Christmas Day

Christmas day... was perfect.  Basically anything Wayne and I get/buy in December, we count it as a Christmas gift.  So he/we got a lot of fun things, including a wireless charging station for Wayne's side of the bed that charges his phone, watch, and airpods all at once.  He also got some more Life is Good t-shirts.   I did a lot of thrufting!  It's a good deal for both of us!  

We struggled with what to gift our children this year.  Laila, Markus and Truman need $, so we gave some of that... and the other three are in a different circumstance.   We gave Add, Bre, Monson, Lexi, Alex and Landon another year of Grandkid game nights. We love this time with our grands, and the parents love the break.  And we are paying for 2 condos for our week in Bear Lake this summer.  Here is the note we sent everyone: 

We love our week at Bear Lake each year.  

We love spending time together, hanging out

all day on the beach and in the boat, shakes 

at LeBeaus,  food from Zips, night games, 

sleep, play, and swim time. We love that our 

Grandkids love it, and we are happy to 

continue to provide this to our amazing family.  

We have had a “Grandpa Lyle Trust” pay for 

Bear Lake for the past 10 years, and now it’s 

up to us to pay for two condos for our Bear 

Lake week. So we will now be giving you a 

Bear Lake week each year for Christmas.  

We wish we had ALL the money….

But alas, we are only RICH with Love.    

We would choose that any day.   Our life 

is rich because of you. 

Merry Christmas,

Mom and Dad. 

Our branch president makes wooden pens on a lathe -- he gifted two to us.  Wayne's is gorgeous made out of Coco wood with a magnetic clasp.  Mine is made out of Maple burl wood and features musical notes, a keyboard, guitar, and drum.  So beautiful.

We got up early and made it to Monson and Lexi's to see the little girls' excitement over their presents and to deliver the obligatory homemade rice krispie treats wrapped in foil.  

Monson with his autographed Tom Brady helmet!

Lexi is orchestrating things from her chair with Glitter bow on her lap, eating a rice krispie treat-- the taste of Christmas morning.

Elsie was thrilled to get an American Girl doll of Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter books.

Lady got a guitar and is excited to learn how to play it and Tayla got a 3-D printer!  

Off to Addison and Bre's home by 8:40 to have their kids come down the stairs and see that there weren't any presents, just a note that said, check out your new bedroom...the presents were all in that room.  Add and Bre told their kids a week ago that the downstairs toilet had flooded and there was sewage everywhere and the hazmat people had come and said they needed to stay out til after Christmas, and then they could come back and clean it up.  Actually, Add and Bre locked the door and worked their butts off painting and repairing and installing a new gigantic double bed with desks underneath, a new tv for dvd's and gaming and a mini fridge and shelves for all of their lego creations.  They were thrilled.  Poppy said, "This was Christmas Magic!" and she prayed this would happen.  It was so cute.  She kept saying over and over, "This is the best day ever!"

Alfie got an Apple watch..so he can text and call his people..and Fortnite legos, and a new room of course.  Poppy got a gigantic Barbie playhouse, a LEGO set and lots of fun things.  George got a remote control snake, a punching bag, Spiderman stuff and magnetic cars.  Then he looked around and said disappointedly, "Santa didn't bring me my Bluey."  Addison said, "You didn't ask Santa for that." George said," Oh yes, I did"...so they had to have a quick talk about all of the good things you did get that you didn't even ask for.   (This is so much like Jesus)

Truman joined with us at the kids homes.  Then Tru and I went to our home and watched the Jonas Brothers Christmas movie and laughed a lot.

The kids like to call Truman "Santa Sushi."

We visited Wanee, Holly and Dale.  Holly told Wayne he had to calm down before she showed him her BYU hat!  She said it's okay because I have a Utah shirt.  She's funny.

Wanee and I got matching jogger sets.

I also got a nice wool coat with a silk lining, and a new UMOZ license plate.  UMOZ is back!  Ultimate Meema of Zion!

Christmas Around the World: Spain

Our country this year was SPAIN for our Christmas Eve party.  We had Frank and his wife, Annie, join us.  They teach at Tayla, Lady, and Elsie's Spanish immersion school and came to teach us about traditions and food, and make sure we do it right.  We made paella, smoked pork, had a cheese board with Spanish cheeses, olives, and tapas, tortilla patatas, and aioli, and of course, Kentucky Fried chicken, since this is served all over the world.  It's for the people who don't like any of the traditional food. 

Annie, Frank, Lexi, Monson, Wayne, Truman, bre, Alfie, Addison, Tayla

Elsie, Lady, Poppy and George

Wayne got a double track marble game, reminiscent of the one at his mom's house that all the kdis love to play with.  Addison had all the kids sign their names and he burned them into the wood. 

They gave me more characters for my nativity...the woman at the well. two women shepherdesses, a flying angel and an old man.  My friend Jan gave me a Trump man as a gag gift-- emphasis on the gag-- so I put him in my nativity as well, since he needs a lot more Jesus!  I also got two new statues of Jesus carrying a lamp, and Joseph helping little boy Jesus to learn.  

Traditional desserts included a sweet bread filled with lots of cream, with baby Jesus hidden in it, alfajores and postres. 

Alfie in his marshmallow helmet!   We performed the nativity with the grandkids taking the parts of two Marys, one angel, one sheep, one wiseman, and Joseph.  George started out as an angel...but changed his mind.

Monson and Lexi spent the 19th124th of December with their friends in California..and they visited with Laila as well. The Buzellis have been in Disneyland from Dec. 20- 27th.  They had a grand Disneyland adventure..and had Markus and Laila at the Airbnb for Christmas dinner..so we facetimed all of them.  

Cole Party and white elephants

Our Extended Cole family Dinner and White Elephant party was AWESOME.  Gary and MEgan always howst and do a splendid job.  We had a sit down roast beef dinner that was delicious.  Megan has upped her roast beef game with dry onion soup mix, dry ranch dressing mix and beef broth..and it was so savory.    We had a fun white elephant.    Liz go the coveted Cat shirt - haha

I can't believe no one wanted my 10 year old picture....

We had it at Center Point Theatre's basement..because Megan works there and made it happen.  38 of us were in attendance.  Only 6 from me-- Wayne and I, Addison and his 3 kids.  Landon's family and Monson's family and Laila and Markus, of course, are all in California...and Tru forgot about it.

Rooney, Casey, Silas and Becca Cole Call

Angela, Guy, Liz and Al

Addison and Wayne

Rosie Lara , Jonas Call  and Jamie Lara 

Nano and Sofi Lara

Jake, Gary, Carson and Drew Call

Laura, Hayden, Jordan, Laurie and Ryan Call

Nelson and Lilly, Megan, Laura and Maggie Call

Christine, Jenna, Adam Cole

Poppy, Alfie, George and Rachel Cole Lara

Pooppy was thrilled with her gingerbread pillow and a crazy cowgirl hat.  We ended the night with a giant snow ball fight..that the kids love, and the singing of "Were You There?" in honor of my parents.

Full Calendar

December Calendar.

Sophia and Andrew gave me this Broadway advent calendar

Dec. 1.  Empty Nester FHE Christmas party with home ward

Dec. 2. Christmas band gigs begin. Elsie 6th Birthday,  Emma Nissen Holiday concert.

Dec. 3. Water Tower Branch dinner and Choir practice

Dec. 4. Addiction Recovery meeting

Dec. 5. Home ward Cowboy Christmas party.  Wayne playing songs on his guitar

Dec. 6. Poppy baptism.

Dec. 7.  Family dinner

Dec. 8.  Merrily We Roll Along tickets with Landon’s family

Dec. 9. Band Christmas gig. Cole Sibling Christmas party at Joy Luck.  Liz in charge

Dec. 10  Water tower Branch dinner and Choir practiceDec. 11. Addiction Recovery meeting

Dec. 12. Holly Friend 2 Friend Christmas program.   Grandkid game night

Dec. 13. Friend 2 Friend Christmas program. Welch family Christmas Home Alone Party.

Dec. 14.  Lights on party!

Dec. 15.  School secret Santa gift exchange,  Holly’s Friend 2 Friend Program, Sophia Christmas Choir concert at Viewmont

Dec. 16.  Carol’s brunch, Band Christmas gig.  Friend 2 friend final program.

Dec. 17. Deliver Christmas bagels to all our Partner Schools,  Water Tower branch dinner and Choir practice

Dec. 18. Elsie and Lady song and dance Christmas program, Addiction Recovery meeting.

Dec. 19. Dinner with West Bountiful friends at Webster’s home.

Dec. 20. A Christmas Story show at Centerpoint with friend Bonnie Benedict

Dec. 21.  Water Tower Branch Christmas Choir program and Brunch.  Cole family extended dinner and white elephant exchange.

Dec. 22. FHE with Edgar's Christmas gathering

Dec. 23.  Band Christmas Gig

Dec. 24.  Christmas Around the world— Spain. 

Dec. 25.  Christmas Day.   Addiction recovery meeting and dinner.  

And in and around all of this Wayne made over 120 loaves of Sourdough bread!

And we played Hide and Seek with George and found him in our washer!!!

And Sophia and Andrew's dog, Gucci died on Christmas night-- while they were all in California - Disneyland for Christmas.  It was very sad.