December 2017

Friday 12/1

Well, it is now December ..... how can that be ?

This year has flown by and will

soon come to a close.

If you want to see our 2017 Christmas Decorations

you'll have to look at our November blog.

Yes, we finished all of our Christmas

decorating by the end of November.

Monday 12/4

Steve found some more outdoor decorations and
just had to add ....

these cute lighted candy canes all along

our front walk .... just the perfect finishing touch.

Wednesday 12/6

Tonight our Nephew & his family came
over to our house for a visit.

Tim, Julie, Draegen (3) Savina (6 mos)

Tim is Linda's brother Jim's Son

We had fun getting reacquainted and it was obvious

that Steve is Draegen's new best friend !

Monday 12/11

Last night we flew to California to be with Linda's

mother whose 91st birthday is on

Wednesday 12/13.

Today was amazingly nice.

The weather was beautiful with temperatures in the 80's

and the flowers are all still in bloom.

Linda was wearing her summer clothes and enjoying

the warm sunshine .... gotta love

Winter in California !

Tonight Mom had her Family Home Evening group

over to celebrate her birthday.

The plan was to have a nice dinner, so we helped her

set a beautiful table and ....

snuck in during dinner to snap a picture.

This group of "sisters" have been getting together for 

FHE for several years and love being together.

Wednesday 12/13

Today is Mom's Birthday so tonight we all

met at the Home Town Buffet for

dinner .... there were 34 of the family in attendance.

Karen, Ron, Shelly, Tara, Cyndie, Steve & boys,

Bryan, Heather & kids, Linda & Steve, 

Greg & Ruthie, Rachel & kids, Stacy & Baby Clint

Jim, Kim & Travis, Chelsea & girls

Pam, Renny & Sharon

After dinner the restaurant employees brought

mom a cake and had all of us join them 

in singing Happy birthday. 

Pam, Renny, Mom

Linda's cousin, Renny, and his wife Sharon came

out to help us celebrate.

Pam & Renny are half brother/sister

Mom enjoyed having all five of her kids together

Pam, Greg, Linda, Karen & Jim

(Age order:  Karen, Linda, Greg, Jim, Pam)

Mom and her girls

Linda, Pam, Mom (Ruth) & Karen

Several of us went in together and gave mom

a Robot Vacuum Cleaner and

everyone is anxious to watch it work !

Thursday 12/14

Today we left Sunny, Warm, Beautiful California

for the Cold winter weather of our home

in Star, Idaho (by Boise)

It was a very, VERY long day !

and not a very good day for flying.

We got up at 4:00 a.m. and left mom's at 4:30 ...

Ron drove us to the airport.

We missed getting on the first flight but were

hopeful about making the second one.

Due to high winds, the Ontario, California airport

had to close down all flights.

Long story short .... we got on the flight about

two hours late so we missed the best looking flight

of the day out of SLC going to Boise.

There were four flights left and we missed getting on

all of them and had to stay the night in SLC.

The Airport was decorated with hundreds of 

poinsettia plants so after

18 hours of trying to get home we took a

picture of this beautiful tree and went to Debbi's place

in SLC to spend the night .... thanks to Debbi's

roommate, Kara, for providing our

transportation from the airport.

Friday 12/15

This morning Kara took us back to the airport and

we were able to hitch a ride on the first

flight to Boise....YAY !

This afternoon Steve, Matt, Matt's friend Chad & his son

all loaded up and left for Las Vegas

(which is why we had to get home)

They are going to the Las Vegas Bowl game

 Boise State Broncos vs Oregon Ducks

A Win-Win situation for Steve & Matt.

Since we are fans for both teams ....

no matter who wins .... we are happy

(although they took all green & yellow clothes ... lol)

Both teams had their bands with them and they all
performed before the game and at the half time show

Oregon wearing their Green,Yellow, and Black ...

and BSU wearing Blue, White and Orange

One highlight of the game happened just as the first half was

coming to a close

The score was 24 - 0, with BSU on top, then it happened ....

BSU fumbles, Oregon picks it up and runs

60 some yards for a touchdown.

Within 30 seconds BSU throws an interception and

Oregon runs 100 yards for another touchdown.

Those two touchdowns gave the Ducks 

some much needed energy going into halftime

however ....

In the end, BSU emerged as the winners with a

final score of 38 - 28

It was a quick, but fun weekend and nice that

Steve & Matt could spend the time together.

Monday 12/18

Steve returned home Sunday night ....

unpacked ..... repacked

then Monday morning we left for Washington State.

We went to help Trudi & George pack for

their move to El Paso Texas.

It's about a 7 hour drive so we didn't arrive

until about dinner time.

We celebrated Christmas on Monday evening

(They had their Christmas Monday morning

because they will be moving on the "real" Christmas)

Charlotte & Cora both received Story Books

(and bookmarks)

 Wyatt liked his Mystery book from us
(and bookmark)

and Morgan is not quite sure what to think
of his bookmark

George "admiring" his bookmark

and Trudi showing off the

2018 Waite Family Calendar

 On Tuesday we went to Shari's for
Christmas Dinner

The waiter forgot to say 1 - 2 - 3

and this was the result .... hahaha

Charlotte listened as Grandpa read stories 

from her new book ....

Morgan loved his bike from Santa ....

Grandma & Cora shared a good laugh together

then .....

snapped a selfie and ....

Wyatt had fun with his Christmas gift

"Virtual Reality"

Linda took a peek inside his goggles and it

is very, very cool !

Sharing Christmas time with the kids was lots of fun

but we also had work to do !

We only took this one picture, but all of us

(Trudi, George, Steve & Linda)

spent a lot of time packing and cleaning

in preparation for their movers who were coming

on Thursday morning. 

Thursday 12/21

The moving crew arrived about 8:30 a.m. and

we left about the same time.

We kept in touch with Trudi during our trip back

home and learned the moving truck

arrived about 10:00 and they got right to work

loading up .... about 7 hours later

the Lansford family was sitting in an empty house

and we were driving into our garage in Star, Idaho.

We worried a little bit about the roads because we

knew it was supposed to snow in

Eastern Oregon overnight but ...

Though the snow was beautiful, the roads over the

passes were pretty much clear and we

were grateful for that.

Tomorrow morning Trudi, Charlotte, Morgan & one dog

will climb into their car and

George, Wyatt, Cora & one dog will load up in the 

Pick-up and off they will go ....

on to another new adventure in El Paso, Texas.

We wish them well and pray for their safety as

they travel to their new home.

Friday 12/22

This morning Linda put some meat in the slow cooker

so we invited

Dave & Gayle out to eat with us..

After dinner we spent some time visiting and 

laughing while watching an episode of 

"I Love Lucy" 

Though there wasn't any snow when they arrived

some of the white stuff  decided to make an

appearance while they were visiting us.

Steve had to shovel the walk before they left ....

more is in the forecast and we are

anticipating having a "White Christmas".

Saturday 12/23

Sure enough .... we got more snow overnight

It was pretty wet and heavy so Steve got out

and cleared off our driveway and sidewalks.

Sunday 12/24

This morning Matt's family joined us for our

Sacrament Meeting in Star.

Linda sang in the choir and played the organ 

for the Christmas Program ... it was very nice

 After Church we enjoyed having Matt's family
spend the rest of the day with us.

Everyone helped prepare our delicious Christmas Eve dinner

Jetta folded cloth napkins to look like

christmas trees .... so cute and festive

Sienna decorated the napkins trees with M & M's

 Jen & Camrynn busy fixing fruit, crackers & cheese etc.


Matt cut the Ham ... Camrynn fixing more food


Linda making Strawberry Santa's and ....


Sienna poured the Sparkling Cider then ...

We were ready to eat !!!

After dinner the girls got to open a couple of gifts

from their folks .... such excitement !!

When it was time to leave .... Surprise ....

More Snow !!

Monday 12/25

AND .... More Snow .... about 4-6 inches

this time Steve got out our snow blower and

it worked GREAT !

It continued to snow beautiful big flakes for

a little bit and then it was done.

It was a quiet Christmas morning at our house

so we decided to take a

"Merry Christmas from our house to yours"

picture by our tree.

Christmas evening Matt's family came over.

We ate leftovers .... delicious .... and

opened gifts !

Camrynn & Jetta gave us a box full of

empty tin cans .... hmmm ....

and an amazing certificate for a

photo shoot at our reunion this summer

and Sienna gave us a cute little sun catcher she

painted herself.

Our gifts to their family included

Books

and ....

Personalized Bookmarks that Linda made.

Everyone had fun with the ....

flying Chrystal Ball and

looking at the new 2018 Family Calendar.

After gifts we read some Christmas Stories and

sang Christmas Carols then ....

 ate PIE !

Wednesday 12/27

This morning .... very early (4:00 a.m.)

we got up and went to serve as volunteers in the

new Meridian Temple baptistry.

Steve's calling in the ward is

Temple Service Coordinator and it was our Ward's

first assignment.  We were assigned to

have ten Brothers and four Sisters to serve from

4:45 to 9:00 a.m.

It was fun to be there and see all the kids and

families come to the temple and spend

time doing baptisms.

After our shift

We took this picture of the beautiful

snow-covered nativity that sits just outside

the entrance to the temple.

Then we went home and went back to bed ... hahaha

Thursday 12/28

Today we made our way to Bountiful Utah to visit

Kevin's family and help Debbi move.

Today we stayed at Kevin's and had a little

Christmas with them

Crew, Connor & Sydney opened their gifts from

grandma and grandpa .... Books !

Lani and ....

Kevin also received some small gifts

from us

and everyone received a personalized bookmark  

They also got this Flying Crystal Ball 

which, by the way, drove Cooper (the dog) CRAZY 

and made Sydney giggle.

Shea was asleep when the other kids opened their
presents so ....

after nap-time the kids
"helped" shea open her gift

She also received a book ... the little frog !

Lani held the kids and read to them from their

new books

Sydney, Lani & Shea

 Sydney, Lani, Connor & Crew

The afternoon was so nice .... sunny and warm ....
that the kids couldn't resist
playing in the snow

 Crew and Sydney

the Lansfords sent a small snow shovel with us

to give to Kevin's kids ... Connor was having a great

time shoveling big chunks of snow and ....

tossing it around ... look out Crew !

Friday 12/29

Today Steve, Linda & Kevin drove into Salt Lake

to help Debbi move some of her stuff ....

But first she had to open her Christmas Present

guess what she got .... measuring spoons, a DVD

and a book .....

complete with her personalized bookmark !

and ....

 of course, the new 

2018 Waite Family Calendar

Along with Christmas she received her

Birthday Card and ....

MONEY !

After the fun we got to work.

Steve, Debbi & Kevin drove over to Debbi's old apartment

and loaded a bunch of stuff in the back of 

the car while Linda stayed at the new apartment

and waited for the Century Link guy to 

come and hook up her internet.

We made a few trips back and forth and then

we went to lunch at Burger King and made a stop

at Walmart for a couple of curtain rods

Kevin and Steve put the rods up in the Bedroom and ....

hung the curtains which looked very nice and

make it seem a lot cozier.

Tomorrow we will move the furniture .... and ....

Celebrate Lani's Birthday.

We also did a little texting with Trudi and 

learned that their moving truck 

will arrive tomorrow morning .... YAY !

Tonight it seems that both our daughters will be

sleeping in empty houses

Saturday 12/30

Today was moving day for Debbi !

Debbi & Kara rented a U-Haul trailer for the day

and shared the cost .... smart ladies 

Kevin tried his hand at backing down Debbi's

L O N G  driveway .... and was successful .... YAY !

 it only took about an hour to get all of
Debbi's things loaded up.

With the help of several friends and family
we managed to fill the trailer and the back end
of at least two suv's

We unloaded the trailer and cars in about
a half an hour

first off the truck were boxes, tubs, tables plus

the Washer & Dryer

next came the chest of drawers ....

for the bedroom .... two of them !

Then the sofa ....

which turned out to be a little bit of

a challenge on the stairway switchbacks

 
But they made it to the top !

The last challenge of the morning was the

PIANO 

At the bottom of the stairs they paused to

make a plan .....

five big strong men, one step at a time

for three, 1/2 flights, of stairs

2 flights done .... one to go

a well deserved rest !

On the home stretch .... and ....

They made it !!!

A BIG thank you to 

Kevin, Lorne, Wes & Kara, Jon & Courtney & Dallin

for helping us and Debbi ....

you were all amazing and we appreciate 

all your help 

Lani stayed home with the kids all day

so when we returned we decided a nice Birthday

gesture would be to babysit so she & Kevin could

go out to dinner.

Of course we promised the kids a

Wendy's dinner with Frosty's

Happy Birthday Lani !

Sunday 12/31

Today is New Year's Eve but since it's

Sunday we will not be attending any parties.

We will, however, do some celebrating tomorrow !

Today after church Crew showed us one

of his front teeth .... it was very, VERY, loose

So with a little help from his mom, he will be

leaving a treasure for the tooth fairy tonight.

Another year comes to a close.  It has been a good 

year for us and our family and we 

are all looking forward to an even greater 2018.

Thank you to everyone that has been a part of

our 2017 memories .... we love you and are

grateful to have each of you in our lives.