Rocks

Eighteen months ago we had a family reunion in Nauvoo. Randy and I had to leave immediately for some BYU training at Aspen Grove, but the rest of our kids stayed in Naperville a few extra days to put in a watering system for us. Our two seven-year-old granddaughters, Natalie and Elise, spent an entire day writing names on rocks and hiding them around the house for a hide and seek game. They never got around to playing the game, so when we returned we found little rocks hidden everywhere. We gathered up a whole bucket full. Periodically over the next few months we would find a hidden rock, but were confident we had finally found them all. Surprise!! While our Christmas guests were here we found three more rocks. I wonder how many more there are?! Does this say something about my housekeeping skills?

What happened to Hot Dogs?

When our children were little I shopped at Ream's warehouse grocery store in Provo. They had a hot dog stand where you could buy a hot dog for 10 cents and a root beer for 5 cents. We'd go shopping on Saturday morning and then pick up lunch on our way out. We could feed our family of six for a dollar. Chicago is famous for its Chicago-style hot dogs -- tomatoes, a dill pickle, hot peppers, onions, sweet relish and mustard. Yummmm! A trip to Portillo's is a "must do" whenever our children are in town. We stopped for lunch one day during the holidays. Our bill was $47.00. But it was worth it!

Snowmen

Yesterday before I was even out of my pajamas our doorbell rang. It was our dear friend, Jill, bringing us these adorable snowman cookies she got from the Kirschbaum Baeckerei in Western Springs. Jill is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I know. She's done so many sweet things for us. We're so grateful to have friends who enrich and bless our lives. Now we know where to go to get other German delicacies.

A Great Gift

Our son, Rob, has always been a thoughtful gift giver. For the last five years he's had a job and the resources to give very nice gifts. This year he quit his job and returned to BYU to get his MBA. As Christmas approached he started thinking about the gifts he would give this year and then reality set in. Any gift he gave this year would have to be labeled, "Merry Christmas, with much love, Far West Bank." And so he came up with some wonderful alternatives. We couldn't imagine what could be inside the large and heavy box we opened on Christmas morning. Here's what he gave us -- a box full of shoes which he had lovingly polished on Christmas Eve. Good job, Rob!

The Line Up

Does everyone in the world take a picture like this on Christmas morning? We've done it for as many years as I can remember -- youngest to oldest. This always occurs right after Randy has checked to make sure Santa has been here, turned on the Christmas music, and lit the fire in the fireplace. I'm so glad we had kids to sit on the stairs this year. It looks so silly when it's only Randy and I.

Christmas 1976 -- Orem, Utah. This was the last Christmas before we moved to Chicago. Rob was too young to sit on the stairs (3 months).

Christmas 1987 -- Naperville, Illinois. This was the last Christmas before Kristin went away to school. We have had so many fun Christmas traditions over the years. However, I agree with Jaroldeen Edwards. It's possible to outgrow a tradition. When it no longer works for you, give it up and start something new!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, PLEASE!

Our two little grandsons got sleds for Christmas. No sign of snow. They dragged the sleds around the house for several days, crashing into furniture, knocking ornaments off the tree, hauling them up and down stairs. Snow was pretty high on Grandma's wish list. Finally we got about three inches of beautiful snow so we headed for the sledding hill.

Even Clarissa had a great time. Although she did make several runs down the hill, she was equally happy just being pulled around on the sled.

After everyone had had their fill of sledding, the real fun began. It was great packing snow, so the boys made this awesome snow fort, complete with a TV antenna. It was big enough for all six of them to get inside, and tall enough for Quinn to stand up in. The last time we checked, it was still standing, and all the children who come to the park have a wonderful time playing in it. Good job, boys!

Calling all Shepherds

Today I put the headdresses away. We get them out on Christmas Eve for our Shepherds' Feast. We have a recipe for meat and vegetables that you tie up in a parchment paper bundle and bake. If you don't overbake it (which happened to us this year), it is really delicious. It's kind of a fun Christmas Eve tradition.

Shepherds Parchment Dinner
Serves 10

10 chicken breasts, rubbed with garlic and sprinkled with Lawry's seasoned salt
4 c. red potatoes, washed and diced
3 c. sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
3 c. cooking apples, sliced
3 c. carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
2 c. diced celery
1 c. raisins
1 c. craisins
1 c. pecans, chopped coarsely
2 bunches green onions, chopped
2 t. cinnamon

Tear parchment paper into squares. Place chicken breast in center of square. Toss all veggies, fruits, and cinnamon together. Heap veggie mixture on top of chicken breast. Bring the 4 corners of the paper up. Tie into a bundle with string. Put bundles on baking sheet and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Can be eaten from opened bundle, or emptied onto plates. Top with Orange Sauce

Orange Sauce

1 c. Campbell's beef consomme
1 c. Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 c. orange juice concentrate
1/2 c. currant jelly
1/4 t. minced garlic
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. onion salt
1 t. dried basil
1/2 c. melted butter
Mix together and heat. Serve hot