Happy Holidays!

Book Group. We have our December meeting at Ann's and we do an ornament exchange. Thanks ladies for giving me some place to go once a month that is girls only! Tucson. Dan didn't come down with us this time because of work. We had a great time going to the ward Christmas party, picking Lindsey up from ballet, celebrating Em's bday, watching Alyssa in 'A Christmas Carol', baking Cmas cookies, celebrating Ryan's bday and having Christmas with the gang
Amie had us over on a half day to make 'gingerbread' houses. Here is Ryan chowing down on his. Thanks Amie for the fun activity!

Alex's G Man

Go to Safeway.com and build your own gingerbread man!

Eurpoe: 2

Getting to church was an adventure. I had to take 2 buses to get there. I called the mission home to get directions. I couldn't understand the American telling me where to go. Termini Station? What the heck is that? He kept saying, 'It will be fine. Just come.' He had more faith than I did! I studied this huge street and bus directory for a good 2 hours on Saturday night.
The first Sunday I made it! I had to walk up a long empty street to get to the square it was located in. It was a sunny and beautiful day. I had been in Italy 2 days maybe and I was excited to meet some new people. I walk in to a building that looked like a storage unit. Once my eyes adjusted to the dark room I thought, 'Jackpot!' Standing everywhere were these beautiful men in suits! OK, so you already know what is going to happen and who these men were. Why was I so dumb?
'Hi, I'm Crystal.' 'Hi, I'm Elder so and so' Hmmm, he has no badge. Ok, I'll try again.
'Hi, I'm Crystal.' 'Hi, I'm Elder so and so' Hmmm, he has no badge. Ok, I'll try again.
'Hi, I'm Crystal.' 'Hi, I'm Elder so and so' Hmmm, he has no badge. 'Where are your badges?'
'Oh, there was a bomb threat on the American Embassy so we were asked to not wear our badges today.'
HUGE let down... I walked in to the International Branch where the mission home attended. At the end of the services the two available men sought me out and so I did hang out with one Italian named Tiziano (who once said to me, 'You have Scooby doo in America?!) and a BYU student who had served his mission in Italy named Paul Formisano (he had Italian roots).
Church was good. I traveled a lot on Sundays, so the Relief Society never really knew me. The headsets would break, so I listened to quite a few sermons in Italian. Sunday School was in English so that was nice.
When you travel, go to church. It was good to be on the other side of the language barrier. It was good to see the saints using the same material we use. The gospel IS true everywhere!

Jumble

This is from Black Friday. I got up and went to our new SuperTarget. It wasn't too bad. I walked in and got what I wanted in about 5 minutes. I went ahead and picked up the Polar Express. When the boys got up I put it in and they really enjoyed it. Alex loves to act out what he has watched on TV (which is one reason I have to be careful of what he watches). So, here they are playing 'Polar Express'.

I took this picure on Dec 1st. I can not believe Alex can wear shorts to school in December. He has only worn pants 2 days this year. I had to take this picture because he was so cute in his jacket. And Dan had to put his hand in the picture. Figures.

Ryan and I made treats this week. The little boys and I are going to Tucson this weekend 1) to watch Alyssa in 'A Christmas Carol' 2) to celebrate Em's bday 3) to do our Christmas with them. I always organize something for June for her gift. Last year it was the garage. This year I'm going through the VHS closet. Honestly, who needs a closet full of tapes?! My father in law believes they do. Hopefully I can be tactful and respectful when I'm dumping all the tapes of stuff recorded off the TV. (Dan does have a tape of some basketball tournament that I'm not allowed to throw away even though we don't own a VCR anymore. So I'm sure I won't be ditching all of the old stuff.)

Ryan only ate 2 candies while we were cooking. Ryan is like his Uncle Jason. He loves to cook. He loves to work on mechanical things. He loves to play with kids. I like to duel Jason when we get together. It is my way of making him hang out with me! Anyway, I have beat him at battleship, chinese checkers, and quoridor. He has beat me at Risk. This weekend I'll have another chance to use my mental prowess. He says we have to play a game that is logically based (and I can't play chess very well so that is out). Any suggestions?

Genius

I think the boys learned the definition of 'genius' from spongebob squarepants. Alex said, 'Dad you're a genius." And Dan asked why. "Because you can juggle."
Ryan giggles and says "Dad you a genius." So we ask Ryan what he thinks is a genius. "Genius is a clown." Both boys are laughing and having a good time.
So, good news if you can juggle like Dan, YOU ARE A GENIUS! As for me and the rest of us who can't, I guess we are just normal.