Oh Christmas Day

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Santa delivered

Presents were opened

Gotta love bed hair

Waiting for lunch...with a leg up

Poor Rachel was so sick...even with her coat on and sitting by the fire she was freezing.

And finally, the feast!

We all ate ourselves silly. Why do we do that?

Twas The Night Before Christmas.....

And all anxiously waited....

The food was delicious, and tummies were sated....

Games were then played....

And owwies displayed.... (gross!)

While mom learned the rules to the shiny new game....

Dad took a picture with Robin the lame....

Oh Brittany and Robin they are quite a pair....

And Linds with her tongue out as usual did bare....

The night was great fun for all who attended....

We all were quite sad when it finally ended!

Jail Bait

Sorry!....how many of us have received this picture in an email? Cute? Do NOT let it fool you! Sorry? I hardly think so!
When a beagle grows up, this is where they end up!

Pepper the very bad beagle.....

Beagles have a very strong sense of smell and an instinct to eat anything and everything they smell. Candy hiding in a leather brief case hidden in a closet? Hah! Cat food way up high where only the cat can reach it? Whatever! A metal garbage can with a lid on it? Nothing will stop Pepper! She knows she's not supposed to get in the garbage, or the cat box, or your bedroom, or any of the hundreds of other places there might be food....but she just can't help herself. The temptation of food overcomes all sense of right of and wrong. It's an instinct she simply cannot control. I swear she would eat herself to death if left to her own volition. Of course, this little fact was not known until after said beagle was lovingly taken home. She is like having a one year old in the house who cannot be left alone for one minute. The minute you turn your back she is off on a search and destroy (by destroy I mean EAT) mission. We try to "pepper proof" the house, but you just can't think of everything! I have a neighbor who had a beagle with this very same problem. He drove her crazy! He finally grew old an died. So what did she do? She went out and bought another beagle! Is she crazy???

Brave Sir Robin

Our brave little Robin had to have surgery today to remove some screws that were put in her knee a few years ago to keep her right leg from growing faster than her left leg. She came through just fine and shouldn't be an invalid for too terribly long....

WHY ARE YOU TAKING MY PICTURE???? GRRRR!!!!!

"I am not feeling so brave right this minute."

Yay! It's over and I just want to go home! Am I awake?

The Battle of the Bulge

I know what you’re thinking…this was a famous and bloody battle of World War II where many lives were lost. However, it’s not the battle I refer to, but rather the one that so many of us, including Oprah the billion dollar woman, fight every day of our lives. Like its namesake, this battle also causes the loss of millions of lives, but due to obesity related (and preventable) illnesses every year. I have fought my own battle with weight my entire life. We are blessed to live in a country where food is plentiful and easy to obtain. Unfortunately, it’s also a country that is out of control! Portions are “super-sized”, fast food is increasingly convenient but full of fat and bad carbs, and we are surrounded by succulent treats that tempt us, please us, and betray us at every turn! It's an addiction every bit as damaging as drugs, alcohol, or smoking. Help me! Where is the will power? I know you know what I am talking about.

Atkinson Family Christmas

My family (the Atkinson's) usually gets together on Christmas Day, has a little lunch, and exchanges presents....but some of us, who shall not be named, made other plans this year. So....we started a new tradition, a family party/service project. Each year one of us siblings will be in charge and pick a project. The rest of us will bring donations or volunteer our time, whatever is needed, instead of giving each other gifts. My sister Mykel started us off with a huge basket (turned in to several baskets) of goods for a family in her neighborhood who is struggling. We loaded it all up and had the kids doorbell ditch them. It was really fun for the whole family and just getting together is better than presents anyway. :)

The Family

Nephew Shannon, wife Tara, and J.J.

Rachel and Colby

Kelly and Penny (bro. and sis-in-law)

Mykel and Richard (sis. and bro-in-law)

Jenni (niece) and bf Brett

Corey, Robin, and Lindsey

Chris (nephew)

Silly Britt as always (don't think I have a picture of her being serious)

Christmas ...

Christmas always seems to bring back fond memories....
I remember how much I looked forward to the Christmas programs on T.V. My favorite one was Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer. That abominable snowman scared me every time! This of course was way back before you could just own it on DVD so you only got to see it once a year. I remember my dad putting the lights up on the house and how pretty they were. I loved to decorate the tree and my favorite part was hanging the icicle lights. I swear that even though I did NOT have to walk 10 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways, the snow was a lot deeper when I was a kid than it is today. I loved to build igloos and make snow forts and snow angels. I remember the smell of new pajamas on Christmas Eve and worrying that elves were peeking in my windows to see if I was really asleep. One night I swear I heard sleigh bells :) I remember the reverence I felt listening to the story in the scriptures about the birth of the Savior and tried to imagine what it would have been like to be there.
I wonder what kind of memories my children will have of Christmas. We have been trying to focus more on the Savior this Christmas and in doing things for others. Friday night we went downtown to see the lights at Temple Square and do some shopping. Saturday we volunteered at a PetsMart to help the "No More Homeless Pets' shelter with a pet adoption. Today, Sunday, we spent the afternoon making white chocolate covered popcorn for our friends and neighbors, then went to my sisters house to do a big service project for a family in her neighborhood who has fallen on hard times. The kids had a blast at the pet store walking the dogs and holding the cats and love to doorbell ditch the neighbors while delivering the popcorn. We are helping with a sub for santa family in our ward and have several other projects lined up before Christmas. I hope that this Christmas the kids will remember how good it feels to bring a little joy in to the lives of others through small and simple things. Isn't that what life is all about, not just at Christmas, but every single day?

On the Trax......hungry......

Peter and Terry at Dinner (CPK, yum!)

Lindsey kitty-sitting

Robin and "Buddy"... he didn't want to go back in his cage. He was later adopted. Yay!

Darn...blurry....kitty moved. Corey loves kitties, and they love Corey.

My entire kitchen table covered in popcorn. Addicting stuff!

Life in the 21st Century

Having the good fortune to be able to go on a cruise has made me reflect on the many reasons I am grateful to live at this time in the history of the world, the 21st century. I have enjoyed so many wonderful things that most people who have walked the earth have not had. Medical technology is perhaps the most important. I am sure that Rachel or I, or maybe both, would have died during her childbirth. I think of the many childhood diseases and infections I was spared due to antibiotics and vaccinations, and the medications that give me relief for my aches and pains. Then there are the modern conveniences I take for granted every day such as paper, plastic, electricity, indoor plumbing, disposable diapers, feminine products, telephones, computers, cameras, automobiles, airplanes, indoor plumbing, television, radio, and so much more. Finally, I think of all the wonderful and fun experiences I have been able to indulge in during my life: Chocolate! Skiing! Cruising! Traveling! Roller Blades! Gymnastics! Water skiing at Lake Powell! Chocolate Chip Cookies! Parasailing! Zip Lines! Hawaii! Disney World! Snorkeling! Chocolate Dipped Strawberries! The Zoo! Roller Coasters! Chocolate Covered Almonds! Movies! Ice Cream! I feel truly blessed to live at this time and enjoy the wonders of this time in history.