Merry Christmas

Time to get the party started with 4 dogs, 6 adults, and Grandma JeanAnn.

Dave getting ready for all

the wrapping paper.

Getting the dogs dressed

for day.

Poor Santa

He is hanging on for dear life.

He didn't survive the first ride. Ranger might only get a lump of coal today.

Family gift...Taffy Factory

Courtesy of Rylee & Ruston

More wrapping paper flying.

Reganne didn't notice me taking her picture.

Fun to see them open

their sibling gifts and the stories behind them.

All over except for throwing

away the trash.

Oops!!

I forgot to take any other pictures of

the yummy treats except for these sugar cookies.

Beth's Recipe from the Idaho cookbook.

Just as good as I remembered. The perfect sugar cookie!!

It was a great day spent with family fun, good food, and watching movies. 

 

It's Christmas Eve

It's time for another Christmas Waters Family tradition...Christmas Eve Las Vegas Trip. It's going to be a little different this year with it being Tuesday. Rylee & Ruston both have to work so they won't be joining us for the trip. We invited Destiny & Ava to join us for the adventure.

Hummer packed & loaded

First stop the outlet mall.

Grandma JeanAnn, Ava, and I are off for an adventure.

Exploring with a bonus

Suckers!!

Guess who she found?

Those are Santa's feet.

This is the closest she would get to him.

Dave & Ava

All she had to do was look up him with those big eyes.

Someone has a magic want.

While we were waiting for dinner

Time to color

California Pizza was a good pick.

Ryder was starving

As usual

Reganne

No pictures please

Made it home

Time for popcorn and a movie.

It was a fun day spent with family and friends. It was also very exhausting. Everyone was ready for sleep and bed. It was fun to spend the day with a 2 year old and watch her exitement for all things Christmas.

New Kitchen Tool or Weapon?

After all of the chopping, dicing, and food prep of Thanksgiving dinner. I was ready for something easier. Amazon Black Friday Sales dropped with something catching my eye. This tool could chop, dice, grate, slice, and even spiralize quickly. Even better fast clean up. The perfect solution for my sore hands. I ordered right away.

IT'S HERE!!

Let's put it to the test.

Well?

It is very sharp and it bites!

Then I found this at the bottom

of the box.

The blades are very sharp and if you get close enough

it will bite.

It definitely makes quick work of food prep. Keep bandaids nearby it is very unforgiving if you get too close or too fast. I never thought I was that accident prone. I guess I am by how many bandaids I have gone through this month.

Christmas Tradition Shakeup

We have a long standing tradition of pictures with Father Christmas. However, since Father Christmas passed away a couple of years ago the tradition stopped. This year let's try to jump start it with the BON Santa Visit. It was time to round everyone up for a quick picture.

Are you crazy?

I'm too old for this.

I'm so embarassed!!

Say cheese!!

The picture is a keeper.

Even a Christmas gift.

Santa looks a little sick.

Ryder looks way to grown up.

Thanks to the kids for going along with my request. I know have one more picture of them together. We might try this again next year.

December Adventures

Buckle up for another busy week or two in December. Isn't December always busy? Yes!!

Time for another club meet ugly sweaters are a bonus.

Stingrays Christmas Chaos 2024

Having fun + competiting = A whole lot of fun.

Event #2 Mixed 13&O 200 Yard Free  3rd Place  1:58.59

Event #9 Mixed 13&O 100 Yard Back. 1st Place  59.39

Event #15. Mixed 13&O 100 Yard IM 3rd Place. 59.26

Event #19  Mixed 13&O 50 Yard Free. 1st Place  24.59

Great swims!! He is working so hard to get back on track withou his cast.

Look close

That's Grandma JeanAnn singing in the choir

for Uncle Murrel's funeral.

Thank you to Alton & Terri for taking her to Colorado with them.

Grease Monkey Christmas Party

Ryder was in heaven enjoying this steak.

The DHHS Swim Team

Headed to their only away meet in Gunnison

It was a good meet and fun to hang out with friends.

No times it's a high school meet.

Buck's Hurst Ace Hardware

new store in Hurricane

Would love to buy this display for Reganne.

Nope she doesn't have enough room in her apartment.

Even funnier it roars and breaths heavy.

Another one for the books and without any food or water pictures.

 

BON Christmas Tree Contest

BON has a Christmas tradition of putting together decorating teams to compete for the bragging rights of the best tree of the year. Swim & decorating usually colide with swim winning both times. This year was a near miss so I decided to give it a try. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't decorate the tree. My job is to decorate the house Dave's job is the tree. That is the way it's been for 37 years.

It's time to cshake things up!!

The team came up with

"Under The Sea"

Time to get started!!

Finished!!

It looks amazing!!

Finishing with seconds left on the clock.

Looking at the competition!!

Another one!!

Each one was so amazing!!

It's going to be a close contest.

Under The Sea

Won first place.

It was fun to be part of this great team with great ideas and creativity. I was there to support and give encourgement. Maybe I will try this again next year. Why not?

Food, Dogs, and Decorations

December is the perfect time for baking and sharing. Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to experiment.

Brownie Banana Bread

Yummy for sure and a definite make again.

Grandma JeanAnn's Christmas tree

Looks like she is now ready to celebrate the season.

Look closely

It's Ranger snuggled down by my feet sleeping.

There might have been a little snoring.

More dogs snoozing

what a better way to spend Sunday afternoon

Funfetti Cookies

Verdict....Not so good.

Will not make again.

Carmel Sauce

Except made with pure maple syrup

Very yummy!!

Ryder ate it all before I could eat more.

This is a firm yes in making again.

There are so many recipes to try and so little time. Stay tuned for more adventures in cooking. If your close I may even share with you.

Utah Senior State Championships 2024

Ready or not state championships are here. This is the second year of it being moved to December instead of February. It still seems really weird and I'm not convinced that speeding the season up helps the swimmers. Well, I am not in charge or even have a voice to give an opinion. So I get on board and support our swimmers.

It's time to get the show started!!

The kids all gather around Mike

listening to his instructions.

Men's Relay Team

Being on deck makes it hard to take pictures. Our kids set such a good example by cheering for every team member plus everyone else around them. Everyone worked hard and achieved many goals that were set at the beginning of the season. Ryder has worked so hard with his injury to achieve his goals. 

I am exhausted and starting to have a reaction to the chlorine with coughing, sneezing, and sore throat. I feel fine but sound awful. It's going to be a busy month with a lot more chlorine. Suck it up and enjoy this season.

Event #1    Mixed 200 Yard Free Relay    1:36.34    19th Place

Event #7    Men 50 Yard Free        23.75    77th Place

Event #9    Men 400 Yard Medley Relay    3:55.41    28th Place

Event #10    Mixed 200 Yard Medley Relay    2:00.25    40th Place

Event #20    Men 100 Yard Back    1:00.38    86th Place

Event #22    Men 200 Yard Medley Relay    1:45.67    25th Place

Event #24    Men 400 Yard Free Relay    3:26.89    21st Place

Event #28    Men 100 Yard Free    52.14    81st Place

Event #34    Men 200 Yard Free Relay    1:34.50    23rd Place

Hard work & determination is his game as he continues to heal. We continue to support him, feed him, and watch him go to bed by 8:30 exhausted from working hard.    

 

Black Friday

It is Friday for sure but there isn't much shopping going on at our house. Instead it's time to get ready for Christmas.

Watch Out!!

Who knew that Rubbermaid storage bins could fly.

Neither Dave or I as we watched the new storage bins

fly out of the back of the truck.

Time to dodge the cars on the highway that in turn were

dodging the bins as they flew out.

Good news we only lost 3.

Christmas decoration

Go right along with the storage bins.

Empty them and then fill them back up.

I am exhausted just thinking about them.

Ranger snuggling down in the decoration.

He didn't want to move.

He could be a cute rather large ornament.

Love decorating!!

Dave found the cute flamingo hat.

It moves

or rather baubles back and forth.

Decorating can be exhausting we finished up before dinner. Now it's time to sit back and enjoy the twinkly lights and Christmas smells. Time to enjoy the holiday season.