We had a cozy night around the fire tonight, singing Christmas carols and eating the homemade pumpkin pie that Mike accidentally left at home, that he was supposed to take for Priesthood Preview tonight.
It was a very happy accident.
;)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 11
We had a cozy night around the fire tonight, singing Christmas carols and eating the homemade pumpkin pie that Mike accidentally left at home, that he was supposed to take for Priesthood Preview tonight.
It was a very happy accident.
;)
Saturday, December 10, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 10
Tonight, we had our ward Christmas party!
The Primary was in charge of decorating the Santa room.
And let me tell you how fun it was to drag them out of a sound sleep (from staying up way too late last night) to get over to the church to help decorate.
It wasn't.
Anyways, my Primary people worked their magic, and the room turned out pretty cute!
Tonight, we picked up Mike from work, and headed over to the party. We had a yummy dinner and then waited in line to see Santa!
We worked some technology coolness, and Bishopric counselor and I whispered all of the names to the jolly guy.
My kids were a-m-a-z-e-d that Santa really knew their names!
Add in that he sported a real, live beard, and my kids were insanely excited to have THE real Santa and not one of his helpers.
We had a great time!
The Primary was in charge of decorating the Santa room.
And let me tell you how fun it was to drag them out of a sound sleep (from staying up way too late last night) to get over to the church to help decorate.
It wasn't.
Anyways, my Primary people worked their magic, and the room turned out pretty cute!
Tonight, we picked up Mike from work, and headed over to the party. We had a yummy dinner and then waited in line to see Santa!
We worked some technology coolness, and Bishopric counselor and I whispered all of the names to the jolly guy.
My kids were a-m-a-z-e-d that Santa really knew their names!
Add in that he sported a real, live beard, and my kids were insanely excited to have THE real Santa and not one of his helpers.
We had a great time!
Friday, December 9, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 9
We slept around the Christmas tree for our countdown activity tonight.
And by "we" I mean Adam and Mike.
We watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman until way late. It had been a long day, and I thought for sure they would fall asleep while watching.
They didn't.
So, we turned it off around 11:00, and tucked them all in wherever they wanted to sleep.
For Grace, Josh and I that meant in our comfy beds.
Someday, we will all make it all night out there. I just know it!
Josh's Bike!
Josh loves, loves, loves riding Grace's bike.
And, Grace is a great big sister, who is great at sharing.
But, the scene at our house was like this far too often:
Josh running after her, screaming for the "bike!" while she rode away as fast as she could.
(Generally, they aren't in their pajamas still. But, you know. It happens).
Today, after it happened again, I decided something had to be done.
We dropped Grace off at school, and then took Josh's birthday money and bought him his very own bike!
And, Grace is a great big sister, who is great at sharing.
But, the scene at our house was like this far too often:
Josh running after her, screaming for the "bike!" while she rode away as fast as she could.
(Generally, they aren't in their pajamas still. But, you know. It happens).
Today, after it happened again, I decided something had to be done.
We dropped Grace off at school, and then took Josh's birthday money and bought him his very own bike!
To say that he is in love with it would be a huge understatement.
He won't go anywhere without that thing.
I'm glad he is having fun with it, and I'm way glad that there is one less thing to fight about around here.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 8
Tonight they made bags with toiletries, snacks, and warm clothes for the homeless at roundtable.
Adam also participated in a flag ceremony with his pack there. They have been practicing for months, and Adam was ecstatic about getting to do it, and carry the flag. I sooo wish that I could have seen him, but Josh was one cranky boy tonight.
***
A family in our ward makes sack lunches and hands them out to the homeless on Christmas Eve each year. I LOVE that! I also read about a tradition where a family decided on a family to gift Christmas dinner with... I LOVE that idea, too. I would like to be involved in those kinds of things, and get my kids involved as much as possible.
I really, really want my kids to be grateful for each and every thing that they have; I try to point out how much we are blessed with daily, but I need/want to do more. Especially this time of year when the "I wants..." come into play.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 7
Tonight our countdown activity was to "make a Christmas treat."
Mike's grandparents used to make all of their grandchildren a special bag each Christmas that had a handmade ornament, candy, a small gift, a $2 bill, and popcorn balls.
His grandma passed away this past year, so I thought it was fitting that we make the traditional popcorn balls, that she made each Christmas.
We had soooo much fun making them together, and talking about Mike's childhood Christmas-es.
They are pretty yummy, too.
Mike's grandparents used to make all of their grandchildren a special bag each Christmas that had a handmade ornament, candy, a small gift, a $2 bill, and popcorn balls.
His grandma passed away this past year, so I thought it was fitting that we make the traditional popcorn balls, that she made each Christmas.
We had soooo much fun making them together, and talking about Mike's childhood Christmas-es.
They are pretty yummy, too.
Grandma Hansom's Popcorn Balls
6 Tbsp butter
10 oz package of marshmallows
3 oz package of jello
Popcorn (air pop 3/4 cup kernels)
Melt butter and marshmallows and a medium sauce pan. When mostly melted and jello. Stir together until completely melted. Pour over popcorn and mix together carefully. The marshmallow mixture will be hot. When mixed together, butter hands and form popcorn into balls. Let cool.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 6
Tonight, we headed to Ethel M's to see the cactus garden all adorned with thousands of lights, and a tour/sample of chocolate.
I had the super-smart idea this year to buy a large pack of coffee cups/lids at Smart & Final for cheap. I mix a big pot of hot cocoa until it's insanely hot, put it into the cups, add lids, and throw them in a cup holder. When we got to Ethel M's they were the perfect temperature, so they got a little treat to drink while we walked around and it kept their hands warm.
Those cups have come in handy a ton already, and I know that we will be using them throughout the winter!
Anyways, my super-smart ideas aside, we had a great time. The lights were beautiful, the music was fun, the chocolate was yummy, and we got to watch the workers make peanut brittle, which the kids LOVED!
Monday, December 5, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Days 4 & 5
Last night we watched The Santa Clause as a family, for our countdown activity (and I forgot to take a picture... must've had something to do with the state of my living room after a Sunday at home).
Sundays are messy days.
;)
Today, the kids' had a half-day at school, so after they came home, we made cute pom-pom snowman ornaments, that are glued onto clothespins, to attach to the tree.
They turned out soooo cute!
I made something similar when I was in kindergarten (I think my brothers did, too), so I thought it would be fun to make it with them.
They LOVE hearing stories about my childhood, and it was fun to talk/make a craft together while Josh took a nap.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 3
We made Santa's reindeer a little snack tonight, to leave out on Christmas Eve.
It's an ice wreath made with oranges and cranberries.
Reindeer,as you know, like their snacks on the chilly side.
On Christmas Eve, we loosen it from the pan with a little hot water, tie a ribbon on, and have a yummy little snack for our flying friends.
It's an ice wreath made with oranges and cranberries.
Reindeer,as you know, like their snacks on the chilly side.
On Christmas Eve, we loosen it from the pan with a little hot water, tie a ribbon on, and have a yummy little snack for our flying friends.
Friday, December 2, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 2
We decorated the windows with snowflakes today.
In the process, my living room became completely covered in "snow."
Luckily it's the kind that a required a vacuum for clean-up (rather than shovels or a snowplow).
Thursday, December 1, 2011
25 Days of Christmas: Day 1
We wrote our letters to Santa today.
Grace asked for "anything girly."
(She's pretty darn worried that if she says "anything", Santa is going to gift her with some Transformers).
Josh asked for basketballs and pumpkins.
Adam asked for a Kindle and a 643-piece Erector set.
He's always been the difficult child.
;)
Grace asked for "anything girly."
(She's pretty darn worried that if she says "anything", Santa is going to gift her with some Transformers).
Josh asked for basketballs and pumpkins.
Adam asked for a Kindle and a 643-piece Erector set.
He's always been the difficult child.
;)
Happy 2nd Birthday, Josh!
Josh turned 2 today!
(I want to say, "I can't believe he is 2... it went by so fast." And I know I will, someday. But, man alive. This boy can make enough messes/get into enough trouble to make the days d-r-a-g. So. Lately, I've been feeling all of his two years.)
He woke up to balloons everywhere and was SO excited about it!
Mike had the day off of work, and so Josh got us all to himself while Adam and Grace were at school.
What better gift can you give to your third child than a day of attention, right?
We played at the park with him, picked up the kids, and then came home to presents, cake, and dinner (before Mike had to leave for Scouts).
I made a dog cake, because Josh is obsessed with all things dog right now.
It wasn't one of my best cakes, you might say.
(I say that like there have been some best cakes. But, really, we all saw this cake here, so let's not pretend I'm a professional).
However, he didn't think it looked like a pig or a rabbit, so it's all good.
:)
After dinner and dessert, he opened presents. He got bath toys, a car toy, ball, stuffed dog, and some money (I'll post soon on what he spent that on). He made out pretty good and LOVED all of his presents!
It was a really fun day, and we love this 2-year-old of ours!
(I want to say, "I can't believe he is 2... it went by so fast." And I know I will, someday. But, man alive. This boy can make enough messes/get into enough trouble to make the days d-r-a-g. So. Lately, I've been feeling all of his two years.)
He woke up to balloons everywhere and was SO excited about it!
Mike had the day off of work, and so Josh got us all to himself while Adam and Grace were at school.
What better gift can you give to your third child than a day of attention, right?
We played at the park with him, picked up the kids, and then came home to presents, cake, and dinner (before Mike had to leave for Scouts).
I made a dog cake, because Josh is obsessed with all things dog right now.
It wasn't one of my best cakes, you might say.
(I say that like there have been some best cakes. But, really, we all saw this cake here, so let's not pretend I'm a professional).
However, he didn't think it looked like a pig or a rabbit, so it's all good.
:)
After dinner and dessert, he opened presents. He got bath toys, a car toy, ball, stuffed dog, and some money (I'll post soon on what he spent that on). He made out pretty good and LOVED all of his presents!
It was a really fun day, and we love this 2-year-old of ours!
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