It's The Holiday Season

I wish I could say that my lack of blogging as of late was due to all the fun holiday things we've been up to, but really it's just because my mind has been elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, we HAVE been doing a lot of fun things {which I will post about forthwith} but my life has been consumed the past few weeks with a MAJOR issue with our new next door neighbors. I have not been sleeping at night, my kids are not allowed to go outside, and I've been on the phone with detectives. I won't go into detail because it exhausts me to relive everything, but I'll give you three words that sum it up pretty well: Drugs, Prostitution, Beatings.

I have finally come to the realization that I can't let this consume me, or it will ruin my Christmas. I need to focus on the ways that we are being blessed and watched over, and not focus on what could happen.

Enough doom and gloom. We have been having lots of fun despite the drama!

We missed Santa's visit to our community center, but luckily he made another trip up for our Ward Christmas party! Jackson told Santa that he really wants a Polar Express train, which was news to us.....
his previous list is out the window and this is ALL he wants. He's killing me!

 

 

"scratch my previous list, Santa...."

 

We've finally been getting a little snow, but not nearly enough! I'm hoping we'll have a white Christmas this year.

Christmas Magnet Boards

I have a great group of friends. We've been friends since high school and still get together at least once a month for Gourmet Night. In December we combine Gourmet Night with a gift exchange. This year we decided that it would be fun to have everyone bring 8 of something. That way we all leave with 8 fabulous gifts! It was a BLAST!

I decided to make magnet boards for everyone. My handy father-in-law cut me 8x8 pieces of sheet metal and drilled holes in the top two corners. Then I covered them with festive papers and sundry bling. I made the magnets by gluing matching paper circles onto clear beads and adhering a magnet to the back. I decided to provide ribbon for hanging the board and a frame holder. That way they could choose to hang or not to hang {if they decided to hang it all they had to do was punch holes through the paper and tie the ribbon through}.

Christmas-time Is Here!

The countdown has begun! Yes, we even count down in the shower...bathtub crayons are the best invention. Matt and I write notes to each other all the time!! It really is the most wonderful time of the year! I love Christmas traditions {we have many} and decided to add a few more this year.

I covered a formula container with festive paper and had the kids write down a bunch of fun activities. We put them in and whenever we need a little pick-me-up we pull one out and do it. Some of the things they wrote down include- make a snowman, play a game, read a Christmas book, dance to Christmas music, make cookies, sing Christmas songs, throw snowballs.....I could go on and on!

The Job Jars have become the Good Deed Jars. I put 24 "good deeds" {let someone else go first, make a family member's bed, take a treat to a neighbor, tell a sibling something you love about them, etc.} in each of the kid's jars and every day they get to pull one out and do it. When they have done their good deed they put the paper in a box which is our "gift" to Jesus this Christmas. It's been great to see them get excited to do something nice for someone else.

We decorated the Christmas Eve Gingerbread House {thanks for the idea, Nic!}. Prior to decorating I snuck some toys inside for the kids. On Christmas Eve morning they get to break open the house and see what's inside! 

p.s. Thank you, Costco, for selling pre-assembled gingerbread houses. Genius!

p.p.s. The icing that comes with these things is less than ideal for actually decorating the house. Do yourself a favor and make your own:

Royal Icing

3 cups powdered sugar 

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 egg whites, beaten

In a bowl, sift together powdered sugar and cream of tartar. Using electric mixer, beat in 2 beaten egg whites for about 5 minutes or until mixture is thick enough to hold its shape. Keep tightly covered as it dries quickly. Use a pastry bag or ziploc bag with the corner snipped to decorate the house.

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! We spent the morning decorating the house. It's always fun to pull out the Christmas boxes. The kids love digging through them and remembering all the fun things inside. Landon LOVES the tree and will sit and play with the ornaments forever.

That afternoon we packed up and headed to my parent's house for a delicious feast and good times with the fam. We watched old home movies, the cousins played, and we stuffed ourselves silly!

William and Landon

Landon enjoyed his feast...and apparently was even up for some post-meal karate moves.

That weekend we I enjoyed watching Utah squeak out a victory over BYU. What a game! Landon enjoyed me dressing him up in Utah apparel for good luck.

look closely and you'll see his first tooth!

Six Month Stats

 Weight: 15 pounds 12 ounces (30th percentile)

Length: 25 1/2 inches (35th percentile)

This kid needs fattening up! 

He is such a fun baby. He is ALWAYS smiling and laughing, is the most layed-back baby I've ever seen, and tolerates sibling abuse love like a champ! He can sit up by himself fairly well with only a few topples here and there. He LOVES to eat and can stay in the push-up position longer than I can! He'll be crawling in no time {boo}, but for now he's still my little bubba who loves to cuddle and be held.

School Pictures

They're always a crapshoot....

This year I think they turned out pretty good:
{especially considering the fact that Kensie decided to cut a chunk out of the front of Lincoln's hair the night before. What is she, 2 years old??}

Fall Football

Matt took advantage of the unusually nice weather last weekend and played some football with the kids. They had some sweet plays worked out, and they might have been successful if they had something other than a mini plastic football to play with!

Tub Time

Landon has followed in the footsteps of his older siblings and HATED being bathed until he was able to sit up in the tub. Now he's as happy as can be and loves the tub!

Reflections 2010

It's that time of year again! The school Reflections assembly was on Nov. 1st. Kensie got first place in the dance category and will be moving on to District. I told her not to get her hopes up about going all the way to State like she did last year.....we'll see!

The theme this year is Together We Can...

Here's what she came up with:

Corn Husk Wreath

I saw this on How Does She and just HAD to make it! So easy and cheap. I think I spent a total of four dollars on this!

Here's what you need:
- 1 green foam wreath (dollar store)- I didn't like the size of the foam one so I got a woven twig wreath instead
- 1 pkg of short sewing pins- since I got the wood wreath I used a glue gun instead
- 1 8 oz pkg of corn husks (Walmart, by the Mexican food)

Here's what you do:
First, separate the corn husks. Then soak them in a sink full of water until they’re pliable, around 5-10 min. While they are still damp tear them into 1-2 in pieces. Let them dry for a few minutes. Beginning on the outside pin (or glue) the wider ends of the pieces to the foam wreath. I liked the look of having wider ends and skinnier ends alternating, so I did a little of both. The more you stack the fuller it will be. Work your way around the wreath pinning (or gluing) each row closer to the center. Wrap the last row into the center and pin (glue) down the wider ends well so they don’t show through the center of the wreath. Lay it flat to dry a bit, then hang it up and let it dry completely. That’s it! easy.