It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We got our first snowfall of the season. It was a beautiful and perfect day yesterday. Church was cancelled, Dan made home-made bread, Christmas music was on all day and then we watch the Christmas Devotional.
School was cancelled today due to the ice layer on top of the 5 inches of snow and we are expecting another 5 inches tomorrow. The kids spent a solid 3 hours out in the snow today. Love our backyard and our neighbors!

I snuck into the front room to capture this picture. Abby was so excited about the snow coming down she pulled up a chair and sat contently watching for a good 15 minutes.

Since we had the time, we straightened Tess's hair to see what it would look like. She's a doll, straight and curly!

When it first started to come down. 

We had a great time sledding with our neighbors down their hill. 

 The snow was so soft, the powder sprayed their faces as they went zoom'n down the hill.

Dan took Clara down once. Once was all she could handle. 

 I love that Abby's arms are outstretched to comfort her traumatized sister! 

Buddy was zoom'n. Loved his first snowfall! 

 Dan put the snow shovel attachment on the John Deere and took care of our driveway and our neighbors.  He loved it!

Day 3 of snow and NO SCHOOL!

Thanksgiving 2013

We had Hollie, Cris, and Xan join us this year for Thanksgiving. It was a pretty chill couple of days which was just what we needed. We cooked and baked all day on Thursday. Friday morning Hollie and I were out the door by 4A.M. to get a Christmas tree at Home Depot. (A Martha Stewart 7.5ft pre-lit tree, we saved $150.) Buying the Christmas tree put me in such a good mood, Jake commented later that day that I had the "Christmas spirit". We did some more shopping on Black Friday and ended the weekend with a bon-fire and a trip to IKEA. Thanks for making our Thanksgiving fun this year!

The Feast (turkey and ham included) YUM!

 Coconut Cream, Oreo, Pumpkin Toffee Cheesecake, Candy Apple, and Razelberry      

    

Jacob's 9th Birthday

My little turkey had another birthday. He is 9! 

(Wearing the last turkey on our traditional turkey count down.)

When I asked him what he wanted to do for his party he was excited about doing a mad scientist party with a bon-fire. We decided the best time for a party around the holidays was before his birthday, this way his birthday lasted for several days.

We had 12 kids total. We played the M&M game as everyone came and then I did a treasure hunt that ended with home made lab-coats for the scientists. I planned several science experiments, two of which went as planned. We had a floating egg, swirling colored milk, exploding sandwich bags, and exploding soda/mentos.  I was the only one to witness the exploding bag as I was cleaning up and the mentos didn't all make it into the soda can in time for a high powered explosion. But the boys loved it. Jake loved it.  Dan built a big bon-fire and we roasted hot dogs and had s'more cupcakes. Note to self and any other mom planning a party for 9 year old boys: just do the bon-fire. I was so busy with the party that I didn't have a chance to take pictures until the end.

Dan lit his birthday candle with the bon-fire. 

For breakfast Jake wanted ice cream. Surprised? NO. I had to remind Dan to leave a couple spoonfuls for Jacob!

He had a half day of school because of parent teacher conferences and then we went out to eat at Red Robin for dinner. I think he felt special, especially since he didn't have to scoop poop on his birthday thanks to our no chore birthday rule.

Jacob continues to be a very responsible, dependable kid. He has made some really good choices recently at school as he's dealt with inappropriate behavior. I got a phone call one day from the school counselor who called to tell me how wonderful my boy was. His teacher, Mrs. Mills, told me it was an "honor" to teach Jacob. He is a good kid!
Jacob loves to read and is a fast reader. The latest fad these days are loom bracelets/necklaces.  Jacob has become a pro at making them. He is no longer a wolf cub scout and won't be in with Dan anymore, sad. His new den leader as a Bear is his Uncle. He and Tess stay up talking long into the night and are good friends most of the time.

Happy Birthday Jacob.

Mom and Dad

About a month ago Dan and I decided we needed a visit from Mom and Dad. Luckily they were happy to visit despite very long and tiring days traveling.  They were excited to see our new house and new dog! We had a pretty relaxed week with them. They helped me get the kids to and from school, pre-k, and piano lessons. Jacob asked Grandpa if he'd come with him to cub scouts so Dad joined Dan and Jake for their den meeting. We shopped, we ate, we played outside with perfect weather almost every day, and visited Mt.Vernon. The younger girls were getting over a cold/ear infections when Mom and Dad came and then on Sunday Tess threw up. Yuck. Unfortunately Mom ended up getting sick once she was back in Utah...driving to Arizona. Sorry Mom. 

So glad to have some good 'ol TLC from my parents! Here are a few pictures...

Dad was great with Buddy, which I really appreciated! He worked with him trying to train him to sit, stay, and fetch. Buddy LOVED him and misses him!

(Tess's not so happy face, she'd was sick.)

Train-Tracks

Tess just got braces.

My girl is growing and changing too quickly. She still has a huge contraption at the top of her mouth, making speaking clearly very difficult, and now braces. She was really excited about this new accessory. Last night I went over the different names I was called when I had braces, she laughed at "train-tracks face".  Since braces are so common these days I'm hoping kids will be kind to my sweet girl.

Tonight she did something that made Dan tear up telling me about it.
Context: The Elders offered their services last Saturday to help us stain the play-set and pool deck. Well, after a busy morning collecting canned goods door to door for cub scouts Dan came home and got right to work staining the playset. Well, the missionaries weren't able to come. Dan worked into the night trying to make a dent on this big project. Working in the dark with his head lamp. Well, last night he was working on it again as it started to get dark. I was working inside on homework, piano and dinner. Tess noticed it was getting dark and that Dan was still working. She went and found his head lamp and took it to him. She is such a thoughtful little girl. Dan told me about this later, wondering if I had anything to do with it. Nope. Dan said she was his "tender little mercy".

One of the many notes Tess writes: Dear Mom. I love you very very very very very much. You are the best mom I every cod have. I hope you are the only mom I every have. Do you have a god day evry day? You are the oley Mom I want. I love you. Every one is this world shold love you as much as I love you.

Family Pictures OUTAKES