Christmas info you didn't think to wonder about.

Did you know that there are more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States? Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states. It was in Riga, Latvia that a tree was first decorated in celebration of this holiday way back in 1510.
20 % of Americans finish their Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, and 28% of Americans re-gift.
3 billion Christmas cards are sent annually in the United States. Just imagine how much money that is just for the postage. ( Plus I am hoping to receive more than my fair share of those Christmas cards. Hint- hint.)
While we are thinking numbers- you would receive 364 gifts if you were to receive every present in the 12 days of Christmas.
Thanks to the different time zones and rotation of the earth, Santa has 31 hours to deliver gifts. But to make it all the way around the world on Christmas, Santa must travel 650 mph; that is 3,000 times the speed of sound. Good thing his reindeer are quick and that Rudolph's nose doesn't require a plug in or batteries.

A Day with the Daytons

After the turkey and ham were consumed we had to burn off some energy. Jon and Sam did a great job entertaining us while they played a dozen rounds of air hockey with their mom, Rachel. With Jon jumping up and down and Sam's creative techniques it was just as much fun to watch as it is to play.

Thanksgiving comes BEFORE Christmas

Now that the elections are over I feel it is time to take down my patriotic decorations which have been up since June. Flag day is June 14th so that is when I try to display my July decorations. Thanksgiving day is next week and I have grandkids visiting. I don't think it would be fair to confuse them with July decorations. Grandma enjoys each holiday and likes to decorate accordingly. I will be buying a pumpkin to make into a turkey to display in that empty spot on the porch. I sure hope there is a big fat pumpkins left over from halloween. Some years it is difficult to actually find pumpkins at this time of year. I think grocery stores quit stocking pumkins after halloween since few people actually make pumpkin pies from the original source.

Autumn colors to brighten the livingroom.

This turkey is happy to sit and watch.

Pilgrims and Indians have come to visit.

Thankful Hearts

My sister Aurelia and I used to cut, paint, and sell wood crafts.

This Autumn wreath was one I taught at homemaking groups.

Some of the decorations I display in celebration of the

THANKSGIVING holiday

Indians and Pigrams Aurelia crafted.

In fourth grade the students learn about supply and demand, or production and distribution. Something like that. Anyway- several times I was able to work with the class to produce an item to sell. I would go into the class with a simple project the kids could produce and sell during a special fund raising event. The classes would compete against each other. Needless to say each time I helped out my child's class out sold the other. One year we did these little Pilgrim and Indian guys. Another year we did Halloween figures of this same size. I cut the wood and supplied the paints and brushes and the kids provided the talent and creativity in painting. It was very fun for me and the kids were able to complete a cute product which always sold out.

So these little guys were the class project. The kids also worked in pairs or individually to produce something of their own to sell. Andi and Amanda each made 'turkey kits' with a partner the year they were in fourth grade. I will tell about their experience in a future blog. I have to buy a pumpkin first. Happy THANKSGIVING. I am grateful for YOU.

Tag?

Okay, okay....I will play the silly game. I am supposed to come up with two truths and a lie. Well, I NEVER lie so this one should be easy on everyone to guess. It will be soooooo obvious which statement is un-true.
1- I learned how to swim in six days. Day one I could barely stay afloat doggy paddling. By day six I was diving off the high dive and doing back flips on the low dive.
2- I am 100% American. In that I love Disneyland, cherry pies, pizza, and chocolate.
3- I have yet to be able to count to one million, even though I have attempted a couple of times.

Please respond with your guesses. For every person who answers correctly by November 23rd I will send them a handwritten card via snail mail. (assuming I have your address of course) Handwritten greetings are is very rare now-a-days you know. Very rare and desirable.

I tag everyone who has not played this game yet. Tag- YOU are IT!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

cute boys running by in short shorts

this was supposed to be acting like they were hot, but it

looks more like Puma farted and left

this was them being cold. Crystal doesn't look very cold...

her eyes are pretty though

don't remember what this one was

this is them on drugs... notice they are both leaning the same way

this is them grumpy. or something along those lines

being sad... :(

mad again

who knows? Amanda's face is just funny

click on the picture for a larger view if you want a really good laugh :)

look alikes

Amanda is the evil twin...

Hot even when she's taking out the garbage!

"Don't be mad, get Glad!" ;)

We had some fun taking pictures after church

Andi wearing a dress... . . . . .

no, the Uggs weren't part of the original outfit

self-explanatory

Amanda's "real" eyes! Still gorgeous!

Exciting News

These are from Aaron and Amber's wedding day. July 16th, 2008. They are both in Japan now as Aaron has 3 years service in the Marines. Amber will be returning state-side this month. We do not know when she will be able to return at this time. Military rules and regulations are so confusing to me.
For those who have not heard the news. . . Amber is expecting. I do not know the due date or much else. We do plan on getting a shirt with 'made in Japan' written across the belly for Amber. It is the least we can do.

Bruce Decker as a young daddy

Bruce and Rachel.
Bruce with Amryn and Rachel.

This is my hunny way before I knew him. Rachel was born the year I graduated from high school. My little sister Michelle was born the same year. Bruce and I did not meet until the end of 1982. We met at a YSI dance which was held at the BYU singles ward building on 900 E in Provo. We became 'just friends' before we decided to get married in '84. We've been together for only a moment in comparison to the 'forever' we have promised each other.

Great Missionaries at the Provo temple

These are missionaries we met while waiting for Rob and Jen at the Provo Temple. There were great and willing to let us take some pictures of them to send to their moms/families.

This was Andi's idea and it worked out great :) I love how they are all so unique. lol

We had each of them write down a family e-mail address that we could send the pictures to.

These two came out after we had started, so we got some pictures of them too.

The digital camera we started with ran out of battery... so we had to use Andi's film camera that she happened to bring that day. It was very entertaining to take some pictures of these great guys while we were waiting for Rob and Jen. They were so nice and quite entertaining. This day was their last trip to the temple before flying out to Chile the following Monday. So I think it was great that we decided to do this. They are great boys and we wish them all the best on their missions and hope they are doing well.

Time well spent

This is my grandson, Blake Benjamin. One day last summer he and I played at his house while his dad, mom, and brother went to Lagoon. We had so much fun talking, blowing bubbles with our lips, and taking pictures. Spending time with my grand kids is one of my FAVORITE things to do. Scrap booking and blogging about them is also high on my priority list.

A Favorite

Yes- I love Dr Pepper. It is my soda of choice. In the mornings I prefer Dole pina-colada juice mixed with grapefruit soda on the rocks and sipped from a straw. With lunch I love water with lots of ice. If I am eating raw carrots - a cup of milk is the perfect drink. ( Have you tried it? Munch some carrot then swallow with some milk. Yumm.) For all other occasions a Dr Pepper is the beverage which makes me happy. Over ice and served with a straw of course.

You Can't Take It With You

Last year Amanda was chosen to portray A

She could do more plays- but with all her many talents she has to limit the things she is involved in. This year she is doing ballroom and just finished two weeks of filling in for someone in colorguard. (see previous post) So right now Amanda does not have after school commitments- which makes me very happy. Yay!
Here she is wearing a favorite dress of mine. On the day that Rachel was baptized I was able to get off work at the last minute and attend the baptism. My work uniform was not suitable to wear in a church so I purchased a dress and shoes for the occasion. The fastest shopping I have EVER done! That was 22 years ago. Even after I gave birth to Amanda I fit (barely) into this dress. I am proof that if you don't exercise and eat right your body fizzles after age 40.

It was funny- when we were watching the play and Amanda walked on stage wearing this dress- Bruce recognized the dress before he recognized his own daughter. Well, she DOES look older than 14 years here. Bruce was not the only one who had to be told which person on stage was Amanda. It is too bad that you can't see the matching violet pumps she is wearing.

Andrea's prom dress and a great view

of Amanda's beautiful long hair.

Ahh. Completely love struck after being kissed.

Curtain call and showing off the engagement ring.