Christmas 2022

 The kids are getting older, not much on their Christmas lists.  I'm ok with that.

On Christmas Eve we drove around looking at Christmas lights.  There are a few in the area that is amazing.  The entire neighborhood gets involved, they are synced to music and really worth the drive.

Lights on Liberty Lane

Here are a few pics

No Red and Green Tree for me

Christmas Morning

Spoiled Rotten Dog on Christmas morning

Air Rifle for Trey.  He was excited

Merry Christmas, Derek in his Star Wars Shirt

Curtis got two e-bikes for Christmas, it is no fun to ride alone.   He has wanted some for a long time.  They are fun!

If you are under 18 you have to wear a helmet while riding ebikes

Dax asked for a new razor, socks and pants.  Very adult gifts, he got them all. Trey got the Air rifle, Derek got a few clothes, and they all got Steam gift cards and a few fast food gift cards in their stockings.

I got a few new purses and a golden pearl pendant.  I wanted one for a while.

We are very blessed and spoiled rotten.

Nineteen

 12/23/22

Derek's 19th Birthday.  I always try to make Derek's birthday a very separate event from Christmas.  

I did a bit of birthday decorating, that was not related to Christmas in any way. 

Happy Birthday Derek is the VIP today

The kids named this gorilla "Harambe" he comes out for special occasions

Derek didn't ask for much for his Birthday.  He asked for the "Steam Deck" a gaming system.  It was on the more expensive side, I told Derek I hated to do it but it was a combo birthday/Christmas gift.  Derek was good with it.   He is an adult now, I figure he can handle it.  He seemed very happy with it. I made him  French Toast for breakfast.  He wanted an oreo cake and we went to Black Bear Diner for dinner.  I think the week leading up to this birthday was a little rough on him since he and his girlfriend broke up.  I'm thinking it will probably be just a "break" time will tell.

White Elephant and more Christmas parties

 Curtis'office had a very low-key Christmas party, with a White Elephant gift exchange.

People brought food, we ate, opened gifts, and left.

Here are a few pics

Curtis' Camo Christmas shoes.  given to him by Jay the photographer    

Chanier, one of Curtis' agents got us some cool hats as a gift.  Curtis got a cool blue 49ers hat and he got me a pink and grey one.  Chanier had out names put on and he even spelled them correctly. 

The gifts all lined up.

Introverts Cristy and myself

Keane, Christy and Shawn

Dax and his Mother (me)

I think they are roasting Chesnuts on this open fire

Keane the winner of the "Ugly Sweater contest" $100 to Chick Fil A    

More ugly Christmas sweaters

The Youth had the annual White Elephant party.  It was just around the corner from our house.  Trey and I went, Trey was not feeling well, so he walked home before it really started.

Buddy the Elf made an appearance

One of the hot items of the night was a photo of this "Buddy the Elf posing"

The photo of Teddy is back in the rotation.

The photo of Teddy lived at our house for a year, when Dax got that gift.  Then he regifted it the following year.  It had been MIA for a few years but it showed up again.  Before I left for the party Dax asked if this was going to be back.  I said no because I hadn't seen it for a few years, and Teddy was long gone.  Lo and behold Teddy made an appearance.   It was still funny.

Since Trey left early, I picked his gift.  He ended up with lightsaber chopsticks that lit up.  I'm going to regift them to Derek with a Panda Express gift card.

Trey brought a chocolate monopoly set that I think went home with Jonah Shumway.

This was my last and final Christmas party. I made it to 5/6

Temple Lights

 Mesa Temple Lights

We took the family to see the Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple.  The temple has been closed for a remodel for the past few years.  This is the first time back in a few years.  I went with the Young Women a few weeks ago.  It was nice to go back with my family.  We went early, to beat the crowds.  I had some friends that went the day after Thanksgiving.  I guess you could call it "Opening Night,"  They said it was a madhouse.  It was so packed with people, you could barely move.  They said they had to take "baby steps" the entire time to get through it.  They tore down the visitor center and built a new one in a different location.  It seemed more community-friendly.  The weather was beautiful

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My boys in front of the Nativity

Mesa Temple

Trey felt just good enough to walk around for a bit.

At the Visitors Center, they had a display of Nativities from around the world.  This is done on grains of rice.  Amazing.

They put bright ball lights in the trees  It looked cool like the tree had glowing fruit.  They had some bright orange ones on what we thought was an orange tree.  Until we looked closer and it was actually a Lemon Tree. That was funny.

The "Orange" Lemon Tree    

Pre Christmas

 Just gearing up for Christmas this week.

My friend Cindi works with an organization that does a lot of service for lower-income, foster kids, and people who just generally need help. We joined in donating stockings for Teens in foster care.  For some kids, this is the only gift they get.  We were happy to help.  We donated 7 complete stockings and donated the rest of the "spare parts" to combine with other donations.  It is mostly hygiene products, snacks, and a fast food gift card.

Supplies for the Teen stockings.  Nobody wanted to be in my picture

Christmas parties

Kristi, one of our employees who coined the term  "Stripper Christmas"

The first party on this week was Wednesday night the EXP

We rode over with Curt and Sheri Shewell from Detroit

Background video at Christmas party

Live Dancers at the "Christmas" Party

party.  That was interesting.  A local EXP agent had a very nice office for his Real Estate company.  He used to run nightclubs several years ago and the Real Estate office always had a nightclub vibe in his business office.  He had a back patio with a bar/entertainment area where live bands would perform, another Bar/cafe at the front entrance, and a conference room you could make dark with flashing lights.  He decided it wasn't enough so recently he pretty much kicked out all his agents and went all in and turned the office into a legit nightclub, and occasionally a Real Estate transaction takes place there.  He hosted this year, and it was interesting.  The promo videos for the nightclub were playing on Jumbo screens.  It pretty much looked like a promo for a Strip Club.

EXP people from Detroit Russ Laggon, Curt Shewell, with Curtis J.

I went straight from the party to YW where we delivered Nativities who needed a little extra love.  The girls had a fun time "Door Bell Ditching" even though they left a gift with their names signed on the card attached.

Thursday night was the RS Christmas party.

I was asked to help with just some small parts of it but it was fun.  It was at my friend, Shadow's house.  She had it decorated so beautifully. With lights everywhere, and my friend Megan (who was actually in charge) brought nativities. Shadow is originally from Iran, so there was a touch of her Persian roots in the atmosphere.  It was simple but so very nice.  Word on the street, the guests called it "Magical"  I brought the snow machine.

It "snowed" in Chandler

"Shadow's Persian Backyard"

one of many Nativities

Shadow is playing in the snow in her front yard.

Trey has recovered from the nasty virus and he was feeling really good...until he wasn't.

 

He went to school Monday and Tuesday.  His first time setting foot in his Algebra class.  School went really well, and teachers and friends were happy to see him.  Wednesday he was not feeling great but he sucked it up and he went to school.  

At lunchtime, he sent out the "Bat Signal" come pick me up. The headache was back and it was BAD.  I was getting ready to go to an appointment, so  I sent Dax to sign him out.  Ugh, it was good while it lasted. 

 I'm seeing a pattern with the Topiramate.  He gradually feels better.  It lasts about two weeks, then the headache returns to full force not gradually.  I talked to his Doctor he added acetazolamide back into Trey's med routine.