Survivor of the Holidays

Wow!!! What a whirlwind of Holiday cheer. We partied and partied and it was way fun. And, the best part, we all survived!!!
We started on the 19th with a slumber party at our house. All the kids were there and we had lots and lots of good food. We went to the ward dinner and Santa, then to our house and played until 2:00 a.m. The next morning we got up and had a huge breakfast, almost anything you would have wanted. John even cooked some of it out on the campchef outside. It was pretty crazy. After that, the kids did their gift exchange and we played all the rest of the day. That night we went to the Orr Christmas party with about 120 other people. There was over 140 of us there. We ate, did karaoke, had Santa and had a super great time.
On Sunday, we went to the cemetery and then came back to my house for soups, rolls, relishes and desserts. There was about 30-40 people for that.
Then, on Christmas eve we went to Tif's and ate, made gingerbread houses, and played games. We just about didn't get to bed on time for Santa. We were tracking him on the computer and he was almost to Idaho before we left. He might have missed the Johnson kids if they hadn't hurried and got into bed. Christmas day was pretty laid back but full of excitement and fun. We were until noon opening our presents and then we ate and just kicked back enjoying the day. The kids were all so excited and loved everything they got. John and I were very spoiled by our kids. Thanks so much for everything kids. You are all awesome!!!! After Christmas Heather and Koby stayed for 3 more days. We went out to Applebees and watched movies and just enjoyed being together. On Sunday, everyone was returning home in the crappy weather. Thank heavens they are all home now and safe. We had a wonderful holiday season and it was so fun with all of the family. Thanks to all of you for making it so great.

I love the SNOW!!!!

I am so excited that we are going to have a white Christmas. It just doesn't feel like Christmas unless the ground is white. I finished my Shopping today and everything else is wrapped and under the tree. I just had 2 small gifts to get and I did that. Yeah! So now, I can concentrate on making goodies and getting my house straightened up for our big weekend. It will be so fun. I hope everyone enjoys it. We just have to be in the spirit of fun and laughter and forget that we might be a bit crowded. I'll let you know how it goes. Happy Holidays!

ALL LIT UP

If you pass the Poulsen house at night, you better be wearing sunglasses. John worked outside all day on Saturday and we are lit up like the North Pole. He did such an awesome job and I love all the lights. The inside is really lit up also. We had fun doing all of it and can't wait to have all the kids and grandkids home for the holidays. We will get to spend a lot of time together and I know it will be great. We will be wall to wall but who cares? We will be making some fun memories. Yesterday some of the kids came over to watch the Christmas devotional from Salt Lake and that was fun. I made a fruit tray and some cookies and we just spent an hour or so enjoying. Christopher and Courtney stayed until quite late and we played golf and visited. Afterwards, John typed up the Christmas letter and David and I sat by the Christmas tree and talked and talked. It was so neat! I have an amazing family and I love them all so much. Finally at about1:10 a.m. I told David it was bedtime and that I hadn't stayed up that late since I was 19. Ha Ha!! Needless to say, I am a bit tired today. But, wasn't it fun to wake up to snow on the ground. We might have a white Christmas.

Grateful to get started on decorating

Well, I did the tag thing again with the 101 things that I have done. I guess I have done a few fun things. But now, on to more important things.
Yesterday I finally started to put up my Christmas Decorations and Decorate my tree. I am so excited to finally be doing that. I usually have all that done by Thanksgiving, but it didn't work out this year. So now, you can drive by and actually see a lit tree in the window. Yippee!!!!
I should finish with the rest tonight after work. I even put some lights in my kitchen and bathroom this year. Just to add a little cheer while sitting on the pot. Ha Ha!! Hopefully John will be able to get the outside decorated this weekend. I love all the Christmas lights. I love to go and drive around and look at them. I never get tired of seeing the same ones every year.
I have a lot of my shopping done also, thanks to Tiffany. She did a lot of my list on Black Friday. I stayed home and tended kids so her and Jaimie could go and she did a lot for me. I really appreciate it and thank her so much. I hope to be able to not work as much during the month of December and to enjoy the spirit of the season. I am so thankful for my family and that we will be together for the holidays. It will be fun to have David here to share the season with and Heather and Lizzie will be spending quite a bit of it with us also. Koby will also come but only for a few days. We are planning a whole family sleep over so that will be fun. I hope and pray that everyone has a Merry and safe Christmas. Lets all remember the true spirit and why we celebrate Christmas. Let's try to live it all year long. Merry Christmas!!!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

This was on everyone's blog, so I had to give it a try!!