The Night Before Christmas

We had a nice Christmas Eve celebration at our home Saturday. Everyone was here and we had a great time. Some of the highlights:

*Josh's white elephant gift. Let's just say, what happens in the Williamson household, stays in the Williamson household ;)

*Setting Jenni's birthday cookie on fire.

*Listening to Cordell read us stories from the book he purchased to give his friends...funny stuff.

*Eating Greg's famous Chilequilles (casserole) haha. You had to be there...

*Aubri. What can I say. Everyone wanted to hold her.

*Remembering the reason for the season.

*Having friends and family stop by to visit.

Christmas Bonfire

Saturday we celebrated Jenni's 23rd birthday in the middle of our Christmas family celebration. Jenni does not like cake so each year she requests me to make her a sugar cookie. So...here is her sugar cookie all ablaze with 23 candles :) I can't believe we didn't catch the house of fire...
(Please forgive the awful pictures. I had to use the camera on my cell)

Isn't She Sweet?

Aubri is now one week old. Cute little bugger, isn't she???

Meet Aubri

She is here and she is perfect and very precious.

Aubri Roo Anderson was born this morning at 6:43 am weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and 19" long. In case you are wondering about the creative middle name, Austin served his mission in Australia and wanted her middle name to have a connection to that country. Tara came up with the name and they ran with it. I have to say, the more I hear it, the more it is growing on me. Now I am on the hunt for stuffed kangaroos haha.

Becoming a Grandma is a great thing. Yep, I am old and loving it :)

A Pure Heart

Remember in my last post where I said that Josh had lost his wallet twice and that Emma had prayed both times and found it? Well here is another one to add to her list...

Last night Greg was looking everywhere for his watch. He said he had put it on his nightstand like he always does, but it was not there anymore. He hunted and hunted and hunted. Finally I suggested that he have Emma pray to find it. I was kind of kidding, but not really :) He laughed and kept searching. After a few more minutes of searching and out of complete frustration, I heard him ask her to say a prayer and within sheer minutes after her prayer, he was shouting for joy that he had found it! It had been stuck in a weird place on the shelf on the bottom of the night stand.

I told Emma that she has a pure heart and perfect faith to have her prayers answers so quickly and so consistently. What a great testimony builder she has become. Here's to hoping that she continues to bat 100%!

What's Up

During the busy time of year I just can't seem to find time to sit and post too many things. A lot is happening, I just don't have time to record it. However, tonight I plan to take a couple of minutes and update my journal. Here goes...

We are waiting for our granddaughter to arrive. Tara has an induction date set for December 26th, so the end is in sight. In the meantime, I am madly getting things done so that I can help her when the big day arrives. Austin is finished with finals and now just working and waiting to be a Daddy. And I am getting excited to be a grandma :)

Jenni has had strep throat. Poor gal. Thankfully, Cordell has been taking care of her and she is finally beginning to feel better. This is the first time in years that she has been sick. Come to think of it, we have all been blessed with great health. Well, all except for Greg. He has been struggling lately with his heart condition. Hopefully we can get it under control soon.

I am also trying to refinish a vanity for Emma for Christmas. I spotted it on a recent trip to DI, sent Jenni a picture of it and purchased it. Jenni has an amazing ability to transform old things into new. It has a lot of potential. Fingers crossed this turns out as I envision it in my mind :) I have it sanded down and ready to paint pearly white - pretty, huh? Hopefully I will have it complete this week BEFORE the baby comes.

Josh has lost his wallet TWICE in the last couple of weeks. That boy makes me crazy. Anyway, both times Emma has said a prayer and found it for him. You would think that after the first time he would get a clue and keep better track of it. Kids. Wednesday he finishes classes for the term. He is looking forward to powdery mountains and snowboarding mingled with work.

Christopher and Sam are finished with finals and ready for the Christmas break. They both did really well :)

Funny comment I heard Emma say to her friend, Casey Anne "My parents are old and tired and I like it that way." Made me giggle. Yep, she is right on the money...old and tired.

The Last Three Days

What a crazy couple of days. Tara and Austin came over Thursday afternoon and told us they were heading to the hospital. What???? They baby is not due until January 1st. Evidently, they had just returned from a weekly doctor's visit and Tara's blood pressure was through the roof. They wanted to observe her for 24 hours and if they could not get the blood pressure to lower, they were planning to induce her and take the baby.

Austin had to work all day Friday, so I went to the hospital and stayed with her for the day. We had a great visit and by the time I left, her blood pressure seemed to be much better and I figured she would be going home and be put on bed rest. That is what happened and now we are just watching her closely and hoping that she can hang in there for a couple of more weeks.

While I was at the hospital I received an email from Josh detailing his Christmas list. I had asked him to make one and here is what it said:

"The Last Hero" (book)
"Son of Neptune" (book)
Dress shirts
ties for mission
AE beanie
AE jeans
pj's
Google stock
World peace

Hahah...the last two items cracked me up!!! That kid...

I love how simple the things he has on there. Nothing too crazy and all pretty practical. Maybe he IS growing up :)