Out with the old and in with the NEW!

Mark Twain
New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.

I guess everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I'm still a resolution kind of person even though this past year I was humbled by my resolution to run another marathon. I was forced to recognize that just because I want to, and train to, doesn't mean I can. I did manage to make it through an 18 mile race, but my foot just wouldn't hold up, and I was faced with ruining myself for my goal, or accepting my limitations and remaining healthy.

I did however, reach my goal of spending more time with friends and family, and I am richer for it. I really enjoyed my friends, my family as well as Rick's. Thanks to all of you that participated in helping me reach my goal.

So, now it's on to this years list. I've decided to make it a bit longer....go big! So, here's my list. I chose categories that are popular and made my goals fit into them.

#1 Give up drinking or smoking. (I don't drink or smoke, so just give up something I love...I guess) This truly may be the hardest thing I do all year. I can't believe I'm going to even type this.........I will give up french fry's.

#2 Get organized.....I will find all of my photos and organize them. That should take up 6 months of the year.

#3 Help others.....I will volunteer in my community. I'm not sure exactly what I will do, but I will have something lined up by the end of Jan. Suggestions are welcome.

#4 Learn something new.....I will learn to swim. I can keep myself alive, but I wouldn't really call it swimming.

#5 Do something "GREEN".....I will read my newspaper on line, and give up home delivery. Really, I don't read it that much anyhow, so no biggie.

#6 Enjoy life more.......I will invite friends, family, or someone new over for dinner once a month, and I will go somewhere, see something, or do something I've never done before once a month. This one I should really enjoy....I'm not a great cook, so if you're invited...remember it's about the company, not the food.

#7 Improve your fitness......I will make a list of races to run and try and beat my best times. I will also do a mini triathlon. (I've never done one)

#8 Tame the Bulge....I will lose 5 lbs, and won't gain it back all year. I should make it 10, but that would just be setting myself up for failure.

#9 Be smart with your money....I will cook more. Eat out less, and waste less food. Talk about taking all the joy out of life!

#10 Take a trip......I will go on a cruise with Rick to Mexico, and take a trip with the family. The cruise is already planned...I'll get back to you on the family vacation.

K, as a side note, some other things I want to do this year. Get better at photography, Start a reading group and read more.

Resolutions made by the rest of the family (Cuz I made them make one!)

Challis - Do good in school. Make new friends. Get better job.

Corbin - Regain my speed and strength, so I can start varsity next year.

Chantel - Make new friends.

Rick – (I'll post it as soon as I talk to him)

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve. Stay safe. And really, truly, put an effort into enjoying this next year......cuz, you ain’t dead yet!

Kidnapped!

For His Birthday! Happy 16th CORBIN!

At 8:30 a.m. on the 30th day of the 12th month of 2008, Corbin Cade Gatten was accosted from his own bed. He was awakened from a sleep he reportedly was enjoying. The assailants were three young, beautiful girls dressed in pajamas (Kortney, Nicole, and Aubree.) Two were wearing hats to help disguise "bed-head". Corbin was reportedly surprised and shamefully sleeping with a "Spider man teddy bear". He threw the bear under the covers to save himself from shame when he saw the paparazzi coming with a camera. He was told to put on a blindfold. He was then told he would be moved to an undisclosed location. His one request was, "Can I, at least, brush my teeth?" His request was granted, and he was moved, but because of his inability to walk...the young girls were forced to carry him. He was last seen when his head was slammed into the top of a green van (because the girls didn't notice his head was so high when they were carrying him.) The green van was last seen travailing North away from his home. His mother seemed to be laughing, and is sure he will be returned at some point.

Boston

Well, I had a hard time keeping up on my blogging over the holidays, so I'm blogging Boston about a month after we went, but I wanted to include it in the year, so here goes.

Boston was so amazing. There is so much history there. I do recommend that you visit in the spring, summer, or early fall, because the wind coming off the water can be brutally cold.

You can't go to Boston without seeing the SOX, right? Well, they weren't playing but we went to see Fenway Park. Rick was really happy when one of the workers let us in to see the field....we had to beg. It's such an old park. It was kinda cool for me to see it also.

You have to stop in at the bar "where everyone knows your name" and have a bite to eat.

The Declaration of Independence was first read on the balcony of this building...The Old State House, and the Boston Massacre took place just outside.

If you wanted to visit Paul Revere, this is the door you'd knock on.

And this is the house you'd look for. You may want to visit if you need a blacksmith, a dentist, or a play date with one of his 16 children. He is a very interesting man. I plan to read the book recommended to me while I was there, Paul Revere And The World He Lived In, by Esther Forbes.

Canary Burial Ground. I really have a thing for grave yards. Those of you who grew up with me can understand why. Where I grew up in Kaysville, the cemetery was the walking track...very irreverent I know. But, as a little girl I studied the headstones while my mother walked, and later I ran around it myself. I laugh every time I pass by and see the walkers. Anyhow, there are very cool head stones in this burial ground. Some of the famous people buried there are listed on the pic below on the gate. The grave yard is surrounded by buildings. While I was in the grave yard I looked in one of the picture windows that looks out on the the grave yard...inside was a daycare....little kids looking at headstones of the dead all day...wonder what warped ideas of burial grounds they'll have some day.

One of the very cool headstones. You can't read most of them they are so old. The bodies are literally buried inches in the ground. You are advised to report any bones sticking out of the ground you see, so that they might be covered....cool! I have lots of pics of the headstones...stop by and I'll show you, ha, ha.

Do I look cold...cuz, I AM!

The New England Aquarium was relaxing and entertaining. After the aquarium we ate at Legal Seafood. Apparently they've served their clam chowder at 7 presidential inaugurations. I wonder if they'll do Obama's?

Freedom Trail Walking Tour. You can do this yourself, but it's worth the $11 and a tip to have a guide for part of it. Ours was incredible. He was so knowledgeable, incredibly funny and wildly entertaining.

The USS Constitution. It was fun to learn about life at sea and the history of the ship and it's many battles.

The Massachusetts State House, otherwise known as the St. Capitol. This is one of the strangest capitol buildings I've ever been in. When you come in at first there is this hall known as Doric Hall. It's very colonial looking. Plastered walls and big architectural Columns. Then as you walk beyond the hall you start into the Nurses Hall and Memorial Hall. These halls are done in this amazing Italian marble. It's rich and breathtaking with stain glass windows, and fresco's. Then you come to the Great Hall. It used to be a garden court that they've covered and made into a banquet and reception hall. It kind of has this Old English feel with flags of the 351 cities and towns of Massachusetts hanging to muffle the echos. The building such a mishmash of styles.




My favorite room is the office of Therese Murray,President of the Massachusetts Senate. She is the first woman to lead the Massachusetts Senate. Our tour guide said that he had never shown the room in 4 years...he said she doesn't leave it open..ever.

The church of Scientology has this phenomenal church in Boston. I didn't get to go in (next time), but if you go...you should, and then call me and tell me all about it.

North Church. This is where they hung the lanterns...one if by land 2 if by sea. It's very cool inside. I took a pic of the Clark pew for my sister and Anson. The more you contribute to the church the closer to the pulpit your pew was.



South Church. I think this pic shows Boston. Little quaint buildings surrounded by big glass sky scrapers. It truly is something to see. We walked all over the place. It's called Americas walking city, and we really walked our butts off.

Commons Park. This park is beautiful, and well used. People were always all over the place walking, playing, ice skating, and eating, even late at night. Boston is beautiful late at night. One cool note about the park. It was the burial ground for the poor back in the day, so irreverence prevails once again.

One of my favorite places to eat and shop was Fennel Hall, and we were there for the lighting of the Christmas Tree.

I do believe my favorite moment in Boston is picture-less. It took place at a restaurant called Mount Vernon. It was a little place on the river a little way out of town where the locals eat...not tourists. There was live piano music, and the people greeted each other as they came in. I could hear them talk about the people in their neighborhood with their thick Boston accents. We ate 3 whole lobsters, I had popovers for the first time, and they had the best clam chowder ever. It was a magical night.

Ho, ho, ho!

We really had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks to all of you who send us Christmas greetings. It's so fun to see all of your families grow and learn what they are all up to. My day was brightened every time I forced my children out into the snow to bring me the mail, so thanks.

Christmas Eve started with a visit from Corbin's "special friend" Kortney. She made him the cutest pajamas with the Colt's emblem all over them. (the Colts are Corbin's favorite team)He loved them and didn't take them off for 2, count them 2 days.


Then Rick and I went to visit Uncle Jay and Aunt Tora. We always love to visit them. We busted in on there Christmas Eve party and got to see Oren and Amy and the kids (news there if you haven't heard...not my news though, so call and find out for yourself,)and Danny and 2 of his boys.

Then we went home and opened pajamas, ate and relaxed and played games.


Then Christmas morning we opened gifts, and then we had our traditional Christmas breakfast at our house. At the table are me, Rick (not in pic), Challis, Corbin, Retta, Ron, Kylee, Star, Jeff, my mom, and Steve. Rylie slept. Everyone stayed and watched movies, played games and visited. We were so happy to have everyone.


This weekend we also got invited to my Friend Leslie's for dinner. We got together with some old high school friends Heidi and Davie Peterson and Dennis his brother. It was so good to see them, and get to know them again, so thanks Leslie. Leslie's grandfather had a stroke yesterday, so we send love to all of her family.

My Christmas Treasure

Wow, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and it seems like I just got all of the Christmas decorations put up. I only finished shopping, and wrapping gifts yesterday, and so there are only a few fleeting moments I can actually enjoy the holiday season.

When I get to sit for a moment and enjoy how cozy our home is at this time of year, certain things take me back in time and remind me of Christmas' past. One of the things I treasure most is something a stranger might look and question why it's there or why it looks the way it does.

This is my nativity. It sits in front of my kitchen sink, where I can enjoy them most often. As you can see, there are some pieces that are glazed and some that are antiqued. The glazed pieces are my mothers and the antiqued pieces are my grandmothers. I inherited both incomplete sets at some point in my life, so I decided to put them together as one. They are a mesh of the two women that made each and every Christmas I had as a child special. The nativity reminds me of candy making, caroling, decorating, big family meals, homemade pajamas, painting ornaments, holiday baking, surprise visits from Santa, and secret whispers my mother and grandmother shared I knew were about my gifts that I tried so intently to decipher.

Some brought gold, frankincense, myrrh, and some played the drum. If I brought a treasure to the Lord I think this would be my gift.

All that, and a kickin' GPA

Corbin's football team had an awards banquet the other night. It was fun to watch film and pics of the past season, have a yummy dinner and watch the boys get their recognition for all their hard work. What we were most proud of was Corbin's Titan Award. You have to be in good standing with your citizenship grade and have above a 3.5 grad point average. I was really impressed with how many boys on the team made the requirement....after all they're football players. But over 1/2 the team qualified. Wow! What a smart team.


Below, Corbin and his buddy Cole at the dinner. Cole also got a Titan award and he Lettered. Cole also loves the Colts as you can see.


One last team cheer! Go Titans!

Yes, I'm Champagne

I found this on my friend Andrea's blog. So, I though what the heck, let's see what holiday drink I am....

I guess I'm Champagne. It says I like to drink. Which is very funny if you really know about me, because, I've never even had alcohol in my life. Maybe they were referring to my Diet Coke habit?

You Are Champagne

Your holiday personality is celebratory. In other words, you love to drink! For you, the holidays are a time to let loose and enjoy yourself. You figure they only happen once a year, so why restrain yourself?

What Holiday Drink Are You?

Christmas Cookies and one year of bloging

It's A Tradition
Every year we have a cookie party at my house. The family gathers and we bake....a lot of cookies. And every year, we can't remember the "best" cookie recipe to use, or what the cookies really should look like when they are done. (maybe if we baked more than once a year, huh?) It never fails. My mother frets over whether they taste too floury, or too sweet, or too greasy. The woman is never happy with the taste, the recipe, or the doneness of the cookies. But, she is always happy to see her grandchildren roll out dough, be creative, and put way too many sugar sprinkles on one cookie. All and all everyone has a good time.


Cousins: Channy and Bowen

Corbin and Kortney


Anson

Grandpa and Kylee

Me, Mom, and Kristi

The kitchen

Corbin and Rick

The mess

The cookies

Grandma and Anson

Kortney and Corbin eat up.

The after party. Rock Band in the basement. All the little ones went to play Rock Band after, and there is a rumor that Grandpa even sang. Dang, I missed it.


The first post I did one year ago was of our Christmas cookie party. I can't believe it's been a year. I looked back over the past year of blog entries and I can't believe how many things I had forgotten we'd done. This bloging thing was a great idea. I'm glad I did it.