The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Here are some happenings from the last week.  For FHE on Monday night, Ellie wanted to act out the nativity, so she did the casting and arranged costumes (Joseph was not a very willing participant, unfortunately, so he is not pictured here).  I love it when my girls use their imaginations.

Here's our angel:

 Even angels have cry fits sometimes, no?

 Mary and baby Jesus:

 A random photo of Everett.  His sleeping schedule is getting off, so we've been experimenting with skipping a nap.  This is what happens. 

 Thanks for the donuts, Aunt Jess!

 And, we had friends over to decorate gingerbread houses.  We usually do a family one purchased at Costco, but this year we were too slow buying one, I guess, because we couldn't find any.  So, we did individual graham cracker versions this year, which was fun.  I was impressed with my kid's creations. 

 Oh, and we had a great times with our friends too.  That always makes for a fun night.

Everett, "one on the house, two in my mouth..."

And here's a photo collage for you from the last week.  Except for one photo, it's from a couple months ago.  :)

The Grand

As a 'Thank You', Nick's work gave him a night's stay at The Grand America Hotel, and while we threw around the idea of finding a sitter for the kids and having a romantic getaway with just the two of us, we ultimately decided to take the kids with us and make a fun family weekend instead.  I'm glad we did.  It is always nice to get away (even if I never sleep in hotel beds, no matter how comfy they are).  Anyway, here are photos:

First we had dinner at Litza's Pizza.  Then, after checking into the Hotel, we rode Trax (the highlight of the trip if you ask our kids) to City Creek and walked around.

 Past the Macy's window display:

 And then through Temple Square:

 We look a little wet because we were.  It rained the entire evening.

We had ice cream cones and fries before heading back to the hotel.  The next morning, after a nice breakfast at the Royal Eatery, we walked around the Grand and looked at their displays and participated in their trip around the world. 

 We packed up and then rode the train back to the Church Museum, which was a lot of fun.  The kids especially had a good time.

 Yes, Lainey is in her jams.  She had an 'incident' and was lucky to have an extra pair of jammies in the diaper bag. 

Everett tending to the garden:

We finished off our trip with a late lunch at the Lion House.  It was a good time had by all.  What a great weekend! 

Here we are on the phone (with two not from the weekend, but they were cute too, so I included them):

A Christmas Party

My family had their annual Christmas party over the weekend.  We were (mostly) healthy and very much enjoyed being with family.  Every year, we have a little talent show, and I was so proud of Ellie, who confidantly got right up and played "Jingle Bells".  What a big girl.

 Maren was pleased as punch to be Mary in the nativity:

 I'm glad I captured Everett as a shepherd for the all of two minutes he was in costume.

 My Daddy, imparting wisdom to his posterity:

 And the traditional, much-anticipated game of 'pass the present':

It was a really nice evening.  Thanks, Mom.

A Few of My Favorite Things

This week has been crummy.  I've had sick kids.  I have been sick.  Not just runny noses sick, but fever-running, if-you-put-me-down-I'll-scream-until-you-pick-me-up sick.  On top of that sick, we've also had puke sick as well.  We've spent a lot of time rocking, snuggling, and watching lots of tv.  Which sounds all nice, the first day.  We are going on day 6 now, and I'm ready to get back to real 'normal' life.  I finally took Lou to the doctor this morning, thinking she must have an ear infection, but nope.  Just a cold that has to run it's course.  I'll be so happy to see that bill come in.

Anyway, I needed some bright spot, so I decided to do a "Favorite Things" post, you know, things that are making me happy:

*Peppermint ice cream and ginger cookies.  Yum and yum.

*Christmas shopping is done!  Hurray!  Now we can really focus on having fun throughout the season (if we can ever feel healthy enough...)!

*Our countdown this year:

 Every night we unwrap a Christmas book and read it together as a family.  As I was wrapping all 24 I was thinking, "I don't know if I could do this again next year..." BUT the kids have loved it.  It just might be worth it to do it again.

*As stated in my last post, my girls are either best of friends or worst of enemies.  Well, they must know that Christmas is near because they have been playing extra nicely together.  I love watching them play together, using their imaginations, and if dress-ups are involved, even better.  It was really funny when Everett came upstairs wearing a princess dress as well and was dancing with the other princesses.  I probably should have grabbed my camera, but the poor boy doesn't need any evidence for blackmail later on in life. ;)

*Christmas crafts.  My girls are the happiest with paper, scissors, and crayons.  Every once in awhile I indulge their desire to create and pull together the materials for a fun craft.  I should do it more often.

*I got together with my good friends over the weekend and we bought a llama.  We seriously did.  How cool is that?  I love my girls.  It is always a boost to my being to be amongst them.  (Ok, so I wanted to leave you hanging for effect, but I'm just not that kind.  :)  We bought a llama through Heifer International, who gives the animals to families in need and who are able to make money off the animals to better feed and care for their families.  Cool huh?)

*My sister-in-law made us dinner.  We've been eating off of it all week long.  That makes me happy, especially this week when I either haven't been able to, or it has been near impossible with an extremely clingy one year old hanging on me.

*The Christmas Devotional.  We had the tree up, lights twinkling, but I didn't really feel that Christmas Spirit until I listened to this.  I was recommitted to give and receive with love, and especially to remember my Savior.

*My favorite nativity:

I love that Mary is holding baby Jesus.  I love that Joseph has his arm around Mary.  I love the little angel peeking over Mary's shoulder.  I love that the set is white.  I love it all, and I feel that Christmas Spirit when I look at it. 

*My sweet husband makes me happy.  He has more than stepped up this week and helped where I just couldn't.  He came home early from work to take care of (sick) kids so I could be sick without them climbing all over me.  What a good man I have.

What's For Dinner?

Monday - hamburgers with pineapple, egg, and cheese, tater tots
Tuesday - Manicotti (which, by the way, my entire family loved!  Definitely a do again.  I did alter the recipe by adding garlic to the cheese mixture and I only boiled the noodles for about 5 minutes and then piped the cheese in with a ziplock bag.  Super easy.), salad, green beans, garlic bread
Wednesday - leftover turkey dinner
Thursday - turkey pot pie, salad, bread and butter
Friday - frozen pizza, salad
Saturday - Nick made chicken fingers and tater tots for himself and the kids and I had a delicious ham dinner with friends (love you girls!)
Sunday - Hawaiian haystacks

Meet Rose

Meet Rose.  Maren made her in Preschool, and I think she is one cute girl.  However, every show I've seen her star in, she leads some sad story where her entire family dies.  I guess my girl loves herself some drama.

 Everett has a hand puppet, too.  See?

 And, my kids.  They are so stinkin' cute.

 You're diggin' Lou Lou's hair, huh?  She pulls out all the rubber bands, little stink.  All shoes and socks must come off as well.  At least she hasn't figured out the clothes bit yet.

 You're killing me, girl.  Those eyes.  That smile.  It kills me.

 Excuse me a moment, I need to go find that face and smooch upon it.

There.  I'm proud of the progress my little musician is making at the piano:

 These girls.  They are either the best of friends, or the worst of enemies.  It keeps our house hopping.

Life is grand.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Thanksgiving (and the rest of our weekend)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 The kids 'helped' dad make pie:

 I like this photo because my baby boy looks like a Cabbage Patch doll, and he has really awesome hair:

 We had our Thanksgiving feast with Nick's family, and it was a very enjoyable evening, not to mention really delicious food (that goes without saying, right?).

The next day, we had to pull out the tree and the Christmas decorations (Notice the Halloween decor in the background.  Ha!):

 That day, we were also joined by my nephew, who we got to keep for the long weekend.  He's been a pleasure to have around.

Saturday morning, I took the 'big' kids to see Wreck-It Ralph, which we all enjoyed.  That evening we made pizzas:

 Everett admiring his cousin (I admire him too!  He ate his entire pizza in one sitting!):

We had a second Thanksgiving feast with my brother's family Sunday night, and besides the turkey being a little undercooked (whoops!), it was just as delicious as the first time.  We look forward to our turkey sandwiches (fully cooked, that is) this week.

And this morning, it's back to real life.  Ellie's back in school and I was back to the get up and make lunches and feed the kids routine. 

 Look who thinks she's a big girl:

 And here's a bonus phone dump for you: