Reflections

It’s like a mirror, but it’s not  …  it’s more like a Christmas ball ….

Bits of December

We went to the annual crèche exhibit.  There are TONS of nativities from everywhere and made out of everything.  The one below is from Brazil and made from Coca Cola cans.

Rebecca liked the hologram one.

I thought the painting on this one was so cute, especially the camels.

This was a cute one made from Sharpie and wood.

We met the cute Wilcox family there.  Our big girls are the same ages, and the Ryan and Jerrica are as well.  I got such a kick out of them flirting with each other all night.  This picture gives you a glimpse…

Band concert for my flautists.

Nathan got extra credit in Chemistry if he brought in a “chemistry” related ornament for their tree.  So, with a little help from Google, sisters, and mom he made a cute ornament.  This kid’s sense of humor cracks me up!

Ashley’s Christmas concert ROCKED.  I loved their dance to Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer.  My Ash definitely has rhythm!

I chaperoned a field trip to the Space Discovery Center with Ashley’s third grade class.  The giant ball was awesome as it changed from one planet to the other.  The sun was my favorite though.

Had to get a picture of Ash with her bestie, Chessa.

The big girls went to a fun white elephant gift exchange.  It was sad when they came home.  Rebecca came running in exclaiming that she got the gift everyone was fighting over.  Just as she raised it up to show me, she dropped and broke it!

The girls had an ugly Christmas sweater day at school.  Their school is right by BassPro shop.  I told Jacob that he had to make them go in and take a picture with Santa.  Needless to say, with two older brothers driving them, they didn’t have a choice.  The problem was that the Santa made them hold hands in their picture.  By the time they made it home they were mad at me for making them take the picture and SO annoyed that he made them hold hands.  Every time I look at it, I have to laugh.

The little girls had a better deal.  I took them to Kneader’s for a treat and to see Santa.  Kneader’s treats are divine!

I am so like When you Give a Mouse a Cookie.  One morning I sat reading the new Ensign and saw a beautiful picture of Christ.  Of course I had to make an ornament out of it for our Christ tree and let the laundry wait until I was done.  I get so easily sidetracked!

Ashley had Roman day and made a cool mosaic eye.  She shared a lot with us about the colors that were used during that time period. 

She also had to do an animal book report and puppet to go with it.  For some reason a toucan came to her mind and we had to figure out a puppet for it, which was no easy task!  DO NOT choose a toucan unless you have an Ashley to walk you through making a puppet for it!

I am thrilled that our Christmas RS dinner and program are over.  It was a beautiful night, but so much work.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the other little Christmas parties that I have been to and others have worked to put together.  This really is such a fun time of year with everyone giving and parties every time you turn around.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was spent out of Colorado

in Arizona.  It was a LONG drive.  I was even so bored that I took reflection pictures of us in the semis.

We spent the holiday with this guy’s family.

We swam every minute we could in Lael’s pool.  As usual, it couldn’t be a normal swim, but instead always trying to invent ways to get hurt.

It almost appeared that there was a boat in the pool.

Lael is such a cute aunt and had all the girls over for a sleepover.  They had favorite treats, a movie, swimming, and games.  It’s no wonder that my kids adore her!

Dinner was hosted by Janie and Andrew.

It was a HOT day that day!  I’m glad that we ate in the evening.  The top food that everyone raved about was the rainbow jello salad.

We had a cornhole tournament afterward.  I wish that I would have taken a picture after everyone had signed up to get all of the teams.  Jerrica and Stephen were the champions and won the giant candy bars.

It was dark by the time we finished.  I am amazed at how competitive a simple little game can be.

One morning we headed to the park for crazy kick ball.  Grandpa Don in his 70’s actually slid into home base on one of the final plays of the game!

My favorite part of the game was kicking it over Stephen’s head in the outfield.

They had this climbing structure at the park.  You look at these next pictures and you don’t think anything because I was zooming in.  BUT I was FREAKING out at Ashley and stopped taking pictures of her because she was standing at the top holding on to the sides LEANING forward.  I was DYING!

The climbing thing is HUGE!  That’s why even big kids and grown up climb it.  It was taller that the palm trees.  Here below in the middle is Jacob at the top and then Kaylee is in the right side at the top.

Ashley could have killed herself.  I don’t get how other’s don’t fall and get hurt!

My safety boy Nathan didn’t want to chance it and headed to the splash part with Austin.

The boys had late nights of Settler’s of Cattan.

We went to a ghost town.

The little ones picked gold bits from mud as the older ones shared Youtube videos.

It was a quick trip but so great to see family!