CandyFoote

Happy Anniversary!!

Ahh, I Love Family

My husband, father, grandfather, and I went out to lunch together on Monday.

It was a wonderful time!

I'm almost ashamed to say that this was the first time that I had ever been out to

eat with my grandfather!

His is eighty-one years old!!

I woke up with an unction to call both him and my father and

invited them to lunch.

I was actually a little surprised that they were both home and willing to go at

such short notice!

We went to my grandfather's favorite restaurant - Ponderosa!

Why hadn't we done this before???

What a great memory!

Happy Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is my youngest child's 2nd birthday.

When I was in the hospital having her,

my nurse said, "Gee, all I gave my husband were

candles!"  ;D

Family Traditions

Don't you just love family traditions?!?

I absolutely love them!

We have some wonderful traditions that

we do with our family this time of the year.

Family traditions make such wonderful

memories.

Christmas time is a great time to start

family traditions!

My husband takes all of our children out

back to find and cut down our Christmas

tree. Mom gets to stay home and prepare

the hot cocoa and the popcorn. When they

come marching triumphantly home with the best

tree, we make popcorn balls and popcorn and

cranberry garland to string on it. We sing carols

and have a great time.

My husband and I take our eleven children

to the nursing home every Christmas Eve.

The kids walk around handing out stuffed

animals to the residents. We have such a great

time! It only takes a few minutes, but it truly

touches these people. Plus, it gives the kids

a great opportunity to be doing the work of

the ministry. It's hard to believe that we have

been doing this for twelve years!!

Another great tradition is allowing everyone

to open one present on Christmas Eve.

The kids' favorite tradition is the Christmas

day family tradition. We have a pond out back,

so my husband and children can't wait for the big

hockey game. Mom gets to stay home and prepare

the big meal.

On Christmas night, when all of the excitement has

died down, we remind the children of "the reason

for the season" again. Then, Mom breaks out the

"special stockings." I love our "special stockings."

One year they were made out of old blue jeans.

I cut them off to shorts and wrote, "Ride 'em cowboy."

Another year I used cowboy hats.

I would love to hear some of your traditions!!!