that moment I was filled with the Christmas spirit. The true meaning of the season. To remember Christ's birth and to serve others as he did. It wasn't a have to moment. Kinda like neighbor gifts you feel like if you don't do it then people will think you're a scrooge. This was just plain fun! The sheer joy on her face was just what we both needed. Dausi is going to spend the holidays with Patty's Mom in California while Patty stays here and works and I knew Patty was not looking forward to spending this time alone. I hope that helped relieve some stress for her and helps her get into the Christmas spirit. I helped Dausi buy some clothes for her Mom to leave under the tree so she's have something to open on Christmas Day. I also know that Santa will visit them to help them out more because they have been struggling financially and have also been very good. Everyone needs to a truly kind act of service this year. Not one out of obligation, but just for the pure joy of it. It is a wonderful way to put you in the Christmas mood. I am so grateful I had that opportunity to help them out. It was a very needed blessing for me too.

Christmas Parties!

Party #1 was our Ward Breakfast Christmas party. It is so great every year. I love that it is in the morning. The nights this month are always full of concerts, work parties and other family activities so a breakfast works great for us. We always have some entertainment from ward members and our very own Santa comes to visit and takes pictures with the kids. He lives in our ward and whenever David sees him at church he says, "look Mom, there's Santa!" It's fun.

Party #2 was my work party out at Tuacahn. It was wonderful food and we always play Tuacahn Christmas Bingo. The prizes are great and the people are amazing.

Party #3 was the next night at the Abby Inn for the BLVD Christmas Party. Once again great food and having so much time with Joel this week was the greatest Christmas present ever.

Today Joel went up to the Jazz game with a friend of his who got free tickets. So they drove straight up and will drive straight back. And Shayne left this morning on the bus to go to 2 swim meets up north. So, that leaves me and the 3 younger ones who are going to a special "Breakfast with Santa" in the morning that the city is doing at the rec. center. Same Santa.:)

This is a fun time of year and the spirit of peace is so strong. I remember my Dad asking me when I was a teenager why Paula and I can't get along all year long like we did during Christmas. It's just something in the air I guess but we should really try hard to keep the spirit all year long and remember the reason why we celebrate.