Bella Toffee

Have you ever had Toffee? Well, you have never really had toffee until you have had Bella Toffee!
Made, packaged and sold by my Sister-in-law Matti, this toffee is incredible. In fact I have never liked toffee. Until I tried hers. It is the only kind I have tried before and since that I liked. Actually loved. Evidence by the fact that every time she makes it for us, I eat it and ration it like a mad woman.
If you would like, head on over and order some...it would make a great Christmas gift!

Breakfast with Santa

The assisted living center that Joe's cute grandma, Grandma Connors, lives in was having a special Breakfast with Santa so we decided to go have breakfast with Grandma and Santa this morning.
We love Grandma Connors so it was a special treat to have breakfast with her and then see Santa at the same time.

Veronica and Grandma chatting

Brena telling Santa exactly what she wants for Christmas-a pink bike!

Braelynn thinking about it before she tells Santa she wants a big bike.

It took some convincing, but Sam finally decided to talk to Santa!

Our huge breakfast in the dining room in Grandma's place. Hot Chocolate, chocolate milk, all kinds of juice, sausage, bacon, ham, eggs, and pancakes with strawberry or blueberry or maple syrup. Yumm.

The people here take such good care of Grandma. Nothing is like home but I am grateful that she is in a place that she loves and for the angels that care lovingly for the her and the other residents that live there. Some of them are there just to do their job, but so many of them really love and care for the residents that they are in charge of.

Princesses for a Day

Like most three year olds girls, Brenna and Braelynn read about pricesses, dress up as princesses, pretend to be like princesses and watch movies about princesses.
But yesterday, I think they really felt like princesses.
For starters, Joe and I had the opportunity to go to the temple to be with our friends when they were sealed as a family for time and eternity.
My mom was very generous and took they day off of work to come over and watch Brenna and Braelynn for us.
They went shopping, scoring princes socks, a princess crown and skirt and went to lunch with Grandma, just the two of them. They felt so special and talked about it all that afternoon and even today.
That evening, Samantha and Veronica each had to preform with their choir/orchestra at the Heritage Center Festival of Trees. We all had fun looking at the decorated trees but the highlight was when they were able to meet and talk to some of their favorite princesses in person!

Hurray for toilets!!!

And showers. And new bathrooms.
Years ago, the bottom of our shower had cracked, so we had it fixed, it cracked some more, we had it fixed for good...and it cracked again. They were just hairline cracks but we knew that we needed to redo the shower to avoid potential water damage.
We have a friend that does that kind of work, so we hired him to help Joe with it.

After nine days of having 7 people with only one shower and one toilet it is done! Hurray!
Joe finished it up last night. I was so excited this morning to clean it all up and put all of my stuff back!
Here are some before:

I forgot to take pictures before Joe took out the medicine cabinet.

And after: