The Orchard Team Huddle

Instead of pajamas the boys got Christmas Eve Snuggies.  They were SO excited.  I'm not even kidding.  Douglas said something like, "YES!  I have been wanting one of these FOREVER!"  Rare excitement, indeed. We started the morning with the traditional wait on the stairs picture. Douglas had no idea what he was getting for Christmas.  He can barely think of suggestions for his birthday so it was all up to me.  He was happy with his camo pants, watch and new car stereo. Stockton had a bazillion ideas but said he would be happy with  whatever.  He got NBA 2K13, 12 months of Xbox Live, and an adapter for his Ipod he bought months ago so he can play it in his IHome. Oh yeah, and some shoes...these don't really count in his gift total but Santa knew he would be excited. Stockton had picked them out for his new school shoes and grew out of them in all of 2 months.  Now he can enjoy them all over again! Mason was a ...

As I recap this year's Christmas season it is difficult to process it all.  We went about our normal traditions and activities with the knowledge that Grandma Mary was finishing her journey here on earth.  It was the morning of December 21st that I got a text from my dad saying that Grandma was unresponsive.  My sister, Kelly, and I hurried up to the VA nursing home to say our last goodbyes.  We knew this day would come and we have been hoping it would sooner rather than later.  Grandma has not been herself.  She needed to move on.  Still, the thought of her not being around was a heavy sadness mixed with disbelief and happiness for her to be free from her frail body and mind.  It was my 22nd wedding anniversary and Russell and I had plans.  I wanted to be with Grandma as she passed but I also wanted to celebrate with the love of my life.  It was not a hard decision for me to make.  I would spend time with Russell but Grandma was on...

Most of the fun about Christmas comes from all of the little magical things that lead up to the big day!  I LOVE the festive stuff. I can't talk about FESTIVE without starting with my big tree.  I have really been in love with it.  I started with a smaller version 13 years ago in my old house.  When I moved to my current house I started crying the day we put up our tree.  I have a giant window in my living room and a tall vaulted ceiling.  My little 7 foot tree just wasn't cutting it.  We ran out and got a 10 foot tree but it wasn't pre-lit.  I spent years winding lights onto that thing and buying decorations on after-Christmas clearance so I had enough to make it full and elegant.  Then I got my beautiful pre-lit and I was so happy for many years.  Until...the lights started going out in sections and it developed a bit of a lean.  This year I added a few strands of lights to fix the dark spots.  Russell propped a few books u...

Douglas is not much of a picture guy.  He doesn't show a lot of emotion and he doesn't do a lot of fanfare.  Thus, these are the only 2 shots I got of him turning 17.  He asked for an IPhone.  We didn't have an upgrade available on our cellular account so a new one would have been $500.  We ordered a used one from EBay and it was being shipped from New Jersey.  Russell ordered it in plenty of time to get here but there was one little problem.  From the last time he ordered something off of EBay to the time he ordered Doug's phone, our zip code changed.  It had been long enough that the post office would no longer forward the mail if it had the wrong zip.  Russell was able to track the phone and saw that it arrived in Salt Lake on the 5th...the day before the birthday.  When it never arrived he was able to track it back to the post office being returned for insufficient address.  He called the post office and spent hours trying...

December 2012 Dear Family and Friends, It seems each year I scrunch up my font in an attempt to fit my whole Christmas letter on one page.   Either we are super busy or I am way too wordy K .   So, here goes…fewer words with all the important stuff!   Russell is currently serving as a counselor in the Young Single Adult Stake Presidency.   His calling leaves us going to our home ward without him most weeks.   Mason asked me one Sunday which church Dad goes to!    He is still employed by Coldwell Banker.   When he is not working or churching he is taking care of us, cheering, coaching and supporting.   He is such a great husband and dad! I (Jenny) turned 40 this past year and it’s not quite as old as it sounds!   With that milestone came my first dental crown and a few new aches but it’s all good J .   I am the Primary Chorister in our ward and enjoy being in Primary with Mason.   I live in a 4-yr-old world where I ...

I can't remember the last time we had a big old whopping snow storm.  The other day it snowed so hard we just had to get out and play in it!        

As a 7th grader, Stockton decided he wanted to try out for the Jr. High Volleyball team.  He made it!  These pathetic pictures are purely for documentation that he really was on the team!  The 6:00 am practices each day were rough but Stockton worked hard and ended up really enjoying the season!   There was a short little 2 week break before it was time to try out for basketball.  Not very many 7th graders make the team and Douglas tried out every year...only making it his 9th grade year.  Stockton was worried but he tried anyhow and made it!  He was one of three 7th graders to make the team!  Of course, he loved it!  Ugh...early morning practice, again!!   Stockton is pretty small for his age and I am so proud of him for not letting that get in his way!!  Way to go for it!