Gifts from the Heart

The most rewarding part of Christmas for me is watching the kids' desire grow to give to each other.  Nathan asked me to buy a special card stock so that he could make some special origami for Joshua.  Nathan and Joshua do so much Pokemon trading (that Elizabeth feels left out of) that this morning they each took some of their own cards and put them in a gift bag for Elizabeth for Christmas.  It is these small acts that help me in the stressed-out moments to remember the real spirit that this is all about.

Christmas Cards

So fun to hear from friends and family we're missing at this time of year!

Writing a Letter Next Year...

  

Went to the Ward Christmas Breakfast...complete with opportunity to see Santa.  By then Greg and Joshua were already off to a basketball game.  Aaron took one look at Santa and cried.  Repeating over and over, "Scary Santa!"  Nathan was only willing to be in the picture because that was the ticket for getting the free candy canes...and said, "Thanks, I'm o.k." when Santa asked him if he wanted something for Christmas.  Next year, we're skipping the long line and writing letters! 

Just a couple treasures Nathan took.  Nothing says "Christmas Cheer" like waiting in line for Santa.

Spontaneous Sledding

3 bales of hay (from a summer activity) + 1 awesome dad + Just enough snow = A fun weekend of sledding in the backyard ... It's the small, spontaneous things that make the season!

Egg Nog and Elf

I'm at that time of year when I feel the Christmas season drifting by and I'm paniced we're not making the most of it!  I think if I'll document a little of what we are doing I'll feel better.  :)  We've been loving watching Christmas movies...especially this year "Arthur Christmas", "Polar Express", and "Elf".  This is having treats after laughing our heads off at "Elf".  :)

Visit from Family!

My brother, John, and his wife, Valerie, and their cute kids are here for the holidays.  We got to have Elodie and Andrew here for part of the day while John and Valerie went to a Voice Male performance together.  It was on of the most fun days I've had in a long time ... to give myself a day that wasn't trying to "get things done" ... but just try to be a "fun mom" and a "fun aunt".  I wish I had more picture of what we did, but I think I was too in the thick of a good time to remember that!  :) 

Thanksgiving!

Had the BEST TIME with our Franson family at our place for Thanksgiving!

Music...somewhere I've got to find and post our dance party moment...

 

Football...

Thankful Tree

The Feast

 

 

BB-Gun Shooting

 

Puzzle

Naps

 

Drawing mustaches on faces during naps...

Lightning

 

 

 

 

A little photo shoot with Lexi and Livi and Bethany's awesome camera!  All of these pictures are from Bethany and her camera!!  Thanks for documenting our day!

 

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

 

 

A morning of holiday baking and dancing to princess music with my cuties!  

Aaron's Turns 2!

For Aaron's birthday we went to a big trampoline place and had a great time!

Then the VanShaars were in town for Thanksgiving and came for a visit!  We had such a fun time!
It was Greg's second day with the "Hot Light App", so when we got a notification the Hot Light was on...we all dashed for the door!

 

Couldn't love this sweet boy of mine more!

Decorating with Wreaths

 

Last year we bought several wreaths on an after-Christmas sale, picturing how we'd use them to decorate our Michigan home.  Greg was willing to do the wreath thing if is meant he didn't have to put up Christmas lights.  :)  We had no idea that by this holiday season we'd be decorating a different house.  But, it's turned out to be so fun!  

Bedtime Stories

 

A Little More of Greg's Birthday

 

Because Greg really needed it, it got several new clothing items for his birthday a little early.  I still wanted him to have some things to open on his birthday...and for the kids to get to feel like they got to "gift" their dad.  So the night before while Greg was at mutual, we hit the DI and let each child pick out a gift for Dad. 

Greg's Birthday

 

One of my favorite parts about family birthdays...kids working together to decorate! 
Nathan even let Elizabeth color in his 3-D letters which is a true brotherly sacrifice.

Turn on the "Hot Light"

We've never lived by a Krispy Kreme place, and found out recently that when the "Hot Light" is on in the outside window...they give away a free doughnut to each person.  Of course Greg would never let us miss a deal like that!  He's even found us our new family theme song..."Turn on the Hot Light" by Neil Diamond.  (Yes, it's actually "heart light".)  :) Greg even downloaded a free App that notifies us whenever the Hot Light in town turns on.  So, we turn on the song on Youtube while we dash for our coats and climb in the car.    These pictures are from our first Krispy Kreme adventure.

Joshua Plays Basketball

 

Joshua is playing on a Jr. Jazz team this year!  He's got a scrappy little team that has surprised us by doing really well.  It made us laugh the other day when Joshua came home to report to me their first "loss".  He told me that Nathan thought the other team played unfairly...so the loss doesn't really count.  They're still "undefeated".  :)

Trick or Treat

 

 

We've never been in a neighborhood so "into" Trick-or-Treating!
So many decorations and "haunted houses"!  

Carving Pumpkins

 

Yard Helpers

 

We love our shady backyard, but it makes for a lot of work in the fall.
Thank goodness for our good little helpers!

Backyard Buddies

While big boys play baseball, these two are cute little buddies.  Usually playing and prince and princess (this is their throne)...having their own adventures in an orange wagon all around the backyard.  So glad they have each other!

Backyard Baseball

 

Last night Greg and Nathan and Joshua headed out to do what they love to do most of these beautiful fall evenings we've been having...play some baseball.  Before long, a cute boy from across the street opened the gate to our backyard with his mitt in hand...hoping he could play.  A few more minutes later two other boys (brothers) from around the corner poked their heads in to play.  These are the moments I think, "We are living the good life."  It's so nice to have the time to enjoy moment like these together, great neighbor kids who will poke their heads in, and a dad that makes it so fun for everybody!  (The lower right picture is Greg sending one of the neighbor boys over the fence to retrieve a ball.)

Family Halloween Party

It's a family tradition we've missed out on for years...and finally we got to be there!  The family Halloween Party!  It's fun it coincides with our niece Livi's birthday...so it's two parties wrapped into one!

Everyone dresses up...

Elizabeth as a Witch...

A really creepy one...

 Joshua as a Ninja.

We forgot Aaron's costume...but he's still pretty cute!

Max as a darling Ewok!  We was so good to keep it on too!

Chelsea as Professor Trelawney from Harry Potter.
That hair was even more fabulous than in the picture!

Mom as a Ghost Buster ... complete with a "busting" demo for the kids (she sucked up Kleenex ghost).

Nathan as a Wizard.
The beard was something Jon loaned him while we were down there...
which made the costume especially awesome! 

His staff is from our twisted willow tree in our backyard.

Bethany as a Biker Chick.

Emily as the fabulous Chloe Kashardian, Livi as Michelangelo the TMNT...awesome costume made herself, and Lexi as a hobo.

Mom always makes fun foods.  Frog eye salad with frogs hidden in it, Jiggly Jello with eye balls, the corn had spiders in it, plastic rats in the spaghetti noodles, a hand coming out of the bread stick bowl, etc. etc.!