NEW YEARS EVE BLING BLING

Fred and Lyn, Chris' girlfriend at our house in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Lynn and her boys Wyatt and Cade gave the blig blig to me.

BAILEY the SPIDER QUEEN

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 An-email from Stacey You’re always asking for stories‏ From: Stacey Jepson (staceyjep@gmail.com) Sent: Wed 12/30/09 1:28 PM To: Fred C. Jepson (fcjepson@hotmail.com) So, I was putting away Christmas and I was out in the garage. I moved a box out of the way and there was this spider under it. I freaked out and was scared to go into the garage for the rest of the day. Bailey said mom don't be scared. I will go take care of it. A few seconds went bye and she came back into the house laughing her head off, saying this is what you’re scared of mom. I went to go look and the spider was fake. So the point of the story is, don't always believe what you see. Ps. Bailey is still laughing at me. I couldn't get the picture of the spider to upload.

GORJ SAVED SANTA (Jayden age 10)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2009 As promised here is the story Jayden wrote in school for Christmas. "Gorj Saved Santa Jayden We are going to staret with a elf named Gorj. All the elves wer hard at work in santas work shop all but one. It was Gorj (George) he was slepeing (sleeping) santa cam in and asked way arnt you working I’m sleeping Way don’t you fix m slay. (Why don’t you fix my sleigh?) How (why) don’t we take the engen out then we poot it bak in. Thay take the engen out then poot it bak in. Santa went to work. Gorj thought it was cool to see Santa go to work then lookt at the engen remembrd he fix it. We fixt it he felt hape. (happy) He went to the work shop. Gorj felt Good about Him Self antil he got sik. Santa is stuk in the hcimne (chimney) Ho Ho Ho help me a vois (voice) cam fram the hcimen (chimney) Gorj savd santa. Santa gave Gorj a brake. Gorj did not tak it."

PROGRESSIVE DINNER etc.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2009 Today after church we had a progressive dinner at ours and our kid’s houses so Grandma Bev could see them. We had appetizers at Corey’s and Stacey’s, soup and salad at our place, the main course, Café Rio chicken burritos at Niki’s, then desert at Chris and Sierra’s. Jim’s Julia and her kids, Ethan, Jacob and Autumn were there at Niki’s and at Chris’. Of course in no time they were best friends with Jayden, Bailey and Alexa and were yelling and screaming and running around like a bunch of Banshees. And of course they wanted an adult to chase them, and at Niki’s house have a war throwing light plastic balls at us. First it was Jim, then it was my turn and finally I sicked them on Corey. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. And I was being careful. At Chris’ house it was all me, up and down stairs umpteen times. At first I thought I was going to die then I wished I would and get it over with. Just kidding! We got in a conversation about Jayden’s new pellet/B.B. gun and how Stacey is paranoid about someone getting hurt. The story came up about how when they were living in their apartment in Albuquerque and Jayden was six or seven years old. They saw a show about a kid throwing a stick and hitting a rabbit. After seeing it, Jayden asked if he could go outside. After a while they started wondering where he had gone. They went out and found him lying on the ground with a stick in his hand waiting for the rabbit that lives in the apartment complex courtyard to show up. Tonight when Corey was telling the story, Jayden got all embarrassed and tried to shut his dad up. When he wouldn’t he hid his face. I kind of felt bad for him but loved the story. In my entry of 20 November I recorded what Jayden wrote in school about what he was thankful for. He did a very good job and used a lot of imagination. Tonight while we were at their house they showed us a Christmas story he wrote in school. Again he used a lot of imagination and again it was way good. I will try to get it home so I can transcribe it into my journal for you.

SHY BAILEY--NOT!

Saturday, December 26, 2009 I spent much of the day running around with Corey, Jayden and Bailey buying stuff they needed for tomorrow’s progressive dinner and whatnot. We also went in to Payless Shoe Source in Lehi/American Fork to buy Jayden a much needed new pair of brown winter boots. While we were in there I noticed that Sven Menssen, his wife Nicole, their daughter Cara and son Robert were in there also. I told Bailey that they were in our ward and with only a slight nudge from me, Bailey was all over Cara pretending to take her knitted brown hat off her head etc. Bailey has got to be the friendliest girl on the face of the planet.

MERRY CHRIST-MAS EVERYONE

Friday, December 25, 2009 Christmas day 2009 Today is the big day. For Judy and me, we didn’t start the family festivities—food and presents wise until 4:30 this afternoon. That is when everyone was scheduled to arrive—appetizers at 4:30—dinner at 5:30 and opening presents after that, dessert later. The kids of course did their Christmas’ last night and this morning with their other families which was fine. Grandma Bev; Judy’s mother has been with us since the 22nd and will stay through next Tuesday if I understand it correctly. She has been a lot of fun. Last night, Judy, Bev and I went to a ward Christmas program where various ward members performed, singing, piano playing etc. Of course the finale (and high-note) was Jim playing his flute with Judy accompanying him on her harp. Just kidding on the high-note, they were all wonderful! At 11:30 Judy and I were back over to the church to listen to Fred Blackburn give a forty-five minute organ recital. He is a very gifted musician. He finished it off with two carols on the chimes played along with the organ. I have no idea how he pulled that one off. The organ was playing without him sitting at it. Hmm! In addition to tonight’s family dinner, we will be having a progressive dinner on Sunday. Ah ha here it is off an e-mail: At Fred & Judy's – (Christmas Day) 4:00 - Doors Open 4:30 - Appetizers 5:30 - Dinner Served 6:30 - Open Presents 7:00 - Dessert Family Progressive Dinner - Sunday, December 27th 4:00 to 4:45 - Appetizers at Corey & Stacey's house 5:15 to 6:00 - Soup & Salad at Fred & Judy's house 6:30 to 7:30 - Main Course at Niki & Greg's house 8:00 to 9:00 - Dessert at Chris & Sierra's house On an unhappy note, Chris was bumped off his first flight and didn’t get in until fourish this afternoon. When he did, he told us that he has been fighting the flu for the last several days and was running to the bathroom on the plane every fifteen minutes. He decided to forgo the festivities and stay home in bed. Through it all Sierra missed the message that Chris missed the first flight and was waiting at hers and his house for him to pick her up and bring her out here. Somehow Niki (I think it was) found out and I drove into Salt Lake and got her so she was here in time for everything. Anyway Merry Christ-mas to you Merry Christ-mas to you Merry Christ-mas family friends and loved ones Merry Christ-mas to you As they say, let’s keep Christ in Christmas!

YOU GUESSED IT!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009 Today when I picked Jayden and Bailey up after school, Jayden and Issie walked up hand in hand. She then let go and rubbed the back of his head-then she took his hand again. I then drove Jayden and Bailey to their dad’s work so they could go straight to a Christmas party for Stacey’s side of the family. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2009 The last couple of days Bailey has been sick; coughing and sniffling etc. Today was Stacey’s day to work so I spent the day with Bailey. She seemed to get better as the day went on. I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes back to school tomorrow. When I went to their school to pick Jayden up, I parked in a different place than I usually do so, according to Jayden’s instructions, I got out and waited by the flag pole for him. Pretty soon he and Issie came running up, laughing, pushing each other giggling and wrestling. They said their goodbyes and I took Jayden home. Corey left work a little early and was home not too long after I brought Jayden home.

CONTINUATION of the ENTRY BELOW

When we got to their house they turned on the Disney channel and watched the Disney movie, The Thirteenth Year. It is about a boy whose mermaid mother left him on a boat when he was a baby. He became the 2nd fastest swimmer on the junior high swim team. When he reached his thirteenth birthday he started morphing into a mer boy and won the state swim championship. He was only a mer boy when he was wet so he still looked normal much of the time. In the end, his mermaid mother came back for him to teach him the things mer boys need to know, but he announced to his adopted parents that he would be back in time for school next fall. Bailey turned to me as he was swimming out to sea to meet up with his mother, “I think I’m going to cry!” I told her I was too…and I meant it.

FROM THE MOUTHS of BABES!

Monday, December 14, 2009 When I picked the kids up after school, Bailey showed up first doing a half dance/half run and giggling. She broke away from the friend she was with, got in the car and announced in a tone of voice that suggested I shouldn’t tell Jayden "I'm telling you this"..."Jayden dreamed he and Issie were kissing.” A moment later Jayden and Issie came walking up side by side, said their goodbyes and Jayden got in the car. Issie gave me her usual big wave and ear to ear grin. When he got in the car Jayden said “OK, I dreamed that Issie and I were kissing and Nate (his friend) woke me up.” He also really woke up at this point. “When I woke up I yelled so loud that the devil and Father in Heaven could hear me!” (I’m not sure if I’m telling it word for word.) He didn’t say why he was yelling, if it were because Nate spoiled his dream or what. Ages ten and eleven!

JUST BABBLING

Thursday, December 10, 2009 Last night Jim, Corey and his family and Judy and I went to the new Rodizio Grill in American Fork. I am not a huge Rodizio fan but I enjoyed it more than usual this time. Maybe it was because I focused more on the salad bar than I usually do. Bailey mostly ate salad and related items. Jayden ate mostly black bean and rice. Corey mentioned that Stacey would like an electric (heated) throw (small blanket) to put over her when she is sitting on the sofa. Corey always has the heat turned down too low for the rest of the family; (and me when I’m there). Before going to dinner, he and I bought one for her at Wal-Mart in Saratoga Springs. We also got a pink gift bag and pink tissue paper and put it all together before leaving the store. We gave it to her at dinner. She seemed pleased.

WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER

Wednesday, December 09, 2009 9:08 a.m. Corey called. I guess he is in his car driving to work. He just had to “share with you how crazy cold it is.” He said that it was thirty-one degrees in his garage when he got into his car and by the time he got to the stop sign behind Eagle Valley Elementary School, where Jayden and Bailey go to school, it was “negative” thirteen. He said that by the time he got to the Smith’s store in Saratoga Springs, approximately three mile from our house, it was one degree above zero. I left the house a little before nine and as I drove to the Smith's area the temperature on the gage in my car fluxuatied between positive seven and positive five. Several hours later it was only plus eleven in Provo.

DOING DOUBLE DUTY/FROM THE MOUTH OF A THREE YEAR-OLD

Tuesday, December 08, 2009 For a while today I had my hands full. Not only did I pick Jayden and Bailey up after school but I had to go right from there to Greg’s parents’ house and get Alexa and Gavin and take them all to Greg and Niki’s and watch them until Corey got off work. After he took his two, I took Alexa and Gavin to where Niki, Greg and Judy were all getting their hair done. It was at some lady’s house. She is a neighbor of Michael and Shannon’s. I have noted elsewhere that three and a half year-old Alexa is madly in love with Troy from Disney’s High School Musical and everyone knows it. Today ten year-old Jayden jokingly said to her, “Troy doesn’t shower!” Alexa immediately responded with, “Gabriella doesn’t poop.” And “Gabriella drives a dirty car!” It amazes me what the mind of someone that young can come up with. If you don’t know, Gabriella is Troy’s heartthrob in the movies and Alexa is adamantly jealous of her and even cried when they kissed. She sobbed, “Troy is supposed to kiss me!”

BAILEY and DEVIN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2009 Yesterday after I picked Bailey and Jayden up after school and took them home, Bailey asked if she could play with (I forgot her name) . I said sure and I drove her to a house across from their elementary school. The girl wasn’t home but there were three boys about her age playing in the driveway next door. She started talking to them. She asked if she could play with them and again I said yes and left her there. A while later Corey called to check up on them and I told her where Bailey was. He voiced some concern. He said he didn’t mind her being there and playing with them but she has a tendency to take off without letting them know where she is going and they have to search the whole area trying to find her. He asked me to go get her and bring her home. When I got there she asked if Devin could go home with her and play. I said yes and she ran through their garage, into their house and a minute later a cute little boy her height came in tow. He is a very nice polite young man. They were in the same room in school last year if I remember correctly. He told me he had to be home at six and at ten ‘til he climbed into my car and I took him home. As it turns out, the girl Bailey originally wanted to play with goes to her grandpa’s house after school every day.