Party Time...

This year if you were to come to

our house for a Christmas party,

you would know you have

arrived if you see this...

The Entry...

Merry Christmas!

The kids LOVE all the ornaments

the Grandparents have given them

through the years. They have quite a collection,

so they decorated this tree

all by themselves and it's BEAUTIFUL!!

Welcome "JOLLY"

One of my favorite Christmas traditions we have is... I wrap and number 24 Christmas books for the kids. Starting on Dec. 1st they unwrap book number one and finally on the 24th they open book number 24, which is always "Twas the Night Before Christmas." This year on December 1st, as we gathered together to open the first book, there was a "special present" on the table. It too was wrapped and it had a tag saying... "The Rasch Family"... hmmm... let's open it!! Much to our surprise, it was a book about an elf. Apparently we had a visitor from the North Pole stop by our house during the day. It was a tiny little elf. We named him Jolly. He sits in various places throughout our house and keeps an eye out for Santa. He goes back to the North Pole each night and tells Santa all about the Rasch's. There is only one rule to having Jolly visit our home for the Christmas season... DO NOT TOUCH HIM!!! If you do, his magic will go away and he won't be able to fly to the North Pole. Each morning after he arrives back at our house, he is hiding in a different spot. We are so lucky to have him visit with us!

Here is where we first found him...

Day 2...

Day 3...

and today...

We can't wait to find him tomorrow!!!

Christmas Tree Adventure

Every year we go to Christmas Tree Meadows and cut down a tree. It's always such a fun adventure and today was no exception...

Entering into Wyoming... 45 minutes into the drive

Just about 15 miles from the Ranger Station, we passed some friends

of ours helping some friends of theirs... of course we stopped to help.

Back into Utah... 1 hour and 40 minutes into the drive...

Bought our pass and we're off to find a tree!

Found a great place to park the car... here we go...

FOUND IT!!!

Peabody's also found theirs...

Jaden and Ashley dragging the Peabody Tree...

Ty and Wade lifting our tree over the fence...

Back to the cars...

Our handsome HUNKS!!

Almost ready to tie down the tree...

Lunch anyone?!?

The adventure continues... OOOPS!!

Towing the car out of the hole!!

Home at last... hmmm... I thought we were getting

a smaller tree this year...

After we got it in the house, we decided it needed to

be shorter, so back out it went!

It's in the house and looks gorgeous. I'll post the finished product when it's decorated!!

No PIGGY FLU For Us!!

Last Friday, my friend Katie and I decided to try to get the H1N1 vaccine for our kids. We went to the Kamas Health Building where they had 1300 doses to give. We were super excited when we got there because it didn't look like very many people showed up. We went in the front door and walked around two hallways to get to the end of the line. (Apparently the people of Kamas walked there!!) After waiting for only 40 minutes, we reached the front of the line. I was so happy because they offered to give me the shot as well. I hurried and called Ty who stopped by and received the vaccine too. Hopefully, this means no Swine for our house!!

Waiting in line...

It's Time!!

Jaxon was the only one, besides me, who was happy!

Jaden... not so happy... we were just glad he didn't pass out!

Jessie... not so happy either... she really doesn't like shots!

Let It Snow!!

Yesterday was the first day that we actually got enough snow for the kids to go out and play. Here's how it went down...

"Hey Mom... can you help us find some gloves??"

I walked downstairs and found this...

"We already got the sleds ready!"

(One sled was hanging out in the kitchen window.)

"It's great packing snow, get the snowball maker."

Love the snow tracks!

"Hey Dad... I'll shovel the driveway!"

(Jaxon piled the snow in the middle of the driveway!)

Thanks buddy, you're such a great helper!!

At the end of the day...

Iron Chef.... COCOA

We had our 2nd IRON CHEF Competition! This time the secret ingredient was... COCOA. Who knew there were so may delicious foods using this chocolate powder! The competition level was INSANE! For example, neighbors starting to barbeque at 8:00 am, running into friends at the grocery store that hardly say "hi" so you don't peek in their basket, and the "BRING IT ON" text messages going back and forth all day. It was so exciting!!! Here are the results...

Johnson's Queen City Moosaka

Poston's Cocoa Salmon

Gallup's Chocolate Brisket

Peters Pork

Rasch's Cocoa Simmered Pork Taquitos with Mole' Salsa

Peabody's Candied Bacon

Brotherson's Fall Salad with

Ahi Tuna or Chicken

Rolled Gelato Cocoa Pops

Hales Fondue

Hardy's Cocoa Cake

Gallup's Crisp

Dickerson's Decadence

Rasch's Southern Chocolate Gravy 'n' Biscuits

Peters Fudge

AND THE WINNER IS....

BROTHERSON'S FALL SALAD!