A Few Favorites

We had a great Christmas this year. We received some great things, but out of it all, I would have to say that a couple of my favorites were these:

We drew names this year and my sister Sarah and her family had us. They gave us the magic bullet and it is A-MAZING! I made a chocolate/mint shake for everyone last night (using the left overs of all our candy canes). You just throw all the ingredients in each individual party mug (or the blender), pulse it a few times, and tada, you've got yourself a tasty treat! I also used it to whip up some Alfredo sauce for our pasta. Delish!
On David's side of the family we drew names as well. David's Dad and his wonderful wife, Cindy got us (we were SO lucky!). Here is what Cindy made for our little kiddos. FELT FOOD!! And tons of it. I couldn't believe my eyes. She literally would've had to spend hours making all of it. And believe me, all that hard work has been very appreciated. The kids have been playing with it everyday since. I even have had a fun time with it. I would've loved something like this when I was a kid. :)

Happy Birthday Sister!

Happy Birthday Becky! I feel so happy and blessed that we were able to grow up in the same family together. I have many, many memories that I get to share with you. I could talk all day about all those memories. You are a great example to me and always have been. I appreciate your strong testimony of the gospel and your willingness to always do what is right. You are wonderful and I hope that you have a great 28th birthday! Love you!

Coldplay- Life In Technicolor

I was posting some of my favorite songs for 2009 on my bookclub blog, and thought it would be fun to post this one on my family blog. On the Coldplay Viva La Vida album, this song doesn't have any lyrics. Chris Martin said that they thought it would be good to put a song on the album that didn't have music so that the listeners wouldn't get too sick of hearing his voice. :) Earlier this year, it was a real treat when we learned that they released the song with the lyrics that were written for the music and with a really fun music video too. My kids have watched this over and over.

The Comments Have Started

Here they come. The comments about my huge belly. People, don't you remember, I have HUGE babies. I have just a little over 10 weeks left. For entertainment reasons, I wanted to post the comments here on my blog.

• Comment 1: So, are you ready to have this baby yet? Because you look like you are.
  
• Comment 2: When are you due? Because you look like you are due any day now. (gives hugs) Oh, you poor thing.

• Comment 3: Woah! Are there twins in there??

I can take it. No biggie. David keeps telling me that it's actually a compliment to be told I look big. Hmmm. Okay. But, I would rather have a big baby than one that's too little.

Here's a picture of myself with my sis Becky and my little (big) bro. Andy on the day after Christmas. I probably need to get a side profile up on here, but I don't know if I am ready for more of these comments just yet. :)

Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas Eve and morning here at our house and a great Christmas weekend in Idaho full of presents, movies, games, crafts, and most importantly, fun with family.

So, I've Been Thinking.....

And I realized, my kids aren't into Santa at all. They don't ask to go see him, ever. They don't wonder about the elves or his reindeer. The only positive comment that was made about him this year was when Carmen was threatening me with the ferret (earlier post) and I don't think that was really even positive. We just haven't ever played it up. And the blame can be put on David and me all the way. When we first got married we had a discussion about Santa and what we were going to teach our kids. We talked about how he wasn't real and the kids would be let down when they found out. But then it was so magical and fun and exciting. We never came up with a difinitive answer as to how we were going to deal with it. We have just gone with the flow, not really playing him up. Christmas morning their stockings are full supposedly from Santa and they watch all the fun Christmas movies that have Santa in them like the Polar Express.

Graham and I have had many conversations about Santa. He says he doesn't think Santa is real and I just say, "He's magical. You believe what you want to believe." Well, I was caught off guard the other day when Graham said the same thing to David, and David said, "You're right bud. He's not." David is all for letting the kids know the truth about everything that they want to know about. David then went on to explain that Santa is fun just like the tooth fairy or the easter bunny. They're not real, just fun.

So I guess only time will tell whether our kids will be scarred for life and angry that we never played up the magic, or be grateful. We shall see. Either way, we have been trying to keep the focus on Christ's birth. And believe me, they are still ecstatic to open those presents that have been tucked under the tree.

Merry Christmas!

The Spirit of Christmas

Special Tree Addition

Last night there was a knock at the door. It was some friends of ours that have kids our kids same age. They brought yummy treats and each of the kids a new ornament. We have loved adding to our tree this year! They love their little ornament. This picure was taken this morning at 11 am. So what if we are still in our jammies.....we're on vacation!

Homemade Christmas Gift #7

It's a mommy turtle and her babies. All the eggs and babies fit inside the mommy's shell. I had to make this for a certain child of mine that really wants a turtle for Christmas. This will have to suffice.
I got this pattern from one of my favorite creators: Ana Paula Romoli. It's from her second pattern book here.

Out On The Town

We took the kids out on the town yesterday. I don't know if that was the greatest idea since it's the last weekend before Christmas, but we scored when it came to lunch. The Hogi Yogi/Teriyaki Stix by our house was empty. We enjoyed having the whole place to ourselves.

Carmen did surprisingly well with the chop sticks.

Morgan tried really hard and actually thought she was doing great.
Graham didn't care too much about the chop sticks at all.

*Just a funny conversation with Morgan while in the car yesterday:

David: You can put on your seatbelt all by yourself.

Morgan: No! I can't!

David: Sure you can! You have strong muscles.

Morgan: No, I have ladies muscles.

Homemade Christmas Gift #6

It's getting down to the wire. I can't believe that it's already the 17th today!! I am just finishing up a few projects and I will be done! After talking with some friends the other night, I have realized that I need to be enjoying this time when my kids are young enough that they aren't asking for anything too big or pricey and they are happy with homemade or low priced purchases. I wonder how many more years I can get away with this? It's really been fun. You can get the pattern for Walle and Eve here.

Homemade Christmas Gift #5

The Sock Monkey!

Super easy to make. I got the original pattern from my friend Laurel who actually had the original socks too. But there is another pattern that you can get here.

Homemade Christmas Gift #4

SPUDNUTS!!

Year after year my mom would make Spudnuts for our neighbors at Christmas time. She would be in charge of the cooking and dad and us kids would be the deliverers. I thought I would give it a go this year and make them for my neighbors. I have made one set of deliveries and have a few more. Graham has taken on the role of icing them when the come out of the oil. And the girls love to deliver. The secret ingredient is in the name, Spuds or in other words, mashed potatoes. It really does make for a soft doughnut. Here is the recipe if you would like to try them, or if you live nearby I am sure you will get a bag from us within the next few days. :) Believe me, you won't be disappointed.

Spudnut Recipe:

2 C. Milk

7 C. flour (I usually only need 5)

1/2 C. shortening

2 eggs

1/2 C. sugar

2 T. yeast

1 C. mashed potatoes (I use instant)
Crisco veg. oil fo frying

Cream together sugar, shortening, and mashed potatoes. Warm milk and add to mixture. Add all ingredients except flour, mix well. Add flour, kneading until smooth and elastic. Let rise until doubled in size. Roll out and cut into shapes. I use a mason jar lid for the doughnut shape and a smaller lid like a lemon juice lid for the hole. Let rise again. Heat oil on medium heat. Test a doughnut before cooking to make sure oil is hot enough. Place doughnut counter side up in oil. Cook to a golden brown. Icing: powdered sugar, water, vanilla. Mix until semi-thick.

Enjoy!!

A Ferret, A Monkey, Or A.....

I interrupt my Homemade Christmas with a funny conversation Carmen and I had that I just had to record. As I have already mentioned, she really wants a ferret for Christmas. I don't. But she has said that she would surpass me and go straight to Santa if I don't get her one.

A friend of ours shared a weird/freaky story with me the other day of a time she heard of a ferret gnawing at a newborns face and they haven't ever gotten it to look the same again. (On the news in California). I am sure that was very random and doesn't happen all the time, but um, yeah. We will be having a newborn in our home in a just a few short months. So here was the conversation:

Carmen: Mom, but I really want a ferret.

Me: I don't think you do. I heard a story about a ferret that gnawed at a babies face and the baby didn't look normal after that. We are having a baby and we need to be careful.

Carmen: Well, then I'll have a monkey then.

Me: Well, there have actually been monkey's that do that very same thing.

Carmen: Hmmm, well, okay. I will have....instead....What kind of animal won't gnaw my face off?

I started to laugh out loud at that point. Poor thing just wants a little animal to interact with.

So for a little family outing yesterday, we took the kids to all the pet stores around and at one Carmen was able to actually HOLD two different ferrets. I was curious to see how she would interact with them. They seemed perfect. De scented. Potty trained. And they came with a cage. The first one sniffed her and then started to gently bite her skin, supposedly just getting to know her. He even bit on her soft little neck. It was all I could do at that point not to whack that little weasel out of her arms across the floor (Packer Paranoia), but I kept my cool. She then tried the other one and it did the same thing. David explained that that's how they get to know you and once they're comfortable with you it wouldn't do that anymore. While we were driving home I asked her, "Sissy, what do you think? Do you still want a ferret?" She replied, "No, not really." Yes! It worked! Don't worry. She won't be neglected for Christmas.