THE ANNUAL "7-11" GAME

For as long as I can remember, the "7-11" game has been an interrgral part of Christmas for the Jordan family. My sisters and I are the only grandchildren on my dad's side of the family. We used to spend Christmas Eve with my mom's family and go visit my dad's parents on Christmas day. On Christmas when we would go visit G&G Jordan we would always play the 7- 11 game.
Over the years, the rules have changed a bit and the presents have improved, but here is the idea........
For example you decide how many presents per person you will have (10 people x 3 presents each = 30 presents). We usually have everyone contribute at least a couple of the presents for a couple of reasons. There will be surprises in there for everyone and not just one person has to pay for all of the presents.
All the presents are wrapped and we let the kids divide them into piles and assign a pile to each person.
Then we all sit in a circle with our presents in front of us. You get 2 dice (or di, is that how you spell dice, plural?) and take turns rolling. You want to roll a "7" or "11" (if you want to move it along a little faster, you can also count doubles). When the right number is rolled, that person can either open one of the presents in front of them or trade one of their presents with someone else. (If you give an unopened present to someone else, they don't get to open it, they have to wait until they roll the right number). Once all of the presents have been opened, a timer is set and you keep going until the time runs out and at that point you get what you have in front of you.
This year our prizes ranged from gifts cards (itunes, restaurants, etc) to DVD's, to coloring books & action figures for the kids.
It is lots of fun! Something that we all look forward to each year.

THE HOLIDAYS WITH FAM & FRIENDS

Christmas was great! I left for Richfield on Saturday Dec. 22 to stay with the folks. We didn't do much, but got in alot of R&R. We played some games, did 2 puzzles, read books, watched some TV, went to church, etc.

Christmas is a lot different when no children are around. We slept in on Christmas morning, woke up and had a nice breakfast, then got around to opening gifts around noon. I scored big time with presents including a couple new coats, 2 new pairs of gloves, slippers, 6 new perfumes, a new stainless steel toaster.

On the 26th, I stayed in Richfield while my parents traveled to SLC to pick up my sister Laura and her 3 kids (Albrechts) who had just flown in from Oklahoma. My youngest sister, Debra, and her husband arrived that evening in Richfield and my parents and the Albrechts got arrived around 8:30, just in time for all of the kids to go to bed.

We had a nice day on Thursday and then on Friday the Maddocks (my oldest sister and her family) showed up in Richfield. (They were supposed to come a day earlier, but the kids were not feeling well). We played the "7-11 game" (see 7-11 game post), always a highlight, decorated sugar cookies.

We watched the movie "STARDUST" which I thought was a huge waste of time!!! It will probably make my "worst movies list." VERY STRANGE in my opinion. Everyone else really liked it. "To each their own."

I knitted a couple of scarfs for me and then one or two of my nieces. They turned out very cute if I do say so myself.

Ryan (Debra's husband) left on Friday to go see his brother before he left town, but Debra stayed and drove back with my on Sunday.

While in Richfield I was able to go to lunch with 2 friends from high school. We had a great time catching up. We also had a girls night out with my mom and the sisters. We left Tom (Angela's husband & grandpa home with all the kids and we left for Winger's where we had a nice meal and enjoyed some asphalt pie.

My parents and the Albrechts came to SLC on New Years Day. We all went bowling (which seems to have become an entertainment trend with my family). We had a great time and then we had a huge slumber party here at my condo. It was a packed house. We slept 7 people in my small little house. Then the Albrechts flew home Wednesday morning and it was back to real life for the rest of us.

Here's to a fabulous 2008 for all of you!

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW

Today Salt Lake City woke up to some pretty good, wet snow.

I was invited to go to breakfast with some friends this morning. We went to the Golden Corral and it was a first for me. I must say I was pleasantly surprised and Kristian and Aly even paid. (Kristian is my 3rd cousin and I went to elementary school with him. Then they have been in my ward and I was Aly's visiting teacher for about a year).

Upon arriving home from breakfast I found my two neighbor girls outside playing in the snow. Mikaela and Samantha are two of the cutest girls and it has been a LONG time since I have "played" in the snow, so I asked if I could join them.

I decided that I needed to go put my snowpants on so that I could actually sit in the snow and really "play." I just bought new snowpants and gloves and was excited to use them for the first time. (I am hoping to maybe get up on the slopes this season for the first time in 12 years so I wanted to be prepared).

They had red plastic cups and were building a "snowhouse." Like a sandcastle, but with snow. I kept calling it a snowcastle, but was corrected several times, it was a "snowhouse." It was a 3 story snowhouse and was quite fabulous if I do say so myself. I am sad I didn't get a picture. Although there is room for improvement with our technique and we probably won't be winning any snow sculpture contests in the near future, we had a lot of fun. I realized that I need to play in the snow more often. We were then going to build a snowman and a snowwoman, but mom said it was lunchtime for the girls and then Sam had to take a nap. That will have to be our next snow building project. I will try to get a picture next time. Maybe there will be enough snow in Richfield to build something over Christmas with my nieces and nephews. I will pack my snowpants!

OUT WITH THE OLD.....IN WITH THE NEW

I know that I am way past due for a new blog posting, but I did warn you that my postings would be very sporatic, so I don't say I never told you so.

My condo was built in 1985 and so I have been wanting to do some remodel/upgrade projects for a while now. I have done a few things, but nothing you would really notice......the boring stuff (new furnace, air conditioner, new windows, & sliding glass door, etc.).

I have lots of ideas and plans in my head that hopefully will materialize this next year. Now the fun stuff starts. I get to pick out paint, tile, new fixtures and who knows what else. This last month however I did get started on the fun stuff. I ordered all new appliances for my kitchen. I went with stainless steel and I love them! I had a microhood installed which I did not have before. With such a small kitchen it is nice to have my microwave off of the counter. I wanted to post a "before" and "after," but until I obtain the "before" picture that is on my parent's camera.....for now you just get the "after."

I apologize for the boring subject matter of this post. I am sure it is more exciting for me than for you.

VAMPIRE VS. WEREWOLF

For those of you who were sucked into the craze of the "Twilight" books by Stephenie Meyer, here is my two cents for whatever it is worth.

********ATTENTION********ATTENTION********ATTENTION*********

May contain spoilers.

You may not want to read on if you have not yet read or finished these books

When I first heard about the books, I wasn't really dying to read them, however I was a bit curious as to what all the hype was about. Then, after being told by several people that I "had to" read these books, I did eventually succomb to the peer pressure and began to read. I think I have a mild case of ADD and if a book doesn't grab me right off, I have a tendency to give up on it. As for the twilight books, I can't say they are the best books I have ever read in my life, but they did hold my interest and kept me wanting to read more, which says something.
I finally finished #3 "Eclipse" last night. I will admit that there were times that I was an Edward fan, but in the end, I am campaigning for Jacob.
This is totally just my opinion, but I think this is a classic example of what a teenage girl is in love with (pretty boy with $$) versus the more mature perspective of what is really important (someone who truly loves you and would do anything for you. Someone you would love to grow old with and who you can really identify with) I know that Bella doesn't claim she is interested in Edward's money, etc., but to me it seemed like she felt a little insecure around him and the Cullen's, but she could just relax and be herself with Jacob.
But hey.......what do I know about matters of the heart. Apparently I haven't figured out how to find one boy that is interested in me, let alone two. Bella is WAY ahead of me in this department.

If you have read these books and feel strongly one way or another, I have posted a poll. I am interested to see what everyone thinks. Ü