Christmas in Utah

Note: This was written last week, but I didn't have a change to post until now...

After snowing all day, it was nice and clear when I flew into Salt Lake City the Saturday before Christmas. Mom and Dad picked me up from the airport and we got home around 11 pm. It was good to be home!

On Sunday, I went to Church with my family. Afterwards, we drove to Mantua so I could visit with my Grandma B at Aunt Randa"s. Then, we drove to Brigham City, where we had the Searle Family Christmas Party. It was good to see my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We ate dinner and watched "The Nativity Story."

It snowed all day Monday and Tedi and I braved the roads to go Christmas shopping. It was nice to spend the day with her.

Tuesday, I had Dad drop me off to visit with the library ladies and then Tedi picked me up and we met Dad for lunch at Subway. Tuesday night, we ordered pizza and M wanted to go see the movie "Yes Man" for his birthday.

Wednesday dawned sunny and clear. Dad and I went for a walk and visited some neighbors. Then we made some toffee and sugar cookies. Dad had to run to Brigham, so we met Mom for lunch at Wendy's and then went to a matinee movie "The Tales of Despereaux." Mom and Dad fell asleep and I was fighting to keep my eyes open! We went home, turned on some Christmas music, and spent the rest of the afternoon decorating cookies. Christmas Eve was M's 19th Birthday, so we took him to have Chinese for dinner and then he opened presents.

We had two storms come through and it snowed all Christmas Day. We had breakfast and called Elyse to wish her a Merry Christmas. Then, we filed in the parlor to see what Santa had left us. I got a nice rain jacket (to keep me dry during hurricane season!). We took family pictures and then M and I went snowmobiling. The snow was so heavy and wet! I had so much fun, I didn't want to go in yet, so I decided to build a snowman and then I plopped down and made a snow angel. I was laying there in the snow, looking up at the sky thinking that life was just about perfect! It was a magical moment…

We spent the rest of the day watching movies and playing games, eating way to much food, and shoveling the driveway before the next storm blew in! It was a fun, relaxing day with my family.

Friday Mom had to take Tedi to the doctors in Brigham and Dad had to get his truck fixed, so I rode along and went to visit my friend Tara. It was good to visit. After grabbing a bite to eat at Dixie Grill, I went home and packed. We decided to go to Salt Lake that night, instead of leaving at 3 in the morning to go to the airport (I had to been there at 5 am). We left at 5 pm and stopped in Brigham so I could say goodbye to my grandparents. While there, I realized that I had left my carry-on bag with my money and id at home! So, Dad had Tedi meet him in Sardine Canyon. We finally left Brigham at 6 pm. The freeway was pure ice-I've never seen it so bad! We didn't reach my Aunt McKell's, in South Jordan, until almost 9 o'clock. We had a nice turkey dinner and than I went to bed.

I was up by 3:30 am and we left for the airport at 4:30. After a 4 hour layover in Atlanta, GA (my flight was delayed) I got home at 6 pm. Stephanie and Lalunie (Jared's sister) came and picked me up and I had dinner with the Davis' and got to meet the rest of Jared's family.

I finally went home and when I walked in my bedroom there was a bed! I had figured out that Stephanie was planning on buying me a mattress, but not a whole bed set! When I called her she said it was from her and Jared, Mom and Dad, and Grandpa Bill. It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me…it made me cry.
Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a safe and happy New Year!

Lonnie

Going Home!

Hola my friends!

Just a quick note...I had so much fun on Wednesday-I went to Baton Rouge to the Scholastic Warehouse to pick out books for the library. I rode with Sarah and we listened to Breaking Dawn while driving over and back. We stopped at the New York Bagel for lunch. I'd never been there before and I thought of Elyse the whole time because all the sandwiches have a New York name and there are black and white photos of Manhattan all over the walls. We took the Highland exit and drove through the LSU campus (I love it!), where I saw the Elders walking, and then past multimillion dollar homes, all decked out for Christmas (beautiful!), and past the Temple (even more beautiful!). We then spent the next 3 hours cruising up and down the isles for books.

Then, that night the staff at my apartment complex had their annual Cajun Christmas Gumbo. They had the the office all decked out with a tree and we all got door prizes (I got a beautiful glass picture frame) and we feasted on chicken and sausage gumbo and strawberry shortcake. The pictures are of Colby, my apartment manager, and the Elders (about), who also live in my complex. It was fun.

This past week I've felt like I've lived in a snow globe! New Iberia is covered in a blanket of fog that won't go away. I like it, it's all misty and dark. It's also been hot-in the 80s-and I've had to sleep with the fan on again.

I'm going from this wonderful tropical weather, to the dry cold climate of Utah-I'm flying home this afternoon-Yea! It's the first time I've been home since I moved six months ago.

Happy Holidays!

Lonnie

Parties, Santa, and Snow!

Thursday morning I woke up and it was snowing! It had rained all Wednesday and the rain turned to big, fat wet flakes over night. By the time I left for work, it was already turning to a rainy slush and starting to melt, so it didn't last long. But, it was fun to see how excited everyone was because snow is such a rare phenomenon in Louisiana. (I think it was 2004, the last time it snowed here). I got a message from Maggie, on my phone, at 6:30 in the morning, telling me to get outside because there was event outside that I probably wouldn't see again for 20 years! Then, when I got to work, Don scrapped all the snow off the back of my car and made a snowball with it. He put it in a mug and placed it in the freezer, with a tag that said, "Officially licensed December 11, 2008 New Iberia Snow from Lonnie's car."

It seems like I spent the whole week partying. First, we had our Branch Christmas Party on Tuesday night. It was nice. Stories were read, carols were sung (including the reenactment of "The Twelve Pains of Christmas"), food was consumed (the standard ham and funeral potatoes), and Santa stopped by for a visit.

Then, we had our Relief Society Christmas Party on Thursday night. We got into groups and did a picture scavenger hunt, where we had to drive around and find houses decorated for Christmas. We had 45 minutes and a list of 45 items that we had to take pictures with. For example, we had to find a blow-up Santa and, staying on the sidewalk, pose as if we had our arms around him. Another one was we had to find a red door, and again, from the sidewalk, make it look like we were knocking on the door. My favorite was "Find a dog barking in the window and pose as if you were petting its head" and we actually found a dog barking in the window! When we got back to the church, we each got a candy cane with a word on it and Julie read "Twas the Night before Christmas." When she said our word, we had to stand up and say "Ho, ho, ho" and then we got to pick a gift. Afterwards, we feasted on turkey with all the trimmings. It was a blast!

Finally, Friday was our Christmas Pig Out at work. Everybody brought food and we literally pigged out! I got to try boudin for the first time and really liked it (it's a rice mixture, usually with pork, put in a sausage skin-you don't eat the outside, you just kind of suck it out). I liked the spicy flavor.

Saturday I had another date and we went and saw the new movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (a remake of the 1950s sci-fi classic) and then had dinner at The Seafood Connection ( I tried the shrimp balls, which were pretty good). Afterwards, we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. It was fun.

I going home for Christmas and I can't wait to see all my family and friends. I can't believe I'm leaving in less than a week! Kathy said she hope I could get there, because apparently Utah is having a big storm right now.

Lonnie

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are in full swing! Thanksgiving was great! I made sweet potatoes and stuffing and then went and spent the day at the Davis'. Elyse called. She had just gotten home from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and she saw David Archuleta! Elyse also went downtown the night before and watched them blow up the balloons. She was right in front of the new Smurf and Kermit the Frog was singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."





Anyway, the weather was absolutely perfect, with the sun shinning a a nice gentle breeze ( I was actually hot in my long-sleeve shirt!)

I found out that the Davis" Family combine all of the Berrett's traditions into one holiday! First, Jared and Rosie made sugar cookies, which they do together every year (the Berrett's do that at Halloween). Then, they go around and say what they're thankful for (which the Berrett's also do at Thanksgiving). Next, the Davis' turn on Christmas music during dinner (which the Berrett's do Christmas morning while opening presents). Finally, the Davis' had sparking apple cider and white grape juice (you know, the nonalcoholic "bubbly" that we always have on New Year’s Eve?)

Sunday, I went and spent the afternoon at the Cotton's. I snacked on leftover turkey that Mike had made and it was yummy! He injected it with Creole Butter and then fried it…I've never tasted anything so good (and I’m not even a fan of turkey!)

I was surprised when we closed early on Monday. It turned out that the city was doing the annual tree lighting ceremony at the civic center next door and then having the Christmas Parade. If I had known about it, I would have stayed and watched it!

Tuesday night, we had a Primary Appreciation Dinner for the teachers. I picked up Lisa, one of the teachers, and we were going to the Primary President's house. Well, I had never been to Sherri's house, and I got lost and ended up out in the middle of the sugar cane fields! After calling and getting directions, I finally got Lisa there in time for dessert.

The next night, Sherri had a Cookie Exchange Party. This time I didn't get lost and we got there on time! It was fun…everyone made their favorite cookies and then brought the recipe to share. There were about 30 or 40 people there. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and passed them out.


Wednesday was also Rosie's 5th Birthday, so I stopped by on the way home to give her a present. She had gotten a hair cut for her birthday and they went to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner. On Saturday, I went and helped Stephanie with Rosie's Birthday Party. It was crazy chaos with a bunch of little kids running around, but it was fun. Stephanie has a bunch of Christmas crafts for them to make.

Saturday I also had a date and Garth took me to a cool restaurant called The Blue Dog Café. It was dark and relaxing inside, with just a few lamps and a stone fireplace in the middle. There is pop art on the walls (done by the owner). Most of the paintings are are blue dogs (of course!) I was excited when we were led to the table right next to the fireplace. I was even more excited to discover that the tables are all covered in butcher paper and they have a jar of crayons, so you can draw.

'Til next week...
Lonnie

P.S. I had more pictures to share, but the upload button has failed, of course!