12 days of Christmas 7-12

On the 7th day of christmas we played some fun games (more for Chloe). Grandpa was here and he played with us too. We played the Snowman Game and Don't eat Santa. We also got a new game called Ticket to Ride. But we didn't get to play it due to the BYU football game. The Cable company took ESPN off our plan just before the game. So we found another house to go and watch it at:) Unfortunately BYU lost:(

On the 8th day of Christmas we went caroling with some other families. We went to about 6 homes and sang some fun songs to them. We also left them with treats. There was a lot of snow and that make for some snowball fights and "face washing" along the way. We all met up after caroling and had cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate.

On the 9th day of Christmas we baked yummy goodies for friends and neighbors. Wow, was that a lot of work. I started the baking at 2pm. We had several recipes we made. Poppy seed bread, kisses melted on pretzels with an m&m on top, Rod pretzels dipped in chocolate and rolled in heath bar bits, peanutbutter cookes with kisses on them, and carmels! We all worked in the kitchen for a good 2 hours while we watched Horton Hears a Who. The younger kids wrapped carmels in wax paper and the older kids made the pretzel recipes. We assembled it all together and went out to deliver all 15 creations. The kids put their santa hats on and were actually really hyper and acted silly the entire time.

On the 10th day of Christmas we took a day off and rested. Actually we went to our friends house and watched the BSU vs. TCU football game. And we were so happy that TCU beat BSU by one point. GO MOUNTAIN WEST!!

On the 11th day of Christmas we had a busy day! We went Tubing at Bogus. It was snowing and blowing and very cold, but we had a great time!
We had our annual pajama hunt that evening. We hide everyone's pajamas and they have to find their own. This year after the kids found their pj's they hid ours and had us find them. After everyone was sporting their new pj's we had our little nativity play and enjoyed reading some Christmas stories together.

On the 12th day of Christmas we went to the movies. We decided to see Marly and Me. It was long and boring for Chloe. I was very embarrassed by the sexual content. It was a PG movie that should have been PG-13. This is definetly a rental.

All in all the 12 days of Christmas was a fun tradition that I hope to incorporate into our Christmas every year. With some fine tuning, it will get better every year. It definetly brought us together and created fun memories. Our christmas season was more meaningful and we loved that it was allready planned.

12 days of Christmas 4-6

On the 4th day of Christmas we made a gingerbread house. This has become a fun tradition that the kids (especially the girls) really enjoy.
On the 5th day of Christmas we went to a Christmas band concert. Caden plays the trumpet in the middle school band. Afterward we went to the Ram and had our favorite bread pudding!
On the 6th day of Christmas, Grandpa Judy came for a visit. We also loaded up in the car and went to "A walk through Bethlehem". We saw a camel named Clyde and a donkey that Mary rode, and also some sheep that the shepards watched. We also saw Mary and Joseph in a stable with baby Jesus.
After that we drove to 2 houses that are COVERED in lights that go with music on the radio. It is fun to watch.

My Mother

Today is one year that my mom has been gone. She passed away just after midnight, so it was December 18th.
For beautiful thoughts and stories see my sisters blogs.

I remember last year when my sisters and I went shopping for a couple of hours. We had not been out of my parents house for a few days. We were taking care of my mom, when our brother came over and told us that we needed to get out and do something.
We found ourselves stumbling through the mall. We couldn't shop, we were too drained, so we ended up sitting in the mall and just watched people.
It was like slow motion. I wanted to stand up and shout, "don't you people know that my mom is dying right now, don't you know that what you are doing is not even important. Go home and give your loved ones a hug, give them your time...it's better than anything you have stuffed in those sacks."

We made our way back to my parents house that evening. We knew that my mom would "meet Jesus tonight" as the song Christmas Shoes says. The doorbell rang and when we answered it we saw dozens of faces singing the most beautiful Silent Night I have ever heard. My sisters and Dad all stood in the doorway with our arms around each other as we cried and listened..."Sleep in heavenly peace...sleep in heavenly peace." I knew that it wouldn't be long, my Mothers valiant and courageous battle would soon be over. The pain would stop. I went back to my mom's room and told her about the magical carolers that had just come.

Mom was in a very deep sleep. I not only think she heard me, but I think she heard the carolers too. Mom wasn't able to speak much during her last few days. But the tears in her eyes said it all.

I know that Mom is busy preparing the way for us. I feel our guardian angels among us and know they are looking out for us. I miss them very much and at times literally ache for them. But I know that it is all okay. It is so special to me that my mom passed away 1 week before christmas and because of Him, who's birth we celebrate at Christmas, I can see my mom again, if I do my part, and our relationship will grow, and grow forever.

I asked my family to write memories of my mom on pieces of paper and place in a bowl on the end table in our living room. The bowl is now full and I want to write down what was written:
Her fun sense of humor
School Buses
Her Laugh
Mocha Freeze lipstick
When she broke her arm
Her Witch Cackle
She didn't want Grandpa to ride horses...she worried he would get hurt.
All the presents she used to give us.
She would read every sign.
"You are going to freeze into a popsicle...what flavor do you want to be; grape or cherry?"
Sewing, sewing, sewing. Quilts, dolls, dresses...
"See ya later Aligator!"
Always stood up for what she believed to be right.
The ability to spend hours in one store.
She used to read me princess stories
Hailey remembers going to a million stores looking for a latch hook!
The winnie the pooh joke. (my boys will never forget that one)
Always taking care of everyone else...even when she was sick.
The cake walk
Making Macey laugh
Making Christmas Tea rings
Lipstick kisses
Funny eyebrows
hugs as soon as you came through the door
Love for her country, constitution and political views.
singing and playing the piano
physically strong
Frog eye salad

Miss you Mom!

First Snow

We finally got some snow. Over last weekend, it snowed for a couple of days and has actually been cold enough to stay. I went out with chloe yesterday to make a snowman, but it wasn't good snowman snow. So she pretended that she was a kitten and crawled around the yard. I was shoveling the driveway and began shoveling all the snow in a big pile for her "kitty nest". She played in it all day. She's also a "snow eater". Nothing like a hand full of fresh snow!

12 days of Christmas 1-3

In a quest to make Christmas last longer that just one day, I bought a book last year called the 12 days of christmas that got me thinking...
So, this year I also got my act together and arranged 12 days of Christmas for my family. My theme is "makin memories". I bought fancy paper and wrote on it what each day would be and then put each paper in 12 different fancy envelopes and wrote Day 1, Day 2 etc. on the envelopes.
We began on Sunday Dec. 14. Each of the kids take turns opening the envelopes that are placed under the tree. Hailey read the first letter that said "On the first day of Christmas we bring to you with Love." We gave the kids a book that I made on snapfish. It has all of our winter/christmas pictures in it since 2004 (when we went digital).
Yesterday the kids were pretty excited to open the next envelope! It said that we were going to the mall to visit Santa and then out for egg nog milk shakes at good ole arctic circle! (Sign of the times moment happened when we had to fill out a waiver so the kids could see Santa.) It was fun watching all the kids sit by him and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Even the boys got into it. Santa told them they are never to old to visit him. He said the other day a 88 year old women came to see him.
Tonight at the dinner table they opened #3 and discovered that the tradition of the "secret star of service" would begin. The child with the star will do secret act of service for eachother and leave the star on the bed of whom they served, then that person does his act of service and so on.

Change

After 3 years and several days I was released as the primary president. It is sad to be leaving primary and not being able to see the kids each week. I really love serving with a presidency and getting to know others. You get pretty close to presidencies. I have made primary part of my life and it will be hard to not have that anymore. I shed lots of tears, but really feel good about the new presidency and I feel like it is time to move on.
When I was first called there was about 200 children in primary. After 3 months our ward split and I lost one of my counselors (who became the primary president of the new ward). Nine months later I lost my secretary when she moved and then about a year after that I lost my first counselor when she was called into Young Womens. So there was lots of change and I got to know several fabulous ladies, and gained new friendships.
I will always remember the countless meetings, quarterly activities (that were a lot of work.) My favorites were the Olympics, pioneer days, water fights, program practices with pizza and popcorn and a magic show, flying to 3 different countries to see how children of God live in other areas of the world and Halloween carnivals.
I will be relieved to not have to prepare anymore sharing times. Strange to say I probably did 40 or more of those. I learned a lot and my testimony has grown through those lessons. We teach the children but really it is the children that taught me.

Most of all I will miss the primary songs. I will miss singing time each week. My favorite primary song is a new one we learned this year called "If the Savior stood beside me."

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously
if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

Ta Da!!

Here it is, my long awaited for blog. Meaning, I have long awaited for this blog. My sister DaNae helped me...okay my sister DaNae did it for me. She's a genuis and I am not.
15 days until christmas and there is still NO SNOW. We are hoping the storm headed this way for the weekend will dump a few inches. The boys and Joel are anxious to have Bogus open up. (since all they are getting for christmas is ski passes and snowboards)
I am so glad that my kids can still "hear the bell"...all though none of the kids will admit if they don't. Chloe is so fun. We do the "Mr. Peeps" tradition. I have a little elf that moves at night. He is found on light fixtures, the stair railing or on top of the mantel or entertainment center. He gives Santa the report on the kids...who's been bad and what good deeds he sees them doing. The great thing is the last couple of years when Joel and I go to bed without helping Mr. Peeps find a new place to hang out. Someone else does it for us:)
Christmas is a magical time of year. My wish is that my kids could always stay young enough to believe in Santa, and always hear the bell.