12.31.09

What fun this has been to do a picture a day.  I am excited for next year and look forward with great hope at what the new year will bring.  Happy New Year!!

12.30.09

We got to spend a day playing games with our family and then Dave and I went to the temple to do sealings.  It was wonderful to get away and spend time in this beautiful place.  A perfect ending to a wonderful year.  I love that this picture caught the snow that was falling down and the beauty of the temple at night.

12.29.09

We spent the day with the Kempes at the Museum of Science and Industry.  Except at the beginning it was more like the Museum of Lines and Misery.  It took us about a 1/2 hour to get there and over an hour waiting in line to get our tickets.  Once inside it wasn't that busy.  We had fun showing off our favorite museum to our cousins.

12.28.09

Amy's sister Angie and her family arrived a couple days ago and they live Missouri where they don't get much snow - not enough for sledding or building snowmen - and so off we went to the school grounds to go sledding.  It was a great beginning to Kirsten's birthday.  They all had so much fun.  Some of us were colder then others and left early but all of us got to ride down the hill a couple times.

Kirsten had a really fun time opening presents.  Her cousins built her a special chair to sit in.  Mom talked a little about how special and wanted Kirsten was when she was born.  She talked a little bit about how much she weighed and what happened the day she was born - 5 years ago.  Kirsten then tore through her gifts and loved every minute of it.  She got a wonderful new tutu, mini pompons, a new game, a Dora mini doll with doll house and a new coloring board.  We all had cake and ice cream afterwards.  Dad brought out some cool glow sticks and we played with those until bedtime.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!  WE LOVE YOU!!!

12.27.09

It's Peter the Builder.  Can He FIX IT?  Yes He CAN!!

12.26.09

A Snow Day!

12.25.09

Christmas morning. 

Complete with:

Strawberry and blueberry covered waffles
Lots of paper and boxes on the floor
Toys everywhere
New books
Popcorn popper
Tools {the plastic and real ones"}
Santa mugs and Hot Cocoa
Games
Map making
. . . . And fun!!!

12.24.09

After a chilly start this morning with all the trees, fence posts and anything standing still outside with a thin layer of ice, we started a new Christmas eve tradition.  MONSTER CINNAMON ROLLS.  Boy were they yummy.  We also opened our new pajamas and read the Christmas story from LUKE 2.  Our night was wonderful and the kids are excited for opening more presents in the morning.

12.23.09

'Twas a couple days before Christmas and I was making cute blocks for my mantle.  I have had these blocks and vinyl for a week or so and finally got a few minutes to make these.  They were so easy and fun to make.  They help me remember the true reason for all the craziness this week.

. . . . Peace. . . . Love. . . . Joy. . . .

12.22.09

Today was a beautiful day to go outside.  It wasn't extremely cold.  Dave had suggested we make snowmen today {thanks for the suggestion - sarcasm inserted here} and so we went out in the morning while it was snowing.  Way too fluffy snow to make a snowman - but perfect for snow angels.  Later that day the neighbors were sledding down their front yard and Kirsten talked me into going outside with her while Peter was asleep.  She loved it.  I then spent the next hour or so clearing off the driveway the hard way. . .{we have a snowblower that was still in the shed with no gas, etc}. . . I had started it to stay warm while Kirsten played in the snow and then I had to finish it so it would be all cleared off. . . what a crazy thing to do. . .

12.21.09

To start the day we got a box with presents from Aunt Paula.  You would have thought the "snow" {white peanuts} was more exciting then the presents.  Eventually every room on the main floor was covered with white peanuts.  I'm not sure if I should thank Paula for the gifts or the peanuts.  The kids had a ton of fun and when I had stepped on the peanuts enough I promptly had the kids gather them all up and off to the trash they went.  {I know that was soooo mean.}

I had to add this picture today.  I guess the primary program had more of an influence then I thought.  Kirsten set up the manger with the baby Jesus and the kids used the flannel fabric and became Mary and Joseph.  Later they were "flying" around here as Angels.  I love it when they are so amazingly smart.  {Sorry 'bout the mess in the background. . . that's what my craft room looks like most days.}

12.20.09

Sometimes you get a glimpse of what Heaven might be like.  Today our Sunday School Christmas program was just that.  We sang, listened to songs and had a very wonderful time.  A couple highlights - the primary children's sang 3 beautiful songs.  They sang about the whole manger scene and dressed up as angels, wisemen, shepherds and mary and joseph.  It was so sweet and touched my heart.

Then for the final musical number the Woodrige 1st Ward Orchestra played for us.  I'm not sure if I have ever been in a ward with so much talent.  We had about 18 people who played 3 songs for us to sing to.  It was amazing and I absolutely loved it.  I came out of the meeting wanting to sing and rejoice in the wonderful time of year.  I have been worrying and stressing about "getting" things done for Christmas but I just need to remember that the true meaning of Christmas is the spirit of Christ.

12.19.09

Where has my little girl gone?  Who is this beautiful girl?  What a fun morning we had going to Kirsten's dance recital.  She did wonderful as usual.  She has such grace and is fun to watch her dance.  She love being up there and loves to dress up in the costumes.

12.18.09

Got my Christmas gifts for neighbors and friends finished so I can take them around.  I also got some of my Christmas cards in the mail.  A rather productive day I would say.

12.17.09

We started a craft group in our ward but because of changes to the Relief Society program it is not going to be under the guise of the Relief Society but it just a group of friends getting together making crafts.  This months craft was these adorable boards made with vinyl lettering.  We had it at my house but I didn't make one.  I have a mantle and perfectly good stocking holders.  I made some other vinyl/wood things and will show them to you when I get them all the way done.  It was fun and everyone is invited.. . Do you have an idea or do you want to come??? 

12.16.09

Okay Peter is going to hate me when he gets old enough to realize that I am taking all these funny pictures of him.  He just reminded me of the karate kid with Kirsten's headband on.  He is just so funny because he wants to be just like Kirsten but doesn't understand the boy/girl difference.  Oh well he is so cute anyway.

12.15.09

Errand day - GET THOSE PRESENTS IN THE MAIL.

Return the Library books.

Stop and have a nice cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows.

Funny thing Peter said today.  We were driving past the neighbors house and they had their Santa up.  He said there is Santa Club.  Where'd he get that???  He is a funny boy.

12.14.09

Wrapping, and wrapping and more wrapping.  I have to get these presents in the mail TOMORROW.  Of course I was finishing up the last bits on a couple of them before I could really wrap them and so I staid up and watched TV while I finished them.  Kirsten is so excited to get presents this year.  She can hardly wait.  Peter on the other hand just wants to cut the paper, or tear the paper, or undo all the spools of ribbon.  Isn't that what this is all about?

12.13.09

Kirsten made this cute nativity scene this morning when I handed her the egg carton to throw away.  She drew each of the characters with Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, the donkey, rooster and cat.  What a sweet girl she is, how creative and smart.  {of course I say that I'm her mom.}

{Photos courtesy of Liberty Cameron - thanks}

Tonight is the final night of the Nativity.  I helped with the Creche room this year again.  I have decided even though it is stressful to put up others Creches it is one of my favorite parts of the whole night.  I am grateful I have been able to be a part of it this year.  The church is decorated beautifully and the whole spirit of the night is amazing.  I love that this give us the true meaning of Christmas and that the music and spirit can carry us through the next couple of weeks.

12.12.09

A DOUBLE DOSE OF CRACK!!  Hee!  Hee!  { I couldn't resist taking this picture once I saw the big crack next to the little one. }  Peter so wanted to be helpful when Dave was fixing the toilet.  {Oh yeah, I tried to flush a washcloth down the toilet - well not intentionally - and it got stuck in the S bend? }
Couldn't it be more perfect since they are doing plumbing.

12.11.09

Sew, sew, sew.  My friend Liberty came over and we sewed pajama bottoms.  It is my gift to her since we can't really figure out what to get each other.  I wish I had a new serger since mine isn't doing a good job. . .  Maybe some day.  {Shoulda put my order in to Santa sooner. :) }

12.10.09

"Oh yeah, the truck might not start because it is so cold", Dave said as he left for work this morning.  I figured I was safe and that I could get to playgroup this morning because it had only been cold for one night.

NOPE, I was wrong.  Good thing I really didn't need to go anywhere in the truck today.  It gave me an excuse to finally start cleaning my house since I have been helping with the Nativity all week long and feel like I never really got home from my vacation.

12.09.09

It was a rather blustery and cold walk to and from school today.  Of course the kids don't seem to mind too much.   Peter got a bit flustered when the wind blew snow in his face, but other then that he thinks this is the coolest stuff he has ever seen.  The first couple days of snow he would get on his bike after we got back from school and try and ride it.  He was kind of oblivious that the snow was blocking his way. 
Kirsten on the other hand was kind of sad we couldn't build a snowman.  But the snow had built a crust overnight and so it was not making good balls.  {I felt kind of bad because the two neighbors down the street had built them yesterday and I told her we weren't going to do it mainly because I didn't want to go play in the snow at that time.  The snow is fluffy now on top of the crusty and probably won't make a good one tomorrow.  Plus it is supposed to be REALLY COLD tomorrow.  Oh, well it will snow again and again and again.}

12.08.09

"This needs to go here, and that should go there.  Put that there and move those over."  I know you think that is what I was saying but these two have been moving and rearranging the ornaments all day long.  At one point we had all the red ornaments dangling on one branch {poor branch - if it were a real tree.}  Of course with two children this is bound to happen. 

The funny add on is that I helped out at the church today decorating and putting things together for the Nativity/Creche Display this weekend.  After putting up the tree last night and decorating and redecorating the tree today, Peter felt the need and desire to help all the sisters working on the beautiful trees in the cultural hall.   {Thank goodness all of them have grandchildren or children and that Peter wasn't being destructive at all.}

{I sure wish all my decorating was done, most of the rest of it will probably sit in the boxes until the Nativity is done this weekend.  Oh, well.  That is unless Kirsten gets a bug in her ear and MAKES me finish.}