Rush, rush, rush, rush.  Then in a snap the day is over.  We had a Merry Christmas.  Even though I didn't get to everything (one of my Visiting Teaching Gifts, a few neighbors that I didn't get to, I never got  a chance to talk to family far away today...)  Overall, it went great.  I kind of consider the week following Christmas, "Christmas Week" so it is not over yet, right?  

I am really thinking on how we can bring Christ a little more into our Christmas Celebrations.  I guess I have a eleven months to come up with something.  

Tomorrow I am off to the slopes with the four boys.  The girls are staying home with Dad.  He has to finish up a work project.  :(  He might be lucky because it is supposed to be freezing with lots of snow. Yikes.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas on my iPhone

Here are a few shots from the season that I had on my phone.  One of these days I will have time to download everything from my camera!  It seems like we have had one event after the other!  I can't believe Christmas will be here in just a couple of days.

The month started off with our ward Christmas Party.  The Primary was in charge of the food.  I think it all turned out great. 

We always have a really nice program in the chapel before the dinner. 

Our next door neighbor, Brother Hammer, was the star of the show.  He told a story and there were lots of musical numbers.  He did great! 

No matter where we live, or what ward we are in, all kids in the Church have one thing in common.  Their favorite thing about a ward party is RUNNING around the Church despite efforts of all adults to stop them.  These four were actually SWEATING when I told them to go get in the car.  The ward party is basically like going to the gym for them.  

 I won't mention any names, but the next day in primary an announcement was made that the Bishops wife had found a thrown baked potato in the chapel.  Someone seemed to be having a potato war in the church.  Busted.  

We had a ton of extra potatoes that night and we had some set aside to deliver to members of the ward that couldn't make it to the party.  I saw a few unnamed kids with some wrapped potatoes and I took them away and put them in the piles to deliver.  Once we had all loaded in the car to go home Luke became very concerned.  "Hey, Mom, where did you put those potatoes we had?"  I told him I had put them in piles to be delivered. I hear muffled giggles.  "Um, Mom, we took bites out of those potatoes."  

Grrrrr.....

Hey, Potato recipients, the Church is still true.  Please forgive for giving you used potatoes.

The next day my niece Lauren was baptized! 

It was a great day, and we had a yummy luncheon afterwards!  

Sometimes during the holidays the kids are so excited they don't want to go to bed! 

"Just try and catch me, Mom, seriously."

The next weekend was our annual Milligan Family Christmas Party.  I made a ton of cookies.  

It really has become more of a Christmas Party extravaganza.  We start the weekend off bowling in Preston, Idaho at a place called "Pop-in-Pins".  (Wondering if that is the same legendary bowling alley in THEE Napoleon Dynamite? You would be right.)  

Lots of bowling fun going on...

Kip was pretty glad we came to "his" bowling alley. 

I should really have documented the place a little better.  I loved the "vintage" feel of the old-timey decorations.  This little Santa man sang songs and moved around.  It was slightly creepy. 

Well, I better go to bed!  Christmas is upon us and I still have a bit more to do!  The whole grand family is coming over for dinner tomorrow.  There will be 45 of us in all.  I hope I have enough food!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Thanksgiving

Since it is almost Christmas, I figure I better hurry and get my Thanksgiving pictures posted! 

During Dinner prep, some of the kids went to the park.  I love this picture of Amelia and Presley.

Great to see Joshua working in the kitchen!

Of course Nana did most of the work...

Michael enjoying the great weather outside. 

Sophie and Michael

There is always something to do at Nana's house!

Dane taking a rare break, holding Ezra.  This guy is a non-stop worker-cleaning this, fixing this, organizing that, teaching us how to use all our gadgets.

We had four different tables for the big meal and somehow we ended up in our own room at our own table.  We kind of enjoyed ourselves- ladies only!  (Or maybe it was the help is not allowed in the dining area.  Just kidding.) We had not only the family, but Debbie and her Nana, plus some friends that stopped in from Utah. 

Joshua doesn't look to thrilled.  It could be one of two reasons: 

A.  He is bummed he is at the "kids" table. 

B.  His Mom's rolls wouldn't rise and they just weren't the same as usual.

C.  All of the above

 If you said "C" you are correct. 

The big kid table. 

Thanksgiving was great and looking at these pictures I am wishing I could eat everything right now!  It truly takes a village to make a great meal, I don't know how you would do it alone!

A few days later was a special day-little Ezra was given a name and a blessing by his Daddy.

Proud mama...

We were glad we could see his blessing since these guys live in Arizona...

Ryan came prepared to participate in the blessing in his Sunday best.  Kidding.  He didn't have a shirt and tie with him, so he searched out Papa's closet.  This is what he came up with.  We decided that maybe people would just think this is the style here in Idaho.  Lookin' good, lookin' good.

The whole gang...not the best picture, but it's all we have!  I don't feel too bad, because we can take an update soon.  Michele is about to have a baby and Krista and Gary were missing.  We will have to do a retake for sure!

Love these guys!  Man, the weeks following Thanksgiving have FLOWN by.  I have been so busy, haven't had a minute to spare!  I am so glad we got to spend Thanksgiving with everyone.  It was so relaxing and we had a great time.  I am so thankful for great family!  I am ready for another week of vacation! 

Two Special People, One Special Day

Sorry, Papa and Danielle....you have to share this "Special" post.  December is kind of like our July...full of birthdays!  December 10th is my niece Chloe's Birthday-

Happy Birthday, Chloe!

and then the 12th is my dear cousin Rebecca's  -

Happy  Birthday, Rebecca!

And December 11th belongs to my BFF, Danielle and our dear Papa.  

Who would have known that the only picture we would have of Danielle and I together for a whole lifetime would be this picture of us the week before I had Luke.  And just for the record, that was my fattest pregnancy ever.  (I do believe there was a shot taken at her wedding that if she wants to send me a copy of, I would TOTALLY accept.) If I don't get one soon, I will have to bust out with some Leavenworth photos. 

Oh, I totally forgot about this picture we have together that Danielle posted of Facebook.  She said I was the best rabbit she has ever known.  

I have to resort to stealing pictures to post a more recent pic. Sometimes I wish I could travel back in time 17 years and pop in on Danielle and I walking to campus and say, "Hey, Danielle...this is the Ghost of Christmas Future....YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY TY MANSFIELD!!!!"  This would truly have been good tidings of great joy unto us all.  No one could be happier that Danielle married Ty than me.  I loved them both since the day I met them. I might have liked Ty a wee bit better.  Danielle was grumpy and wouldn't dance.  We were both 14.  Ty, he had me at, "Every year they throw a party here in town" in his lovely tenor voice.  (He was singing with the BYU men's chorus.)

No one knows our silly shenanigans like Danielle's sweet mother.  And Danielle's mother would testify to all the awful birthdays we have celebrated with Danielle through the years.  Phrases that come to mind are: "I don't WANT to decide where we go to eat."  "I HATE the color purple."  "I don't like movies."  "I hate teddy bear calendars, how dare you!?"  Okay, just a few things I thought of off the top of my head.  Just kidding about the awful part though, anytime with Lika is party time and we don't usually even need a birthday to celebrate.   

 I love you, Dani Girl!  Thanks for being my best friend through the years.  Seriously.  And just for the record, that is the first and last time I will ever call you Dani. 

Well, this guys is another year older and wiser too....

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Papa (and Nana, of course!) always go the extra mile to stay involved in their grandkids lives.  In this case, they went an extra 600 miles. 

We have many fun memories of relaxing on vacation with Papa. 

Papa will always be young at heart...remember when took the boys to fly through the hills of California with the windows down and the mud splashing?  (Yes, that is the inside of his car, and yes, that is mud and rain covering the kids.)  The look on their face is pure joy.  Papa knows how to have fun!

I wonder where he got it from!?  I love this picture of Papa with his "little" brothers.  

I bet Grandma is in heaven in the picture, sitting between her two favorite men... the charming Uncle Doug and her handsome son-in-law.  They give her a hard time and I think she loves it. 

Papa having fun with a dear friend. (I think they might be chatting about their hot babes back on the beach...Judy and Gayle.)

All my kids like to sit with Papa and watch movies.

When feeling sick, Papa is a natural nurse.  He will make you a potion, rub you down with just the right blend of oils, or just let you sit on his lap.  

I never got to meet Papa's Dad.  But, but I know his Mom, and she is one great lady!  I love this picture of the two of them. 

Papa and Nana, never frazzled by the chaos!  

Another favorite of mine...passing on his love of hockey to the next generation!  

The top two pictures are of Luke.  Born in California, and then a visit from Papa in Idaho.  

The bottom two are of James.  Hanging out as a toddler with Papa, and later a surprise visit in Idaho.

He is a great grandpa to the kids! It is amazing to see how the kids have changed...Papa has stayed the same. 

 Another picture of Papa, he has traveled all over the world. 

Papa and his sweetheart traveling together.

Papa has been a great dad to his four kids.  You always know that he cares and he doesn't hesitate to give hugs and compliments.  

Happy Birthday, Papa!  We love you!  Thanks for ALL that you do for us.  Even though birthdays are not "your thing" I hope you have a great one!  

(Hey, it must be the date...since both you and Danielle have that attitude! ha-ha)