Twas The Night Before Christmas

What a wonderful day!! I love spending time with my family more than anything else. Andy came up from Salt Lake on Christmas Eve and we all went to dinner at Chili's. This has started to become a tradition because it seems like we are so busy that I end up not having enough time to make dinner. We ate and laughed and visited for a couple of hours and then headed home.

When we got home, Scott and Leslie surprised Gary and me with a present. They had had a 30" clock made with our name and the year we got married engraved on it! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Leslie had recorded The Nativity Story on her DVR so Scott set up the projector in the living room, we started a fire and we all settled down to watch. We had been watching for about 1/2 hour and it was really starting to get good and all of the sudden the screen went black. We don't know what happened but we didn't get to see the rest of the movie. The boys ended up watching A Christmas Story (Leslie and I can only take that movie in short stretches - it's too stupid!)

After the movie was over we opened our Christmas Eve presents - everyone always gets a new book yahhhhhhhhhhhh! Then we ate chocolate cheesecake and now I'm off to bed. What a fun night!

It's The Most Wonderful Night of the Year. . . except

The Progressive Dinner is our all-time favorite Lundberg tradition!! This is year number twenty and it was wonderful except for: Jay and Linda weren't here, I was sick, and Brent and Tiffany witnessed a horrific car accident on the way up. They were held up in the canyon helping the victims and giving statements to the police for over an hour. When they told us what happened we felt terrible - for them to have to see such a thing, but especially for that poor family and the driver of the other car. Brent said that the mother, father, and twelve year old girl in the back were killed, the two year old was taken to the hospital and the five year old girl was life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital. We're so greatful that Brent and Tiffany are safe - and our hearts go out to the other families.

On a lighter note, the party itself was great!! Gary and I had appetizers, Brian and Marilyn had main course, and Daryl and Melinda had dessert.

Appetizers

Gary and I had appetizers this year. We served Walking Taco, Ramake, Different Chips & Dips, A Relish Tray and Drinks.

Main Course

Brian and Marilyn served Paprika Chicken, baked potatoes, green beans with bacon and almonds, rolls and drinks. It was delicious and the table looked beautiful. I didn't get a very good picture of the centerpieces but they were awesome - 3 small vases filled with cranberries with a single white spider chrysanthemum in each.

Dessert

Daryl & Melinda served Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Cheesecake. It was divine!

Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House

L to R: Brent and Tiffany, Brian and Marilyn, Gary and Lori, Daryl and Melinda. Jay and Linda are in our thoughts - WE MISS YOU!!

Merry Christmas To All & To All A Good Night!

Leslie sent me a Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. She said I'd be a Scrooge if I didn't do it, so here it is. Bah Humbug!! Not really!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapped, but if it's an "emergency" I'll use bags.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving or sometimes the week before (but I try not to light it until Thanksgiving night).

4. When do you take the tree down? My tree in the family room didn't even get taken down this year - I did manage to take off the decorations though yayaaaaa!!

5. Do you like eggnog? Absolutely Not!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? An Easy Bake Oven

7. Hardest person to buy for? Andy and Lance

8. Easiest person to buy for? My mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Well sure I do!!!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Either/Or/Neither - depending on the year haha

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Some hard, sick cookies with cereal on top.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Muppets Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause, and It's A Wonderful Life.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I was younger I started right after Christmas, now I wait until I have to.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Gary and I recycled a huge candy cane 3 years in a row. I also gave Gary the same wallet for two years in a row as a joke because he had never opened it. hahaha

15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fudge and Penouche.

16. Lights on the tree? It wouldn't be Christmas without lights!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night (I absolutely HATE Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer!!)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home For Sure!!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Absolutely

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Usually a star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? In the Morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? That I'm always in a hurry, that I don't get enough help, and when everyone is grouchy!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Angels

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Mom's whole dinner and "Santa's Cinnamon Salad"

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Enough money to quit my job. (ya, right, like that will ever happen)

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? I'm not sure.

27. Who is least likely to respond to this? My dad

28. When do you start listening to Christmas music? I can usually wait until July or August.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man's (Gary's) Best Friend

Ernie doesn't put up with much from Lance or Alex but he doesn't care what Gary, Leslie or I do to him. He's auditioning for a new movie - Dogs in Black! haha

What has caused our country so many problems!

I thought this video was quite interesting. It's frightening to me to think of what has happened in the last five years and what could happen in the next!! Check this out!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6wxmr_burning-down-the-house-what-caused_news

The Great Suspense Is Over!!

You guessed it! It's the West Indies aka The Caribbean!!! Wow, we just can't believe it. I wonder if he'll get to watch the making of the next Pirates movie hahah

Lance will enter the MTC on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.

Our Family Predictions

We decided to poll family members to see where they think Lance is going.

Dad: California

Mom: England

Leslie: Nebraska

Scott: Indiana

Andy: New York City

Alex: Oklahoma

Grandpa: California

Grandma: Australia

Toni: Arizona

Kailee: Colorado

Daryl: "Rapid City, South Dakota"

Melinda: Pacific Islands or Arizona

Linda: Australia

Ashley: New Zealand

Mom's Work Predictions:
Sheila: Oklahoma or Georgia
Cheryl: Brazil
Brenda: Florida
Nancy: California
Barry: Madagascar
Scott: Mongolia
Barbara: Phoenix

Hope to find out tomorrow!!!!!

Anxiously Waiting!

Last Tuesday Lance had his final interview for his mission. President Meng said he "pushed the submit button" and his papers are in!! The usual time between submission and call received is about 9 days - which means Thursday! I go back and forth in emotion. From I can't wait to have him go (aka: A CLEAN HOUSE yahhhh!) and I'm going to miss him so much. He is such a good boy and great fun to be around. We are all putting in our ideas of where he is to go. When everyone is polled I'll list the ideas and then on Thursday we will know for sure. So exciting!!

This is his "official" mission picture which was sent in with his papers.

















I really wanted to send this one in but it was too big : )