I have lost my mind!!!

Well Tuesday I had a hair appointment in Rexburg.  I knew this would be the only day I would have to go to the temple this week, so I figured I would go before my appointment.  The night before I got everything ready so I could go the next morning.  I got up and headed to Rexburg.  I pull into the temple and reach for my bag and guess what.  No Bag!!!  I can't believe it.  I call my Bishop and thank goodness he was home.  I asked if he could get me in if the called.  I didn't know if they rented clothes.  I grabbed some money out of my purse and headed in.  They said they could call the Bishop.  While I was waiting I panicked and wondered how much it was to rent clothes.  I had never done it before.  I asked the man at the front.  He didn't know either.  I was parked forever away and figured with my luck I wouldn't have enough money.  They came out and said the Bishop had given the go ahead.  I had $7 with me and thank heavens it was only $4.25.  The session was packed and I was so glad I made it in.  

When I returned home later in the day my temple bag was laying right where I had left it the night before.  Hopefully next time I will remember.  I challenge all of you to increase your temple attendance this coming year.  I am going for 50.  I'll hopefully see you at the temple.

Matt's letter

Dear Friends and family, as you know my transfer call came and it was time for me to leave Fargo and go to Rapid City.  It is a little hard to leave after making a place your home.  I love Fargo and I love the people there especially my companions.  I had a lot of fun there and learned more than I ever thought I would.  We left Fargo at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning to Sioux Falls SD.  From there to Rapid.  We got into Rapid around 6:00 p.m. and thats with coming back into MST.  We came to the mission office and sent everyone on their way to the different destinations.  We were invited to the Mission home to have dinner with the two sisters and Elder that are going home.  We went to put on our suits and left to go to dinner.  We ate with the three that were leaving and the Ellsworths and the Cannons.  The Ellsworths are from Texas they work in the mission office.  He said at one time he had 15,000 acres that he farmed.  He is related to the Ellsworths in Lewisville.  After dinner we had a little fireside like is normal when people go home.  It was a little weird to be there with people going home.  The worst was still to come.  The next day Elder Johanson and I went with all of them to the airport to send them on their way.  It was hard to watch Elder Blackett and Sister Mustoe walk away through security.  To know that they are done.  Elder Blackett was the AP that I replaced and the last 6 months we have become very good friends.  Sister Mustoe was in my zone for the last 6 months.  It was hard to see them go.  The time comes for all of us I guess.  After that we all went back to the office and did some work there.  We were working with President getting some District Leaders for the mission.  Friday we had a leadership meeting in Gillette Wyoming.  Saturday I was driving to Dickinson ND to be on an exchange.  There was no church on Sunday because it was too cold.  The lowest was -55.  We left the van I was driving running all day, it never built up any heat.  I stayed there until Tuesday afternoon then I drove to Bismark and that is where I am now.  This has taken me about a week to write.  I hope you have a happy and Merry Christmas.  I love all of you and am thankful for all that everyone does.  The gospel is real and this church is lead by Christ in everything it does.  Love ya all.  Love Elder Robison

Christmas Day!!

Christmas morning arrived with a bang or a gust I guess.  We woke up to a lot of snow and wind again.  I called Rachel and asked if they were going to try to get out here.  She said they were just leaving Rigby.  They made it but they said they figured they would be here for the day.  It was bad.  We started opening presents.  Yes that is Kendall in a fuzzy hat and pajamas.  

Dave in his jammie pants.  

Kaden opening a remote controlled helicopter

Brenan got a new suit but it didn't fit so he will have to go pick the one he wants.

The best part of the day was the phone call from Matt.  He was in Huron South Dakota.  He got to pick where to spend Christmas.  He was already close by and loved it when he was in Huron.  He got to see a lot of the people that he knew when he was there.  Two of his converts still live there and are still active.  He is doing good.  He travels from place to place.  He doesn't have a car the missionaries take him to his new areas.  He sleeps on the floor wherever he ends up.  I told him I wouldn't be able to walk if I had to sleep on the floor every night.  He said it would be a good experience.  He called while we were opening presents and then called again in the afternoon.  They were visiting people for most of the day.  The only thing that bummed me out was none of his Christmas presents got to him so he had absolutely nothing.  He didn't seem to care.  The mission home didn't get his stuff to him.  I think he will get it either tomorrow or the next day so he will have a delayed Christmas.  The book I sent two day guaranteed didn't make it so I will be calling the post office tomorrow to see where it ended up.  It was supposed to be there Wednesday.  Sister Cannon had snuck a gift in his suitcase so that was the only present he had.  It was fun talking to him.  The next time will be mothers day and he will be coming home soon after that.  His last Christmas away.  The wind finally slowed down around 4:00.  I think Rachel and Kendall might be able to get home we will have to wait and see.  

PaRtY,pArTy,PaRtY!!!

Let the Christmas parties begin.  We were supposed to have Grandpa Steve's party Monday night but we were snowed in so we at the last minute cancelled and moved it to Tuesday night.  We had a great time.  We had prime rib which I had started to cook on Monday so we quit cooking it and recooked on Tuesday,  I thought it would make it tough but it was actually still pretty good.  Everyone was in attendance except for Brock and Mandy.  Brock had his gall-bladder out at 12:30 today so they didn't make it.  Melanee brought their kids. Melissa and Tyler had the flu so they weren't there.   We did the $20 exchange game and as usual there were about 3 gifts everyone fought over.  Kendall tried to put rules on the game but no one let him.  Next year definite rules. 

  

The kids love getting presents.

Kassidy (Mandy's)

Cole (Marcy's) Jade looking on

Trajen (Sha'Nell's)

Matthew (Ryan's)

Ezra (Ryan's)

Matthew, Brevin and Kaysen watching Kreed open his present

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Brevin was so excited to open presents.

Kaysen and Kelten.

On to the next party.  We had Christmas Eve at Ryan and Melissa's.

Todd always hiding from the camera

Brevin smiling for the camera.

Rachel and Kendall modeling Kendall's Christmas jammies around his neck.

Brevin really cheesing it for the camera.  He loves opening presents

Todd of course causing trouble somewhere.

Everyone waiting for present opening to begin.

It was a great night.  The adults swapped food storage this year.  

Christmas........Finally!!! New Traditions???

Yes the Robisons finally have a Christmas tree.  Thank heavens there was plenty of help to decorate it.  Decorating trees is not my favorite thing to do so I got out the stuff and let them go at it.  Brenan, Allie and Rachel did a great job.

Here is Brenan with his crazy cat and yes he is crazy.  Brenan takes good care of him even though the cat has bit him at least 4 times.  

We started a new family tradition this year.  We decided to have a gingerbread house competition.  In order to get the guys involved you have to make it a competition.  Brenan and Allie working hard on their house

Kaden doing his own house.  He didn't have any help from the female persuasion and he faired really well.  He is quite the creative little soul.

Rachel bossing Kendall around.  Rachel had even been on the internet looking for gingerbread house ideas.  

Everyone working hard to make theirs the very best.

Rachel and Kendall's

Kaden's

Brenan and Allie's

Our three gingerbread houses don't they look great!

Kaden and his finished house!!!

Brenan and Allie and their finished house!!!

Rachel and Kendall and their finished house!!

We had a lot of fun.  I think this is one tradition that is going to stick so hold us to it next year.

To finish the evening off.  Kendall and Brenan put Kaden in some weird wrestling body stretch thing.  True brotherly love!!!