Tuacahn

Less than a week before Christmas I learned that the Tuacahn had been performing a live nativity since Thanksgiving. The last day of the showing was the Monday before Christmas. I thought this would make a great family home evening. Not knowing what to expect and knowing that I would be by myself with my kids I invited my sister, Sheri. She too would be by herself since her husband works on the night shift. Two moms and seven kids later we braved the crowds and the cold. 

The littles did great! The live nativity was about 25 minutes long. It was perfect in length to hold everyone's attention.

 Brayden, Jamie, Kylie, Brionney

Hunter does not like me taking his picture. If he doesn't hide his face he makes silly faces instead. He hasn't realized all the black mail he's freely giving me. 

Madelyn, Emily and Hunter 

We really had a great night. I am so glad we arrived 30 minutes early before the 1st showing. We were able to purchase our group ticket for $15 quickly. We then had to wait in line to enter the stadium for just a few minutes. We were close enough to the front of the line that we could almost pick whatever seat we wanted. The weather even cooperated. No wind and wasn't really that cold. It was a perfect evening. It was also a great way to remember the reason of the season! 

Kylie's Christmas Photo Shoot

I love my camera, I love taking pictures. Since Kylie is generally around me the most she seems to be my main object when I play!

I wanted to get some cute Christmas photos of my sweet baby in front of the Christmas Tree.

She sure has some goofy smiles sometimes.

I love this one but it's a bit blurry! Making silly faces at mom.

And then we needed a potty break!

This ones' my favorite! I love the brightness and the clarity of it all.

She wanted to be done but mom didn't. So big sister gave her a chocolate candy that is now visible all around her mouth.

And then she decided she really had had enough.

So we quit!

It was fun, there not perfect but I am pleased with a few a of them. 

Christmas Orchestra

Hunter and Madelyn were able to participate in their school's Christmas Orchestra performance.

Hunter is really enjoying playing the cello. I never have to remind him to practice, I never have to drag him to his private lessons. He really has developed a love for this instrument. 

Madelyn and her viola. 

Madelyn's favorite song that they played was "Old McDonald". One of the instructor's read the story aloud and for each animal sound these kids made their noises with their instruments. I hated the rooster! It was a high pitch squeak. To me is was like dragging your nails down the chalk board. Madelyn thought it was funny and liked to practice that specific part over and over again at home. 

It's always fun to hear the progress that these kids make from concert to concert. They just keep getting better and better. They have some amazing teacher's. 

Kony Country

This year we started a new tradition that I hope we will be able to enjoy and participate in for years to come. One of the local radio stations, Kony Country, runs a program called Kony Coins for Kids. During November and December little clear boxes can be found at almost every cash register in every local grocery store, Wal Mart, Home Depot, etc. These little boxes can collect shopper's change and/or cash donations. On several different occasions when I was paying with cash I let the kids drop our change into these boxes and tried to explain what was going to happen to the money collected.   

 On a Thursday night a week or two before Christmas I took these kiddo's to a specific Wal Mart. We were given a clipboard with 3 children's (siblings) names, ages, needs and wants listed. Each child had been allotted  a total of $75. We were then to go "Christmas" shopping for these kids. Each child needed a warm coat, socks, under ware and shoes. To me these are necessities. It was really hard to think that these items would eventually be wrapped and put under their Christmas tree.  What child wants to open up a package of under ware at Christmas? Madelyn helped choose for our 10 year old girl. Emily helped choose for our 7 year old girl and Brayden helped choose for our 5 year old boy. We had fun. We were able to shop a few clearance racks and by their necessities and still get some fun toys for each of them.  

It was fun but I won't lie it was bit chaotic. It was like shopping on Black Friday but with 4 kids in tow. (Hunter had an orchestra concert this same night and had to be their early. I knew there was no way we could participate in both and have him there at the required time. So he stayed at Grandma's who helped get him there when needed.) The store was crammed pack with people. I thought we were playing it safe by heading to the shoe department first but being everyone else had shoes on their list there really wasn't a place in the store that wasn't cram packed. We survived though. It took a bit longer than I had anticipated but we did good. (I still made it to Hunter's concert with 15 minutes to spare.) We all felt good at what we had put in our cart for these kids. When we were finished we took the cart to the front of the store. An associate then took our cart and clipboard and we were able to leave. Later that night our cart would be checked out. All the items would be put in a giant bag so that they could be wrapped the next morning. 

As we were leaving Wal Mart we noticed a trail of U-Haul trucks. Apparently they used these to transport all the items bought to the St. George center to be wrapped. One of the associates told me that at the end of the night Kony for Kids would write out a check for about $100,000 to Wal Mart.

The next morning we dropped off the two littles at Aunt Hanna's. She helped get Brayden to school for me and then watched Kylie. The older three kids and I ran into St. George once again to help.   

We walked into a massive room. About half the room was full of set up tables. Each table had scissors, wrapping paper, sticker's and ribbon, etc along with a bag or two of gifts needing to be wrapped. The other side of the room was full of chairs. Each chair was assigned to a family in need that held their gifts.  

We picked a table and then opened each bag. We then separated the gifts, made sure each child had about the same amount of gifts and then started wrapping. When they were all wrapped up we put them back into our large plastic bags keeping everything together. Our first family only had 2 small kids. It was relatively easy to do. When we were done we had to raise our hands high. Someone would then come pick up our bags and give us another family to do. Our 2nd family came with  4 huge bags. It was a family with 6 kids. This one wasn't too easy. We just didn't have enough room on our little table to separate everything. We borrowed a few chairs from the back of the room and when they were full we used the floor space. It seemed like it took us forever to get this families gifts wrapped. But we did it! When we were finished with our 2nd family we had to stop and return to our own life. Kylie needed to be picked up so Aunt Hanna could get to school to take a final, Hunter had a math test he was trying to make it back in time for and Madelyn also had a test she was trying to get back in time for. 

It was fun to see how the process went. I'm sure some of these people from Kony pulled a few all nighters. They were so organized and on the ball. It really was well planned out. We felt very appreciated in the help that we were able to offer. The wrapping started at 8 am and continued until everything was done which is usually about 2 pm. The following night volunteers gathered again and dressed up in Santa suits and Elf clothes to deliver families gifts. One year I would like to participate in that too. We will definitely do this again next year. Madelyn specifically asked if this could become a new tradition. We didn't just participate and then forget. Come Christmas morning when we were finished opening our own gifts one of the kids brought up the gifts we bought for those 3 kids. We talked about what we had picked out and really hoped that the kids enjoyed what they were able to open. 

Next year to make things a bit easier to wrap we will bring boxes to wrap clothes and shoes in. Not enough was donated this year for all of us to use.   

Christmas Party

 Kory and I were invited to a Ugly Sweater/White Elephant Gift Party. The week before the big event I went to DI hoping to find something. All I found were some plain sweaters. So I brought them home and went to work. I love the way Kory's turned out. I let my kids help and they thought a reindeer would be fun. I guess I never took a picture of the back but it's a reindeer's butt with a pom pom for a tail. Running out of time I cut out a felt tree and let the girls glue pom poms on it for me. Kory thought he looked old in his sweater and so deliberately messed with his hair. He got so many comments about his hair it was quite funny. 

We are loving our new ward and our new group of friends. There were things that we really enjoyed living in Alton but there were also things that we really missed. Friendships and get togethers were some of those things. 

We are so thankful that our new ward has opened their arms and have really made us feel welcomed. We had a great night and can't wait for the next get together.

Oh Christmas Tree...

I love Christmas. I love the excitement and magic that comes out when setting up the Christmas tree and putting up the other decorations. I love the Christmas music in the back ground, the giggles and laughter when we are "decking our halls". Although it's fun sometimes it's stress full too. It seems like each year we have to re-arrange our front room to make room for everything. One day I will have a house that I won't have to move the couch or a side table or block off the sliding glass door for our Christmas tree! 

It is tradition that we set up our Christmas tree for the 1st family home evening in December. This year the kids really lucked out as it was also the 1st day of December. 

It took Kylie a few minutes to figure out what all the fuss and excitement was about. But she quickly joined in on the festivities.  

Our finished product. I love my new decorations. I love my red and white theme and my 

un-traditional tree topper. 

Madelyn wanted to decorate our front door. After spending hours on pinterest she decided on a snow man. She did it all by herself and enjoyed every minute of it. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a little different for our family. We were suppose to be with the Heaton side of the family for this holiday. However, with Joy and Karl on their mission we had "Thanksgiving" in October before they left. All of Kory's siblings were doing there own thing on the official turkey day so we did too. With my parents so close by we decided to get together with them and my unmarried brother and sister. 

While the adults were getting ready for the big feast Emily and Kylie played on the piano.

Uncle Matt had the honors of slicing the turkey. 

We had a total of 13 which is pretty small for us. My mom invited my Aunt Pam and her friend over for dinner since they were going to be alone this year. After dinner my aunt and her friend headed home. We decided to hang out for a few hours playing games and visiting. Following dinner GG came for a visit. GG Pa had to go offer his love and support to his sister who's husband passed away earlier in the day.

Brayden and Grandpa getting GG into her chair. 

GG and Emily 

Aunt Hanna and Kylie playing checkers. 

Grandma and Madelyn playing Yahtzee.  

Thanksgiving was pretty low key this year. The kids missed playing with their cousins but they made the most of it. Grandma and Aunt Hanna were great at trying to help entertain them. We had a good day!

Thanksgiving Break

My mom currently works for Utah Pork. Sometimes we get to enjoy some of the perks with her having that job. My kids favorite this year was coupons for a free Mc Donalds Egg Mc Muffin sandwich.  Earlier this year we went to "Old Mc Donald Had A Farm" as Brayden continues to call it for breakfast. The kids loved it and have been asking to go back. Come the end of November we still had several coupons left. Wanting to do something different during our mini Thanksgiving break I took the kids for the last time to Mc Donalds for a free breakfast.

Sometimes the workers at Mc Donalds can be a little grumpy when we come in and use 6 free coupons. Wanting to avoid trouble I bought a few $1 hash browns and 2 orange juices to go around.

Kylie loved the orange juice.

The kids love playing in the over sized jungle gym. You can barely see Emily in the bottom cubicle with the clear glass. Madelyn and Kylie were making faces at me from the top.

What a fun way to begin our fun filled weekend.

This is our Thanksgiving Tree. The 1st family home evening we had in Thanksgiving we had a lesson on being thankful. From that night forward we had a bowl full of cut out leaves. When the kids thought of something they were thankful for they wrote it on a leaf and hung it up. By Thanksgiving we had a full tree of things or events that we were thankful for. 

Brayden loves to color all of a sudden. He printed out several Despicable Me pictures to color over his school break.

I brought out a new stash of fresh play doh. Madelyn and Kylie enjoyed playing together.  

I love our mini breaks from the everyday life. I enjoy being able to come and go as we please and to be able to do things we other wise wouldn't be able to due to school, sports and other extra curricular activities. We had a great Thanksgiving break.

His 1st Lost Tooth

This little man of mine lost his 1st tooth!

He is the youngest of his siblings thus far to loose a tooth.

He came to me one day and told me how excited he was that his bottom front tooth was loose. When I felt it I was quite surprised how loose it was. I warned if he wasn't careful he'd end up swallowing it at dinner it was so loose.  During breakfast the next morning it popped right out all by itself!

One happy boy!

 He was so excited to discover a tooth fairy dollar under his pillow!

He knows its real because of all the glitter.

Lucky kid lost his 2nd tooth just a few days later. He feels "rich" with all his new money.

A Schultz Visit

Our family was so excited when our good friends from Arizona called and asked if they could stay at our house on their way to Idaho for Thanksgiving. We were lucky to have them the following weekend too on their way back home. We have been friends with the Schultz family since their oldest was just a baby and I was pregnant with Emily. It's been a great 8+ years. We have both moved several times over the past 8 years but our friendship remains. 

We took our families into St. George for a little sight seeing and some fun. Our first stop was the "Crack". My kids and most other kids always love coming here! They can run wild and explore the many alcoves this little rock mountain has to offer. 

 Brayden and the St. George Temple in the background. 

Brystol climbing out of one of the many little caves. 

 Daddy and Kylie

 Kevin helping Emily down the last little part. 

Madelyn and Jenna 

Brayden 

Kylie trying to stay warm. 

The sun was setting and our warm temperatures were dropping fast. 

Leaving the crack we went to the St. George Temple.

We were excited to see the Nativity had already been set up.

Trying to get 10 kids to gather and stand still for one simple photo is not easy. 

(9 out of the 10)

Especially when there's always one refusing to cooperate. 

I won't mention names!  

And then that one decides to cooperate but..... one child has already ran to the car and the babies are cold and don't want to leave their parents arms. We tried! 

Gunnar celebrated his 2nd birthday while visiting us. 

Decided to make a birthday cake in celebrating this mile marker. 

Our kids get along so well and really play well together. There was no fighting & no tattling. They were so willing to share and take turns. It was great and really made for an enjoyable weekend. Our house isn't the largest and I was a little worried having 10 kids and 4 adults but we all survived and had a good time doing it.  

Logan, Brayden and Kylie decided to sleep on our bedroom floor.

Sunday after church we decided to have a barbecue. We had the most tender, juicy and most expensive pork chops that Kory has ever made.  

When the pork chops were done Kory decided to turn up the heat and clean the bbq for the next time. All the adults were in the kitchen setting the table and putting the final touches on dinner. Out of the blue Hunter came running inside yelling at Kory to come outside fast. The house was on fire. Hunter continues to yell at everyone to get out of the house, there was a fire! Kory and Kevin ran outside, I ran out to the garage and grabbed the fire extinguisher which has since found it's permanent spot under the kitchen sink. By the time I got outside the fire was out. The damage could have been much worst. We'll have to replace the siding before our 6 month walk through. But it was a good experience for the kids. Our next family home evening we talked about fire safety and how to react in an emergency setting. So glad the kids were outside when the fire started and for the minimal damages. We can fix this! Very grateful that no one got hurt.