a little secret

Wayne and I share a sock drawer.
Wayne and I also share socks.  (His feet are average for a man, and mine are large for a women.)
For the past couple of months I have been able to open our sock drawer about 5 inches, either take a  sock out or shove a sock back in  and then swiftly push down on all of the remaining socks with all of my might and slam the drawer quickly shut before the socks can puff back up again.

The SOCK drawer is PACKED!
Which begs the riddle:  How many socks should one couple share if a couple should share socks?
How did we get this many socks?
Wayne blames the boys.  They were always pilfering out of the sock drawer, and so Wayne would buy more... and buy more...and after so many trips to China  and bringing back socks......well let's just say we have a lot of socks.

Today was the day of reckoning. I  took the over flowing drawer out and dumped it all on my bed. It covered the entire King mattress.
We have 96 pair of socks and 16 singles hanging out in this drawer.  I have since sorted,  bundled, counted, and trashed many a sock.

The drawer is neat and tidy and we can go back to being a happy sock-sharing couple once again. One whose drawer actually opens and closes.

Monson's first letter home

Good thing I found a page two......or I would have been TICKED!   He does have a funny sense of humor though. 
Monson is enjoying his time at the MTC but all he wants is to get to MICHIGAN!  He  didn't say anything about the food..which really surprised me.    HE did say:
"Everything here is and isn't what I expected.  Anyways, I'd love to hear anything to help me grow in the gospel cause I'm still a rookie."
I like that he is sounding humble.  
I truly have just been mad at him this whole week.  Not sad that' he's gone, but mad at him and at my poor parenting skills that turned him into such a "baby."  It's amazing what he didn't get done before he left, so that's what I have been doing, for him, since.
I guess mothering is never over.

Monson unloading his bags at the curb.... Love the new drop off system!

Tuesday Tidbits for the New Year

Monson was set apart as a full time missionary on Sunday.  Three days before he goes into the MTC.  This is really different for us......Wayne is his companion.  We are up at 6:30 doing scripture study,  prayer, then exercise........then  staying off the computer, no tv/sports on, no video games etc.   Monson has been gung-ho about it.  He changed his facebook login....so only I know it, handed over his iphone, and gave up his computer as soon as we got home from the setting apart.   To help stay busy we have been to the Salt Lake and Bountiful Temples.   I actually kind of like it this way because friends come here to say goodbye, and the "outside' world is gone... we get to feel a bit of heaven in our  house before Monson goes to Michigan.

Landon, Pres. Taylor, Elder Welch, Grandpa Lyle, Wayne, Bishop Barlow
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Laila had quite the experience when she went wig shopping with me and Grandma Sheri.  Mom took off her wig and Laila's eyes were as big as saucers as she looked at her  white-patchy-bald-spotted, grandma.  I think she is finally over the initial shock of it all.   Mom has found some awesome wigs.  She looks great and is determined to have fun with this chemo-cancer-crazy.  She has a dark red wig,  a strawberry blonde one and now a blonde one.  She is still looking for one that matches Grandma Butters' red hair.  She looks great in them all.  I don't know why I am surprised at her positive attitude....she has had it her whole life.  This  "cancer"  just adds to her adventure.

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I have picked a word/motto for my 2012 year..........CELEBRATE.   I like how it looks, how it sounds and all that it implies.
Laila got into the spirit by having a SHAVE MY LEGS party on Jan. 1st.   It consisted of her in a swim suit, a 30 minute shower and me expressing and showing all of my 38 years of shaving expertise.  (see shaving legs signs of spring post) We have been putting this off for months, but her black hairy legs really bug her,  hence the party and a life time of shaving.

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My only resolution that I am putting in print this year is.....NO MOVIE THEATRE POPCORN for the year.  I mean it....Not for me and I'm not buying it for any of my family either.  The kids are in mourning because they know it's pricey and they can't afford it.   Monson is okay with the resolution because he is gone for the year.  Knowing this was coming we had our last "how- much- popcorn- can- you- eat- at- the- theatre"  New Years Eve. ( We saw We Bought a Zoo--- a real sweet show)
I ate an entire bucket by myself...literally....and boy did my gut ache!!!

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We got Wayne a recliner...chair for his 50th birthday!!!!!!!    (50th birthdays take a lot of exclamation points.) He got it actually on the 31st, a week early, so he could enjoy the U of U bowl game.  The Utes won which made it even sweeter.    The chair is a good idea because, A-- Wayne's old and #2-- he will be able to lay flat while still being around the family.  Now he won't want to escape up to our bedroom, so much, because of his dizzy.  His big day is coming up Jan. 7th!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Happy New Year....eve

We celebrated with the Calls.....food, games and family!

Wayne won the spoon game.  Nelson and Wayne  are friends even with rival sweatshirts.  Grandpa Lyle and Grandma Sheri with their bonus Grandkids...Laila and Preston

We love doing fire works before Midnight.  Most years it's snowy and we can't see across the street-- this year was just chilly.  Laila was loving the New Years Hat.  She was singing and dancing with it.

Marcie is a good sport and always gets confetti guns and streamers for the count down to midnight.  It's messy, but fun.

I, of course, torture my family with "What a year it's Been!"   2011 type of activities.

A LITTLE ABOUT WAYNE:
Age:  49           Favorite food this year:  Sushi
Favorite Color this year:  Purple       Favorite Activity:  Melinda
Favorite Book or Movie this year:  Harry Potter
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned:  Don't eat so much crap.
Hardest thing of the year: Work...starting own company
Favorite Memory:  Still having some memory
What I loved most about 2011:  Surviving the Giant Wind storm...4 days with my chainsaw
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn:  More Chinese
Want to get better at:  Spanish
Biggest Goal:  Double volume at Work


A LITTLE ABOUT MELINDA:
Age:  49           Favorite food this year:  Sushi
Favorite Color this year:   Turquoise           Favorite Activity: Being in Hairspray at CPT
Favorite Book or Movie this year:  The Help
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned:  This too shall pass
Hardest thing of the year:  Mom being diagnosed with Cancer
Favorite Memory:  Lindsey dancing with her dad, Dale, at her wedding
What I loved most about 2011: Family, gatherings, new windows, Monson getting his call to Michigan
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn:  to eat less and feel better.
Want to get better at:  Art-- spending time with my Mixed Media projects
Biggest Goal:  Celebrate my 50th birthday in STYLE


A LITTLE ABOUT LANDON:
Age:  23           Favorite food this year:  Supreme pizza...any dessert
Favorite Color this year:  yellow-- or sparkle      Favorite Activity: Watching Movies 
Favorite Book or Movie this year:  Jacob T. Marley and The Help
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned:  Never cease to be amazed by people
Hardest thing of the year: Headaches
Favorite Memory:  Being in the coach's box@ USU for Al's Hall of Fame announcement
What I loved most about 2011:  The realization of how many people love and support me.  The year of the headache has made me really rely and lean on others.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn: To love Exercise and what Exercises work best for me.
Want to get better at:  Writing my missionary brothers.
Biggest Goal:  Much less headaches an Much more Work so can move out and go back to School


A LITTLE ABOUT MONSON:
Age:  19           Favorite food this year: Mashed Potatoes
Favorite Color this year:  Red        Favorite Activity: Sports...playing and watching
Favorite Book or Movie this year:  Don't read....movie is Dark Knight....forever and always.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned: College Sucks
Hardest thing of the year:  School
Favorite Memory:  Going to Canada on Choir trip
What I loved most about 2011:  Everything except my semester of College
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn:  the Gospel
Want to get better at:  Teaching
Biggest Goal:  Serve the LORD



A LITTLE ABOUT LAILA:
Age:  9 almost 10           Favorite food this year:  Spaghetti
Favorite Color this year:   Neon hot Pink     Favorite Activity: Reading and acting
Favorite Book or Movie this year:  The Name of this book is Secret, and Harry Potter
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned: Ice can be dangerous
Hardest thing of the year:  Ice
Favorite Memory:  going to the live Nativity at Liberty Park
What I loved most about 2011: My birthday
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn:  How to tap dance
Want to get better at:  piano
Biggest Goal:  exercise each day and grow big and strong

Friday 5 Fave..... Monson

Monson is 19 years old.

Melinda, Dale, Wayne, Gma Welch, Landon, Monson, Holly, Laila, Gpa Lyle, Gma Sheri

We celebrated with Grandparents by going to Salt City Burger.... then Monson had Cake, opened a new camera for his mish, and played with Friends--Mackay LaSalle and Kyle Palowski.

 I will always remember when he was born for a couple of reasons:  Sister- Marcie's house burned down the day before, and  sister in law-Tami had baby Tyler 12 hours before Monson was born so we shared a hospital room.
We are at the 5 day count down to Monson leaving for 2 years.
For my final Friday 5 fave of 2011, I am dedicating this to him.
5 Favorite things about Monson.............
1- He gives awesome hugs---if you have ever received one you know what I mean.
2- He loves my cooking-- especially roast beef and mashed potatoes, chicken and rice and spaghetti with meatballs.
3- He "embraces" his red hair-- he jokes about it, sticks up for it and loves his "Gingerness."
4- He is a great listener.
5- He loves the Lord - he is looking forward to his next adventure in Michigan.

Christmas Decorations

 I have had a nativity tree for many years.  I love having all of the ornaments dedicated to Christ's birth, and an Angel on top looking down.  I have  a little stuffed lamb that I place at the bottom, with a life size baby Jesus in a basket that I hook into the tree.   (It's actually Truman's porcelain doll with his blessing out fit on it, that looks more like Laila, so I am going to be making a new one for Truman  and switching clothes one of these days, but that's another story)  The entire room is filled with various nativities that I have collected over the years.   We also have a white stocking that we fill with notes about what gift we are giving the Savior.   I switch out my pictures in the living room as well, to Nativity pics, and  just fill the entire room  with this motif.

 My favorite nativity is my Precious Moments one.  This doesn't look like much...and parts of it are broken and have been glued back together, but it's definitely my favorite.   As I place it on the piano each year, I reflect back to mine and Wayne's first  Christmas together.  Like most newlyweds, we didn't have any money.  With Wayne in school, and me just  finishing my Student teaching, hoping to have a job someday, times were tight.  Our car needed tires and  we agreed that for Christmas we would get 4 tires, because that is all we could afford.  I was okay with that, because we were living on love, and it was all going to be great some day, but I was also a wee bit sad..... tires for Christmas?   Well my Wayne surprised me with one present on Christmas Day...it was this Precious Moments nativity that I have treasured every year since.  Our first  Christmas kind of felt like O'Henry's" Gift of the Magi" Story.  I sold my hair and got Wayne tires and he sold his car and got me a nativity.....or something like that.    Just kidding....but it did feel like a sacrifice, with a wonderful loving surprise at the end.

IN the entry way this year, I have set up vintage ornaments on trees from Grandma Butters  and old chip board houses like the Christmas village I grew up with.  The Garland up the stair way is filled with little kid ornaments and cousin ornaments from ornament exchanges long ago.    Every ornament placed reminds me of people I love.   Addison's Christmas Angel lives there as well.  

Christmas Wrap up... Top 10

10-- Seeing Lights on Temple square....even though it was soooo cold.  

This is how we celebrated Christmas Adam  ( The night before the night before Christmas)
 
9-- Christmas Eve Cole Family Breakfast at Marcie's with White elephant Gift Exchange.

8-- Cole Family Traditional Bowling at Bountiful Bowl....even Winston joined us

7-- Seeing Add and Bre's faces when they opened their new TV...

6--  Sing a long at Grandma Sheri's.  Love the family choir sound we make.

5--  Laila's solution to hiding presents til after Church

4-- Laila's joy in bursting through the wrapping paper

3--  Three Presents  appreciated and the squeal Monson made when he opened his Heat Jersey.

2-- Christmas dinner with the Reynold's family and Wanee and Holly.  Monson and Landon helped with the mashed potatoes, and Wayne brought me beautiful roses for the table.  

 
1--Truman's Telephone call.....   Gpa Lyle and Gma Sheri joined in the conversation.... I am so happy my Mom is feeling okay enough to join in all of the festivities.

It was so good to talk to my boyfriend, and see his cute, skinny, long face.  He is totally engaged in missionary work and happy to be in England.  

My Missionary!!!!!!!