Christmas Traditions

It took a little scheduling miracle, but we were able to take the
family to Palmer for the Nativity Display. The kids LOVED the eye spy
this year and it kept them entertained for about an hour. I quickly
discovered that Talmage was the wrong age for a Nativity Display and
we found a seat and listened to the high school Jazz Band.

A few other Christmas Traditions we've tried to keep going this break:
Tubing, Swimming, lots of Dodgeball, Gingerbread Houses, Movies, and
Games. Still on the docket: Family puzzle, sugar cookies, and
delivering warm Bread to our friends and neighbors.

Bacon Loot

Pictorial documentation that are kids are spoiled. . . rotten.  

We celebrated Christmas this year on Friday, the 23rd.  It was a great day.  The kids were up around 7AM and we mosied up stairs just a few minutes later.  Hyrum oohed and aahed over every gift. . . he's fully on board with every bit of Christmas magic.   Warner was quickly absorbed into imaginary play.  Tanner was there for the candy and gobbled up his stocking contents in record time.  Sam guessed every gifts contents. . . the rattle of Legos are a pretty dead giveaway.   Christian was thrilled the most with the gift that cost the least (99 cent Wii basketball game).  Talmage slept through it all.  

We took a mandatory breakfast break and enjoyed Monkey Bread and OJ.  

The rest of the day was filled with instant entertainment.  Toys, games, reading, and eating.  We didn't want to ignore the great weather and took the kids on base that afternoon for tubing and came home to warm chili and donuts.  Yum!!!

Lots of this

Last night it rained and rained and rained; and then it snowed and snowed and snowed; so we shoveled and shoveled and shoveled.  8 inches of snow on top of slush on top of ice and they canceled school today.  Both freeway entrances had multiple car pile ups which meant no work.  So today we've just enjoyed a spontaneous stay-at-home day.  It has been wonderful.  The kids, after doing their jobs, are now enjoying some game time with Eric.  I'm thinking soup and homemade rolls for lunch followed by some sledding and hot chocolate.  Ahhh. . . I love stay-at-home days.

guess who

Guess who found and managed to squirt your shaving cream ALL OVER himself and the entire bathroom?  Yup.  You're right.  Please pray that he is still alive when you come home.  While I was cleaning up the mess he sent his first FAX.  How can I keep up?  Please remind me how much I adored and loved him just a few weeks ago.  Where did that darling little boy go?

Gobble Gobble Gobble

We had a great Thanksgiving.  G&G Bacon, Fishers, Holts, and Speaks all came.  10 adults.  15 kids.  I made Roast, Gravy, Stuffing, Salad, & Sweet Potatoes.   Eric successfully tried his hand at stuffed mushrooms and Christine whipped up some delicious rolls and pomegranate salad.  Everyone else brought the rest. . . the ham, potatoes, pies, jello, gluten-free rolls and dessert, and veggies.  I just love Thanksgiving.  The cooking in the kitchen together.  The smells.  The crowded house with good friends everywhere.  The kids sledding the yard.  What a great holiday.  The fun started at 2 and we ended the evening at 11 PM with 17 Miracles.  

Here's a video clip of Talmage half-heartedly singing I Heard Mr. Turkey.  I lost him after about ten seconds . . . 

Fwd: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Our family LOVES to have Christmas early . . . but we've never had it quite this early before.  With Grandma and Grandpa in town, it was fun to have a little Christmas celebration so the boys could open their gifts in from of their Grandparents.  Whether it is December 25th or November 25th the excitement and happiness are the same.

lunch time lifesaver

School lunch here costs $3.15 for the scariest assortment of processed food you've ever seen.  Times that by 4 kids and it would be $252 a month for school lunch.  I remind myself of that when on those tired mornings, I find myself making lunches again.   On Fridays I make bread for the institute, and recently I've been staying in the kitchen a little bit longer and prepping for a week or two of school lunches.  Pizza Rolls & Empanada Rolls are my lunch time lifesavers.  This week I'm going to try cheese and ham and see how that works.  It is wonderful to just run out to the freezer in the morning, pull out a zip lock back with eight slices of "roll" in it, thaw, and shove a slice or two into their plastic ziplock compartment containers.  

Mean Old Witch

Along with Dan, Dan the Funny Old Man & I Heard Mr. Turkey Say, I remember singing this song with my Mom growing up.  I'm sure it was one from her preschool collection.  I taught it to the kids at our church music group, and Talmage LOVED it.  I particularly love how BIG he opens he mouth to say Hat, Cat, and Out.  Of course, his favorite part is the Boo at the end, but it often times comes early a time or two.  

Over the River

Well not quite over the river. . . but definitely over the woods and ocean.  We were thrilled that Grandma and Grandpa Bacon came and spent the long Thanksgiving weekend with us.   We were able to celebrate C&T's birthday, Thanksgiving, an early Christmas, C&T ordination, and just lots and lots of much needed down time.