Our Holiday Whirlwind.

December was a fun month. We were busy with all the festivities and now that it is over, we are just enjoying the coziness of indoors. Stockton asked me yesterday on our way home from the gym if we needed to stop at any stores. I told him I was done shopping because Christmas was over. He excitedly said "YES!" It is good to be busy but too much of it sure wears a kid out!

The kids got many chances to visit Santa this year - knowing that they are "santa's helpers" they were sure to let him know what they wanted the REAL Santa to bring them for Christmas.

It has been tradition ever since I can remember to make gingerbread houses with Grandma Lewis. We have continued this tradition with our own kids and even though Gma couldn't make it this year we still had a good time. Aunt Jennifer made us freshly baked gingerbread. There were many choices for toppings and all the houses turned out so cute!

Bridget and Lucy sampling...

the creating begins... Jess putting swoopy lights and Melanie creating Lucy's perfect puppy house. Mom had some difficulty getting Ammon's bat cave to stay together. But I think the bat cape on the back helped a bit - way to go Ammon!

Left to Right: Ethan's elf house (the elves jumped on the bed and their hats got stuck in the roof), Stockton's Masterpiece, Ammon's bat cave, Lucy's puppy house (for Arf the dog),

Bridget's perfectly lit palace.

Lucy had her pockets stuffed...

The Smith family party was fun as always. Santa visited bringing treats for the kids

The kids got to make winter crafts and decorate t-shirts. Damian and Stockton were excited to wear their creations.

Ethan and I both won the candy guessing games (gummy bears and reeses peanut butter cups). Now to have self control...

We had our annual Christmas Eve party with Ryan's family and kept the kids up late. The next morning was so much fun. Ethan wasn't even disapointed that Santa thought he was too young for a Motorcycle. We had the kids shop for each other since they are old enough to do that now. Ethan and Stockton were both VERY excited about what they got from each other!

Ethan said that "this was the BEST Christmas EVER!"

Shhh... it's a SURPRISE!

My Sister and I had a brilliant idea for our Parent's for Christmas. Thanks to carefull planning and help from Aunt Raylene. We accomplished a Room Makeover and turned Mom and Dads bedroom from this:

to this:

Sent mom away for a sleepover at her sisters, Painted walls, New bedding, throw pillows, wall art, display plates, bedside lamps and most importantly HELP from Dad - restaining the nightstands and dresser to match the headboard - a task Mom has been wanting done for YEARS! Dad got his own computer Nook too (which he is excited about having his own space!).

I think she loves it!!

My battery in my camera died so these are the few seconds of video I got capturing the reveal.

Cache Valley Activity Info

Since so many were asking and I didn't know if you would check my response in the postings I am putting it out here for all to see.

The Live Nativity is at 800 W. 2800 S. in Nibley (this is the weathershield road just North of the Nibley Elem. school) They only had it open for 3 nights on the 4th, 5th and 7th. Friday and Monday It starts at 5 and goes to 9pm. Saturday I think it started at 1 and went to 9. They ask for either $1 per person or canned food donations per person. Wagon rides and entertainment are free but we found out the Hot Cocoa is a 25 cent donation (we left our money in the car so we missed out)
I found this and other local activites on http://www.cachevalleydaily.com/

The American West Heritage Center (AWHC) has fun Christmas activities going on too and they are free (for the most part) I believe there is a coupon on their site for free train rides if you want to do that. They are doing an interactive live nativity where your family can dress up and play the parts. http://www.americanwestcenter.org/ for more info on activities and schedules.

Another great place to find out about local happenings is
http://library.loganutah.org/local/events/ and
http://www.tourcachevalley.com/index.php?id=72

Happy Holidays!

CHRISTmas

The Decorations are up, the Trees are Trimmed and the Stockings are Hung.

But at our house we are looking for Christ this Christmas. And we began to find him at the live nativity! This was our first year going and It was amazing. The barns are set up just like bethlehem with live animals including a camel! They had carolers, a wagon ride, hot cocoa and accepted canned food donations. I explained to the kids that this was what it was like when Jesus was born (minus the snow - which was why the baby wasn't real - they were a little disappointed that it was a doll). When asked what their favorite part was, Stockton excitedly said "seeing Jesus" Awww... perfect family night! Mission Accomplished!

December 5th

has been on our calendar for weeks now - Ethan performs at Macey's with the school PE Dance Club. He begged to join and even up early every Monday, Tues, Thurs, and Friday to practice before school. The day arrived, Ethan asked me every 1/2 hour if it was time to go yet. Our whole day was planned around this activity!
We loaded the family up an arrived to the produce dept. with all the other performing students and Ethan FROZE!! He refused to participate. Aunts and cousins had come to watch and Ethan, stubborn him, would not finish what he started. I was so disapointed....

Later when we asked why he wouldn't dance he said that he didn't know there were going to be that many people. We explained that every kid's parents were there to watch and they weren't all going to be staring at him. Santa was at Macey's that day - Maybe Ethan needs some courage for Christmas this year.

Ryan and I know Ethan has a hard time in front of people and we were shocked when he wanted to join the dance club. He does fine in sports with everyone watching and he is kinda the neighborhood daredevil - what to do?

We are still waiting to see Ethan's moves - He is embarrassed to even show us. But on the other hand, he has proudly done the worm (break dancing) for his school class - No Problem! One day I hope to figure the kid out!

Hot Video - watch at your own risk!

for maximum enjoyment be sure to turn off my music player below on the right

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a little enjoyment

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Advent Calendar

I finally got our Advent Calendar filled.

I am excited for all of the fun festivities Christmas brings...

Concerts at the Tabernacle

Live Nativity with Hay rides and Hot Cocoa

Gingerbread House contest on display in Historic Downtown

City Celebrations

Holiday Open House at Maceys

Breakfast with Santa at the Sports Academy

Winter Wonderland Figure Skating Performance

AWHC Holly Faire and Frontier Christmas

Ice Skating Discount nights

USU Hockey

Classic Movies at Dansante

Christmas Plays - Pickelville, CVCA

Sleigh Ride to see the Elk at Hardware Ranch

Church and Family parties

Did you know there were so many fun Holiday activities here in our little valley??

http://www.tourcachevalley.com/index.php?id=72

"It's Called Christmas"

we are getting ready at our house. Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ

Thanksgiving 2009

Amazingly Delicious Food, Fun Entertainment, Competetive Games, Football, Basketball, Playing with Cousins, Kids Craft, Ad Browsing, Nap Taking, Relaxing.

I did the kids table this year. There were activities for the kids to enjoy and lots of table to color on. We had a total of 16 adults and 11 kids enjoying Thanksgiving together! It was a great day.

Turning 34

It's Birthday time at our house and since Ryan has complained about past birthdays me and the kids planned an extra special party!
Stockton thought a Spiderman party would be fun but we went with Daddy's favorite past time - watching the Jazz as our theme. Family was invited over to enjoy the game with Ryan. I guess since it was HIS birthday it was ok that he attended the party in his pajama's.


We enjoyed an ice cream filled basketball cake. (Devils Food and Cookies and Cream)



Family spoiled him with many gifts including car care stuff, movie tickets, fishing net, Jazz tickets and an autographed D. Will picture from Nick.




"One Year Older and Wiser Too!
Happy Birthday to YOU!!"
It was so fun planning the party with Stockton. Every store we would go in he would proudly announce "It's my dad's birfday."

GRATITUDE

grati*tude (noun) a feeling of thankful appreciation for favors or benefits received; thankfulness

I got a Thank You card in the mail today and it made my day!

I believe so much in thank you cards. I love it every time someone takes the time to send or give a thank you card. Holiday Etiquette was discussed today on GTU and I love what was shared. I am going to try to be better at showing my gratitude!

(hopefully I haven't forgotten anyone - I am human and do make mistakes so if I have failed to show my appreciation please forgive me... I am a work in progress)

Holiday Etiquette - ABC 4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News

Holiday Etiquette - ABC 4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News

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the JOYS of BOYS...

With a princess in our house everything tends to get focused on her but my boys are lots of fun too. Here are some of the "Joys" and their new pictures. (I warn you now that it may be graphic for some readers)

Ethan has been so good to try new foods participating in school lunch. Well the other day he decided there were just some things he just does not like. He knew he was bound to have a yucky lunch in the days to come so he told me that he wanted to know what was coming up on the calendar. I could not find my lunch calendar and was busy with other things so I told him not to worry about it. He went to play at his cousins house that day and had Riley tell him what they were eating the next day. It was chicken and mashed potatoes (which is yummy according to Ethan) but whatever he was having the day after he was not excited about. He came home from playing and told me that he needed a sack lunch that day. I did not want one more thing to worry about (homework and getting him up ontime are challenges in themselves) so I told him that if it was that important for him to have a sack lunch it would be his responsibility to remind me and help get it made. Nuff said... and life went on for another day.
Last night I was gone to Roundtable and when I came home Ethan was putting his lunch box into the fridge. He proudly made himself a pb&j sandwich, put grapes into a baggie, added a granola bar and found a small water bottle and got himself a drink of water to go with his lunch. He also added a fork but then realized he didn't need it so he removed it. He even found an ice pack in the freezer to keep his food cold! Wow!! I was impressed (and he did it all by himself!!)
Ethan then announced to me that he wanted to join the PE Dance Club. The club is for elementary students and they meet an hour before school starts 4 times a week. They are going to preform several dances at Macey's grocery store for their Holiday Open House. One of the girls in his kindergarten class had participated last year and ended up on the front page of the newspaper. I don't know if he is really excited about dancing or if he just wants to be in the newspaper??

Stockton has been my little buddy while Ethan has been busy at school. He wishes he could go to preschool everyday and gets mad at me when I have to tell him it is not a school day. I do take him everyday to play at kids club while I work out at the gym and he does enjoy it - not as much as preschool but he knows that if Michelle (the laundry lady) is there he will get a treat and he looks forward to treats. He also makes us "beau-full" pictures that we now have posted all over our back door.
We were so excited to get Stockton potty trained (it took forever...) he occasionally has accidents and we have tried hard to accomodate him when he just has to go RIGHT NOW! We learned after a USU Football game that making him hold it all the way down the hill to the car was not a good idea - there was no place for him to go at the car and the accident happend. Luckily with boys they can practically go anywhere and a parking lot is as good as anything when you have the baby buckled in and there is no way you are making it inside to the public restrooms. Sheilding him between my large witch skirt on halloween and the car door we got the job done with no mess other than the puddle in the parking lot! (I know gross.. but really what would you have done??) I tell you the potty training drama to help you understand what Stock did yesturday. I had left him outside ridding his scooter while I went to pick Ethan up from Art class (just a few blocks away). When I returned he was happily playing. I asked him to wash his hands when he came inside and he starts telling me that he pooped outside. Now Stockton is one to fabricate a good story so I didn't know what to believe. I sent Ethan out to investigate and sure enough Ethan verified the tale and Stockton was so very proud that he had done the job in Ethan's window well! Oh My! I still can't figure out what possesed him but from now on we will focus on toilets!

Tuesday Tutorials coming your way!

Would you like to be crafty but don't want the hassle of coming up with ideas and buying supplies? We have a solution for you! With new projects 1-2 times each month you can enjoy some crafty time and learn new skills!

Me and my fabulous 2 Sisters are starting a project called Tuesday Tutorials. We have fun things we are excited to make and share. To see what we are doing first check this out:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2037565&id=1081166997&ref=mf

The tiles are very easy to make and are wonderful gifts. You create your image by rubber stamping on tile and then it is "baked" in place creating an embossed look.

We are inviting all to join us on November 17th at either 2pm or 6pm at my place so share this craftiness with a friend!
Just be sure to msg me with your prefered time and qty by the 13th.

BOWLING - What a fright!

Get two crazing brothers together in disguise and you are in for lots of laughs. Travis and Karen invited us along for their Halloween tradition of Bowling. When we first got there it was cosmic and we all "glowed" then the lights came on an out came the posers! I hope all the bowling patrons enjoyed the show!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Dressing Up.

We LOVE Halloween at our house!

There is always a party to go to and Ryan has to keep up his reputation at work so costumes are thought about way before.

This year I started with Peyton and found a cute "ghost" idea on ebay that was selling for $40. So excited for the inspiration I made it myself. I like to coordinate so I gave the boys the choice of a Mummy and Skeleton. Luckily Stock chose Skeleton and I was able to hand-make his using a dollar store glow in the dark skeleton (the bones were just his size!) The Mummy was more difficult since I had to make sure Ethan would be able to use the bathroom at school without coming all unravelled. Another trip to the dollar store got me enough bandages to complete the look. I finished our foursome being Elphaba the Wicked Witch.

Ryan didn't like any of my "coordinating" ideas so he found his own and stuck out for sure!

I took the kids to the mall this year (boy was it crazy) and to Historic Main Street. It has been a tradition and is something fun to do with cousins. Ryan worked the weekend so we met up with him for a new tradition - ? (maybe) - Bowling! The night ended with neighborhood trick or treating - we had to stop when the bags were overflowing! Now the candy sits high up on a shelf until we decide what to do with it...

::::: Fall Fun :::::

*CaRaMeL Apples with Cousins*

We dipped 'em in caramel - yum! Then dipped 'em in milk chocolate - yummy! The kids each made theirs special with crushed candybars - delicious!

You can't have Halloween without carved pumpkins! We got creative this year and found some templates online - the haunted tree and house ones were free but since Ryan didn't want to pay for the dragon stencil so he free-handed it!

Ethan made this scary face the night before we found the stencils.