The Christmas Season in Review -2009

Amazing that Christmas has come and gone so quickly this year. The past 6 weeks, for Scott and I, have been very involved with added stress. On November 10 - I had my spleen removed to save me from a life of ongoing low platelets. Result: surgery failed. On December 11, Scott had surgery for melanoma. He has a 6 1/2" incision on his back where the cancer cells were removed and a 4" incision under his arm for the lymph nodes. Result: Thankfully all tissue seems to be clear of the cancer cells. We're waiting on the lymph nodes results but we feel very positive. So with that said... you can understand why our Christmas took on a different "light" this year.

I am so grateful and touched by the many family, neighbors and friends that have called and offered support and their prayers for us. I truly feel and know that we have been blessed.

Things were a little different... we weren't the Lehi version of the Griswold's this year. We stuck to lights around the rain gutters and not all around the yard as in years past. The house was minimally decorated as well. I didn't use my 10 tubs of decorations.. just a few from each. But it was warm and fun and beautiful.

The house did not look like this:


Because Scott looked like this:


Santa couldn't make it to our house this year to visit the grand kids.. too many other commitments for him to fly in. BUT Rick was able to fly in the week before so he could spend Christmas with us! Rusty and Collette were here at Thanksgiving and were able to go to Chicago to spend the holidays with her family. They were missed but I'm glad they had family to be with! We started out our traditional "DANISH" Christmas Eve with a YUMMY beyond Words.. ham and potato dinner. Annie furnished salad and Jenni the desserts. After that.. we make our trek to the basement to open up presents from family members. This has long been a tradition for me since I was a child. Family presents Christmas Eve, Santa Christmas morning. It was great fun! Jamie, Dave and Jayden joined Randy, Annie, Hank, Max, Jenni, Lynn, Dyson, Colby, Rick, Scott, grandma and I. So you can tell we had a party!!!

Jenni and Annie had the boys sit in a line and get ready to open presents. They were singing "we will we will rock you!" go figure...

Jamie got the Wii exercise board...

Dyson opening his gift from Rusty and Collette:


Max showing off his new jersey:

Randy, Annie, Jenni and Lynn got gift cards from Costco from the parents...

Colby was happiest when opening presents:

To much excitement for the parents???

Even Scott got into the fun...

Winding down from all the excitement:

My mom told me this will be her last Christmas "here". Whatever may be.. it was nice having her with us. I believe she had a good time watching those excited boys open their presents!

Max ended Christmas Eve for us by dancing to the Sugar Plum fairy tune... he is so funny!

CHRISTMAS Morning:

Rick and his new nose twizzers...

Scott and the hydraulic stool for the garage..which he ALMOST bought this past week (grrr)

And.. Scott gave me a Wii!!! I was so excited! This is Rick showing me how to play...
Christmas was once again wonderful. I love spending time with my family. It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!