Aebleskivers!!!!!!!

BIG deal here. This is an old family tradition
from my Dad's side - *the DANISH side* - of the
family. I grew up having these on special occasions. MMMMM.
But, I never had a pan or a recipe to make them. So, this
year for Christmas hubby got me BOTH! Tonight I made them
for the family for dinner and they were a HUGE HIT! :O)
They came out perfect and wonderful and I am simply in
heaven! What a fun traditional awesome blessing in our lives!

Loved this local Christmas Story on News 8

Christmas Angels Pass Out Hundreds At Idaho Falls Dollar Tree

Posted: Dec 23, 2009 11:13 PM



By Megan Boatwright, Local News 8 Reporter

It's the season for miracles, and it seems we have one happening in Eastern Idaho.

For the past two days shoppers at the Dollar Tree store in Idaho Falls, have had random encounters with a group of people intent on passing the Christmas spirit to those in need.

It's a busy time for the Dollar Tree with lots of shoppers picking up last minute gifts. In the last two days four people have spent a lot of money at the store, the only catch is they haven't bought anything.

"I walked out of the store in tears," said Melissa Lopez.

A single mother of two, Lopez was shopping for last minute Christmas gifts with her children when a well dressed man approached them Monday night.

"He said Merry Christmas and slipped me a $100 bill," Lopez said. After recovering from the initial shock of the experience, Lopez realized she wasn't alone.

"This lady came up to me and was mumbling under her breath," said Dollar Tree Cashier, Monica Villanueva. "I couldn't understand what she was saying."

Villanueva has worked at the Idaho Falls store for two years. The cashier says she's never seen anything like this before.

"The woman said, ‘those people are angels,' I didn't really understand what she meant," Villanueva said. "Then the woman said, ‘I've been struggling with Christmas this entire year. I haven't had any money and that man just gave me $100'."

In Fact the entire Dollar Tree staff has witnessed the same group of people give away hundreds of dollars. The employees say the ‘Christmas Angels' are calculated. The good Samaritans look at what people are buying, and only give money to those purchasing necessities.

"It gives you have hope that there are good people out there," said Villanueva.

For Melissa Lopez the encounter was nothing short of a miracle and once in a lifetime lesson for her children.

"My kids witnessed the whole thing," she said. "I hope they remember it forever and remember that Christmas is a time of giving."

Even though Monica Villanueva didn't get a hundred dollar bill of her own, the mysterious strangers made this Christmas one she'll never forget.

"It made my night," Monica said. "I almost started crying. I kept thinking if we don't help each other then who will?"

SWEEEEEEET! Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

I am spending my Christmas Eve morning at work (mean boss lady!) with Robin and the boys... we are having a very relaxed morning and I am loving her boys company and energy! :O) I have a few things to do before the BIG GUY visits tonight but nothing too stressfull so I can enjoy this evening with my hubby and kids. SO BLESSED. So very very blessed this year.

Our good friend (like a lil' sis) had a baby boy last night - born at 4 a.m. on Christmas Eve and he is beautiful! SO EXCITED for the family... again, so blessed.

Sis in law is in the hospital in Boise - went in for a planned day surgery that went rough and now she'll prob be in over Christmas - sucks :O( but glad she is doing OK.

Just feeling very peaceful and graced today. Love my family, my home, my friends, my job, and am SO grateful for all the things that make me feel so loved and safe.

Merry Christmas wishes to you and your loved ones this season. XOXO

Darla

(Photos are of our food drive at work - TWO FULL BOXES we took in! Breakfast at my sister Carlee's with Tony and Teddy. Also my JOY that Robin made me for Christmas that I LOVE LOVE LOVE!)

My Kids

Just wanted to take a time out and update on my kids.
I LOVE THEM.
I am the most blessed Mom in the world.

CHRISTOPHER
I love this boy! Chris is 18 now, a young man.
Chris is amazing, he is a hard hard working, strong,
ethical, honest, unbelievable loving person. I
appriciate his place in our family and the example
he is to his sisters and brother. XOXO Christopher!

DANI
Crazy girl! Dani is almost sweet 16 now, and has the
boys going nuts. Tall, blonde and beautiful - she knocks
em' all dead. Dani is in Drivers Ed this year and has
also been kickin' her grades up like mad - she is loving
H.S. and makes me so proud as a true blue Grizz girl!

TIFFANY
Tiff is still our scholarly, organzied, by the rule girl.
However, she is also driving the boys wild and loves it!
Somehow she is all the boys friend and they are all crushed
in the process LOL!
Tiff is busy at school with choir, drama, track, cross country
and honor society. She is an amazing kid and we love her!

MICHEAL
Currently our little man is a bit of a monster. Seriously.
I have to keep reminding the other kids that he is at a
stage - we all need to be patient with him. He is a tender
hearted love bug but MAN can he get on our nerves LOLOL!!!
Micheal is still ALL boy - trucks, bikes, mud, all that stuff
he is 100% there. He has tons of friends at school and
around the neighborhood too. Also doing well in school and
finally "getting" the reading down - silly boy. He is also
in Cub Scouts and loves going to those activities!

AMAZING kids we have.
So blessed.

DarlaLOU

Saaaaaaaaaturday

Made it through the baby shower - wow what a long day! It
went well though and I have lots to post about - however -
I am totally pooped out and going to lay down for a while
since we have Ed's work party to go to as well tonight.
I will update EVERYthing tommorrow sometime.

DarlaLOU

lots to be thankful for

I have so much to be thankful for -
today I am whiney about my sinus
and headache but really, under all
that boobing, I am very thankful.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:- my home, warm and cozy this a.m.
- my kids, who have been so helpful
this week while Dad is gone
- my hubby, who is off doing boring
training in SLC for a week for work
- my friends who support me and lift
me up and make me believe in myself
- my sisters who just love me no
matter what - always - so blessed to
have them (both my real and in-laws!)
- my awesome minivan that defrosts
and warms up quickly in the winter
and cools down with a/c in the summer
- my job that I love so much and offers
me so much versatility and opportunity
to learn and grown and be flexible
- my scrapbook stuff (I KNOW!) that
allows me a creative outlet and down time
- my happy lil' runnin' feet that carry
my fat toosh all over when I actually
get out there and RUN
- and so so so much more that I could
go on and on about... I am very blessed
and very grateful!

25 Days Book!

Finally getting them on the ol' blog-
Here is Day 1 and Day 2 pages.... they aren't very
good photos but you get the idea!
Darla

**I finished my little paperbag book tonight too!
It is full of photos of many of my favorite
Christmas decorations I've collected through
the years... I will share more of it later!**

Ewwwwwwwwwwww!

I woke up at about 3:30 a.m. with a sinus
headache and stuffy nose.
I HATE that! Ugh!
Now this morning I am
doing the every 2 min nose wipe!
Ugh! I HATE that!
I hope it does not turn into anything
serious bc I have
way too much going on this upcoming
weekend to be sick.
Dumb nose! Grrrrrr!

I am working on my 25 Days Album
"officially" now. Yesterday
I just did journaling for Day 1 but today I hope
to get some sort of photo to document the days
events?
We will see.

LOVED watching Biggest Loser last
night - watching them
all do a marathon - FREAK that inspires me!

I can do this.
I SO can do this! Need to get to
the gym and out for some running today sometime
myself. The weather is BITTER COLD though
so outdoors is the pits.
(Anythingunder 30 degrees I usually bag out...)
I have been on my food plan though so that is good!

OK onward and forward for the day
- tissues in hand.
Praying I won't have to resort to
sinus meds too :O(

HAPPY WEDNESDAY everyone! Happy Dec 2nd!
DarlaLOU

Love and Misses!

Missing this guy big time
- he is out of town for the
week in a work training and
I am missing him a bunch!
Be safe honey!








Love and Misses!
Hugs and Kisses!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Darla


Awesome photo taken by Robin! LOVE it!
Check out her photo site here:
http://heartfelt.typepad.com/robingibbonsphotography/