Merry

Christmas!

Christmas Letter 2008

We all have been so busy this year that I still have not had time to send out Christmas cards, so I opted to do a email, blog one this year. I hope this does not offend anyone, but please understand I am trying to simplify our lives as best as we can. We took our family photo this past Sunday the 21st right before church and I am happy to say we did it on the second take. Yeah!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008

We hope at this time of year you are all doing well. We want each of you to know that we love and miss you. Our family has had a very blessed, busy year.

Here is to summing all of 2008 in a condensed version.

Doug: A father, husband, brother, son. He continues to work for Arch Chemicals and is going on his 15th year there. He loves his job and is very good at what he does. He is the Cub master for our ward. He is great and creative with the boys. He has traveled more than he cares to this past year going all over the US and Canada. He is the best father and loves his family more than anything.

Renee: A mother, wife, sister, daughter. She is enjoying being a stay at home mom, which she is never at home. She is always, taking someone here or there. She is currently the Young Women’s President of our ward and loves working with the girls. She has done a card group this past year and will continue it into next year with another group of woman. She loves to scrapbook in her spare time.

Jessica: A daughter, sister friend is 16 and is a sophomore this year. She just finished the volleyball season at school and is getting ready to start the track season. She wants to defend her current title as the fastest girl in her high school of 2500 students. She has the record in the 100, 200, and the 4x100 relay. She is on the Stake Youth Committee and enjoys socializing with her friends when she has the time. She is sixteen now, but not in a hurry to get her license, as much as her parents are. She likes that she can date now too.

Hunter: A son, brother, friend is 13 and an 8th grader this year. He is the Deacon Quorums president. He has grown in the past two months so fast that we have had to buy him two pairs of shoes and more jeans. He played defensive back on his 8th grade football team. They made it all the way to the playoffs. Hunter missed out on the last three games, due to his knee. (He had surgery on it last year.) But all is well and he can play sports again soon. He loves football, football, and can I just say football. He follows in his father’s footsteps and loves ASU.

Spencer: A son, brother, friend is 9 years old and in 4th grade. He decided not to play football this year, but regretted the decision. He is excited to start baseball. He is very smart in school and is in the gifted program. He loves playing any kind of game and does not really play with toys, just games. He started piano lessons a few months back and doing great. He will be playing “Away in a manger” for our Christmas Eve. Spencer loves the Oregon Ducks, but also ASU. His dad is sad about this, but Spencer loves the fact that he was born in another state then the rest of his family.

Taylor: A daughter, sister, friend is 8 years old and is in 3rd grade. She decided not to take dance this year. She started achievement days and gets really upset if she has to miss. She had the chicken pox this year. She was baptized in April by her dad. She also started piano lessons and loves it. She will play the song “Up on the house top” for our Christmas Eve.

We also enjoyed several family vacations this year. We hope to be able to come home to AZ next summer for a few weeks over the 4th of July. We are so thankful for each one of you in our lives and especially our brother, Savior Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,

Doug, Renee, Jessica, Hunter, Spencer & Taylor Udall

My Brothers

I am the oldest of five children, so I have three younger brothers. Here they are joking around and caught on camera. We were trying to take pictures, but they did not want to cooperate very well, so this is what we did get. They really don't care to take pictures, but they indulged me. My brother Scott is 2nd in line, right after me. We fought like cats and dogs growing up. He was always so much stronger than me. I am not proud of this, but I did call him quite a few choice words growing up. I am proud to say that I don't do that anymore and have repented. I am also proud to say that we don't fight a lick now. None of us fight at all, we all get along. I know unusually for a family, but it is true. Well, Scott who is married to Ondrea have a girl and a boy, plus one more on the way. He owns his own business and is successful and anything he does. He loves sports, and hunting. My brother Ryan, is 4th in line and is the comedian of the family. I know you think I am funny, but he is right up there with me. Any pictures we would take growing up he would make a face or do bunny ears to someone. I don't know how many times he would get in trouble for this. This trip and picture is no exception, he is just a character. He is married to Jamie and they are in Northern AZ. They don't have children yet. He loves sports, especially playing golf, which he was on the Eastern Arizona's college golf team for a year, he is very smart and doesn't even have to study. I wish I got that gene.

My brother Rusty is the baby of the family. This picture is very rare. He hates getting his picture taken, but doesn't mind anymore. I was able to see him baptise his first born while I was there. He is married to Emma and they have five children. He is currently working full time and going to school full time. He also loves sports, especially ASU.

I love all of you and I know that I am blessed to have such handsome, wonderful brothers who uphold there Priesthood and love their oldest sister.

BFF=Best Friends Forever

While I was in Arizona surprising my family I was able to go and visit my very best friend Jennifer that I have know since I was 4yrs old. We had some really fun times, sad times, mean times (not many) and crazy times. We loved to play at each others house everyday. We would cook so many different things and usually mess up the first time, but our mom's always let us start over again. My favorite was the peanut butter cups ( which I need the recipe again Jen). We played dolls, listened to music, did homework and so many many more things. I always wanted to be like her. She is so very, very talented and creative. She can sew, scrapbook, decorate, and is just dang cute. She always has a smile on her face and is always willing to help anyone if she is able to. We don't get to play at each other's houses anymore everyday, but I would love to. We only get to see each other usually every couple of years, but we always pick up right were we left off. It never seems like we have been separated for years. I love you Jen, you are the best!!!!

Surprise trip to Arizona

Here is how it when down:

I booked my flight 9:30pm Wednesday evening

Left the next morning, (Thursday) at 9:30am.

Flight left at 1pm, flew to Washington DC layover for 3hours

Flight to AZ arriving at 9:15 pm

Drove straight to my parents house 2 1/2 hours away, arrived at 12:45 am AZ time (2:45am my time)

Parents not home, my dad had a call out for work two hours south of their home.

I am sleep deprived and decide to hide under the Christmas tree for when they got home.

Here I am under the tree.

1:30am Parents arrive home

Then here are the videos of my parents being surprised. They happened to come in at different times because my dad went to turn the Christmas lights off outside. Sorry the video is a little dark, I didn't think to turn on more lights and my niece taped it for me. She said she takes great pictures, but not video's.

My mom being surprised

Here is my dad being surprised

I came very last minute to surprise my whole family and they were all surprised. My sister was the only one who knew. She picked me up from the airport and shuttled me every where. My family had its annual Christmas party that Friday evening, then my nephews baptism on Saturday. It was a very fun filled packed weekend. I enjoyed every moment of it. Thanks to Doug for encouraging me to go and taking care of everything and everyone while I was gone. He even watched our friends kids for the weekend too.

My whole family:

Me, Ryan, Mom, Dad, Rusty, Rachelle, Scott

Just me and my siblingsThe best sister in laws ever.

Ondrea, Emma, Jamie My sister Rachelle and me. Thanks sis for picking me up and taking me to the airport. Thanks for helping with such a wonderful surprise. Thanks for being such a good host. Your house is beautiful, I love it and I love you. Alyssa my niece and my sister My dad and myself. He shaved his mustache, because he and my mother are serving a mission right now at the institute. I have only seen my dad without a mustache twice in my life. My mother and me

My brother Rusty and nephew Jordan at Jordan's baptism.

My Grandmother was there for a visit and I was able to surprise her too.

Christmas Tag

Christmas getting to know you:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both

2. Real tree or Artificial? Love the real, but use the artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? The first Monday night after Thanksgiving for FHE

4. When do you take the tree down? When I feel like it

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch Doll

7. Hardest person to buy for?

8. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail all the way

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Bug snapper (fly swatter)

11. Favorite Christmas Movie? This is a hard one. Ask my family I love them all

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? homemade chocolates

15. Lights on the tree? yes

16. Favorite Christmas song? O' Holy Night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home, but would and have traveled to be with family

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas day? One on Christmas Eve (pajamas)

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People not saying Merry Christmas

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Rustic, country

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Rest

25. What is your favorite Christmas story? The nativity

26. Snow or No snow ? SNOW

27. Go Christmas Caroling, or be caroled to? Be caroled to.

Now go and copy and paste in your own answers and post it on your blog. I tag all of you.

The Christmas Tree

We always decorate our Christmas tree the first Monday after Thanksgiving for Family Home Evening, but this year we had to decorate it on Sunday night. Doug was leaving out of town for work (again) for a few days and the kids wanted to get the tree up. Ok, Ok I wanted to get the tree up, but the kids wanted to after I suggested it.

Hunter kept trying to put his ornaments higher than Jessica's. He got a chair and put a bucket on it, just so his would be the highest and they are.

Spencer

Jessica caught in the middle of a sentence.

Taylor is always joyful about anything Christmas. The finished product Afterwards we played a game called sequence that our family really enjoys playing. Doug and I were on a team, Jessica and Hunter were a team and Spencer & Taylor were the other team. Who do you think won? Spencer & Taylor won the first, Doug and I the second and Jessica and Hunter the last game. Taylor and Spencer are really, really good at this game. The next day we received quite a few snow flurries. Can you see the white on the bench? Well it snowed and has been cold all week long. I believe it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Tennessee Football game

Doug's boss gave him his four season tickets to the Tennessee vs. Kentucky game this past weekend. We took the boys. The girls stayed at their friends houses.

(Thanks Lynn & Marianne)

On our way to the game, in our new Suburban, the boys playing video games.

In the hotel room snuggling up.

Spencer & Doug

Renee & Hunter

Me and my boys.

Doug & I at the game The boys at the game

Part of the halftime show. It was fantastic. They did the twelve days of Christmas for the University of Tennessee. It was very funny.

Here is there "T"

My boys enjoying the game. It rained most of the time, but we had ponchos and we kept warm the whole time.

Spencer really enjoyed himself.

Hunter will watch football 24/7 now days if I would let him.

On the way home, Hunter was tired and Spencer was watching a movie.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Pies, Pies and more Pies

Today I made pies, pies, and more pies. If it was up to my family they would have me make so many pies, but this year I told them I would only make five.

This is what they chose:

Two cherry cream cheese

Banana cream

Peach

Pumpkin

I was to tired to go down to the basement to take pictures of the cream pies that are in the refrigerator, so you will just have to look at my pumpkin and peach. They turned out perfect! Hopefully they will taste just as good as they look tomorrow.

Thankful & Grateful

At this time of year I am especially thankful and grateful for so many things in my life. I could name so many, many things, but I thought I would just write down a few of them. I have been kind of down lately not being able to be with family for the holidays, but then I remember that I have been blessed beyond measure for so many good things that it brings everything back into perspective for me.

1. My Heavenly Father and my brother Jesus Christ.

2. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

3. Doug, for his love and support and how hard he works to provide for us.

4. Jessica my first born, who is talented in so many things.

5. Hunter who is very unselfish and loving.

6. Spencer who makes me laugh daily.

7. Taylor who loves mom, dad & life.

8. My parents for raising me in the gospel and teaching me correct principles.

9. Doug's parents for raising such a righteous son.

10. Family - all of my extended family

11. A Forever Family

12. Temples and being worthy to attend them.

13. Friends - you know who you are.

14. My calling in Young Women's

15. The Young Women - I never thought I could ever love these girls as much as I truly do.

16. A job

17. A beautiful home and everything in it.

18. Talents

19. Health

20. Scrapbooking, my form of keeping a journal.

21. The scriptures

One Word Game

Where is your mobile phone? purse

Where is your significant other? work

Your hair color? blond

Your mother? unselfish

Your father? giving

Your favorite thing? Gospel

Your dream last night? nothing

Your dream goal?

Room Your In? Den

Your hobby? scrapbooking

Your fear? snakes

Where do you want to be in 6 years? grandmother

Where were you last night? home

What you're not? organized

Where you grew up? AZ

The last thing you did? vacuumed

What are you wearing? clothes

Your TV? old

Your pets? none

Your computer? laptop

Your mood? happy

Missing someone? family

Your car? new

Something you're not wearing? socks

Favorite shop? Target

Your summer? enjoyable

Love someone? family

Your favorite color? red

When is the last time you laughed? this morning

Try keeping it to just one word.

I tag Jennifer, Kathleen, Heather, Mykelle, Cheria, Sarah, Becky, Kimberly,Kelly

On Tuesday, Jessica and I were driving to an appointment and we were talking about all of the canning I had been doing. She asked "Mom, will you teach me how to can?" I responded of course, I had been wanting to do some jam, with the berries that I have frozen. So are asked her if she would like to can some jam? We decided to do it yesterday after school.

I taught her two different methods: First we made Raspberry Freezer Jam

Second: We cooked & made Blackberry Jam

Jessica stirring the jam while sitting on the counter, which she know she is not allowed to sit on.

Ladling the jam into the jars. Cleaning of the rims and putting on the lid & ring. Turning them upside down. Finished product: 9 jars of Blackberry jam

Time with my daughter: priceless How many teenagers do you know that ask there mother's to teach them how to can? Jessica said" She wanted to learn, because she will need to know how to do it when she is a mother." She also is going to use it as one of her young women projects. I had fun teaching and speding time in the kitchen with her. She will now be able to pass this knowledge on to her children one day.