What a busy season it has been for my kids' first full week out of school for the winter break. I feel like I have so many more things I would like to do, and I'm trying to make this time enjoyable for them, our first time ever to spend Christmas in Texas. Thank goodness we missed the blizzard in Colorado! We would have been stuck somewhere in Kansas had we gone.- On Monday morning, I volunteered to cook for the Hyde Park Seniors who meet there daily for lunch. I was essentially their entertainment and prepared Streusel Berry Tart. They are so sweet. It's been a couple of years since I did this. I brought the thank you note along with me that they had sent me from the last time I visited and read it to them. It was so sad because three of the people who had signed the card the last time have died and I felt bad that it had been that long since I came back. I hope to return soon.
- Tuesday night, I went out to the Melting Pot to celebrate my friend, Adele's, 37th birthday and we had a fun evening enjoying the fondues, from cheese filled pots for dipping bread, cauliflower, celery, and carrots, to other savory fondues for the shrimp, chicken, salmon, and steak. To complete the experience, the hazelnut dessert was a hit, dipping and drizzling the chocolate over the strawberries, bananas, brownies, and cheesecake. Adele looked fantastic but unfortunately, I did not remember to take pictures.
- Wednesday night, we went on a mother and daughter outing with some friends. We met for a quick bite to eat at Johnny Carino's, which turned out to be far from quick, then headed to the UT Bass Concert Hall to enjoy The Nutcracker ballet. Lindsey and I had a terrific night out together and she wants to go there again next year. The familiar music is always a pleasing sound of the holiday, and of course, the ballet dancers putting it to life is the best part.
- Thursday afternoon, Christopher got to go bicycling for Cub Scouts while Lindsey and I went Christmas shopping.
- Friday's big excitement was watching my sister be on The Price is Right with Bob Barker. She was really nervous and when she was bidding on a silver service set, she asked Bob four times, "Is it silver plated?" It was pretty funny, but I can't imagine how nervous I would have been too. Tonight, I called her on the phone and asked, "Is it silver plated?" She started laughing and said her son keeps saying that to her too. Another classic line that we had fun ribbing her about was when she asked Bob if the trip to St. Thomas that she was trying to win was round trip. Bob commented something like, "We wouldn't just send you there and leave you."
Tonight I have been trying to wrap gifts and get some final things ready for Christmas. I haven't yet managed to squeeze in one big baking day, that I was really hoping to get to. That will most likely need to be next week because I was asked to substitute teach the Gospel Doctrine class on Sunday. Yikes! I told Fred, who normally teaches it, that it's my greatest fear, to teach that class. Kelly suggests that I ask a lot of questions to the participants. Since it will be on Christmas Eve, I'm anticipating plenty of input.
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