"The Rains Came Down, and the Floods Came Up..."

Yeah, so you know it's getting bad when the KIRO 7 Eye-Witness news team shows up in your driveway!!!!!

I looked out the window and saw this unfamiliar van. A few guys jumped out with a big ol' camera. So, I grabbed my camera and took a few shots of them interviewing Doug and my father-in-law, Ted. They were here for a little while, filming the massive amount of water running through our property!! We saw Dad on the news just a little bit ago. It's crazy when you are the news!!!

This is the news crew filming Dad and Doug moving our travel trailer to higher ground.

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There were several people that showed up to help my in-laws with moving their belongings up higher. Don Boren, The Epley's, Wayne and Bishop Lambert all were helping with that and sandbagging. We are so blessed to be surrounded by people who care so much about us. Our phone has been ringing off the hook all day with concerned family and friends. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. We love you all!!

Mug shot of prisoner number 751212

Jilli, Jilli, Jilli, Jilli, Jilli, Jilli, JILLI!!

Man, this kid is going to be the death of me. So, this morning school was delayed a couple of hours. The kids were still asleep, so I was too. Then Jillian woke up!! Apparently I wasn't coherent enough for my "Jillian radar" to work because I woke up to a few surprises.

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I walked into the bathroom and found that my makeup had been destroyed and the lipstick was still missing. JILLIAN!

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I went down into the family room and found Jillian scrubbing one of the Christmas blocks that spells out "Believe, " with a wipe. I very calmly said, "Jillian, what are you doing?" I startled her a little and she jumped while turning around. "I didn't do anything, I didn't do anything! I am just washing this." She had smeared lipstick all over the block...oh, and herself. She pretty much looked like a clown. And her hands had just as much on them as her face. I wanted to snap a picture right then, but I was too upset. I lead her into the bathroom and showed her the beautiful piece of work she had turned my makeup into. She admitted that she had done it and of course was crying by this point. She got put in the corner. I did decide to take a picture, but by that time she had rubbed most of it off. So the picture of her above doesn't do the situation justice. After a little bit, I went and had a "talk" with her, did the whole, "stay out of mommies things" thing and then wondered what else she had smeared the lipstick on. We headed back into the family room and thankfully found just the block. But sitting next to the block was a sippy cup. It looked like it was full of something abnormally dark. I just happened to glance up a the breakfast nook table to notice the chocolate syrup was out and open. Yep, she had filled the sippy cup with chocolate sauce. Yummy!

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What am I going to do with this kid???

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There are those moments of pure cuteness though.

I prefer those moments.
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I did it!!!

As most of you know, several months ago, President Hansen gave us a challenge. He challenged us to get a new copy of the Book of Mormon and read it. But read it and mark it with the intent of giving it to someone else. What an amazing challenge. A little scary, but amazing. I, along with my friend Heidi took the challenge. I started in October and finished it this morning.

It has been an incredible experience for me. I have read it before...but this time was different. I was reading it through the eyes of someone else. From the beginning I knew who I was going to give it to. Every verse I marked everything I read, was for her. That had a huge effect on me.

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Well, reading was the easy part. Now I have to actually give it to my person. In the next few days I will. My nerves get shaky just thinking about it. I don't know how it will go, but I do know that I won't be alone when I hand her this amazing book.

Christmas, Christmas time is here!!

Man did it come on fast. I don't know if there has been a Christmas that I have been less prepared for. It just seemed to sneak up on me. After our little gift for Jesus...the kids couldn't stand it anymore and headed to the living room.

Isabelle couldn't contain her excitement!!

Let the unwrapping begin!!

Mom, Dad, David, Cari and Gabe ended up coming over to unwrap presents with us.
I didn't get a shot of mom and dad though.

My sweet Savannah.

You can't tell from the picture, but she is dancing to the music. She sure can shake her hips.

Payton loves to pose with things. In most of the pictures I have ever taken of him, there is something in his hands.

Isabelle talking on her little cell phone.

Jillian loved the fairy costume she got from Aunt Judi and Uncle Paul. She didn't really want to take it off all morning.

After the commotion settled and we ate breakfast, Jillian and daddy were tired...and grumpy if you can't tell. They were watching Horton Hears a Who and I think that Doug was trying to catch a quick cat nap.


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BLACKMAIL!!

After a while, people started showing up. Nanci and John and their 8 kids came up from Battleground, Alan and Brenda and kids, mom and dad came back and so did David and Cari. It was a houseful again.

Well, I think everyone got a little bored. Most of the adults ended up playing the Horton Hears a Who game that our kids got. It was really hilarious to see all these "grown-ups" prance around in the Horton hat looking for the clovers. Mom was the funniest and the most embarrassed I think. She had to hop to a clover, the room was filled with laughter.

"Shooot"

John had to "flap" to a clover and was a great sport about it. Actually, I think it was his idea to play the game.

Even though Jillian wasn't really playing the game, she needed to wear the Horton hat and flap around like she had seen everyone else do.

John and Nanci got stuck in our awful driveway on the way in and the way out. Doug to the rescue. He got them out and they headed home.

After everyone had left, Doug decided to show off his mad guitar skills to the kids. They were impressed...sort of.

We usually try to get a shot of all of us together on Christmas day. But it was just the kids this year. After this pic was taken, we headed over to Doug's parents to have a great dinner. The ham was awesome and a perfect ending to the day. It helped that it was somewhere besides my house.

Of course a holiday or special event wouldn't be complete without the token "vomiting." During dinner Payton was complaining about his stomach hurting (no, not from too much candy). He ended up puking right before bed. Oh what fun it is to be the Gifford Family!!

We hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas!!

THE GIFT

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T'was the morning of Christmas,

and all through this place

A smile was planted on everyone's face.
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Payton was the first to arise with delight

Not to peak at the presents

Took all of his might.

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He waited with patience

For his sisters to arise

Finally, presents...but first a surprise.

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We tip-toed as quickly

As we were able

One present we found right there on the table.

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"FOR JESUS" it said

As the kids looked with glee

What on earth could this possible be?

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Then they remembered

FHE Monday night

Could it be what we said...oh, it just might.

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They unwrapped the box

With sweet, tender love

And realized it WAS from them to above.

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The gifts we would give

To the Savior this year

Placed in this box to draw us more near.

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Dad would give prayer

More patience from mother

Payton would do service projects for others.

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For those who were hurt

Savannah'd be there

Jilli would be nice and just try to play fair

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From Isabelle she

Would continue to love

From all of us more reverence when we pray to above.

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The last gift from all

Was to love on another

Like Jesus loves us and our sisters and brothers.

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When we were all finished

So much more there could be

The things we could do for our Savior to see.

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The rest of the morning

Just like normal was spent

With presents, and candy and holiday scent.

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But for just a few moments

Before the presents for each

The meaning of Christmas, our hearts it did reach.

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For us, Christ was born

And he lived and he died.

But he lives now for us to return to his side.

~

Clarissa Gifford

12-26-2008

Christmas Eve

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Every Christmas Eve the family joins in on my sister-in-law, Dawn's, Italian tradition. She fixes up some spaghetti and meatballs (or Lasagna) and we all gather around the table. It was a small group this year. Only 11 kids and 11 adults.

Another tradition is Christmas pajamas. Doug's mom, Eileen, makes pj's for all of the grand kids. (There are 28 right now). The kids love that they get to open a present on Christmas Eve.

(Gabe, Christopher, Megan, Spencer, Jillian, Payton, Bryce, Savannah, Haley, Dallon and Isabelle)

Trying to get them all to sit still long enough for a picture is a pretty crazy thing. This is the best I could get with all of them in the frame.

Let it SNoW, Let it SNoW, Let it SNow!!!

So all this snow fall put a damper on my plans for the day. Heidi and I were supposed to head up to OTown to hang out with our beautiful friend Rachel. We were all totally bummed that it didn't work out. Especially when we found out that there was going to be presents and sugar cookies!! sniff sniff

I am from Colorado. Having all this snow makes me miss it. The snow that fell today is similar to the snow that falls in my home state. Although the snow there is more dry...the snow today was way more dry than the usual wet heavy snow we get.

The kids got home early and when they got their chores done, I bundled them up and they headed out. Their cousin, Karlie was more than happy to play with them and help build a snowman. There were a few complications with his head. He ended up looking that a shrunken-head snowman. The kids had a blast and didn't really get that cold.

TEAMWORK!!

Jillian just spent the entire time eating the snow. At least she was trying to share with Isabelle. She didn't like it near as much!

Once there were 5 snowmen!
Karlie and the kids took turns being the snowmans head and arms before they put the real one on.

By this time, Doug had gotten home. So all Isabelle wanted was him.

HAPPY SNOW DAY!!

Finally...a Christmas Tree!

After Payton's wrestling thing on Saturday, we finally got a tree. We found a fabulous tree farm just off of Jackson Highway. The couple that run it are super nice and very helpful. They provided us with umbrellas and took the liberty of using their chainsaw to chop it down. They even carried it to our truck and loaded it for us. And the tree was only $10!!! Isabelle had fallen asleep in the truck so she missed out on all the excitement and the picture.

It has taken way too long to set up for the Christmas season this year. I usually set up decorations and the tree and the very beginning of December. But, at least we got one. The lights are on it and it is awaiting the ornaments.

I captured some cute moments on the way back to the truck. Jillian was having a hard time carrying the umbrella by herself, so Savannah helped. Jillian responded with a sweet, "Thank you, Thannah!"