favorite decorations of the season

Brad and I finally went and got a tree yesterday. We originally wanted to travel to Idaho and cut a tree down ourselves but we never found the time so off to the tree lot we went. I was quite excited to put my beautifully wrapped gifts, with coordinating paper {this shouldn't surprise those of you that know me}, under it before sending them off to the people we love. Brad did a wonderful job setting up the tree and putting lights on. I added my new decorations but it isn't quite complete so photos will have to be posted later.

However, here are a few of my favorite docorations of the season.

As previously mentioned ... the presents.

Our wonderful snowman stockings that my mom made for us {snowman pillows are also on the list but I haven't stuffed them yet}.

This is my one and only nativity set that I bought in Prague a few years ago. It is so unique and I absolutely love it.

Last but not least my creation for the season ... I found these little red beads at the Hobby Lobby and put them in our fancy glasses, add a few candy canes and you have a new decoration.

something you don't see everyday

I've mentioned before how my Grandma Burton is famous for her chocolates and candy so I decided to share a little something that my Grandpa Burton is famous for. While I was in Logan on Monday we headed up to USU to drop off some of my Grandpa's textbooks at the bookstore and we ran into Louise Gardner. Years ago {acutally only 3.5 but it seems like more} when I worked at the bookstore, Louise was one of the many friends I had made. When she saw my Grandpa {who she hadn't seen in a few years} she mentioned {as do a lot of people} that she remembers him playing the nose flute and how entertaining he was. I agreed with her. So here is something you don't see everyday that made my Grandpa famous ...

One more amazing instrument ...

twenty.seven years

Today is my {Kera} parents anniversary. They have accomplished a lot in the years they've shared. Five children {three girls . two boys} and two grandchildren later they are still happy and fun loving. They first met in high school and got married shortly after my Dad returned home from his mission to New Zealand. My parents have been great examples over the years and have always supported our family in whatever path we choose. So ... Happy Anniversary and even though your wedding was twenty.seven years ago, continue the celebration throughout the next twenty.seven years.

grandparents

Monday Kella and I made a trip to Logan to visit our grandparents. We haven't seen them for a while and Grandpa went in for surgery on his knee {same knee . same surgery . second time} today so we headed up. Jan and Kelly {aunt . uncle} joined us for lunch at this little Korean place on main street. It was really good food and Brooklynn {niece and Kella's daughter} was the life of the party. After lunch we headed back to Grandma's for a piece of famous chocolate {as mentioned in the previous blog} and an entertaining visit. I always enjoy the time I spend at their home. A lot of memories have been made there and will continue to be made. They are wonderful people and do so much for our family. Grandpa can always make me laugh and Grandma is so generous {she'd give you the shirt off her back if you asked} and I always leave with more than I came with. I love them and look forward to many more visits ... hopefully sooner rather than later.

Today Kella {my sister} and I made/dipped chocolates. My Grandma Burton has been making them every year for as long as I can remember. I feel confident in saying that anyone who knows my grandma knows her chocolates and has probably taken a few home with them. So last year I decided to try my hand at this cullinary art and I did pretty good. This year Kella wanted to try it so we teamed up and made a batch of mint centers and rasberry centers. My grandma so graciously gave me the dipping chocolate which came in a 10 lb. brick {thanks grandma!} so we cut, or more like shaved it until we got enough to melt. Once the chocolate was carefully melted we started to dip. I don't think a single one came out square and there wasn't a fancy design on the top but they tasted good. We are in the begining stages of our candy making life so I think we have time to refine our skills. Next week more chocolate . chocolate . chocolate. We will be creating another batch of mints {they seem to be the favorite} and peanut butter cups.note: the results of our hard work is shown in the photo above

update

It's been a couple days so I thought I would give you all a brief update. Last night I changed my bandages. My plan was to take a picture of my leg so you all could see but Brad thought that would be gross and once I saw my leg I agreed with him. So no picture. My leg seems to be healing but aches a lot. I assume that will go away once the bruises do. That is all the excitement I have for you now.

goodbye vein

So I {Kera} had my second and last surgery on my leg yesterday. I'm not sure if it was better or worse than the first one. There was less pain, after the twenty shots to numb my leg, but the sounds were worse. Following the twenty shots were twenty-three small incisions from the middle of my thigh to the bottom of my calf ... then goodbye vein. The doctor pushed, pulled, wiggled and then SNAP the vein, or at least a piece of it, was released through one of the many small holes in my leg. I was very much awake and well aware of what was going on {I opted not to take the valium because last time it didn't work until after the surgery and made me sick} After about forty minutes of this I was done. In a couple of weeks I should be good as new and will no longer look like I have a brain on the backside of my leg.