WE GOT OUR WHITE CHRISTMAS! AND HOW!

 MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Mapleton Agles.

The tree all decked out with presents.

 The stockings that were hung by the chimney with care . . .

 Had to be moved to the sofas because they were so loaded.

 Here they come up the stairs. Youngest first (to the chagrin of some).

 One last picture before the opening begins.

 Checking out the stockings.

 It takes awhile.

 WOW! Aria got four (4) count em' watches. But wait. . . there's more.

Sophie, we are expecting great things.

Check out that beard Nathan is wearing. Steven made one for Nathan and one for Adam. They took about 10 hours each. So worth it!!!!

 Steven got this weird globe. It spins almost in the air. Very unusual and interesting.

 A sword to go with the beard.

 Some of the gifts on Mom and Dad's bed.

Coppelia modeling one of her many new scarfs.

After the presents were opened we all had breakfast (in that new lovely dining room).

 Yes it's true. One for each day.

 Yipee!

 Sophie's room with her Christmas gifts.

JP arranging all his things.

Now he's ready for a picture.

Looks like Nathan did okay as well. 

 Steven demonstrating the globe.

 Out side of Steven's basement window. They have installed these beautiful scenes in the window wells.

 Ah, time to relax.

 Oh yes, JP wanted to show me this poster of Star Wars.

 And the back side of all the Lego characters.

 Do you recognize this Power Ranger?

No dreaming of it. We got our White Christmas. 

I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO

 TRADITION: For the last several years, the Sanders have taken their annual trolley ride around San Francisco. A group gets together and rents the trolley (not cheap) for the evening and it drives them all around the city to enjoy the Christmas lights. Everyone brings some food to share.  This year January brought sautéed shrimp over rice - - so were talking the good stuff. It always makes for a wonderful evening with good friends, delicious food, and a wonderful city to enjoy. What more could you ask?

 When they come to a stop, you grab the only chance you have to get a picture of you. Jump off, take the picture and jump back on.

This year one of the friends rented a limo bus ($2,500) to take them all (38) into the City. It was nice not to have to pay the toll bridge fees and the exorbitant parking fees that San Francisco commands.

AND AT THE LANCASTERS . . .

Here's a few things the Lancasters have been working on recently.

The dresser that used to be in our room has now been moved to the front guest room.  

I bought a decal on Ebay for $5 and put it on an old window we had.  It was my first attempt at putting a decal on so it isn't perfect.  We hung it up by the top of the stairs near the bathroom.

For our bedroom we found a rug on clearance at Target for $30. 

 Scott and I made the star (our second attempt) from a pattern I found on Pinterest. 

 When we bought the wood at Habitat for Humanity we also found a door in the same paint color so we added legs and a top for a little table.

  (Toby's bed)                                  

I made the paper trees based on an idea I saw on - you guessed it - Pinterest (Scott says I need to stay off the site!).  One of the trees in for Sheryl at the Vet's office and one is for me and Ruth.  She already has hers so it isn't a secret.  I had everything here so they were free to make!

Lastly are photos of our tree and mantle.  The star on the mantle is our first attempt and the cuts weren't perfect so after Christmas it will go out into the 3 season room.  Ruth thinks I am silly but if I am laying in bed the star with the bad cuts would have driven me crazy

Our tree.

A close up.

I am going to start my next project soon using paper mache.  In January I will tackle the stairs!

(She is going to sand them down to the nub and re-stain. BIG JOB!)

JULY COMPANY PARTY

Erik recently sent me some pictures which included the company party they had in July for their employees and their families. It was held at their house and you can see that a lot of swimming, eating and visiting was going on. Kristin chose a luau theme which is always fun.

 Of course Dexter had to be in the thick of it. 

 Ooh la la. What a babe!

 Here is the group minus a couple who couldn't make it.

 Erik giving some instruction on how you do a "train".

 Whee. Here we go!

 Just chillin'.

Erik with his business partner, John V.

CHRISTMAS AT JANE'S APARTMENT

Inspired by Rhiannon's blog about her Christmas decorations, I decided to do the same. I've whittled down my Christmas decorations by quite a bit. Smaller living accommodations mean less decorations, so I just kept some of my favorites. Here's a little history of each.

 This Nativity set is made by Lennox. We got the first part of it, (The Holy Family) on installment. We paid around $35 a month for 3 months, -- expensive for those days, but hey! it was Lennox. The next year we added the Shepherds, same deal. The following year we added the Wise Men and the following year the animals. I still have the boxes they came in and every year I very carefully pack it away. No knicks, chips or breaks!

 This is a cute little salt and pepper shaker that I have sitting on my kitchen sink.

Dixie, my landlady had this cute little skinny tree that she said I was welcome to use if I wanted. It fit perfectly in the only place that I could fit a tree.

 This little Nativity set belonged to Ramona. It just speaks to my heart.

 When Dennis was called to be a bishop, back in those days, they had the Bishops come to General Conference for their first time as a Bishop. We were living in Hawaii, and I got to go as well. In a cute little craft store in downtown Provo I found these English Carolers. They were not expensive, but were so sweet I couldn't pass them up.

 Here's a few things I put on the book shelves including the "Flight to Egypt" made from olive wood, that we bought when we visited Israel.

 This Santa and Reindeer came from Costco. It is so colorful. The Snowbabies were bought one year after Christmas, so I got them for a pretty good price. The red carolers is a pomander that I earned while selling Avon products when we lived in Cedar City. Still smells good after all these years!

 The German Erzgebirge (I think that is the official name) wooden Christmas tree was a real find at a garage sale. I think I paid $5 for it. They sell for up in hundreds.

 These little Swedish girls belonged to Grandma Anderson's mother, Grandma Christenson who was born and raised in Sweden. She brought them with her when she came to America.

This is a 3-dimensional Christmas card that Carol gave us years ago. I love all the details in it.

 This beautiful Christmas plate sits in my kitchen on the counter.

 Long before January was married, she was living and working in Provo and going to BYU. At her job, they had the patients do different crafts. On her off time, she made this for us. During one of the moves, I didn't have it packed properly and the bottom of the tree broke, but I was able to repair it and it lives today! (Another Nativity set on the right.)

 Several years ago when Dad and I attended Education Week we saw this sculpture and fell in love with it.

 When I was a little girl growing up, my mother decorated her buffet each year with these sweet little paper houses. I've kept up the tradition.

Each of these boxes represent the 12 Days of Christmas.

 Here's another super garage sale find. I must have had about 2 dozen Nativities sets, but now am down to just a few.

 Another little set.

 This is my front door. The boxes tell the story of The Night Before Christmas. The wreath was made for us by Julie and it contains dozens of little wooden figures.

These little ceramic boxes are what you notice when you are leaving my place.

There you have it. My Christmas decorations. Merry Christmas.