New years Eve

We are so wild and crazy on New Years Eve.  HA!  We have combined the traditions from both sides of our families.  My family always had a seafood feast so that is our dinner with our kids.  Nathan's family has had root beer floats so that is our snack sometime between dinner and ringing in the new year.  We had a movie marathon that night.  

It is snowing out there

There was quite the excitement in sacrament meeting while our stake president was speaking.  The word moved fast through the congregation that it was snowing.  Our kids were beside themselves with excitement.  The minute we got home from church they changed their clothes and went out and built a snowman as fast as they could.  I know it's not the best Sunday activity but when you see snow maybe once a year (I think its been at least two now) you have to take advantage.  The snow/leaf man turned out pretty good.

Christmas Day

Christmas season is my favorite.  I love to focus on family, service, goodies, and feeling the love of the Savior.   It was quite peaceful after the presents were placed under the tree.  As I took this picture I was  thinking of  how blessed I am to have my family and the gospel.  

Josiah and his new blanket from Sadie.

Jarom opening up his exciting present of new bedding. 

Elijah was quite excited about his fireman hat.  Now he has one like his friend Caleb.

Sadie opened up the present from Grandma, an apron

We had the missionaries for breakfast and they also Skyped with their families while they were here. We gave them homemade rubber band guns so they could join in on the war fun.  We were heavily armed around here with rubber band gun, riffles, Nerf guns, and sling shots.  The boys discovered that the sling shots would shoot the Nerf balls really well.   The missionaries might have wondered what they got themselves into but we enjoyed  having them here.  I love missionaries.  

Elder C with Elijah.

The gun slinger Elder M

Elder C, Josiah, Jarom Elder M, Sadie.  Nathan made these rubber band riffle guns last week and we were wishing we had thought of them a month ago so they could have been used as presents.  

It was a rough afternoon and evening when the missionaries left.  We started a Star Wars marathon that still isn't done. 

This is the biggest Reese's peanut butter cup I have ever seen.  

mole or gofer?

Its getting even more wet out there folks

Preschool Christmas program

I really like Elijah's preschool.  I debated on sending him this year but it has turned out to be a great thing for him.  He loves to attend.  The best part of this time and season is they can actually have a Christmas program and call it what it is.   They sing songs about Jesus' birth.  The school is connected with the Lutheran church so the program is in their sanctuary.    There are some cute videos of mainly Elijah but you can tell most of them had trouble sitting still.  

being sneaky

One of our traditions each year during the Christmas season is to be sneaky.  Wouldn't you love to come across these three in the dark?   We do hope we bring joy to those we are sneaky with.

And this gets me caught up from the last month and half.  Whew! 

blankets

Our young women decided it would be fun to make fleece blankets for each other.  All of the girls were pleased with their blankets.  It was fun to have them over last night after they caroled at a nursing home.  These are some of the best young ladies I know.  

Cute pic

Jarom's teacher sent me this cute picture of him.  They were dissecting owl pellets and he was having a great time with his finds.  

It's wet out folks

It has rained so much the last few weeks.  Our yard is one big puddle of water and mud.  

Best soup ever

This is Nathan's homemade chicken noodle soup and it is so yummy.  This is actually the one meal all of our kids will eat and that is saying something.  

Soccer season ends

Jarom's soccer season started in mid August and the last game was a couple of weekends ago.  They had their awards party today.  They always go bowling.  

Our kids bowling

Jarom the ball goes the other direction.  

Jarom with his metal

The team missing 2 though. 

I didn't get too many pictures of Sadie.  This game was cold to watch and play in.  This is also the game where the cold ball smashed her in the face.  She made the varsity team and they had a rough season with all loses.