Christmas 2014

Things I made in December

Special cupcakes for Jimmy's birthday.  He said this is the only smile he knows how to make.

I got this side-board for free from a neighbor's driveway.  It was not in great-looking condition.  With some cute knobs and two coats of paint, it turned out very cute.

I created this on Canva.com.  I love this Christmas hymn.

Sammich

Sammich is a little Cocker Spaniel that Jake found on a dark, freezing Sunday night out in the west desert.  He was driving home from the copper mine and saw her dash across the road.  There weren't homes are businesses within miles of where she was.  He coaxed her to the truck with the turkey sandwich he had, hence the name, Sammich.  She was terribly matted and there was even some frost in the mats.  She had no collar, so he brought her home where she could warm up while we looked for her family.  Sammy was very polite when she arrived.  She never barked and she loved Daisy, left the cat alone, loved the children, and REALLY loved Jake.

We posted her on KSL with no response.  The vet checked for a chip and gave her some vaccines to make sure she was healthy and wasn't a risk to Daisy.  And, we had her cleaned up at the vet.  Sammy was very polite every where we went, even when they took out her one claw that had grown out and back in twice over on her back paw.  After spending a couple of weeks with her we'd guess that the vet was a little off when he guessed her age.  She had to be older than three.

No one claimed the pup and because she wasn't real well in the ears and such, we decided we couldn't take her to the pound.  We gave a really good effort in giving her a comfortable home.  And, after a few days, her and Noah were the best of friends.  She still had never barked or caused a problem but had a little potty problem.  Because we decided to keep her, we had her fixed.  While she was asleep they worked on her ears and back claws.  In the vet's opinion, she would never be comfortable and would have pain in her ears forever.  He recommended removing both of her ear drums for the low cost of at least $1700.00.  Jake and I decided to keep her happy and when her tail stopped wagging and her ears were too bad, we'd make her more comfortable (?).  I don't know how to say that without really saying it.

I cried and cried when I saw her after her surgery.  She was 100% deaf from being swollen where they had cleaned her ears.  Sammy was the most pitiful thing I've ever had to see in my own house.  She seemed to be doing well, eating and sleeping comfortably.  A few days into recovery she still had open wounds and had re-opened her incision.

By coincidence, Jake had to go see Quinn at the farm the next morning and we thought a ride might lift Sammy's spirits.  She enjoyed the cone-less, medicated ride.  Upon arrival, a nice farmer met Sammich and fell in love with her.  On a farm, Sammy would be free of crate training and could sniff at her leisure. That farmer just wanted to keep her so much, so Sammich stayed and Jake came home.  Unfortunately, a week later we heard that Sammy hadn't healed from her surgery and passed away peacefully.  We're glad that we got to have her for a little while and give her a warm house and lots of food instead of her being alone in the west deseret.  RIP Sammy.

Anne's MBA Graduation

At a pre-celebration, I gave Noah Mellow Yellow to drink, only later to find out I filled him up on Mountain Dew's cousin.

"Those robes look expensive."
"Thank you."

Henrik Odin {aka: Watermelon Guy}

Another nephew for us!  Cody and Tiffani had their second child, Henrik, on December 6th.  He is especially cute and wonderful.  I love him!

Cody and Henrik in their "power hats."

Christmas Cookies

Jake made the strongest gingerbread houses ever.  The kids were so excited when they found them ready to decorate.  And, because of the George Strait song, Christmas Cookies, I made these sugar cookies which actually turned out very well.  I felt pretty good about my success.  Unfortunately, making the cookies wasn't exactly like the song said it would be.

Handy Manny

I came home from work to find him dismantling the basement.
I asked what was going on.
"I had a Red Bull and watched to episodes of Handy Manny."

We moved into our home last March.  Since then, Jake has been going 100 miles an hour with his own work, regular house/family stuff, and projects in the house and yard.

As my memory can recall, in the last nine months Jake has done the following (in addition to working up to 7 days a week, for more than 80 hours per week):

• installed blinds in at least 10 windows
• made screens for several windows
• installed {joey-ish} coat closet hooks, after buying and painting them (and returning the ones I didn't like)
• built a threshold into the mudroom to weatherize and protect us from bugs
• completely removed a second kitchen and cleaned the space
• completely removed tile from the aforementioned kitchen
• removed bad cabinets from mudroom and turned it into a useful mudroom (which I made him move his office into)
• move furniture 9,000 times while I tried to make up my mind of where it should go
• hung a more than 20 curtains and removed some after I changed my mind
• replaced to light fixtures that were really nice fixtures, in 1957
• shorten hanging lights to a reasonable length
• switched the fridge door to open on the more reasonable side
• fixed all three toilets with good flushers, etc.
• changed shower heads to something made in the last 40 years
• set up the gadgets and electronics 100 times
• changed the kitchen faucet
• made sure the fireplaces, garage doors, and windows were all safe
• built a huge ladder to get into the loft of the barn
• hung the old cabinets (from the second kitchen) in the barn
• tilled a garden and grew a million vegetables
• pruned and sprayed the fruit trees
• removed 3 tree/bushes
• removed and burned 16 million branches and such
• replaced plumbing parts in our jetted tub
• decorated the house like a champion for Christmas
• cut and painted a nativity scene for the yard
• built a long bow mold thing
• helped me refinish an old sideboard and bought {joey-ish} knobs for it
• prepared to frame in a laundry room space

I get tired watching Jake go from project to project.  When he finally sits down with me, or we go to bed, his brain is thinking and thinking about projects.  He works and works to take care of us.  He likes to make things better and nicer and more {joey-ish} where possible.  And all the while, he keeps our laundry going, cooks, and does good things with the kids.  I'm grateful for a husband who does so much.  I hit a jackpot.

Abbi's #10

Abbi lost 4 teeth in less than two weeks!
One evening, she told me to hold out my hand and gave me this tooth.  Surprise!

For her birthday breakfast, Abbi chose a Cinnamelt from McDonalds. 

Abbi's #10 family birthday party.

Grandma Tracy at the family birthday party. 

For a birthday cake, she had fancy desserts for the Shirley Temple party.

The girls were wild and fun!

Marlie and Abbi.

Shirley Temples and "lady food" as Grandpa Hansen would call it.

The party girls took 7 million pictures on their phones.  That's right, their phones.