A Little Christmas

This year I ended up in Georgia with my mom and dad for Christmas. Just the 3 of us. I drove down there Tuesday night and came back Sunday. The time went so fast! We spent sometime helping mom out at the parks and just hanging out. We sleep in Christmas Morning, showered and ate breakfast before we opened presents...oh the benefits of a houseful of adults :) Elisabeth said that we were cheating, we aren't supposed to have it so easy on Christmas morning.

Our little Christmas tree.

Christmas didn't feel as much like Christmas at first, but being able to spend the day with family, even if it was only a few of my family members helped. It reminded me what's important. As trite as it may sound, I love my family and if all I got for Christmas was us being together I would be perfectly happy.

Daddy and mommy with their Christmas loot

While I was there we went to the Georgia Military College which was the Civil War GA capitol. The on site museum was closed, but we wandered around the grounds. The old capitol looks like a castle.

Family Photos

As I mentioned in a previous post, my family took family pictures at the wedding in November. It was the complete Durtschi side of the family. I can't remember the last time we had all of us together for a picture. The time of the pictures were very fortunate since grandma passed away just a few short weeks later. It's wonderful to have some great pictures of all of us together to remember her by. Here are a few of my favorites. We bought the rights from the photographer since there are so many of us who want so many different pictures, but to give credit where credit is due, the photographer, Ryan Rampton, of Rampton Photography did a great job on these pictures.

I love the smurks on the kids faces. That epidimize those cute kids :)

Look at Grant and Dallin...they are so tired! It was about midnight to them.

I love pictures of Elisabeth's family. Her kids are so cute.

This is supposed to be our silly picture. It makes me laugh. I love my family.

Gift Opening - Roommate Addition

Since we weren't able to get everyone together at Reed and Brian's for the first gift opening we had another night with Cally (and Chris) and Cat.

Nothing like several "Christmases" to make you smile. :)

December 7, 2008

Visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

In memory and honor of those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor we visited Arlington to be among the fallen. It was a beautiful day, but Cold. There were a lot more people there then I had expected.

For the first time we went into the small museum near the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. They had several medals, flags and plaques from various countries.

I am grateful for our service men and women and the sacrifices they make. Going ot Arlington Cemetery reminds me what freedom can cost.

Tree Decorating Extravaganza

My friends Reed and Brian decided to get a real tree again this year and invited us over for the second Annual tree decorating party. We had a wonderful time.

Here are some of the decorators

I love this picture of Mel and I. I never realized that how much Mel and I look alike in terms of face shape, smile and the glasses make us look even more alike.

Merry Christmas!!!

Gift Opening

I have some friends out here who are more like brothers and sisters then just friends. We got a few of us together and did a gift exchange. I had a fantastic time getting gifts and getting laughs over the anticipation of watching them open them.

Brian and Reed gave Jess a huge poster of Edward. She loved it of course...said something about hanging it over her bed.... :)

Mel gave Reed Politically Correct War. Something right up his alley.

Yup...it's true, Mel and I got Reed and Brian Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land

Chilling on the couch waiting for the gift opening to begin.

I got popcorn. Someone knows me well :)

Good times had for all!

Mission Call

My sister Sarah received her mission call yesterday. Because of the miracle of modern technology she conferences the whole family in and opened it while we were on the phone.



Drum roll please!



Sarah Michelle Durtschi has been called to serve in the Salt Lake City Temple Square mission, English speaking. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if she ends up doing ASL since she's basically fluent already. I'm so excited for her. I didn't see that one coming at all and I was kind of shocked, but after thinking about it for a few minutes I've decided that Temple Square is the perfect mission for my little sister. Although I have to admit in the secret place in my heart I was hoping she would serve in Chicago.



To here's to Chelle Bear! Congrats!

My Grandma Durtschi - Celebrating life

Early Wednesday December 10th, I recieved a call from my mom. My Grandma Durtschi had passed away the night before. It wasn't completely unexpected, but that doesn't make it easier, not really. She had been in poor health for several years and I'm happy that she's no longer suffering. I flew out to Utah for the funeral. The whole thing was beautiful and a remembrance of her life. I had the chance to speak and shared some of my memories of Grandma, but I would like to share some here too so that all may know that my grandma was an amazing woman.

One of my earliest memories, which I shared at the funeral, was shortly after my sister Sarah was born, my grandparents were visiting and my grandma was holding Sarah and motioned me over to the couch next to her and when I sat down by her she said, "You have the most beautiful baby sister don't you?" I know that family was important to my grandma. She loved us so much and strove to teach us by love and example.

One thing that would never fail was when we would stay at her house over night she would come into wherever we were sleeping and make sure we were covered, no matter how old we were. She was always concerned about our health and comfort.

My grandma loved to bake. She taught me how to make cookies. Any success I have in cookie making is because of her. The thing I loved the most was her bread. We could eat an entire loaf in about 30 seconds.

She had a great sense of humor. I remember one Christmas she gave my brother David an onion. She wrapped it in several layers until it was about the size of cantaloupe melon. She laughed with joy as David unwrapped it layer by layer. When he finally got to the end it is was just an onion we laughed and David took a huge bite out of it.

I love my grandma and will miss her. She has blessed my life. Through my memories of her I will celebrate her life and the gifts she's given me.

my brothers and cousins as poll bearers

Tag! I'm it!

I've been tagged! Jules tagged me...I didn't even know this game existed. However the possibilities excite me. Just think of all the random new friends we can made and random facts we can learn.

7 Random Facts Game
Here are the rules:

~Link to the person who tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
~Share 7 random and or weird facts about yourself.
~Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
~Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

7 Random Facts

1. I don't remember my dreams very often, but when I do that means I didn't sleep well. I'm always conscious of the fact I'm dreaming and it's like watching a movie about me.

2. People may or may not know this about me, but I twirled baton from the ages of 8 to 14. I have many ribbons and trophies from competitions.

3. I've always wanted to be a pilot.

4. Dream car...not practical or reasonable at all...Army issued Hummer.

5. I like to mix a packet of uncooked instant oatmeal with my cold cereal. Don't mock it until you try it.

6. I'm wearing purple eyeshadow today.

7. Before I die I want to go scuba diving with sharks, in a shark cage of course.

And now the game continues.
Sarah, Elisabeth, Jessica, Amber, Melissa/David, Sarah B, Ceci

Tag! You're it!

A Shout out for my friend Jules Q

Jules and I used to be roommates. She has many qualities I wish I had. There have been several times in my life I've wished I could be more like Jules. One of the things I admirer about Jules is her creativity. Sometimes she writes me stories and I love it. I've tried to convince her she needs to write a book.

Well the point of this post is that I was doing some blog catching up and noticed she started a new blog, dedicated to her quest to justify getting a new camera, featuring some of her photos. Looking at the blog, my "creativity envy" resurfaced. I love some of the pictures she's post and so here I am sharing them with you.

Here's to you Jules, cheesy, but sincere and to your amazing photos.