The Big Surprise!

Is not updating your blog as quilt-wrapped as not writing in your journal?  If so - I know I am a slacker.  But - there have been some very fun things happening in the lives of Williams.  

Alison - I have bragging rights to my daughter.  Two weeks ago, she read her first book all by herself and tied her sneakers all by herself (in the same week).  That was a big, successful week for her.  Then, she won an award for her painting (Alpheba from Wicked) she submitted to the Reflections contest at her school.  She was only one of 2 Kindergartners who submitted anything.  She hated going up on the stage, but was happy she won a medal, a certificate and a free ticket to the Clark Planetarium.

Ian-He is still proving to be quite the artist.  I need to ban markers all together in our house - but how fair is that for Alison?  He found one of her brown markers and wrote on everything in his play room under the stairs.  UGH!  Then, just this morning, he took crayon and wrote on our sofa.  Lucky they are microfiber and a diaper wipe took most of it out.  He also got into my paints (we had no idea he knew how to open closed doors) and smeared it all over his new shirt and a sentimental pair of levi jeans (so sorry mom!)  If there is anyone out there who knows how to get oil-based paint out of clothing, please share it with me.  He is into everything and dumped out my mineral makeup all over my bathroom floor the other day.  He played in it like he was in a sand box.  Funny !???

Derek is still working very hard and enjoying his job at Snow, Christensen & Martineau.  We are lucky he leaves for work early, while the rest of us are sleeping, and then comes home to spend some quality time with us before bed time.  He enjoys his work and is working on growing his business and adding new clients.  So, if anyone is in need of a wonderful lawyer, please let me know.  I happen to know an outstanding one who lives right here in this house.  I love him so much!

Candie - okay, now that Christmas is over - I get to brag about something.  This year, both my family and Derek's family decided to do homemade gifts this year.  I got the notion I would sew my gifts.  This is funny since I have never sewn anything of worth for anyone, including myself.  My mother gave me a sewing machine 14 years ago and this is the first time I have used it successfully.  A friend of mine, Adrienne, came over and showed me how to sew a purse.  I bought way too much fabric and decided I would sew several at one time.  That was a big mistake since it would take me so much longer with my inexperience.  But, I finished them all and they turned out really well.  I also made a few SNUGGIES out of blankets for the guys we had names for.

Thanksgiving - This was a lot of fun.  Derek's family came over and the girls had a pie cookoff this year.  Boy - was it fun!  The food and the company were wonderful.  Derek's parents, who recently returned from their mission in Dallas, TX, were able to come as well.  And - Colleen (Derek's mom) won the pie bake-off.  

Echoes - I am in a singing group called "Echoes of the Heart".  We performed at a few church parties and were slated to perform at Temple Square, but a big storm caused the cancellation of this event.  I was so sad as this was to be my first Temple Square performance with Echoes.  We start practices back up in February and I love singing with this great group of ladies.  We have a lot of fun and look forward to other opportunities to share our talents next year.

Christmas Eve & Christmas - This was a great Christmas this year.  We were able to spend Christmas Eve with my sister, Kareen and her family as well as my twin sister, Christine.  She is recovering at my house from surgery and it is nice to have her here.  Christmas Day proved wonderful as the kids were spoiled yet again by family and friends.  We took the time to teach Alison about the real reason we celebrate Christmas and she seemed to like it more this year.  She answered all the questions we asked her - so we know she was listening.  

Alison has been asking Derek for a puppy since she could talk.  He has put me off for 14 years, nit wanting to deal with something like that.  BUT - he couldn't hold Alison off any longer.  She MILKED it big time this year and was asking for a puppy for Christmas.  We just kept telling her there would be no puppy at our home on Christmas Day.  She didn't seem too disappointed - but that's because she thinks dogs are allergic to Derek.  She even went as far as to draw a picture of herself crying and then drew an arrow pointing to a puppy and then taped her fortune from her fortune cookie the night before.  It stated "Your dreams are about to come true".  By this time - Derek had already told me to start looking for a Christmas puppy.  I could not believe it and I was not about to wait around for him to change his mind.

We did not lie to Alison.  There was no puppy at our home on Christmas day.  She was delivered to our home the evening of the 26th and is currently wining her little heart out next door at the neighbors home until tomorrow morning.  We will unveil the puppy them and definitely post it online.  The kids have absolutely NO IDEA!  Until then...