caramel apples

One of our great friends Christine gave our family a caramel apple kit for Christmas!
FHE treats expectations just went up a notch..  The girls loved making them and well we all loved eating them!

christmas was here

and passed way to quickly!
I love this day!
The girls were excited I love those first 10 seconds while they stare in aw, deciding what will get their attention first!

  And it only lasts 10 seconds before they all started talking at the same time..."look at this," "what does this do,"  "what color did you get?"  They wanted robes this year instead of new pajamas, I love them!

Nana and Papa came bright and early to be the first to try the waffle maker I had just opened! Waffles with strawberries and whip cream...yum!
...going way to fast...

soon it was time to get ready for church at first the girls resisted, but then pulling out the sparkly new dresses assured fast showers and excitement for new tights! A quick hour at church was spent listening to some of my favorite Christmas music.  I am fascinated with the harp, beautiful.
Then it was time for Casey's family to come...

Papers, boxes and bows scatted all about.  Treasures to love, cousins to thank and hug!
Grandma and Grandpa surprised the grand-kids with a DISNEY CRUISE!  To say we are excited is such a understatement...can't wait till February!

Nobody makes Hayli smile like Taylor and Kamryn!

 Clyde and Lorraine also gave us matching BYU sweatshirts, we teasingly called them the family uniform the rest of the day! (we missed Cherish and Colton, they were working and didn't make it till later)

Stockings were filled, songs about Christ were sung, memories were made, and saved.
All to soon it was over.
Can't wait to do it again.
Merry Christmas!

christmas eve

The Hreinson family hosted Christmas Eve this year, and were generous enough to invite us to their family cabin.
If the snow wasn't going to come to us....we went to find the snow!

After lunch we decided to try out the sledding.  At first the whole gang came out. (except Nana and Papa)  Everyone got a chance, we even sent the little ones, to test out the fun.

We would throw out the sleds at the top, squealing and closing our eyes tight, rushing to the bottom.  Where you grabbed on to the rope and the wheelers pulled you to the top, only to repeat the fun.  My kind of fun!

Soon one by one the littles went in to warm themselves by the fire and play games with Nana and Papa.
What were we left with?  The big boys showing us how "it gets done"

They ran with all their might, landing precariously on their sleds, hollering all the way down, willing their sled to go the farthest.  Then standing on their finishing point waiting for the the others to compare.  It only took maybe 8 to 10 runs to realize Hreinson had a longer sled there for he won..... every time.  Here he was playing it well,  He "had home advantage, he knew all the hills and bumps like the back of his hand".... Well played Hreinson you had us going for quite sometime!!

I love this one,  

Some times you just need a taste of snow while you wait your turn, keep hydrated!

Max was the trooper of the kids, first one out...last one in!

we eventually stopped to open presents, and then gather our treasures as we had one more race ahead of us.
The race against Santa....

day #23

We were able to play Kings corner with Grandpa great for a bit...

The Tyece, Sabra and their kids plus Dad and Mom.  I am so glad Grandpa has Aunt Cynthia they are good to each other.  Makes me think of my own life, fast forward to when the girls are independent, I would love to have my sister live with me so we could be some of those "crazy old ladies" together!

 Tried for the yearly generation picture... after Grandpa accused me of trying to use the "whole roll" :)  I gave up on the perfect picture and settled for one with every face. Grandpa's birthday is on the 4th maybe I have a chance at grabbing a better one.
Merry Christmas Grandpa great!

day #20 & #21

craft palooza!
What would a day off be with out a craft?

The girls talked me into a craft day not just one craft.  We made Christmas trees, wreaths of hand-prints,  Santa's with bendable arms and legs, I was even talked into trying origami. Have to admit I liked my origami tree.  I am pretty sure we went through $50 of craft supplies, paper- glue- tape...

I love how Gentry's wreath didn't quite make it into a circle but she was just a proud as the others. :)
I didn't get a picture of all our crafts, but Kate said it was her favorite day!  And that is why I do it.
Also this week we ventured to Gardner's Village to check out the elves.

  We made it from the parking lot to the bakery- grabbed a cookie and back to the car with ONE picture taken but... no frost bite. :)  The wind was bitter cold, we just couldn't take it but mark it down as trying hard for Christmas fun!

day #17

We hit the Thanksgiving Point light wagon ride, again with the Hoyts and Mays.

 yes it was a little cold at first but we bundled up and snuggled up tight, and no one complained.

 I love these grainy imperfect pictures.   Gentry's blurry look of aw,  Kate's excited "look at me face"

Even Hayli's "OK just one more picture Mom, face"
They also had Santa's reindeer there for a visit and ice carving going on.

 Mostly we wrangled kids but I love to see there faces as they see something new.

and of course we ended our family outing with hot chocolate with candy canes, and my new favorite trick of store bought cookie dough, cookies in 11 min? Make only what you are going to eat right now?  So up my ally, the kids don't even care that they don't taste as good.

good times I tell ya, good times!

piano recital

Hayli had her second piano recital yesterday.  Have I mentioned how much I love her teacher?

Not only is Gail a personal friend, but she is so great to these kids.  The recital was held at the local retirement home where the residents as well as us families could enjoy the music.  I loved watching the little people (Gentry, Kate and friends) laying out on the floor while the oldest guests smiled and bobbed their heads to the Christmas tunes.  We ended the night singing a few Christmas songs together, the old and the young laughing and enjoying the "season" together.

 Hayli did fantastic, she was proud of herself.  As she should be...she played -Up on the house top and -O Christmas tree.  Not one mistake...way to go Hay!
By the time we were leaving, Gentry wanted to give a walker a try, she thought they looked like fun.

survived

We made it!  Even though my house is a wreck, I have laundry coming out my ears, today starts Christmas break and that is what we are in need of over here...a break.
Time to put our whole heart into Christmasing it up!

While trying to get a little cleaning done this weekend noticed we had a addition to the nativity.  I have to say she fits right in who doesn't need a little more magic this time of year?

preschool,

at my house,
makes me eat chocolate chip cookies for lunch,
while I clean up glue and candy cane slobber off my table.

...I miss Ginny.

quiet time

Hayli set up Gentry with some quiet time.

yes that is the girls bath tub, which hardly gets used. So fill it with pillows, some of your favorite friends, steal Dads phone and have yourself some alone time!  Gen stayed there probably a half hour. Best playpen ever.
Hayli took this picture and then called me up to see.  Sunday mornings are the best!

craft corner

As it turns out I get to have Activity days, preschool ,the preschool Christmas party, and the Kindergarten Christmas party all at my house this week, ok the Kindergarten party is at the school.
We have turned into craft corner.

yeah, that is 44 candy cane reindeer kits,

10 picture ornament kits

and 8 symbols of Christmas kits.

Did you count?  That is 62 craft kits ready to go.
They don't look so cute yet, but trust me, we will be busy making the adorable creations all this week!