Pecan Picking

Bumpa called this morning and needed help getting the pecans off his trees! He had a couple of huge homemade poles that he'd put together to knock the nuts off. The kids thought this was great. Until they realized that they had to pick all of the nuts up off the ground. Then they discovered how funny it was to knock a bunch of nuts down while someone was underneath them, picking them up from the ground. Surprisingly we all had a good time. It's nice to work together as a family, and it's especially nice to work for someone who needs it!

A Popcorn Ball That Would Smell So Sweet

One thing I always love about the holiday season is making caramel popcorn balls. We have had so much junk around our house to eat, that we haven't had the "need" for them, UNTIL NOW!

The kids loved buttering up their hands, and making the balls. Mostly they just loved buttering up their hands! That use to be my job when I was little. I love playing in the butter too!

Whit loves to help. She loves to be in the kitchen cooking.

Mom and I pouring the hot caramel onto the popcorn. We got all glammed up for the event!

I'm pretty sure I've eaten my weight in caramel popcorn. I couldn't be more proud.

Build A Bear Already

Colton gave Kennedy a gift card to Build-A-Bear for Christmas. She is obsessed with this place. She would build one every time we went to the mall if we'd let her! Needless to say, she couldn't wait to go spend her gift card. We tried to go on Saturday, but the line was about a mile long, and we were not about to wait. So we promised her that we'd go first thing this morning. She asked all weekend what time the mall opened so that we could be there "first thing".

She picked a dog. Bought him a leather Harley Jacket, black jeans, and black high top Converse shoes (just like hers). She named him Spike and couldn't be happier!

Grandma Ruth Havin' Some Fun

The kids got these great electric scooters from Santa Claus, and they've been riding them ever since. Grandma Ruth decided it looked like fun, and took Colton's scooter for a spin!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve Festivities

There are several times a year that living away from most of your family is hard. Christmas is obviously one of those times. All 3 of my siblings and their families, and Landon's only sibling and family all live in Utah. It was a little hard knowing that they would all be together on Christmas day, and we wouldn't be there. I miss them. Our Christmas Eve was relatively quiet.

The kids of course were wound up, which add to the excitement, and stress!

The girls still wanted to act out the Nativity scene. They usually fight over who gets to be Mary, but this year Kennedy volunteered to be Joseph once she saw great great Grandpa Anthony's cane that Joseph would get to use. Colton "agreed" to read the scriptures. He got all dressed up for Christmas Eve this year. I asked him several times to put on something decent. This is what I got! Holy teenager!!!
After reading a couple of Christmas stories, and watching Mr. Kruegers Christmas the kids couldn't wait any longer. They always get to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. It's ALWAYS pajamas. AlWaYs! The funny part is they know it, and are still super excited!
Colton sporting his new (mens XL) pj's
The girls in their new jammies. WIRED! By 8:30pm it was off to bed, so that Santa could come!

Nutcracker Ballet

The girls and I continued our tradition this year of seeing the Nutcracker. Growing up, my Grandma would take all the girls on our family to lunch and then to the Nutcracker. What a fun tradition to continue with my own girls. (Just as we got there it started to rain and we had to run across the street in a downpoor! Hence the "wet dog" look of our hair).

We had lunch at Mimi's Cafe, and then it was on to the ballet. The girls each picked out a nutcracker to add to their own collection.

The ballet was great, just as I remembered. My girls remembered some from last year, and enjoyed it much better this year. Can't wait 'til next year.

Christmas Piano Recital

This afternoon was the kids annual Christmas piano recital. Colton and Whitley have been working really hard, and are doing great with piano. So glad to be back with the best piano teacher they've ever had, Grandma Ruth! This year, because Grandma Ruth is the teacher and the Grandma, even Kennedy got to play a song. She won't start lessons until she's 8, but she played a mean rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star of Bethlehem) She was a crack up. She has been practicing with Grandma, and talking about playing in the recital for weeks. So we figured she knew she would be playing in the recital. But yesterday at lunch, we were talking about the recital being today, and she went bazurk! Said she thought she didn't have to play the piano until she was 8! Whit and Grandma playing their duet!

Afterwards we all went out to lunch at Joe's BBQ! Mmm, YUM

Another Crazy Tuesday

Does it seem like everything always ends up on the same night? I mean, there's something almost every night, but some nights it's just never ending. Well tonight was one of those night. Kennedy had gymnastics. Whitley had activity days and a band concert. Colton had young mens. And they all expected dinner at some point!
I got an email from Kennedy's gymnastics coach earlier today, inviting us to come in to class for the last 15 minutes to see what the kids have been working on. I have been very curious to see how she did with gymnastics with her meningocele. (back issues) I was happy to see that it isn't slowing her down at all. She is super flexible, and really strong. Her coach, Miss Crystal has all of this miniature equipment that she uses for these little kids. So cute! Kennedy is loving it.

Later that night was Whitley's Christmas band concert. She is playing the flute this year. Have you ever been to a 5th grade band concert? All the kids have been playing their instruments for about 5 months. All things considered, they had 5 songs to play, and played them pretty well. It will be interesting to see how they progress as the year goes.

Organ Stop

Grandpa Scott and Grandma Ruth took us out for pizza tonight. We went to one of their favorite places called Organ Stop. You order your pizza and then sit in the dining room and listen to this guy play this amazing organ. He takes request, and was playing mostly Christmas music tonight. He can play anything though. The pizza's pretty good, but my mom LOVES the music.

Rock On

See this RAD guy in the car next to us. What a putz!

Once I pick Colton up from school, we have about 40 minutes before the girls get out of school. Sometimes we run an errand, or get a treat. Most of the time we park at the park next to the girls school and take advantage of the quiet time doing homework or studying for an upcoming test. The weather is beautiful right now, so we usually roll down the windows and enjoy it. We're not alone. After a few minutes several people start to come, park, roll down their windows and wait for their kids. An then about once a week this fool comes. First off, you can hear him coming from a mile away. He always rolls up with his windows down and his 1980's classic rock blaring. It's so loud it's ridiculous. The best part is, that he'll roll right up, park right next to people who all have their windows down, and just ROCK OUT! He never turns his radio down, and never rolls his windows up. It's so loud, that people walking by stare at him as they go by. Like they can't believe he has his radio up so loud. Well, today was our lucky day. He parked right next to us! I took the opportunity to take a few pictures of him. Colton was mortified!! (If you look closely at the picture, you can see that Colton is leaning back in his chair as hard as he can, hoping the guy doesn't look over while I'm snapping shots of him). I figured if he could act like a horses a** then I could snap pictures of him! ROCK ON BUDDY

Sniggle Time

I came into my room tonight to find these two all sniggled up together watching TV. It's moments like this that helps me get through all of their fighting! Love you guys

Gingerbread House Party

We got invited to a fun gingerbread house decorating party tonight. I'm still struggling with the fact that it's Christmas season, but decided that it would maybe help with that. Plus I knew my kids would love it.

My friend Kirsten had made all of the gingerbread and and frosting. We all brought different candies to decorate!

There was definitely a little fighting amongst my kids as to who got to do the frosting, and where to put what candy. Three strong personalities!!

But all in all we had a great time, and my kids are super proud of their house. Can't wait 'til next year!

Christmas Arrives

My mom has been out of town for a week, helping my sister move to Utah. Since this is her house and all, we haven't been able to decorate for Christmas. Until today! Kennedy has been asking me for days when we could get the tree up. It was definitely a bitter sweet for me. It's hard not to get excited when you see how happy it makes the kids, but I still can't believe it's Christmas and we're still in our "situation". I'm trying to make the most of it.

My mom has an ornament for each of her grandkids with their picture on it. Kennedy was pretty excited about hanging hers on the tree.My kids always love decorating the tree!
Grandpa Scott was outside getting the light and decorations up. I heard him ask Colton for a little help. The next thing I see is that Colton is putting up the outside lights.

And Grandpa Scott is doing alot of this! I guess there are benefits to letting us live here .