Staying Busy!

This month has been just flying by! I really wanted to keep up on my posting but haven't had as much time as I thought. First off I wanted to remind everyone that today and tomorrow are the last days for you to get your donations to me for the homeless shelter. We are still in need of items to donate. All items can be new or used, so go through those coat closets and clean them out! Remember every little thing counts. We will be taking these items to the shelter on Friday.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES!

Every year my parents buy all the kids Gingerbread Houses. We like to try and decorate them for family home evening, but my kids were to excited to wait so we decided to decorate them on Thanksgiving. Darrin really helped them a lot more this year, And I know he enjoyed every minute of it! Each house had it's own personality! Abby wanted hers to look exactly like the picture, so I was glad that Darrin was the one helping her! When the kids were done they had tons of candy left so we let them eat it, yummy!

Houses in order from left to right

Kaiden~Madi~Abby

FAMILY HOME EVENING!

For family home evening a couple of weeks ago, the kids got to go and choose their ornaments. We went to Hallmark, they looked around forever. There are so many ornaments now that have lights or sing or play music and that kept them busy for a while. Madi decided on a really cute ornament with Mickey and Pluto in a little red car with a tree strapped to the roof and a wreath on the front. The minute Abby laid her eyes on her ornament she stopped ant nothing to get it. I wasn't to excited about spending $32.00 on 1 ornament , but we gave in, after all it was Mickey's House! It has mickey and Pluto standing out in front of his house looking at it all decorated with lights and snow and Santa and his reindeer on top. It plugs into the tree and lights up. It also has a little button that you push that plays music while the lights do a little light show. It is super cute. When we got it home and put it on the tree the kids all said "look it's Ed Kampers house!" Too funny!Kaiden looked and looked and just couldn't find an ornament that he really liked. I had bought a Captain Hook ornament that I thought was really cute, but he said it was stupid because it didn't do anything. I told him he could have it as his ornament until we find him one he really liked. He wasn't to happy about it but agreed when Darrin told him he would try and find him a BYU ornament!When we were done ornament shopping we went home and had some ice cream and watched A Charlie Brown Christmas!

Darrin's parents took us and all the adults out to dinner for our Birthdays on Saturday night. We wanted to go to Ruby River but they were all booked up, so we decided to go to Chili's because they would accept our reservation for 12 people. There was sooo much food. My favorite thing is always their chips and salsa! I could eat it everyday. Oh by the way did I mention my Birthday is on Christmas, hint, hint! The food was yummy and it was so fun to get together without all of the kids to talk. We look forward to it every year! Thanks so much Ruth and Stu, it was fun!

Another tradition we have is every year we go out to Spanish Fork to see the festival of the lights. If you have never been before I would recommend it. It is so much better than Thanksgiving point and is only $5 a car! So Monday night the kids got in their jammies and we took them to get ice cream cones , and then we headed out to the lights. It was perfect it wasn't to busy and there was snow on the ground! Each year we always try and pick out the new stuff they get, it's always fun!

Tuesday night my parents took us out for dinner to celebrate our Birthdays, We went to The Spaghetti Factory, because everyone seems to like that place, especially my picky kids. My brother and his family came, my parents, and us. After dinner we went back to my parents house for some homemade german chocolate cake and presents. They gave us some new phones! Now when you call I might actually answer the phone. It came with 4 different colored phones the kids all claimed 1 of their own so that only leaves me with 1, we'll see how that goes. I also got a new griddle, and a picture I have been wanting FOREVER called "A Light Unto the Gentiles" by Greg Olsen. I really want the huge canvas {like the one in the Salt Lake Temple} or the one hanging in my favorite aunt Marianne's house {did I mention my Birthday is on Christmas?} but it is way out of my price range. But I'm so happy to at least have a smaller version for now, and I cant wait to get it framed! Thanks sooooo much mom and dad. Dinner was awesome and the presents were nice to!Christmas is coming soo fast, it always does when your old like me! I'm enjoying the season and doing fun things with my family! For the most part we are done shopping and I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait to see my kids on Christmas morning. To me that is the best Christmas/Birthday present a mom could have! I spoil them rotten cause I love them and that's what makes me happy! Darrin and I both were spoiled growing up, so were both on the same paige when it comes to spoiling the kids, it's fun!! I hope everyone has a Wonderful Christmas! Take time to enjoy your family and friends, and don't forget to give to think of the others around us that might be in need! Even the smallest act of kindness can help!