Christmas Celebration

Last night was the Christmas Celebration at the girls school. (They both go to the same school that teaches ages preschool up to 4th grade). This is one of their favorite activities of the year because it is so much fun. When we first got there we went to the art room where they had tall glass bottles that the kids could fill up with "Reindeer Food". There was a cute little poem attached to the bottle that says: "Magic reindeer food: Sprinkle on the lawn at night, The moon will make is sparkle bright. Santa's reindeer fly and roam, This will guide them to your home."

Here are some pictures of the girls filling their bottles of reindeer food:

Every 30 minutes they called any kids that were there to come up on the steps to sing some Christmas Carols. Kaylee and Gabby went up and since Gabby was right there with Kaylee then Kaylee wasn't shy. She went up and sang!!!! Then to top it off she sang loud and did all the actions for the songs. I was so happy that they both went up and sang. The kids sang "Here comes Santa Claus" really loud to get santa to come out.

After they were done singing we went to the kitchen for desert before we went to see Santa. They had Chocolate Covered strawberries, brownies, cookies, and tons of other treats that were SOOOO yummy. After we were done with our treats we took the girls over to see Santa. They both asked Santa for Teddy Bears because we had bought Teddy Bears to put under the tree at their school for their bear drive to give to the Fire Department. So, since they put the teddy bears that we had just bought under the tree they both asked Santa for a teddy bear.

As we were leaving the Christmas Celebration we stopped and picked up the Chrismtas gifts that the kids had made. Kaylee's class did interview CDs. The teacher asked her a bunch of questions and she responded...some of her responses were really funny. The file is to big to put on here but I will see if I can add it somehow.

Gabby's class did a cookbook. They asked each child what their favorite food was and how to make it and then put it together in a little spiral bound book. Here is Gabby's page:
and, yes, pancakes are her favorite food. It's always either pancakes or cream cheese sandwiches.

Christmas Trees

(music)Oh Christmas tree, of Christmas tree how lovely are your branches(music)

While we were staying at my parent's house this weekend my mom pulled out her Christmas tree to set up and let the kids help her decorate. The kids loved helping put up all the ornaments.

After going back home to our house the girls really wanted to decorate our house for Christmas too. So, on Monday night Paul climbed up into the attic and pulled down our tree and Christmas decor. Then on Tuesday afternoon the girls and I put up and decorated the tree.

Catch-up on my blog because of my STUPID car!!!

I have fallen completely behind on my blog...so rather than doing one huge post I will still seperate it out into the different events. Here is the main reason why I am behind on blogging!!! My car is broken (We only have one car) and I dropped it off last week at the Dodge dealership (I won't mention names because I am frustrated). They told me when I dropped it off on Tuesday that it would be ready to pick up on Wednesday. I borrowed my dad's car and we went to Polar Express (Yes, I did manage to blog about that one.) On Wednesday we went up to my parent's house and we were planning on staying there until Thursday night for Thanksgiving and then come home. I got a call from the dealership saying that my car had a part that needed to be ordered and I couldn't drive it with a broken part. They told me the part would DEFINATELY be there on Monday and then they would fix it and I would be on my way. So, we changed our plans and decided to stay at my parent's house for the weekend and just borrow a car Sunday night to go home and take Paul to work and the girls to school on Monday.

While I was staying at my mom's house for the weekend I did attempt to update my blog...but, she has a Mac (which is an awesome computer) but I'm not used to the functions on it and after 20 minutes of attempted blogging and adding pictures I gave up.

On Monday after picking the girls up from school I headed up to Salt Lake to my mom's house so she could take me to get my car (that would definately be done). After sitting around for hours the dealership FINALLY called me back and told me that the part in fact didn't come in but would be there tomorrow FOR SURE. I called on Tuesday, no part arrived, I called on Wednesday, they didn't know where the part was, still no part. I think I have officially given up on getting any info from getting my car fixed. So, I have been attempting to find out about my car and get Christmas decor up instead of updating my blog. So, get ready, because I have given up on comunication with the dodge dealership and I am updating my blog instead.

What have I done in my life?

A couple of my friends have had this on there blog...so here is my list. The rules are that you copy and paste it to your blog, then make the things that you have done bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (I'm moving to Hawaii...does that count? I haven't been there before though)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (Someone bought Paul and I a meal one time because he was wearing his navy uniform)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (I have an ebay store)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (I wasn't actually whale watching...I was on the ferry to Seattle and there were some whales.)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (does a Shutterfly book count?)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (no thanks!)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own (Only tag posts)

Thanksgiving Day

For Thanksgiving Paul decided that he wanted to create the menu and cook the entire meal. He spent hours online finding recipes, writing the menu, and figuring out what he needed to go shopping for. After gathering everything together and shopping we headed up to my parent's house on Wednesday and Paul started cooking. On Wednesday he made wheat rolls, parker house rolls, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pumpkin cheesecake. He woke up early on Thursday morning and started on the main courses of our Thanksgiving dinner. He made (everything from scratch) mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and of course the turkey. While Paul was making dinner I helped the kids with a couple of small cookie crafts to keep them out of the kitchen.




oh...and did I mention kids walking on the ceiling (it goes right along with bouncing of the walls)

Polar Express

Every year at Christmas my family goes to a Voicemale concert together. This year my parents still wanted to do that, but they also wanted to do something with the grandkids. My dad came up with the idea to take all the grandkids out on the Heber Valley Railroad Polar Express ride. Since the train ride didn't start until 7:30 Wendy decided not to take Roman, which ended up being good since he was sick all day yesterday. The rest of us all met together at my parent's house and then headed up to Heber. We ate a quick dinner and then headed over the the train station.

The kids were all really excited to go on the Polar Express. My kids have had me read the book to them everyday for the past week so they would be ready. The kids got to see Mrs. Claus before we got on the train. Once we were on the train we listened to some Christmas music, the elves handed out cookies and Hot Chocolate, and they read the Polar Express book. Then we got to the North Pole and Santa got on the train and talked to each of the kids. On the way back from the North Pole we sang Christmas carols, and listened to elves jokes. They also let anyone who wanted to get up and tell jokes or do something go up. I guess Kaylee either forgot that she was shy in front of large groups of people or somehow quickly got over it because she got up to the microphone TWICE!!! The first time she wanted everyone to sing "Jingle Bells", the second time she got up and told a joke that she made up...it went something like this "What did Santa say when he got home? ... I'm Ho Ho Home."

It was fun seeing the kids excited on the train and using their imagination. Thank you mom and dad for taking the kids. I know this is something the kids will be talking about for a very long time. Kaylee even said "This is the best day ever!"
above and below:The kids got to talk to Mrs. Clause before we got on the train.

Below:Even Ariana went on the train ride.

For sale!

I have had several people ask me if our house is listed yet...or when we would be listing it. Well, it is officially listed! Here is a quick tour of some of my house for your viewing pleasure. We still need to re-take the picture of the front of the house. Our neighbor down the street is parked in front of our house and we need them to move before we can take the picture but, they aren't home...so that picture has to wait..

If anyone would like to buy my house...or knows anyone who would like to buy my house I would be more than happy to sell it to them