Christmas 2008

Christmas Day arrives ready or not!! I always keep my fingers crossed that I didn't forget anything and that everyone will like their gifts. Mark and I finally closed our eyes at 2:30 A.M. Christmas Eve. We were exhausted from many late nights, sleeping at Grandma & Grandpa Monsen's, parties, baking, and last minute shopping. Megan and Katie were so nice this year and actually let us sleep in till 7:00 A.M......4 or 5 is normal....they knew we were exhausted!! The rest of the family came over about 9:30 for the tradition breakfast of Keish, bacon, hash browns and fresh fruit cup! There is so much to love about Christmas......................





Jake got a joke book from Santa and was telling us jokes all morning....I must say they were pretty funny!!



Boys will be Boys!! Winston and Nate drew each others name and went all out buying each other gifts that would bring hours of entertainment!! They were like a couple of LITTLE Boys getting their Christmas toy!!



We love having Rose with us the past two years for Christmas. She is awesome!!

Katie and Megan spent a lot of the day learning to move around on their I Pod Touch's and downloading music and programs on it.




You may not want to be caught sneaking into our house...Do you feel lucky punk?
This gun has a laser light that you wouldn't want pointed your way.



Can you tell who entertained us on Christmas? The Boys loved their gifts from Grandma & Grandpa. They are so easy to please!





How blessed we are to have so much!! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day!!

Christmas means Family

It's Tradition!! I always look forward to the traditional Schaar Family Christmas Party!! This year I was the lucky one and got to have everyone come to our house for this party. Our family is growing and there is quite a big group. Mom now has 22 grandchildren,19 Great-Grandchildren with 3 on the way. Eight of these great-grandchildren live out of town but needless to say we are a big group when we all gather together. We have calendared the Monday before Christmas for this party each year. We all know this is the appointed day for the Schaar Family Party....everyone makes the effort to be there. As a tradition we always have Shrimp Louies, bread sticks, deviled eggs, chips & dip, etc. and of course for dessert Brownies, Pepermint Ice Cream and Hot Fudge!! Yummy, Yummy!!

Kathy kept the little ones busy playing spin the bottle then Shelley stepped in with the Ringing Of The Bells while we waited for our special guest to come..............



Santa came and had quite a list of Naughty and Nice little boys and girls. He called each one up separately and gave them a special gift. Check out these reactions to Santa!









Mom is always so generous with her gifts. She spends alot of time and effort in choosing gifts for us all. The younger girls were so excited about their poka dot bags.



I loved the CD mom gave us of old family photos........what a treasure this is to have Check out some of these old pictures!!






Mom I love this gift so much and I want to write some of my memories about my childhood on some posts. Thank you, thank you!!

Just 3 more days till Christmas!!

Unwanted Gift

December 17, 2008. It was one of those days you dread happening......I was out Christmas shopping and got a phone call from Mark telling me that I needed to get to his parents house as quickly as I could. His dad had fallen and they were sure he had broken his leg. Mark was going straight to the hospital to meet the ambulance and I was going over to sit with his mom. When I got to their house the paramedics were just rolling the stretcher out to the ambulance. Kent looked like he was in so much pain and without question he had broken his femur bone. The next day he had surgery and they put a metal plate in his leg. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!





We love you and hope you mend quickly!!

Picture This



Sara had several people text her and say that one of her Bridal Pictures was on display at the Joseph Smith Building and the Lion House. A few days latter Sara was at one of her friends wedding luncheons at the Joseph Smith Building and sure enough there it was........Sara's picture advertising a big bridal show coming up in January. How does that work? Don't they have to ask you if they can use your picture? The next time I was uptown I ventured into the Joseph Smith Building with my camera and snapped a photo. It was fun to see her picture on display! 

Christmas Cheer

What could bring more Christmas Cheer than fun school programs? I love answering the phone and hearing an adorable voice on the other end inviting me to a Christmas program!! They always ask..."Can you Come?" It is an invitation I would never turn down. Yes, I am one of those proud Grandmas sitting in the audience always positioning myself in the best place to get a good photo. Cute little Josh sung his heart out and was right on que for the actions. Jake couldn't help but break a smile as he saw the camera pointed right at him. It is such a treat to go to these programs!!

What about this adorable smile!!

If I didn't know better I'd think that Mr. Rogers came to visit.....

Thanks so much Jake and Josh for inviting me to your programs.....I love you!!

Awesome At Eighty





Shirley Rae
December 15, 1928

December 15, 2008, Mom turned 80!! To celebrate the event all SIX of her girls planned a BIG Open House. What a great tribute it was to Mom as all her friends and family gathered to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I must say that Mom looks Awesome At Eighty. I can only hope that I look that good at her age.

Old family friends came, dinner club friends, study group friends, old High School friends and neighborhood friends came to wish her Happy Birthday. It was so much fun to visit with everyone and get updates on their families.

Mr Blue Eyes himself Bob Sandstrom...one of our favorites!

Kathy's house looked beautiful, the food was delicious and there were many people that commented on the wonderful invitations. They claimed to have seen nothing like it!
Her gift was a book filled with letters and family pictures.







The Schaar Sisters are still capable of putting together a smashing Party! It was a wonderful celebration of Eighty Fabulous Years!! Sure love you Mom!!