Merry Christmas to All

This season has been great for me in many ways. First my neighborhood decided that instead of exchanging neighbor gifts that we would get together and donate to the local food bank instead. Can I say that I have the best neighbors to think of this? So not only did we not have to waste time and money to get all of the neighbors things, we also did not have to be tempted with all sorts of treats this year. Second, the leader of our local church encouraged those who attend to focus on service this year and set a congregation goal of 8,000 acts of service. Each member was asked to do 40 acts individually. So not only did I not have to buy gifts for people (I admit I did not even to cards this year but took all of that money and donated it) but it was a service-centric season as well.

This really is what this season is about. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Hanukkah is the celebration of a miracle of light. Kwanzaa is the celebration of family, community and culture. I am noticing that none of these is a celebration of food and presents. While these are important cultural elements of these holidays, the real meanings can sometimes get lost in the shopping and baking. This year our family did not put up a Christmas Tree, but rather put up all of the nativity sets we have (this was a health decision because of Mom's treatments not to a hum bug) and it has been nice to be able to focus the story and meaning of Christmas. Christmas has long been a family favorite holiday and it is nice to remember why.

And so though its been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you!

A blog post with 3 possible titles

This blog post had three possible titles, so I chose none of them. However they were going be to: "Hey guys, Chad fell down" OR "My boggart would be ice" OR "Hello, I'm Stephanie and I am a faller (Hi Stephanie)"

Alright I really am not super clumsy, however I seem to fall in the winter. Two years ago my visiting teaching companion and I were walking to visit teach one of our ladies and I hit a patch of black ice and went down. I hit my knee and cracked my knee cap which was fixed by surgery. A few weeks of physical therapy and I was as good as new.

Last night I was walking out of my office and had my hands full of things I was taking home when I hit a slick spot on our sidewalk and went down on the same knee ... might I mention my boss saw it happen? Mike came out and collected me, brought me back in and helped me get cleaned up, then walked me out to my car as if I were a grandmother so I would not fall again. I really am fine but I woke up this morning feeling like someone beat me up. I am so paranoid of falling now, more so than I was before. So I went home and my sweet mom took care of me: brought me dinner, brought me water, brought me pain meds, watched Freaky Friday with me (the old one with Jodie Foster, ah good times!) and laughed at all of the right times.

So Hi, my name is Stephanie, and I am a faller.

Deep Thoughts ... by Starbuck

If you want to know why your hair does interesting things shave it off and watch it grow back.

Too Organized?!?!

I never thought I would say this (and my planner is weeping in the corner) but this morning I decided I am too organized sometimes. I am not talking about my room, mind you (my mother chuckles) but my life over all. So here is the deal. I love to be organized, to be in charge, and to be informed of what is going on at all times; I do not like surprises. This week I received news that some early information I was given about school and my graduation dates were wrong. Sad sad me. When things like this happen I get into hyper organization mode and my desk and office usually thank me for it. So this week I have had to come up with a new game plan to finish 21 elective credits in school to complete in time to graduate in June as planned. Well this morning I was in the shower ... wait before I go on, do not me alarmed, I shall not be too graphic, I laugh now at how amusing I feel this is ... and I typically soap my body and rinse, then wash my hair, then wash my face and rinse again. Well as I was rinsing off my hair I actually had this thought: "If you wash your hair first, then wash your body, and lastly wash your face you will only have to rinse off one time thus alleviating the cross contamination washing your hair might have on your already clean body and you can probably save time in the shower." Shame on me!! I love a good hot shower and I was actually trying to organize how I can be more effective in the shower and cut time. That being said, events of this day have required me to shower 3 times (don't ask) and the last time I just stood under the hot water and wasted as much time as I could!

Dear shower I will never try to organize you again!

Two videos of ONE

Two videos from the party. Also I rediscovered that my phone will talk things that I type into a note. So since I had laryngitis I typed the happy birthday song to Ains and she loved it! She is so advanced...

One One One

My niece Ains turned ONE last Friday. The party was awesome!! Here is the birthday girl all pretty in Aunt Stephanie's favorite color: pink. It was a pink princess party!!I did not get the memo of the pink, so I wore black, which is the new pink now that green is so last season! (sorry Jules)

Ains with Mom and Dad.

The princess party decorations. Kate took a cup for each person and wrote our name on it so we had Princess Stephanie, Princess Brad, Princess Colleen, Princess Mom, Princess Pat (LOL) etc... Also Barry decorated the cake, we are so proud!

How cute is this kid?

Ains has started to tickle people. Here she is getting Mom's head.

Also she started walking a few weeks ago, and now she just runs everywhere she goes.

Getting ready for cake. Colleen brought a portable booster chair and they just put Ains up on the counter...
Gave her a slice of cake, a little ice cream, and then the fun happened.
Seriously, this is the face of a princess!
Right right, I know proud auntie. I cannot wait for Lottie's first birthday. It is right around the time when Kate and Pat are expecting little William Kyle (Liam for short) but I will call him Bud. Kate is due May 14, and L's bday is May 5.

Watch for the vidoes tomorrow of her eating cake!!

A Taste of Chicago ... in Utah

A post from a sister missionary I met in Chicago made me realize I had not posted publicly two places I have found in Utah that I love!!!

First for a GREAT Chicago Dog visit Johnny Beefs in the Fort Union shopping center by Wal-Mart. The Chicago Dog is kosher beef with all the fixins. I have had a good one at the Bee's ball park too. This is the only thing I like mustard on.

Second is Chicago Pizza. Sweet Home Chicago Pizzeria is in Draper. They have the best stuffed pizza I have had in a long time. Stuffed pizza done right is layered with the cheese on the bottom, the toppings, and then the sauce on top. Yum! Thin crust pizza is done there too and cut like in Chicago... in squares. The salads are great, even the Chicago Dog is good. The pizzas are BIG and so yummy!

The next place I am going to try is Big Apple Pizza in Midvale in hopes that it mimics the pizza in New York!

All I am saying is

For a person who loves to talk laryngitis is a nightmare; speaking of nightmares I had one last night that someone broke into my house; speaking of my house there will be a first birthday party here tonight and I cannot sing to my niece; speaking of my niece Happy Birthday; speaking of birthdays my nephew is due May 14.