The Magic of Christmas

It's hard to believe I can only count on one hand how many times I have been at my OWN house on Christmas... There isn't one memory of Christmas Day that hasn't been filled with joy & happiness as I think of the Ranch & being with my Parents, Grandparents, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, & 20 cousins. The Ranch was a place where time literally stopped. We (including Gramma) would wear our pajamas all day & ate chocolate out of our stockings for breakfast. Gramma Bun & Pa are a constant reminder of how privileged I am to have been born into such a loving family. 

This will be the third Christmas without Grandpa & the second Christmas away from the Ranch. I hold tight to the memories of him & our holidays shared at our beloved Grandparent's home. I will miss him always!! As I think of the traditions we had, I thank him for making 20 of my Christmases so special.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Grandpa would never forget to put hay up on the roof for Santa's reindeer

He would make us line up from youngest to oldest, walk in a straight line into the family room, & unveiled a floor covered in presents.

Pa was always in charge of picking up all the wrapping paper off the floor.

He would welcome everyone to Christmas dinner & give the most heart-felt prayers.

He loved to give presents & would always give Grandma Bun a handbag every year.  

As I cherish the many Christmas memories, I look forward to our future traditions & for the knowledge that Grandpa will always be with us. 

I LOVE you PA!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all!! I hope you are enjoying your families!!

One of my favorite gifts this year.... My Grandma Bun's two poetry books she had published!!

How truly blessed I am. . . 

Who needs snow for Christmas?

 

Del Mar is only hours away and I still haven't started packing!!!

The best idea I can come up with is throwing all my juicy outfits in my suit case and calling it a day. I've got home stoke right now, I can hardly concentrate... What am I looking forward to most?

Hiking Torrey Pines Christmas morning

Visiting the big tree at Hotel Del 
 

Cuddling with the Rugby dog 

Slumber parties with Andi and Bai

17 hours and counting and we will be home to you Mommy, Daddy, and Bailee!!

Parker's Adventures in Uganda

Time for a Parker update!!

There are hardly words to describe how proud I am of Park and how well he is doing!!

It has been 3 weeks since he left the States bound for the MTC in Africa. Every email we get shows the progress and growth he has experienced in the short time he spent learning the lessons. Friday was his last day in the MTC and he has arrived in his first area, Mutungo, Uganda. Here are a few of my favorite excerpts from his latest email...

"My companion or "dad" said that Mutungo is the best part of this mission right now. It is the freshest and I get to be here. He said that only special kids get sent here. I'm only the second missionary ever to be trained here, the first was him. He said that all the missionaries respect me because I got sent here right off the bat. SO I was pretty happy when I heard that. I want to do the best now!"

"There are little kids around everywhere just running & playing. They call me muzunga (which means white person) & wave as I go by."

"There are little shops everywhere that sell stuff. i bought 2 ties today, they were like 2 bucks a piece! But they don't use dollars over here its shillings. So i bought those 2 ties for 1000 shillings but that's only like 4 dollars. I'm a millionaire over here lol."

"I realized that I can just count on being hot and sweaty the whole time I am here. It is warm to say the least, whoever told me it was like San Diego weather they lied, I am sweating like a banshee! It hasn't rained yet, but they said it will rain a whole lot."

I am so lucky to have such a great example of obedience & sacrifice this Christmas season. 

 

We LOVE you Park!!

Holly Jolly Lolly

For some odd reason I have a moral issue with Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties... I have never been one to intentionally make myself look ugly... So in true Lindy fashion I tried to style my cardi up with a belt and boots. I don't know if I achieved the exact look I was going for, but I don't think I was completeley unfortunate looking!

The girls and I always have too much fun and we are lucky to have great friends to celebrate the holidays with!! Here are a few highlights. . .



Zac Efron made an appearance... he's single by the way!! 



Bells of the Ball!!



Don't Christmas lights make you so happy??!!

I don't know what it is about Christmas lights, but they just put a smile on my face... Last night (Sunday drive of course) we piled in the car, had pandora tuned to Christmas music, and headed to Orem where they take Christmas lights VERY seriously! Brookie and Brandon navigated as we witnessed house after house transformed into Christmas magic.

There was one in particular that exceeded my expectations. Actually there were a few, but this one was just unbelievable!! I am fairly certain every whimsical childhood memory I have Barbie was my esteemed confidant. I would probably still be tempted to get her out to play dress-up, but everything disappeared a few years back... I know Daddy did something with them!! Anyways, she had a boat, a car, a plane, a motor home, and of course a DREAM HOUSE!

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the magnitude of the "Christmas" Dream House!

I still can't get over it!

Blog Warming Party

Since this is my first blog EVER I thought it only fitting to throw myself a blog warming party! I find blogging quite interesting. I have a million things swirling around in my head at all times and yet I keep telling myself I have nothing to write about. Other than how fabulous the party would be if it wasn't imaginary. Let's see I would have at least two outfit changes, bomb swagg bags, and Maroon 5 would perform! I can seriously picture it in my head right now!! Just in case you didn't know this about me... I have a large imagination and I'm fairly certain my head is permanently in the clouds. If I had my way ( which I like to think is the majority of the time) it would rain sparkles and maybe Christian Louboutins... Anyways, I'm really excited for this new little adventure. It should be fun and kind of entertaining!! Or maybe I should have Justin Timberlake perform instead.... oh and I need a tiara too!!!

Kind of like this one, but way more fabulous!