Ski Boy and Gingerbread Houses

Noah is SO EXCITED to go skiing tomorrow with his Aunt Carol.

Because Noah's a 5th grader, he gets to ski for free at all Utah ski resorts 3 times each one.

Yesterday, Daddy took Noah to rent his ski equipment for the season.

He spent yesterday and today gathering his gear and practicing putting it on and taking it off.

 

While Joyanne went to a party with friends, the boys stayed home and decorated Gingerbread houses.

Then . . .  they ate them. 

 

It was a busy, fun day!

Sick!

We spent the weekend in St. Anthony, Idaho visiting family.

Last night I went to bed early, tired and not feeling well.

This morning I woke up sick with a stomach ache and diarrhea.

I spent most of the day laying on the couch.

And this was my view:

Hoping for a happy, healthy tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I hope your Christmas is filled with the joy and happiness of Christ's birth and His blessing to pour down upon you and your family.

 

We feel very blessed this year with our Christmas.

Daddy always likes to take a before picture of what the room looks like before the kids get to it.

 

Here are the 8 stockings.

 

The kids were excited to see what was in their stockings.

 

Joyanne received a lump of coal in her stocking.

The coal was made of chocolate.

But she also received some other things in her stocking too.

 

Grant was so excited to give Noah the present he bought for him.

He gave Noah 2 Nerf guns, but kept one for himself. ;)

 

There was so much wrapping paper and so many presents.

I ended up helping Grant finish opening his presents because he didn't want to. 

James loved the race car track Noah got him. 

 

Jaden gave Hiram the game "Trouble".

That's "trouble" right there for ya! ;) 

 

Do you like our huge mess of presents?

Fun times! 

 

The boys each got a remote control car and they were all thrilled saying "This is the best Christmas ever!" 

 

Here's Daddy, rockin' out in his new pajamas. 

 

And we were blessed with a white Christmas.

So we took advantage of the snow and went sledding for a bit.

 

We spent the rest of the day at home just enjoying relaxing, watching movies, playing video games and loving this Merry Christmas day.

 

The Night Before Christmas

The kids performed for a 1/2 hour at the blood drive site this morning.

Joyanne played her piano solo, the boys sang several Christmas song and Jaden and Hiram played their piano Christmas songs as well.

Then I donated a pint of blood for my very first time.

I've felt a little lightheaded all day.

 

Our neighbors invited us for dinner and some Bingo.

We earned prizes every time we won a Bingo.

There were a lot of prizes and a lot of fun.

 

When we came home, we acted out the Nativity and the kids opened one presents.

They were sure excited to get new pajamas and all of them seemed to like them. 

Now we wait for Santa to make his BIG arrival.

The kids are SO excited.

So are we, the parents!

Christmas Tree Sleepout!

On the 23rd of December the kids get to sleep out around the Christmas tree.

I read them 2 Christmas stories and sang a few Christmas songs before they drifted off into dreamland. :)

 

Last night I was up until 1:30a.m. this morning wrapping presents.

A half hour after I went to sleep, Grant woke up crying with throw-up all over him.

He threw up 2 more times, with 2 more changes of clothes and bedding, before I could finally go to sleep.

It was a perfect day of rest.

 

We made Rice Crispy treats, peanut butter cups, and butterscotch drop cookies to take around to our neighbors.

We went caroling to our neighbors as we dropped off our goodies.

 

I love Christmas time with all of its traditions and memories.

Holiday Fun!

Life has gotten pretty busy around here with Holiday fun!

We spent the weekend at my brother's home and had a family Christmas party on Saturday.

I performed twice at Temple Square Saturday evening with the Bear River Valley Reflections Choir.

I missed some of the party but made it in time for the talent show portion where Joyanne was playing her arrangement of "Frozen", and I even was able to sing my solo song for the family to hear.

 

All of us enjoyed sleeping in this morning.

Daddy enjoyed time with the kids, letting them paint wooden pieces that go to their trucks that tomorrow they will nail together and build.

 

Joyanne had a little too much fun tonight dressing up poor, innocent  3-year-old Grant as a girl! 

I realize Joyanne is lacking in sisters, but this was pretty silly.

Gotta love my kids! ;)

What I Love

What I loved about my kids today:

 

I loved watching Noah perform in his 5th Grade school performance.

He sang his heart out with a steal-my-heart smile.

His line was great - "What I love about Christmas is Christmas music."

My little Grant just has to smile at me and Daddy and he pretty much gets whatever he wants.

Our littlest one has us both wrapped around his little finger.

 

Jaden's eagerness to get his chores done and excitement to read and do piano sure cheers me up and encourages me to get my own chores done.

 

A kiss is no kiss until you've been attacked by Joyanne.

Some nights we play a game and make it hard to kiss each other goodnight on the cheek.

I have to tickle Joyanne to get her to move her hands away from her face.

Tonight was a challenge for Joyanne to give me a kiss.

It's sweet fun!

 

As James rode around on the Plasmacar he sang "I believe in being honest, true, chaste and awesome . . . in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

He was getting 2 primary songs mixed up.

Daddy and I especially like the "awesome" he added in there, because, you know, everything IS awesome. ;)

 

Hiram has boundless energy and a great sense of humor.

He followed directions from me pretty well and kept working even though he had a tough day.

 

I love all my little tykes and feel so blessed to be their mother.



Santa Time

When I was a little girl, we were lucky if we got to see Santa one time each year.

This year my kids have seen him THREE times!

Tonight was the third time.

We had our ward Christmas Party and Santa happened to show up.

Grant kept running up to sit on Santa's lap.

I think he just wanted the candy canes the jolly old man kept giving out. ;)

No matter how many times you see Santa, it's always exciting!

Found

What once was lost, now is found!

Daddy found the portable hard drive buried under my counter of papers and things.

I had looked there, but I guess not in the right place.

I'm just grateful it was found.

Because on it holds some precious gems, like these:

 

I had a great talk with this boy tonight.

He is so much like me. 

He was a little discouraged with being corrected, some things happening at school, and some issues with me.

We were able to talk through everything and both of us came away feeling edified.

I learned from my sister, Linda, that sometimes, even though it's hard, it's important to stay and work out the issues rather than walk away because it's getting tough or there may be some conflict.

We disagreed as we talked, but we kept trying to discuss the issues until an understanding could be reached.

Now, it feels like our relationship is stronger with a deeper understanding and caring for each other.



Lost

This is a portable hard drive and it looks just like the one I've lost.

So if any of my friends or family happen to come across one of these at their house and wonder where it came from . . . PLEASE give me a call.

I have been searching all over my home for it and can't find it anywhere.

It has all our family pictures on it, documents, journal entries, and EVERYTHING!!!

I can't remember when I last had it or if I left it at someone's home.

Please pray with me to help me find it.

I'm crushed that I lost it. :(



Marshmallow World

Our day was a fabulous one.

Daddy was able to stay home and be with us ALL day!

So what did we do?

It was game day.

I don't think we've ever played so long and so many games in one day.

Daddy spent 3 hours this morning teaching Noah and Joyanne "The Farming Game".

They sure enjoyed time with Daddy. 

After church and dinner, we all played "Pit" together.

Even 5-year-old James understood the game and could play.

After several rousing rounds of the game, we stopped for a treat.

Have you ever tried to blow up marshmallow's in the microwave?

Well, Grandpa and Grandma gave us some pretty big marshmallows and the kids warmed them up for 30 seconds.

Here's the delicious result: 

With a couple of fudge striped cookies, we had a nice marshmallowy s'more.

Yummy Fun!

 

We ended our fun night with a game of "Uno".

It was so much fun to be able to play some games all as a family.

Grant was the only one who couldn't play, but he enjoyed watching "Veggietales" and riding his Plasmacar.