Highlights from the Week with the Thompson’s

Sledding, Hot Cocoa, and Hooky Bobbing

Movies at home and at the theater

Snowboarding at Copper Mountain

Minute to Win It Games

Dance Revolution, Ping Pong, Basketball, and board games.  I asked Nathan what his favorite part of the Thompson’s visit was and he said, “Ping Pong definitely!”  When asked why he then went on to say how fun his Uncles Dave, Andrew and Jon are.  They are funny!  I didn’t think I would stop laughing the night we played Balderdash and Dave, Jon and Erin were on the same team.  Their definitions were HILARIOUS!

Lots of food was made.  Jon made the most delicious parmesan/Frank’s Red Sauce breaded chicken.  They were divine! 

We did a Wasgij for our puzzle this year.  It was HARD! The picture on the front is NOT what the puzzle is.  The puzzle is what the guy in the middle is viewing.  SO, that makes it a little tricky when you are putting together 1,000 pieces that you have no clue what they should look like.  It was good to sit and zone out to work on.

The Christmas Eve party was fun.  Yummy food, Kim’s cute reindeer rootbeer for EVERYONE, Christmas PJ’s, chimes, games, decorating cut out cookies for Santa, acting out the nativity with baby Oliver, and late night talking with everyone.

Christmas morning with all of the wrapping paper, gifts and boxes.

Our walk around Garden of the Gods with some of us.

I know I’m missing so many other things, and have so many more pictures but this captures some of our highlights.

We sure enjoyed everyone that came!

Gingerbread Houses

I wonder how much frosting and candy is consumed when we do our gingerbread houses.  It must be a lot because the kids are always wayyyy giddy. 

The little girls made one, the big girls made another, and I don’t know what to call the boys creation other than something LOADED with candy to eat at a later time.  I always save a little Halloween candy to add into the variety of candy for the kids to use.  I wish that I would have taken a picture of all of the finished creations.  We sure had fun making them!

Tie Gift

Stephen’s parents are getting ready to serve a mission.  SO I thought it would be fun to give Don some new ties.  I had each of the kids make their “own” tie for him with a sweet note on the back to their grandpa.  Their notes to him were so cute.  Kaylee commented on how if she were stranded in the wilderness somewhere, she would want Grandpa Don with her because he knows so much about plants and animals.  Jacob’s Christmas tie drawing was amazing.  He is so talented!

Anyway, the ties were a hit!  Special notes to loved ones always have a way of touching those that receive them.

Fort Building

Lael flew in first and helped us build a fort to attack all of the others that were coming.  We had the snowball maker going strong.

At first I didn’t think that chances were high that the kids would be out there to use their snowballs and attack those coming, BUT I was wrong!  When Aunt Jodee pulled up with Grandma Brenda, Grandpa, Janie and Andrew the kids were in full attack mode.

Minute to Win It Games

We all went up to the church and played different Christmas Minute to Win it Games.  Everyone had a partner to compete in the games with.  I enjoyed watching the various pairs working together.

 

I only took a few pictures of the games.  Aunt Janna then started up a fun marshmallow fight.  They ARE softer than snowballs and a lot of fun for everyone.

 

Family Fun

We have been enjoying all of Stephen’s side of the family that came for the holidays (24 people to be exact).  Lots of laughs, lots of food, lots of people, and lots of fun.

   

Today the last of the family flew out.  I can’t believe how fast the week went by.  We had a fun holiday with the house FULL of family.  My kids sure didn’t lack for attention, and I ALWAYS had someone to visit with.

Thanks for coming Thompson’s!

Getting Ready

We are getting ready for Christmas.  We have a lot of family coming into town, which has meant lots of cleaning and last minute projects.  The kids keep asking when everyone will get here so that they can stop cleaning.  ;)

The weekend was filled with basketball and indoor soccer games.  I ran into my friend Petra at one of them and she wanted me to share the link to the Luca Strong website – www.lucastrong.com  It has so much information, that can protect your family.  Check it out.

Anyway, I’m off to clean…..

Friend Giving

Years ago, my good friend Kim and I decided that instead of buying for each other, we would take the money and buy something for a family or person  in need. 

First off, what a relief to not have to figure out what to give someone that already has everything!

We usually plan who we are doing and what we should give.  One year we went to lunch and then shopped together for the family we chose.  Another year Kim put all of the gifts in a big Santa sack, and as I watched her sneaking up to the house with the pack over her back I just couldn’t quit smiling.  One year we did it with other friends and were actually able to put the presents under the Christmas tree of the family in need.

Giving with a friend, to someone who is “really” in need is indeed the spirit of Christmas!  Now instead of gifts from Kim each Christmas, I have a lot of wonderful memories.

Snacks

These mini snack containers are awesome!

I buy big boxes of crackers, cookies, trail mix, jerky, M&M’s… and then divide them in these perfect portion containers.  The kids can grab them quickly for lunches, afterschool or sports snacks.  I can then wash and reuse the containers.

Jerrica has helped me fill them this year.  It’s “her” job.  I think she enjoys doing it because she can steal a few treats. :)  We then toss them in the snack bin in the pantry along with other fruit snacks and prepackaged treats.  It’s just nice that the kids can grab them quick.

You can even set jello in them, add pudding or applesauce.  It is so much cheaper, AND the containers are reuseable.

Weekend Update

We made cut out cookies.

 

We made paper count down chains.

We listened to the Middle School Christmas concert.

We laughed and giggled as we “elfed ourselves”.  I can’t believe how that is turning into a tradition we do every year.

We played basketball and indoor soccer games.

We went to Stake Conference sessions and were so uplifted by the talks.  Elder Richard G Scott came and inspired me with so many of his thoughts.  I LOVE conferences because they fill me with renewed energy.

We drove around singing Christmas songs and looking at Christmas lights Sunday evening.

We are ready for a new week!