MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

O.K., so it's a bit late--things have been kind of crazy around here, what with Jeffrey coming home and work and concerts and parties and shopping... Anyway, today is boxing day--a unique Canadian holiday, when pretty much nothing happens, so I thought I'd take a minute and wish you all a merry christmas and happy new year. It's at this time of year when I think most about family and miss you all terriably. Hope all is well with each of you. Please keep in touch.

The best presents you can give are still absolutely free

This article on ESPN by Rick Reilly made me smile. Its worth taking the time to read.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

Merry Christmas everyone.

Winter is Here

Just wanted you to know that winter has arrived. Starting on the 14th we have not been above freezing once. We have also been as low as -36C or -33F and we have about a foot of snow on the ground and it is snowing today. I tried to post some pictures of the snow but could not get them to uploaded. Maybe later.
Merry Christmas everyone
Grandpa

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, and have a safe New Year! If you haven’t already heard, or read my blog I am pregnant!!! And I have been feeling very much under the weather lately and did not get half of my “Christmas stuff” or Christmas cards taken care of but I wanted to let everybody know that I have not forgotten any of you and we wish you all a very fun, warm and family filled Christmas!

Merry Christmas / Randal's Blog

Merry Christmas everyone! I am so excited to come home to Edmonton for Christmas I can hardly stand it. Hopefully Theresa and I will be able to see some of you all when we are up. I just finished my last final for the semester, and I'm chomping at the bit. I can't believe I only have one semester of school left. Ever.

I generally don't advertise my own blog here, but head over to This Blog IsA Typo because I've just posted lots of great stuff, like my favourite albums of 2008, and our favourite pictures of 2008. And if you've already looked at these posts, I've just added a couple of polls about them. I'd love to hear what your favourites from last year are!

Christmas Foods Survey

Ok, I want some input! Click below to take my Christmas Holiday Food Survey. It should only take you a few minutes to get through the five questions on food and treats for the holidays. I'll gather all the data and in a future post let you all know results!

Click Here to take survey

Elder Miller

As I’m sure you all know, Elder Miller went home today, so yesterday for the last time we got to go to lunch. He invited us to his “final testimony” meeting last night and he had so much support there. It was fun to see him while we got the chance, but I’m sure that his Family at home is grateful that he is there. You will be missed here in Salt Lake City Jeff!

More Christmas Greetings

I love the elf dance by Craig and Kristen so I asked Holly to help me make one. I'm on Holly's computer right now so we only have a few pictures to pick from but I think we got a good mix. Please enjoy my elf dance.

Happy Holidays from the 20's

Festival of Trees

In my last post, I said let the Christmas season begin. I know in the States that starts with Black Friday, but I'm not one to fight the crowds during a crazy shopping day. Besides I have to wait for the 26th for Canada's version the day. But I did celebrate the Christmas season kick off my own way; Bailey and I went to the Festival of Trees.



The Festival of Trees is an event where a bunch of people and companies decorate trees, gingerbread houses, door hangings, etc. They also have various performances and a bunch of activities for kids. We try to take Bailey each year and this year I got to do it. The money raised goes to the university hospital, so every year they have a section to show kids how things work in the hospital. The best part of this area is the finger casts they'll give everyone. Here's Bailey and I showing off ours.




We also decorated small christmas trees, santa hats and a picture frame; had a hot chocolate and cookie treat; wrote a letter to Santa and Bailey did some Christmas shopping in a kids only shopping area. Here's a few more pictures.









Just a note on the last picture, that is my letter to Santa. I wrote with my left hand to make Santa think that I was little younger. Now that I think about it I don't think Santa will be fooled, after all he knows all. Well the letter is still relevant.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just just wanted to wish everyone celebrating today, a Happy Thanksgiving. Does anyone have some leftover turkey I could have... I don't know what to make for dinner tonight.
Anyway Happy Thanksgiving again, and let the Christmas season begin!

Humble Pie

All right, I eating a little humble pie. Yesterday in HP Quorum meeting the teacher ask someone to define the term "Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit." I immediately said, "BYU Fans!" As I said last week, I am happy for Utah, but still think they should be ranked higher in the polls and higher in the BCS. We'll see how it all plays out in the next couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone who added a comment. It was a fun week.

Football Anyone

Well, this is the big week - Utah-BYU football week. Everyone knows I am a long time BYU fan, but this year I have mixed feelings. While I would like to see the Cougars win I also would like Utah to win and throw a monkey wrench into the smug, totally useless, just in it for the $$$$ - BCS (someday I will tell you how I really feel about the Bowl Coalition). The last two years it has come down to a last second play (will Cougar fans be chanting "Collie is still open" - or will the Utes be saying "Hall sacked on crucial play"). In reading the DN this morning I found out that, "Aside from Utah's big victory in its unbeaten 2004 season, the other 10 Utah-BYU games since 1997 have been decided by a touchdown or less." Based on that it should be a close game. But I'm not sure just which way to cheer. Any advice out there?

The First Holiday Greeting of the Season

I know it’s a little early, but I’m already feeling a little Christmas spirit, so I give you this year’s version of our family’s Christmas dance, with special guest appearance by Grandpa Cottle:

The Craig, Kris, Sam and J’Neil family Christmas Dance

baby kyle

Go visit my  blog, I posted some pictures of kyle yesterday. Hope you all have a good day. 

wurstenfam.blogspot.com

Baby!!!!

I'm a little hesitant to steal Jamie's thunder, however I spoke with her earlier this evening and she was pretty drugged ("Thank heaven for percocet" was one of the things she said) so I'll break the news.

Kyle Wursten joined the family early, early this morning - at about 2:00 am. Baby is doing very well, and I understand he's very cute. He weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 20 inches, which makes him Jamie's tallest baby!

Jamie had a little trouble recovering, (she said the bleeding didn't stop as soon as everyone would have liked) but she said that she's fine, they're just going to keep her at the hospital for a bit to make sure everything's ok.

Where is everybody?

Hey everybody, where are you are? Has everyone become so busy they can't keep up with this stimulating blog? I would love to hear from some (all) of you. So, here's some excitment up our way--Jeff will be coming home on Dec. 4! I can't wait. His very good friend just came home about 2 weeks ago and came to visit us and it was so nice. I think Jeff will be having his homecoming on Dec. 14. You are all invited.

So, no other great news. We had a great halloween. Bailey is at the age when it's just very fun. We had fantastic weather, so she was able to trick or treat for HOURS. Thank goodness she had several adults to take turns with her. Unforuantely, there was a tiny bit of snow today. Luckily none of it stuck, although Bailey would like it to snow, as then she knows her birthday is getting closer.

Are you all happy about the election results? I think the US election got more coverage up here than the Canadian election, I feel like I've been in the thick of two elections.

Well, hope you are all doing well. Jamie, have you had your baby yet?!

Just Couldn't Resist

Elections are close at hand and I just couldn't resist sending along this quote found in a book called Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley (page 3)
"...majority of the United States Congress, whose members understand that their main job, their highest calling, their truest democratic function, is to take money from other states and funnel it to their own. What greater homage to the Founding Fathers and the men who froze at Valley Forge could there be than a civic center in Tulsa paid for by the taxpayers of Massachusetts?"
Make sure and vote next Tuesday
Love Grandpa

Ward Talent Show

This is a ward talent show performance that is hard to beat...

NEW YORK CITY BABY!

Ok so I know the trip was over a month ago but I just got my pictures transfered onto my computer so I thought I would share some of them with you and give you my take on the trip.
Well as I'm sure you all know it was me, my parents and Grandma and Grandpa. My parents and I arrived in the big apple early Sunday morning, extremely tired (you try sleeping over night, on a couple chairs, in the middle of an airport cafeteria with a beach towel as your blanket) but really excited. Since we couldn't get into our hotel we became wanderers in Central Park.































We did eventually get to the hotel, and get to sleep, then on Monday the sight seeing began. We did the uptown tour where we saw the temple and many museums.
























Then came the downtown tour with the Chrysler Building,



a stop at the Empire State Building,


























and of course Lady Liberty herself.


























We also went on a night tour and to see the show "Wicked" on Broadway, but for me the highlight of the trip came on Wednesday when Grandpa and I left Flushing Meadows early to go to a taping of the Colbert Report.












I'll admit I was a little worried about taking Grandpa since he's never seen the show but he enjoyed it and I was on the biggest high. I don't think I could have had a better time, we were sitting on the front row, audience left, really close to Stephen's desk. He even noticed me wearing my Colbert sweatshirt and commented on it, to me during one of the commercial breaks. I could have gone home right then and been happy but there was still so much more to do.











Two days worth of Tennis. We got to see a lot of top tier players, we had great seats, and we even got to experience a small rain delay which delayed game play and we were watching tennis till 2am. It was a true US Open experience.







































So needless to say by Saturday we were a little tire but we still had one last piece of Americana History to visit. Of course I'm talking about Yankee Stadium.


















The day was really hot but the game was really good. I have never been to a baseball game with so many people and with so much energy. It was awesome. After the game we just had the rest of the day to enjoy the city. We ate at Lindy's (famous Cheesecake) and sat outside and did some final shopping.



































Packing that night was one of the most arduous tasks I have every had to do but I had a great time. I definitely want to go back
so we'll have to see. If anyone is looking for a travel companion, you know where I am. Till next time...

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to you all!  Today we get to celebrate Columbus Day, where everyone still has to go to school and work, and a few stores have "sales". You should all be jealous.

Cinderellla

J'Neil will have to post the formal pictures from the dance, which I think are great... But here are a few taken at the house before she left.

One of the funnest things is -- she has this green frog necklace that she loves. She wanted to wear it to the dance, but, well, it didn't go so well with the dress. So she attached it to the base of her tiara and she had a little green frog in her hair all nice. It was cute. I wish I had a picture...