Christmas Service Party

This year, about a week before Christmas, we decided to have a little service party with our family. My brother, Jake, joined us for an afternoon of food, Christmas music, and doing service. We wanted to do something this year that the kids could really be a big part of. We decided to make children's snack sacks for the Provo Food Bank; an idea inspired by the kids' school. When families come in for help with food or shelter these little sacks are given to the children so they have something special. We colored pictures on brown paper sacks and filled them with a juice box, cheese and cracker pack, granola bar, fruit snacks, and some play-dough.

Then we exchaged or Christmas gifts with Jake since he won't be here for Christmas. His gift to the kids was a HUGE hit. I didn't get any pictures of them playing with it, but they love it.

We had all had fun, and got to help others at the same time. That's what you call a win-win situation.

Christmas Concert

Merry Christmas! As a Christmas treat you get to hear the boys perform at their school Christmas concert. The 2nd grade sang "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth," and the 1st grade sang "Christmas Cookies." As usual, my children were quite the animated performers. ;) We hope you have a wonderful day! Merry Christmas!

Geese in Our Backyard

I guess the geese have been migrating, because they have been living behind our house for a couple of weeks. There are literally hundreds of them. It has been so fun to look outside and see them all and listen to them. The kids have really been enjoying it. Kenyon especially, as I'm sure you can imagine. He decided to go out to see if he could catch one.

I hate it when that happens.

Ward Christmas Party

We had the most fun ward Christmas party this year. It was a breakfast and everyone came in their jammies (well, almost everyone). There was a huge turnout and yummy food. We sang carols and the bishop gave a great little presentation on the symbols of Christmas. We even got to see Santa.

Doesn't Everyone Let Their Baby Eat a Whole Apple?

This baby loves his fruit. Especially apples he finds on the floor because the kids in this house don't think twice about dropping fruit on the floor and walking away.

Snow Shovels and Letters to Santa

Apparently snow shovels are good for more than just shoveling your sidewalk and driveway. They are also good for shoveling your backyard.


So you can make a big pile of snow. (With as much snow as they were shoveling, I'm not sure why their big snow pile is not so big.)



What's better than playing in the snow all day, coming in for hot cocoa, and finishing out the day by writing letters to Santa? We place our letters on our tree before bed and during the night the elves come and take them to Santa.

The elves must have been very busy this year, because it took 2 days for them to come. The anticipation was almost too much to take.

I have gotten very behind with my bloggin for this month. I can't imagine why. It's not like I am insanely busy at this time of year or anything. :) But I am trying to be good and get caught up, so check in often this week.

The Kids' Trees

The kids' trees have been up in their rooms for a while now, but they finally got to decorate them today. They were so excited.

Mara's pretty pink tree matches her room perfectly with a garland made with the scraps from her quilt.

I feel bad that Mara has the awesome pink tree and the boys have this stub. Oh well, next year will be their year to get a great tree, and at least they have one in the meantime. They still had a great time decorating it.

Thanksgiving Turkeys

Since we hosted Thanksgiving dinner this year, the kids made place cards for the kids tables. I cut out the pieces, but they put the turkeys together themselves. It was a fun Thanksgiving activity for the kids, and they looked so cute on the tables.

We had a great Thanksgiving! Hope you you did, too!

Little Monkey

While I was busy cleaning out the refrigerator the other day, I turned around to find this...

My crazy little monkey, who can't even walk yet, (aren't you supposed to walk before you climb?) had climbed into the frige and was pulling things out (note all the stuff laying on the floor). What a silly little boy.


He is already keeping me quite busy with the mischief he gets into on a daily basis. If this is what it is like before he can walk, I'm definately not looking forward to when he can walk. But I have to admit, it was pretty darn cute!

Snow? I Guess You Could Call It That.

It has snowed twice so far and neither one has been very much. The kids wanted to go play in it. Since there wasn't much I told them to just put on coats, gloves, and boots. But I guess they were a little excited to break out the full suits. They were a little over-dressed for the occasion if you ask me.

How fun is a green snow angle? Is it even really a snow angel?

They tried sledding and building a snowman. Neither worked of course.

After about 15 minutes or so Cruz said, "This snow isn't fun." They all came in shortly after that.

Hopefully we will get "fun" snow soon.