The pictures did not post so I am trying again.

Larry and I have been home sick today. I woke up with chills and aches and Larry had nausea and stomach pains all night. We slept all day and got someone else to do the primary class and we are feeling better tonight. Erick has been busy with his ward all day so it has been pretty quiet.

I called Sara and she said that they had all been sick lately too. Some of the boys had to have antibiotic. She is busy getting ready for an enrichment night party this Thursday. She said that her mother and her and the boys went out and cut their own Chistmas tree. That is a real woman woman for you, add to that she is pregnant and her mother is fighting cancer.

We have had a somewhat stressful week this week. It has been the end of the semester at the University of Utah. Erick spent three days this week mostly at school finishing up projects but it paid off for him. His team tied for 1st in the Frisbee throwing competition that they had to build a Frisbee thrower for. So he was feeling pretty good Thursday night. He drew up the contraption in 3-d on CAD so that impressed a few people too.

Monday night I had ESL class as usual and things to finish up for school. I got home about 8:30 p.m. Larry had done the laundry and gone shopping for me again. Plus he was working on homework for his class on Tuesday night.

Tuesday Larry took the day off to work on homework and get things finalized for his class. He got home about 10:30 p.m. from class. I stayed at school and did National Academic League practice and then stayed working on my school project waiting to see if parents would come to visit for parent teacher conference. I had sent home a letter that I would be there for them because I could not be there on Wednesday because of my class. I left at 6:00 p.m. because my visiting teachers were supposed to come at 6:30 p.m. I had a good visit with them and then put some finishing touches on what I had to do on the final presentation for Wednesday and went to bed.

Wednesday went well. My classes went good and I stayed after helping a girl with her pattern layout for Clothing. I ate the Parent Teacher conference luncheon and then went to my class. Our presentation went really well and the teacher gave us alot of conpliments on it. I came home feeling good because he said that if I finish up my schooling in IDET that there are a lot of things that I could do and encouraged me to continue.

Thursday I did not feel well all day but I made myself keep working and I stayed after school again for a couple of hours for parents again. I actually had one parent come in and I spent the time calling and emailing parents who had left their name and number the night before for the conferences. I left at 5:00 p.m. and went to a class at the University of Utah about the electronic portfolio's we have to develop for the Technology endorsement. I stopped on the way home to get some laminating I had dropped off at Kinko's for a game I wanted to play in Foods the next day. They had done the order wrong so I ended up going to look for some dice for a few minutes and then waiting for the order for an hour. I ended up getting home about 9:30 p.m. But I got the order for free because they had messed up.

Friday I forgot to hand out a sheet asking for volunteers that I had gone early to type and run off. Then the game did not go over good and I had high hopes for it. We had faculty meeting and then I read my email and by then it was 5:00 p.m. and Larry and I were going to the temple. I actually made it home in time and we made it back in time for the 6:30 p.m. session with the ward. Larry and I got dinner after the session and came home to go to bed.

Larry had stayed home Friday and gone to the doctor. He is working with the doctor on an insulin pen that makes it so he can eat more of what he wants and then give himself some insulin. He also went to the foot doctor and got fitted for some orthotics and had a check for neuropothy in his feet. I was shocked that he actually went to the doctor without having to be urged to go.

Larry worked on Saturday morning. I went up to Fran Brown and Maren gave me a manicure and pedicure and we had a good talk. I like to go in just to have the chance to talk with her. Landon called while we were there and said that Brinlie had thrown-up after taking a bottle. But she seemed to feel okay later. Maren and I went to lunch and then she had to take the car home to Landon. She tried to get Brinlie to walk for me but she wanted nothing to do with walking then.

While I was getting the manicure I called the last of my brothers and sisters and everyone said that they could come to a party on the 30th of December. Because we are going to Texas and I am in charge of the party I decided to have the Presser/Christiansen party with the Jenkins party in the after noon and then our family can open presents before or after the big party.

While talking to Kathy I found out that Amy may be getting married in June. She has a boy friend who wants to marry her but it is still up in the air for some reason. Amy also bought a town home in Provo now because she works there 4 days a week.

Aunt Chris is doing well but they expect that it will be 2 to 3 months before she can go back to work. It takes about six months to completely recover. Apparently they found out the problem was worse than they thought when they got into the surgery. She said it was the most painful thing she has been through. They have moved her bed into the family room so she can be with everyone.

I took the car in to get it serviced and got gas and a car wash. By the time I got home it was 1:40 p.m. I worked on some things on the computer and then Larry decided we had better get things ready for Matthew's birthday party. Kirsten had called and wanted a ride to the party because Jon was working, but Maren had also called and asked us to take Brinlie because Landon had got tickets to a concert before they got the invitation to the party. So we took the malibu to Kirsten and then went shopping for a present for Matthew. Kirsten had gone with her mother-in-law, Ann, to a shower for someone in Jon's family earlier in the day and was not home.

We left for the birthday party at 5:15 p.m. after Maren and Landon brought Brinlie. Brinlie walked for us then because she wanted to get to Frescas. They had the party at Chuck-e-cheese most of the family was there. Jake doesn't get home until about 7:00 p.m. so he was not there and I already mentioned that Jon and Maren and Landon couldn't make it. Kristen got there after us because Kyle got a migraine on the way down and they had to stop for him to throw up. Michelle was also late because Jaron threw up on the way down and they had to go back and clean him up. So it was a good day for throwing up.

They had everything ready. Plenty of Pizza and soda for everyone. The kids were having a ball and I was having a hard time hearing everything. Lexie was excited because she had lost her first tooth so we took a picture of her that I will add. I will also add some pictures of the party. Matther seemed to be having a good time. Jeff and Michelle's grandmother Marie was there also. She has been up this week from California visiting with them.

Grandma and Grandpa have been calling us this week trying to get us to fly but I think that we are still going to drive. Nathan and Sara would also like us to fly but Larry wants to drive.

Well, hope you are all ready for Christmas we aren't but we are getting there.

It has been a busy week. All of us at home have had projects and team projects to get done for school. Usually we are home on Saturday's some but we all left by 9:00 a.m. and no one was home until about 5:30 p.m. yesterday. Then we all went to the ward Christmas party. Maren and Brinlie even came for a few minutes.

We had a great Thanksgiving at our house. Everyone was here except Jeff and Misty and their family and Nathan and Sara and their family. Michelle came about 12:30 p.m. with her family and they had a good time playing Phase 10 with Erick. Larry worked Thanksgiving morning to follow an old Presser Tradition. But he was home in time to eat and be tired the rest of the day. We ate about 3:00 p.m. and had all the good things for Thanksgiving. Turkey, Rolls, Dressing, Cranberries, Mashed potatoes and gravy,Yams, Peas, Jello Salad, Fruit salad and several pies and cheese cakes. Michelle make cranberries. Nikkie made mashed potatoes. Kirsten make pumpkin pie, Maren made three kinds of cheesecake, and I made a lemon, apple, and banana cream pie and the rest of the dinner. Most of the family had left by 7:30 p.m. to go to the spouses family but we had a good time together while they were here.

Nathan called in the morning and talked for a while. Sara and the boys had gone to the border to be with him for Thanksgiving. They were cooking dinner in his apartment and having a good time.

Jeff called in the afternoon and they had a good time with Misty's family.

Ethan and I made his seven year old quilt the day after Thanksgiving and we were acturally able to complete it in one day. We had Kirsten's kids here while she and Jon went shopping and they all helped tie it along with Larry and Erick so we were able to complete it that day. Ethan also had fun playing a computer game with his cousins that day.

Saturday morning I went to have Maren do my hair and then I went to the Kaysville Nativity display to watch Ethan and Hailee's choir perform. I had to go pick Larry up from Salt Lake because the car stalled on him and would not start after work. After a dinner with him he helped me record graded papers for school so I could get the progress reports out on Monday. It was midterm this week so getting that done last week was a big help.

Monday the 27th I got new students in TLC so I had to be at school. Tuesday I took off to work on a project that is due for school next week. It took me all day until about 11:00 p.m. that evening to get everything ready. Larry had class that night and a presentation to do. He said it went well but he was gone until about 10:30 p.m. BJ sent me a text with a picture of his Christmas tree that night about 11:00 p.m. and I was able to have a good talk with him for a few minutes. He and his roommate went out and bought a christmas tree and ornaments so they could have a tree.

Erick came home on Tuesday ready to go to bed at 4:30 p.m. so I knew he was sick. He has had a cold or flu all week with a runny nose, congestion and a cough so he was home several days right after school going to bed but he still got his 30 hours in at work so he was surprized. He is counting the days until school ends. He is working on a frisbee thrower for his class, he calls it an alternative dish washer because you can load the plates into it and launch them off and shoot them with a shotgun.

Wednesday I had school and class. Larry did some wash while he did his home work. He was able to help Michelle take the kids to a concert they had to perform and see the kids perform at a local elementary school. Daniel has been out of town all this week so she was grateful to have help with the younger kids. Larry held Jaron until he fell asleep. Erick was sick but he still went to school and work.

Thursday I stayed at school helping students finish their sewing projects for TLC until 5:30 p.m and then picked up dinner at McDonalds and met Larry at the Family History Center were we worked until 9:00 p.m Erick was just fixing his dinner when we got home after sleeping the afternoon.

Friday I had midterms due. BJ stopped in at school to see me after a meeting for work in Salt Lake. It was good to see him. He also saw Maren when he went to get his hair cut. I stayed at school until 10:00 p.m to finish my grades so they would be finished for Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. when they are due. Larry worked on homework. He was in bed when I got home. Erick said this was the first day he started feeling better. He got home about the same time I did from work and school.

Saturday as I said we were all busy. Larry went to work in the morning at 7:00 a.m. and then had a meeting with a school team to work on a project after work until about 5:30 p.m. I met my team about 10:00 at the U of U and we worked until 3:00 p.m. then I went home and ran a few errands. I called Kirsten and she sounded like Erick has so she has been sick all weekend. Erick went to work then to be a model for Maren's second practice test and get a hair cut. After that he went to the U of U to meet his team to work on the Frisbee thrower. Then he came home and rushed to the temple to meet his ward. Then we all went to the Christmas party which was a good relaxation after a long day, and dinner was already fixed.

Ethan and Hailee performed Saturday night at the Festival of the Trees in Salt Lake City. Michelle said it was the first time they had been to Festival of the Trees.

Today was fast Sunday. The choister in Primary asked the children to think of a gift they could give to Jesus. She said that it is a tradition in their home to do this for the first Family Home Evening of December and then the children work on their gift the month before Christmas. The gifts are changes they can make or commandments they try to keep better. I thought it was a good idea. I hope we can focus on the spirit of Christ for Christmas.

Larry and I and Erick and possibly BJ are going to Texas for Christmas to be with Nathan and Sara and their family. We are leaving on the 21st of December and will drive. We are hoping to visit Larry's sister Judy on the 22nd and 23rd and then go to where Nathan will be. He is hoping to get some time off and be in Houston but we do not know where he will be yet. We have to come home on the 26th so Larry and Erick can go back to work. Hopefully we will be home on the 27th.

Aunt Chris had back surgery on Thursday and was having a fever yesterday so it would be good if we could all remember her in our prayers.

I talked to Aunt Annette tonight and Amber and Nate were out for Three weeks and just went back today. Adrienne and Drayton have moved into their new house so Annette and Rex are finally empty nesters until Weston gets home.

Larry talked to Aunt Judy tonight and Mike is taking a two year course on Helpicopters with the police department that will make it possible for him to be an instructor when he gets finished.

Well I need to go to bed. If I forgot something about you then make a comment on the blog. Love to you all.