Pizza Party

Our college days at ASU were spent mostly in the ceramic room; Alvin most of the time and me on special occasions. One thing the group of students and instructors did often was have a pizza party. Now this was not calling for pizza delivery like we do now but actually cooking pizza in kilns. Yes, this can be done and we have continued to carry on this unusual activity all of our married life with kid parties, teenage parties, church parties, adult parties and school parties.

Alvin's college class always have a year end Christmas gift exchange and pizza party. Let me explain how this works. I prepare all the stuff you need - dough, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, sausage, olives, bell peppers, onions, and pineapple. Each person takes a wad of dough and flattens it in a pie pan and then adds whatever toppings they desire. It is than cooked in the gas kiln at around 900 degrees.

Now, my kids have been doing this all their lives so they know that the pizza might be burndt on the bottom or soggy in the middle and very seldom "just right". But, as my girls say; "you just always know it won't be perfect but it is just a fun thing to do." So, Chelsea Pace who experienced her first pizza party tonight (because we invited our kids to join in the party) sorry yours was soggy and Carter's was burndt on the bottom. We just wanted to carry on this tradition with Chandler, Cooper, Carter, Cash and Tatum. I think they had fun!

Christmas Card Tradition

Sending Christmas cards to family and friends have been a top priority with me in my Christmas preparation. I started sending out a card with a picture when Gretchen was 1 year old. There hasn't been too many years it didn't happen and the last many years it has defnitely been a must. We added Stephen first to the family picture and than Chelsea so that made 7. A good enough amount; but now we have added Chandler, Cooper, Carter, Cash and Tatum so last year I booted the big kids out and now only Alvin and I and the grandkids get to adorn my annual Christmas card. Do you know how hard it is to get 5 kids under five to all look good at one time for that special picture? Gretchen suggested we get everybody dressed up again and try one more time. I said no; the one I choose is just perfect. You will have to be on my Christmas list to see my perfect picture.

Happy belated birthday Carter!

My favorite boys - Cooper, Carter, Cash and Chandler

Very old but yet very new!

We had a picture session at the CHS photo department with Sterling Skousen. You see, I have a picture of me when I was "maybe a year old." What is so amazing is that I actually have the little yellow dress that I wore in that picture and also have the blue stuffed doggy sitting beside me. Yes, I know; a pretty old dress! I am not sure how I was lucky enough to have these because my mother was not a "keeper" of anything. Anyway, Sterling who is an amazing photographer and very good with small children took a picture of Tatum in the yellow dress sitting next to the blue doggy. What do you think?

Swinging in the breeze . . .

"Hea" - now you can recognize me on the road!

Tatum on the move at Nana's home!