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.

h a l l o w e e n !

Halloween was great this year! We had a dragon, a cheerleader, a storm trooper, and of course Mr. Elephant. 

The kids had fun at the neighborhood Trunk or Treat and LOVED watching the magic show after filling their bags with candy. Kensie even got some juggling balls from the magician.

 

No Halloween would be complete without the school parade....

I also got to help with Kensie's class party. We had fun playing Skeleton Says and I was surprised at how well they all knew the bones in the body.

I think Jackson enjoyed the party more than anyone!

The Dance-Off

On Halloween night {aka Saturday because Halloween was on a Sunday this year} we had dinner in a pumpkin and Matt took the kids out in the rain to trick-or-treat. We were just happy that it was rain and not snow. We had a foot of snow earlier in the week which melted before the big day, thank goodness!

 

 

Pumpkin Carving

 We had fun carving pumpkins this year at Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook's!

Our little pumpkin

{don't mind the squash all over his white shirt....}