Christmas Quotes:

(The kids saved up half of their money to get a Wii and we just got it this weekend)
Zach: Mom, do you think that maybe...if we have time...and we get our chores done...that we could play the Wii tomorrow...just for a little bit?
Mom: You can probably play it tonight after dinner.
Zach: But it's Sunday.
Mom: Since it's Christmas, it's probably okay today.
Zach: We shouldn't play Harry Potter on Sunday...so maybe just Wii Sports?


(The boys got bows and arrows for Christmas)
Mom: Zach and Alex, why are you taking half our Christmas ham outside?
Zach: We just shot a buffalo, Mom, and it's time to feast on our kill.

***Now that I'm sitting down, I can't remember the other ones...

Our Christmas Preparations

We've had a lot of fun with an idea I found this year...The "Minivan Express". The kids have loved getting their golden tickets and singing carols in the minivan while we travel to our various destinations. We've also been finishing up presents (I can't post too many or it will spoil some surprises) and having lots of other Christmas-time fun!

MORE gingerbread houses

People around here get pretty serious about their gingerbread houses. The entire community come to see houses that have been donated by church groups and individual members that are set up at the Temple Visitor's Center. Camilla's class got to go there for a field trip at school. Here are some of our favorites.

Gingerbread Houses

It's been so fun to have cousins close so that we can things together...especially around the holidays!!!

"Snow is Falling..."

The first big snow of the year + A carefree Saturday + lots of hot chocolate breaks = THE BEST DAY EVER!!!

Playing Outside

On our last snow-FREE day!

My Carnivore

I may have just created a vegetarian out of our biggest meat lover. Emma was eating her oatmeal (actually NOT eating it) when I reminded her to hurry and finish so she could go play.

Emma: It needs more sugar.
Mom: It already has honey.
Emma: It needs sugar.
Mom: Well, honey is sugar from the bees.
Emma: And where does milk come from?
Mom: Cows.
Emma: And what else do animals give us to eat?
Mom: We like to eat eggs from chickens.
Emma: And what else?
Mom: Well, sometimes we like to eat cows and chicken an pigs.
Emma: Why?
Mom: We think they taste good.
Emma: (visibly upset) MY heart does not think they taste good. (She thinks for a minute and then adds...) And GABE'S heart doesn't think they tastes good, either!!!!!

Our Big Blue-Eyed Baby

It's unanimous - he's a keeper!

Halfway to 70! :)

I'm officially 35 and loving it so far! It was a big day for a lot of people 11-11-11! Noall made breakfast with the kids (sourdough french toast), even Gabe cooperated and ate some of his breakfast (YEAH!) and Noall and I got dinner that night and had a chance to catch up while the kids played with their cousins (Thanks, Natalie!). But the fun didn't end there...the kids cleverly (with help from their Dad) put on an "Once" play (the Spanish lottery..."once" meaning "eleven") where I won the lottery which was my birthday gift! They were pretending to be blind gypsies selling lottery tickets - it was pretty funny!!! Last, but not least, was cake and sparklers (the sparklers were requested by Alex and provided by my father-in-law...thanks, Tom!).

BOM Lego Battle Scenes

What do you get when you cross Legos and the BOM? The best FHE EVER (according to the kids)! :)

Not Convinced...

Gabe is NOT convinced that 1)sleeping at night and 2)eating solid foods are good ideas. We're working on it...but it's a good thing he's cuter than cute!!!

A Big Birthday!

Alex is F-I-N-A-L-L-Y (according to HIM) SIX years old!!!!!!! He's been counting down and claiming to six already for almost a year! His breakfast request was eggs & bacon w/bagels. And for dinner was pizza (of course) - it was fun to have some family close enough to come and join the party!!!

Halloween Fun

The big kids had fun at their school parade while the younger kids and I stopped by a nursing home to deliver treats. After school we had a Halloween dinner with some friends and headed out trick-or-treating! I shouldn't have been surprised that Alex was feeling ready to collect his share of candy! Other than the pain, he's been recovering great. Last night he even slept through the night - which I'm guessing means the anesthesia is finally out of his system (he's been really restless). And, yes, Gabe is a banana...how funny is that costume!?!? I could BARELY fit him inside and he wasn't a huge fan since he couldn't move his legs around (or sit up...). But it was worth it! :)