It feels very quiet. We had Sunhee and Meeja for the long weekend (They had no school Thursday and Friday) and on the way back to Sweet Home, we stopped at Kyre’s home to have an early Christmas dinner and celebration. We brought the dinner and fruit ice cream that their family loves and Alina made a special treat that she learned at a Young Women’s activity. They were vey cute; a pretzel covered with a melted Hershey Kiss and M&M. I didn’t know that Hershey Kisses came in candy cane flavor! The children really love to play and laugh together. They had such a great time.
Kyre had stockings for the girls and between Alina’s, Adam’s, Kyre’s and Kyre’s gifts to Sunhee and Meeja; the girls traveled home with a huge bag each of toys and treats. It was heart warming to watch Adam and Alina so excited to have Sunhee and Meeja open their gifts; they had earned their own money to buy the gifts. Alina was so pleased as she was in charge of all the wrapping and had wrapped even every candy item in the stockings! We thought we would have time to play games in the three hours but eating and opening gifts took almost the entire time.
Sunhee and Meeja’s visit to our home was so much fun. Plus, they were such a big help with our weekend projects. Dad ground flour and the girls helped me make 20 loaves of our wheat bread with seed and nuts. We put them in cute Christmas baskets with some of our jam and delivered them to our neighbors and friends. I don’t know which they were more excited to see, the treat we were bringing them or Sunhee and Meeja. Everyone is always so delighted to see the grandchildren.
The girls helped me make two batches of sugar cookie dough, and eat a little also, for the holidays which needed to be made that first day they were here since I had an appointment with one of the boys in Primary about to be baptized (and baking cookies during my visits is part of my tradition).
We spent all Saturday morning making several bathes of Aubrey’s famous caramel corn and packaged that up in bags for all 30 of our Primary. We attached the “Parable of the Popcorn” with a note thanking each one of the teachers and leaders. The girls were so excited to help with gathering supplies and all the many times we had to stir the caramel. I had to make an extra batch after they went to bed and it was so much more work without them.
I would have to say that this was Sunhee and Meeja’s “spaghetti” weekend. I made a 
big batch of spaghetti on the second night (the first night we went to Zoolights) and the girls tried to eat it every chance they got. They even convinced Halboji to have it for breakfast; which they did! But one morning Meeja had oatmeal with Dad. He was so thrilled to tell me how much Meeja loved his oatmeal filled with raisins and Chia. He said, “A grandchild of my own blood!”
When Adrianne was in her senior year of high school I questioned what I would do without any children at home during the holidays to help with all our traditions and she said to invite Scott and Kyre’s children to come over which sounded like a great solution. But then, that summer is when they moved so our plans were foiled.
The girls also sat in on Dad’s Webelos 
meeting and helped the Cub Scouts stuff Christmas Tree Recycle flyer hangers. Plus, Dad was teaching Citizenship while they were working on the flyers and I think Sunhee knew more of the answers than most of the boys.
But we didn’t work all the time. We played SO many games!!! We played each morning and each night and any chance in the middle of the day that we could. Given the choice between watching a Christmas movie or playing games, the games won out every time. We taught them Sequence and Meeja won the first time through. When I went to Grandma Maldonado’s to clean her place, they played games with her the entire time. Plus there was even a short brea
k in the weather and they were able to play a little outside; Meeja even rode her bike. Plus, they had a great time on the piano. Dad taught Sunhee a couple of songs and Meeja watched intently. Then, when it was her time on the bench, she plucked out those same songs with not much help. They both have incredible memories and a great ear for the piano!
The weekend before Morty and Adrianne were here. Morty’s visit was a last minute surprise as he was able to obtain Civil War tickets at the last minute. When he called to tell me about it, he said his heart was just pounding since he was so excited. I suggested that he feel that for a girl instead of a football game! 
He also took Katie to a Duck basketball game on the Thursday night that he arrived. They play Missouri so Katie procured Missouri Nike wear from Brock so they could show their true colors! Adrianne was here to do some wedding planning and go to a beach overnighter with her horse friends. We squeezed in all we could. Two of the nights we closed down Macy’s as she worked on her wedding registry. That was so much fun to see what and why she chose some of her dreams and requests. Grandma Maldonado went with us the first night.
Our ward Christmas dinner was the Saturday that Morty and Adrianne were in town. I had asked Katie if she would make some cupcakes for my dessert that I was supposed to take. She had friends over that morning helping her and they, with Morty’s encouragemen
t made the most darling green and gold Oregon cupcakes since it was the day of the Civil War game. They made the batter swirl and that created some “O” designs on the top! After Morty left we called and said that he had done some figuring and he has been in Portland 33 days this past fall!
Katie has a double round of good news. She is going full time this week with the airlines and she has found a studio apartment to lease downtown by PGE Park. It is right by a MAX line so that will be a real help during the winter months of commuting to the airport. She now needs a couch and kitchen table.
Alan Ludlow came home from his mission in the past couple of weeks so he spoke on Sunday. He has changed a lot. Encore also sang for the ward that day; they sounded wonderful. It was great to have the girls at church with us. I was conducting in Primary and they blend so well in with the children that they already know that I forgot to introduce them as guests!
We had a great visit with Scott this past week. He has moved to the new level of the A Block to a new level of honor housing. We are thrilled for him. Dad will be emailing you a copy of 
his 3 year running log where, in his mind, he ran the miles to “visit” each of you! He planned it so he would be in your cities on many of your birthdays or special events! He keeps his mind thinking!!!
Dad and I went downtown Monday night specially to see the gingerbread display at the Benson Hotel. It was only one village; well, it was incredible but we are used to seeing all the variety in past years at Pioneer Square. So, we decided to go walk and look at the Macy’s windows. We even did a little shopping and bought something for Jack for Heidi’s shower in January. Heidi is having a bridal shower for Adrianne the first week of January and I will have a “blue shower” for Heidi while I am there. Thank you Southwest airlines (and Katie of course)!
I hope that you are enjoying some fun holiday traditions this week. I love you! Love, Mom
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