Hallmark Christmas Movies

I love Hallmark Christmas movies. They started this year on Halloween. They're sappy and totally predictable and that's what is so great about them.

From the wrapper of a chocolate. Will do!

I was mentioning at work that I was planning on watching one on Saturday. Every Saturday and Sunday night at 6:00, they premiere a new one for the year. Anyway, it sounded fun to everyone, so I extended the invitation. I made chili and they brought treats. A few of us enjoyed time together. The movie was not a great one. It was more geared to kids, but we had a blast anyway.

The first movie night: Ali, Erin, Annie, Becky, Jenny and me. Notice our treats.

The next week, a slightly different crowd came and I made baked potatoes with bacon, cheese, sour cream onions, chili, etc. They brought chocolate and licorice. This past weekend was Thanksgiving weekend and no one was available, so just me and Jamie Wigington watched. We had a great time. She mentioned that she needed to put up her tree so the kids could decorate it when they got home from their dad's house. I went to help her after church yesterday. We ran out of lights, so I went back today while she was at work and bought lights and finished the job. She's a good friend. They just went through a divorce and I imagine the holidays are tricky, especially when you're alone and the kids are with dad. I'm glad she lets me barge in on her life.

AFHS Preference 2014

Mel asked her friend Caleb Greening to preference. It is a formal girls-choice dance. She couldn't quite find a dress she wanted, so I suggested she make her dress. That girl has a great fashion sense. We walked into the fabric store and she found the perfect brocade for a top and we found a black taffeta for the skirt. It was inspired by a design made by Kini on the show Project Runway.

We made the skirt long at first, but Mel felt a short skirt would work better with what the other girls were wearing. It was stunning with the skirt long. It was fabulous short, too. Mel pretty much made the whole thing, with me telling her what step to do next. It turned out great and it had pockets! BEST feature ever!

The master at work

It's done!

All the girls

The whole gang!

 

Mel and Caleb

My girl even got to drive because she's had her license for 6 months. My baby is not a baby anymore!

November Awesomeness!

I'm listening to Christmas music as I write this post.

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and everything that leads to it!

Derek and Rachel, along with Rosie and Charlie, came to town for a couple of weeks. Hogle Zoo was free last Wednesday, so Jen met Derek, Rosie and me there. We had a fun couple of hours walking around the zoo. I didn't have work all last week. Well, I didn't have BYU work. I did go to Weight Watchers to start my training. I go back tomorrow and Wednesday.  Anyway, the zoo was fun and the weather was beautiful. It was in the 50's. Lovely! We followed the zoo with a lunch trip to Moochie's, a sandwich place in SLC. Jen and I shared a meatball sub sandwich. Rosie got spaghetti and Derek got a cold Italian sub. Delicious!

Jen treated us all to the train ride at the zoo!

"Grandma Dana" and "Grandma Jenny": Party Animals!

...because there's nothing cuter than a kid eating spaghetti!

Rose added to our "Thankful Board" that's been hanging in the house all month. She wrote Jesus and Kids. Thought those up all herself. I finished a few food items after the zoo on Wednesday. We went to mom and dad's to help them eat a lasagna. It was great. Thursday morning, we got up and walked a benefit 5K. Keenan, Derek, Rachel and I walked. Mel watched the kiddos. Once again, the weather was fabulous!

We cleaned up and headed up to Jen's. It was a pretty quiet Thanksgiving. Mel thought it was the worst one EVER. It was just Jen, Scott, Emily, Andrew, Christian, mom, dad, Derek, Rachel, Rose, Charlie, Sam (the dog), Keenan, Mel and me. Oh, and a friend of Andrew's joined us when it was obvious his family left for Thanksgiving dinner without him. I think he enjoyed Derek's antics, as we all do. Well, I don't think mom enjoys them much.

Some of us took a break from food to strike it big at Sports Authority. They give out scratch cards with values from $10-$500. Well, we all gots 10's. Keenan and I went back at 5:00 am and got 10's again. Oh well...one of these years we'll get the 500. What would I do with $500 worth of sports gear? I don't know. I guess I'd buy a lot of workout gear and shoes.

The Sports Authority gang: Emily, Mel, Keenan, Rod's friend, Rod and me!

Me and Rachel in Thanksgiving aprons. Rachel looks serious about that pizza cutter!

Mel being goofy Mel

Sammy just waiting for uncle Scott to give him some turkey...just a bite

The Adcocks (and friends) are thankful for...

My plate with the lovely bread made by Rachel and salad made by me

On Friday, I fought with caramel syrups all day. Well, not all day, but...you know...candy...

I wanted to make homemade caramels to sent to Richard and Mo Russell and to Keen's family. It took 5 batches to get 2 that were worthy of gift giving. The others were too hard and would require a serious dental disclaimer. I finally got it right. I got packages ready to send off, including a package of JUST CANDY for Kamiko. He just wants candy right now.

We got a package in the mail from the Russells that included a fabulous cookbook and an apron they won in their ward cookbook. They signed it for me. I wore it as I made their caramels.

One is in the oven right now. 49 to go...

Oh, My Work is Too Fun!

Everyone should be so lucky to have my job and my co-workers. We have had a fun semester. 

Halloween fell on a Friday and my students asked if we could have a group costume contest. Of course, we said "yes." They got really creative. Ali made cupcakes as the prizes. Here are some of the costumes that really made us laugh.

Batman characters

Harry Potter and friends...and a muggle

Hippies

The whole Mario Kart gang. They even went out in the hall and raced.

Powerpuff girls and the professor

Two words...Sister Wives.

We, of course, dressed up. I was snow white and my 7 TA's were the dwarfs. Jenny didn't want to be a dwarf. She was an awesome Rosie the Riveter. We're thinking of being elfs next year. 

Laura, Rachel, me, Erin, Julia, Dallyn, Becky and Ali holding our black caramel apples

Rosie and Snow White

And, to top off all the fun we have, we had an "extracurricular" activity last night at my house. A bunch of us got together and watched a Hallmark Christmas movie last night. It was an awful movie, but we had fun and we had chocolate.

Ali, Erin, Annie, Becky, Jenny and me

I told them all there's an open invitation every Saturday at 6:00 to watch the premier of the newest movie. After they all left last night, Keenan and I took Mel and her friends to get half-price cupcakes at Cravings. Makei, Caleb and Parker were over. The kids had fun on the computer, taking crazy pictures and watching YouTube videos. We really had fun getting treats together. Nice kids. 

Oh, here's my official work picture that will go up on a bulletin board. I look old, but I guess I'm getting old. Derek tells me I'm just plain old, not getting old, but old.

Fall is in Full Force! I Love Fall!

I've got some fun pictures, so it's time to blog again. First of all, I woke up to pictures of Kamiko on facebook AND a video. All compliments of the Leal family from Estrella Sur ward. Brother and Sister Leal are now full-fledged missionaries for the next 2 years, serving in the Chile/Argentina area. They promised Kamiko a picture once they got their tags. So, it appears they visited him today. I know Kamiko has a special place in his heart for that area and the members seem to love him. It seems that he has visits from that ward on a weekly basis.

The Leal's son, Sebastian, and part of his little family

Brother and Sister Leal with Kamiko and the rest of the Leal clan

The three missionaries! What a great thing!

I hear from Carlos that there was an earthquake tonight in Chile. It should be interesting to read Kamiko's letter and see how it was. There have been earthquakes on the coast, but none of significant size in the city. It was only a 4.8, though. That's not very big, but I'm sure he felt it. Doesn't he look great?! And...he's losing some of the 25 lbs he gained in Estrella Sur. Those people just fed him too well.

Mel has had a rough couple of weeks. She sprained her ankle in a futsal game two Saturdays ago and it has been a long recovery, complete with crutches. She's our first kid on crutches. She's can now get along without them. She also got braces this week. The crowding of her bottom teeth has always bothered her. She was wondering what she was thinking, though, the days after the braces went on. It's quite painful. I remember it well. She sure looks cute, though. Our first kid with braces, too. She'll only have them for about 6 months. Lucky girl. We've been working on her dress for preference, a girls choice dance that's this coming weekend. Oh, big caveman news...the football team plays in the state championship game this Friday night. First time in over 50 years! It's pretty cool.

My TA Annie Christensen on crutches after surgery and Mel on crutches. Oh, those funny girls.

Kamiko wanted pictures for Christmas. I pulled a bunch of pictures from his facebook and my blog, etc. I also included this new one of my favorite 3 children...Mel, Kobi and Makei. I love them all.

Brittany Allen, Mel and Kobi Watkins, before going to 50's-themed Sadie Hawkins Dance.

Why Don't I Blog More Often?

Wow, there's a lot to catch up on. Why do I do this to myself? Here goes...

Me: I celebrated my 48th (almost typed 38th) birthday on October 5th. It was General Conference Sunday and it was fabulous. Mel gave me some awesome bubble bath stuff and I took a lovely bath. I also took a nap, took a walk, and had some mint chocolate chip ice cream. I made dinner on Saturday that I just had to heat up, so clean up was minimal. I love birthdays. They're an excuse to just take it easy. To celebrate, I also went to lunch with my friends Wendy Lee, Debbie Larsen and Kim Blight. We've been celebrating birthdays for years...since our boys carpooled together to junior high. We went to Wild Zucchini and ate pasta and had a great visit. Next birthday is Wendy's in January. Looking forward to it already. I also went to lunch with my walking buddies/sisters, RaDawn Mehr, Sherie Ritchie and Sandy Hewlett. I really do love them like sisters. We tried a new bakery/lunch place that was ok, but the company was fabulous. Then, Jamie Wigington, my former neighbor and October birthday buddy went to dinner and a movie. It's our annual tradition. I also got to go to dinner with mom and dad. My birthday loot included aforementioned bath supplies, chocolates, a cute ghost halloween decoration, a WW drinking cup, a cute sign about friendship, workout videos, and cold-weather walking clothes. Birthdays are the BEST.

It was my 30-year high school reunion and someone posted this gem. Derek refers to me as "the hot dude on the left." with me are Craig McKinley and Annie Wagner.

Aunt Carolyn was in town and we all went to the women's broadcast at the end of September. Mel, Ann Hunter, me and Carolyn Brandt

My favorite...Halloween decorations

Me at Gardner Village. So glad we went at night. The lights were so pretty. The weather was great, too.

Me and Mel coming home from NPS, aka "the expired food store." We found some great stuff.

Work is going great. It's meat week and I feel that for the first time I've had time to spend with the kids, talking and getting to know them. We've been testing recipes and that has kept us busy during lab. There's also just a lot of "stuff" to take care of during lab. I finally got caught up and can just be with my peeps. It's been great.

I got an iPhone. I feel like a teenager with my first cell phone. It's so pretty and cool.

I have been offered a job as a WW leader. I start my training in December. So excited about that. I get to lead meetings on Tues nights. Just 3 hours/week. It's perfect and I get money doing something I love. Wow, now I officially have the two best jobs in the world. Sorry, people, but I got them!

Keenan: Keeps going at work. He's enjoying time in the bishopric. He gets to go to activities with the deacons and he seems to enjoy that. He turned 50 in September. We celebrated by going to Kamas and trying the best burger in Utah. It was really good. We also stopped at the outlet mall in Park City and he got some clothes.

Kamiko: Continues to be a fabulous missionary and inspiration in good ol' Santiago. He's now training a new missionary, Elder Tibbits, who, we found out, is Daysa's 2nd cousin. How's that for a small world? To make it even smaller, a couple of weeks ago, one of the Oswald's neighbors from Orem was visiting Kamiko's ward in Santiago. They got talking and put things together that they both knew the Oswalds. Crazy.

Someone asked me today if I just wish he could stay longer because they're out of trouble on a mission. I said "No." I love my kid and can't wait for him to come home so I can give him a big hug. I continue to have facebook friends in his wards. Boy, speaking Spanish has sure come in handy. He's back in Quilicura, his first area, but in a neighboring ward. He had been in Pudahuel for 6 months and the members really sang his praises. The were sad to see him go. This past week, he was with his companion at the mission doctor and he ran into a buddy from the Santiago MTC, who is serving in the South Mission. Good times. I love that kid. He stays positive and is still the fun guy we all love.

Oh, the best thing was that we had his trainer, James Call, over for dinner recently. James is a BYU student. I got to find out everything I've wanted to know like: how do they do their laundry, why is Kamiko getting so fat, what is a typical day like, etc. I am so appreciative that James took such good care of Kamiko. I asked him what his first impression of Kamiko was and he said "I thought he was VERY enthusiastic. When I found out he had been zone leader in the MTC, I assumed he was a typical guy who had been deacons quorum president, teachers quorum president, etc. Then I found out that was not the case." He and Kamiko really hit it off, even though they're very different. Both happy and hard-working. I guess that's what it takes. I gave that kid a huge hug. Closest thing to my boy.

Fernando and Kamiko

Kamiko, Elder Porter and some young men or missionaries. I'm not sure.

Partners in crime. They got along so well!

Feeding Elder James Call. Oh, I found out that it took Kamiko about a week to be comfortable with Spanish. Bien hecho!

Eating Papa John's at Pia's house with Elder Porter

Sebastian and Kamiko

Kamiko and Elder Tornow...North meets South...friends since the CCM

Allie: Still loving the Razorback life and excelling at school. She studies hard and has taken advantage of opportunities to see that part of the country. She's been to Tulsa, Branson, St. Louis and Houston. She hitches rides with friends. She and her roommate continue to be best buds. A lot of people think they are sisters. They are also good friends with a couple of girls down the hall. The four of them, plus Cristina's boyfriend, Cam, have a great time together. The singles' ward is pretty small, but she's giving it a chance. I'm very proud of her for this adventure. She's a great girl. We bought her ticket for Christmas break and I'm excited to have her home for 3 weeks. Yeah Allie! Woo Pig Sooie!

Sisters? Roommates? Allie and Cristina

The girls at Fayetteville's farmers' market

Now that I have an iPhone, I can facetime her. That means we just dial each other up with the facetime app and we can live talk and see each other.

Melia: She still rules the house, setting the agenda for FHE each week. We've watched "Dancing with the Stars," gone to Gardner Village to see the witches, and gotten frozen yogurt...almost. When we got to the frozen yogurt place, we saw that they had moved. When we got to the new location, a tiny shack, we saw that they only had a few flavors, none of which impressed us, so we didn't get yogurt.

She's working at Hapari now. That's the swimsuit store where both Kamiko and Allie worked. She doesn't get a lot of hours, but it's a way better fit than Old Navy was. She'll get more hours starting in March, when their new line comes in and people start swimsuit shopping for next summer. She's getting excellent grades. 1st term ends tomorrow and she'll have mostly A's with a B or two. Way to go, baby Mel! She is one smart cookie. We work on ACT prep every week and she's really good at it. She's going to a girls' choice dance this weekend. Should be a lot of fun, even though she's having 2nd thoughts about going. Her date has to work all day and will get off work barely in time to go to dinner.

She went to homecoming with a friend and, boy, did they look cute! I can't believe she's a junior. Time is passing really fast now.

Mel and Wyatt Burns going to homecoming. I loved, loved, loved that dress. So cute and so Mel.