My folks came by and spoiled us for a few days. One night they took half the gang to see "Tangled," and we took the other half to see a Dallas Maverick's game (one of B's doctors had been given a group of tickets for free, and they thought our family might enjoy them. Very nice). We were thinking we'd "experience" the game and leave a little early to beat the crowds. Oh, no! B absolutely LOVED the game, the noise, the schwack thing she could schwack to cheer her team on, the half-time show, everything. She cheered. She schwacked. She drank in the excitement. X-man got into the game after a while, and both he and B waved their hands at the mascots in hopes of catching the free t-shirts they were catapulting into the crowd. The Mavs didn't fair so well, but not because they weren't being cheered on!
The "Schwack" thing.
It folded accordion-style like a fan. Then you could hit it against your hand and make an incredibly LOUD noise. B. schwacked the whole game ("Let's go Maaaaavvvvvs. Lets goooo! SCHWACK SCHWACK), right by my good ear. The kid in front of us liked to schwack too. So did the guy right behind me. I heard echos of SCHWACK-ing long after the game.
A loss...but we sure had fun.
The kiddos wanted to do another restaurant night. They named it L's Deli with the main course being sandwiches. There was more excitement in the planning than the actual execution, but the chefs, waiters, hostesses came through with an excellent meal. They even got some cash out of the deal from Bumpa and Bumma. It was "on the house" for Mom and Dad. Here's the menu:
We love the temple. Here we can do work for those who have died without hearing about God's plan. They are being taught this plan now and can decide if they would like to accept these necessary ordinances or not. There is a special feeling in each temple, a feeling of peace, of home, of love. Over Christmas break we took B with my parents to perform baptisms for those who have died without being baptized while living on earth. It was very special to be with those we love so much in such a sacred, special place.
B. with Bumpa and Bumma outside the temple.
B with Mom and Dad.
(She's almost as tall as me!)
Last year L. was shown an awesome park by one of his friends. It's called the Castle Park because it looks like a castle. Ever since then he has wanted to take his brother and sisters there. He got his chance and got to take Bumma and Bumpa too AND have a picnic!
Weeeeeeeeee!
Bumma and Bumpa on the teeter-totter.
To bring in the New Year we had cheese and crackers, fried cheese sticks, potato skins, spinach artichoke dip and chips, pears, Nutella with bananas on crescent rolls, and, of course, Sparkly grape cocktail to make toasts. Bumma and Bumpa braved the cold with L. and A. to roll our ice cream ball around and make ice cream! (Thanks, Aunt D.) We used it in root beer floats. Yum!
Stick ice and salt in one end. Stick cream, sugar, vanilla in the other.
Roll it around and around to each other and Presto! Home-made ice cream!
We stayed up playing games, watching the ball (is it an apple?) drop in New York, and watching movies. It was very fun being with family and wishing everyone a "Happy New Year!!"
And that is how we closed our year.
Hope your New Year is going GREAT!
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