Music Time at the Roundy's

During our Thanksgiving stay at the Roundy's, the kids got out their musical instruments (even Lisa brought Tyler's BASS violin all the way from Tulsa!).  They had a 'jam' session and played a bunch of Christmas tunes.  They actually sounded really good!

 Here's Kelsey playing on her brand new violin!

 I wonder if Tyler will someday be taller than his Bass violin??

 Love that face, Kelsey!

 Mary looks like a proud Grandmother!

 Tamara . . . the accompanist for the night :)

 Alex played beautifully and it was so fun for Kelsey to have a duet partner.  

 We forgot to take a picture of Kohler playing "Clair de Lune" but he played the entire piece for memory and it was so beautiful!

 Kohler, getting a leg rub from his mama.

 TICKLE TIME!

A Blessed Thanksgiving

You know, there are not many places in this world where you can walk into someone else's home, make yourself comfortable, get a drink from the fridge, and relax on the couch in your jammies until late into the night.  Being with family is like being HOME.  

Tom's mom, Mary, is in the background cooking with Alex.  It was SO much fun having here there.  She flew down from Utah to be with us and it wouldn't have been the same without her!

I am so thankful this year that we were able to drive to Tucson and have Thanksgiving with Tom's two sisters, their families, and his mother. (Scott is still in Iraq and we really missed him!)  I have been in their family for almost 20 years now and they are truly family to me.  

Colleen and Wade went out of their way to make everything so wonderful for all of us.  Not one thing was forgotten or left out.  They did it all and it was SO amazing!! (including the awesome rice balls and fudge in this picture!!)

 Spencer sat right in front of the yams because that is his all-time favorite Thanksgiving dish.  He must have had about 4 servings!

 Even Kohler broke into the yummy cheeseball before dinner.  (that cheeseball is the culprit for extra pounds gained this weekend!)

 I even made two gluten-free pies for Mary and Alex.  They actually turned out pretty nice.  I was so glad they had a fun dessert they could eat!

 Lisa, Tyler, and Alex Stratton drove all the way from Tulsa to be with us.  It was SO fun to hang out with them and laugh while we played the craziest games!  ("Quelf"---so much fun!)

The food was incredible and we all stuffed ourselves because it tasted so delicious. But, the food isn't what brought us together.  We are tied to each other eternally---we are family.  I believe Lisa would still have driven all that way even if we were just having a few frozen pizzas for dinner.  I would have done the same thing.  Being together is truly what the holidays are all about and this year I am so thankful that I have family that I want to be with and they want me there as well.  Isn't it great to be loved and also... to LOVE?

Family Dinner on Sunday

On Sunday we had a big family dinner.  Melanie's Family and MaryKay's family came over as well as my parents and some friends of theirs from Merced.  We had 22 people in our house!  It was awesome!  We decorated the house so it would be festive and it really was beautiful.  

 After our dinner of Cafe Rio pork salad/burritos, we had a concert.  I think almost all of the kids participated.  Maya played a really nice version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! She is super talented!

 Here is Eden!  She is 3 years old.  

 There is Will, trying to give his own piano concert!  ha ha

 Keegan came up to me and said, "Take MY picture!"  He posed and everything.  So cute!

 Mary Kay and some of the kids.

 Here's cute Rylie.  She played the piano too.  It was great!

 Spencer played "Superman" and "Tropical Island."  He is working really hard on piano this year and it's paying off!  :)

These next photos are not as good because my camera battery died so I had to use my I-phone.  This is Jeff Boothe - he and his wife, Sherri, came to dinner also.  They are my parents' really good friends in Merced.  They have been so kind to them and it was really great having them in our home.  Jeff got crazy with the guitar and played a few songs.  It was awesome!

 Sydne and McKenna even sang a song together that was really pretty!  Sydne is pretty good on the guitar!

It was a great night just to visit with family and kick off the holiday season!

Let the Holidays Begin!!

When you see this laying on your counter to be mailed, you KNOW that the holidays are ready to begin!  (This letter was Spencer's)

This past week, I worked really hard to get the house decorated for Christmas, while keeping Thanksgiving alive and well!  I knew that we were having a big family dinner on Sunday and my parents were inviting some of their best friends over who have never seen our house before.  So, I really wanted the garland and tree up before they came.  The family all pitched in and on Saturday (after Spencer's  last two football games) we worked really hard and it came together just in time!

 Spencer is a pretty sentimental kid--actually, all of my kids are.  But, I caught him just looking over the balcony and enjoying the sight of the lighted up Christmas Tree.  It warmed my heart to see him happy like that. Those are the sweet tender feelings of HOME --those feelings that you miss the most when you are away.  

We haven't put up all of the Christmas decorations---we will save those for the week after Thanksgiving.  But for now . . . LET THE HOLIDAYS BEGIN!!!

Best Applesauce Ever!

If you want your home to smell incredibly yummy, make this applesauce.  It is the best I have ever tasted.  It's  Ina Garten's recipe and it makes a ton (probably 3-4 cups) so you can easily half the recipe for a smaller crowd. 

 Here's the recipe:


6 lbs. apples (mixed varieties) quartered
Juice of 2 oranges and zest 
Juice of 1 lemon and zest


Toss together and add:
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 Tablespoons butter
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice


Cook in a Dutch oven with lid on at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours then whisk it together to break the apples up.  It is so delicious!!

Being Watched from Afar

Yesterday I was on the phone with my sister, Colleen, and a woman knocked on my door.  She is a new member of our stake and we have only spoken on the phone once before.  She had a loaf of homemade banana bread and handed it to me telling me that she really wanted to bring that over last night for FHE, but time ran out and they couldn't make it happen.  However, she did tell me about Kelsey.  This is pretty much what she said:

"We just moved here and I am really hoping my daughter makes some good friends over at the Jr. High.  I know my daughter knows Kelsey because she talks about her a lot at home.  I even checked Kelsey out on Facebook and read the positive comments and posts she makes.  My daughter says that Kelsey dresses modestly and is really nice to her.  I asked my daughter who was at the 'Cumorah's Hill' choir practice Sunday and she said, 'Kelsey Chamberlain was.'  Then, I told my daughter . . . THAT is the kind of girl you need to be better friends with.  We need to get to know this family better!  So, here I am with some bread and I hope we can get the girls together really soon."  

Now, the reason I wanted to write about this is not to say, "Wow - those Chamberlains are really doing something right!" --that is NOT the reason why.  We are not perfect and we certainly have our share of mistakes going on.  However, as this woman was talking, I couldn't help but have a proud moment---- being the mother of Kelsey Chamberlain.  This is not the first time other parents have said this to me about her.  Others have noticed the way she dresses, the things she talks about, how she includes everyone, and the pure nature that just exudes from her when they are around her.  They have said, "We are SO glad that our daughter is friends with Kelsey!  She is such a great girl!"


When Kelsey got home from school today, I told her how proud I am of her.  That even being watched from afar, people are noticing her and watching her every move.  She has not caused me ONE single day of grief or pain and is obedient to the core.  She always has been.  I will forever be grateful that my Heavenly Father sent her to me.  She is beautiful on the inside and out and I know she will always bring happiness and joy to our family . . . . my Kelsey . . . .

And by the way . . . she made the cheer team!  Yeah!!!