Julie's Visit

The kids got out of school Thursday the 20th and we picked up Julie from the airport that night at 10 p.m. following Emmy's piano recital.  (oops no pictures this year but she did GREAT!)
Since there was no school I took Emmy and Meg as the welcoming committee. We had some fun retrieving the car antlers!  (More on that later!)
It was late when we got home so the official party began on Friday!!!
We started Friday out by going to the Temple.  It was a beautiful, sunny day but it was COLD!

Never look good in scrunch pictures but we had to document we were there!!!

After dinner Friday night we drove down to Life University (a Christian Chiropractic College) that does a beautiful light display. They also have a fun village area you can walk around but it was so cold and windy that we just drove through...

Cute, cold people!

The best part was the hot donuts at Krispy Kreme on the way home!!!

Saturday we did some shopping and then it was Boise State Bowl Game time!!!
Our good friends the Layde's came over to watch the game with us.  We were grateful to have Laura as our good luck charm. She picked Boise to win in her pics and so far she was 100%!

There were some great laughs...we chose random words that if one of the kids said we would pound them with our snowballs....usually it was me that said it...dummy!

Julie was a good sport and dawned a Boise State T for the occasion. We also found they did better when she was wearing the potato head. Great job helping our team win Julie!!  Eli is always a true fan!

Eli delighted in teasing Garrett Layde with crowns while he wasn't dressed up as Buster! 

Eli loves (little) Garrett!!  He always calls his his big friend!  They are so cute together!!

Lots more to come!

Elfin' Around

We have an Elf of the Shelf named Jangle.  He comes the first of December to keep an eye on the kids and report to Santa each night whether the kids are on the nice or naughty list.  We think we have a defective elf!  He causes more mischief than the kids do!!
Here are some of his highlights...thanks to Lyssa's camera (some are not so clear but she's learning!)

He toilet papered the tree and got himself stuck in the roll at the bottom...silly elf!

He got himself into some hot water this year. He gathered all the little people and told them they were on the naughty list....well this is what happened....

The little people retaliated and Jangle had to write an apology letter!

He also has a thing for the Barbies!  Silly Elf!

Yes, I know he's not an elf but who can resist a cute kid with light up antlers on?!!

Our elf provided a lot of entertainment. The kids miss him but we know that he will be back next year!

Pre Christmas Concerts

Meghan had a middle school choir concert the week before school ended.  The new choir teacher does a nice job and chooses music that you can understand and have heard before so it makes a long concert bearable!
We arrived and the concert started...we found out Meg was doing the introductions!

Sister Henrie, Meg's Beehive teacher was there to support her and brought her flowers...so sweet!

The first of December I was able to go with the Activity Day Girls Caroling.  We filled up 4 vans with cute, giggly, girls and headed out.  They were able to sing to 3 families and sounded awesome!  People were touched when they opened their doors to this heavenly little choir!

Emmy's Field Trip

Emmy got to go on an amazing field trip last week.  Some people go the aquarium or the World of Coke...not interior design...they go to Biltmore in North Carolina.   They had to be at the school at 6:30 a.m. which for Emmy wasn't a problem thanks to early morning seminary and they were off!!
Biltmore is the Vanderbilt Home built in 1895...one of the first homes with indoor plumbing!  Can I move in?!!!!

The 3 mile driveway

The Stables-just for grandma!

Let's have a Lawn Party!

Emmy and friends...They had a long day but a lot of fun!!!

Jess's Visit

Jess came to visit the weekend after Thanksgiving.  It was so much fun and of course not long enough!  She flew in late Thursday night and I met her at baggage claim.  One of her suitcases came off just fine but the other one got stuck somewhere. She was grateful the suitcase that made it had the essential items, the other was full of clothes for Eli. We were half way home and they found it but instead of turning around they delivered it the next day, thanks Southwest!!!
We crammed in lots of playing in a few short days! Meghan loved having her hair look super cute everyday!! Jess has an amazing talent for braiding hair, we think she should move in!

On Friday afternoon we went and saw the last installment of Twilight.  The end of an era!  Afternoon movies are fun, not many people in the theater!

I wore my Breaking Dawn Shirt and thought of my friends in Boise!!!

Friday night we did a little shopping ....

 

 Even if you do no more than window shop it's fun to be out at Christmas-time.  There is a fun energy and decorations!  Jess looks like she could be the Emmy's older sister!!!

 

We "mustache" you this question...how good does Meg look?

We pulled out the Christmas decorations and remembered that the pre-lit tree was on the blink.  So we took off all the lights....while watching Duck Dynasty, our newest family guilty pleasure!! What a pain!  Most of them had to be cut but we did it!!!  Then Jess, the kind soul she is, restrung the lights...they look fabulous!!!

Of course everyone looked super cute going to church!

There was lots of playing and fun treat!  Jess is our favorite treat gal!

Monday afternoon came far too quickly and we had to take her to the airport. I think our eyes were 'sweating' all the way home!  Can't wait until next time!!!

What Are You Feeling?

Eli drew this picture and asked his dad what he was feeling!!! Can you guess all of his emotions?
(left to right)
Happy, Sad (those are tears on his face), Angry, Silly (that is his tongue sticking out) and Spiffy (that is him wearing his tie on Sunday)
How do you feel today?

Gingerbread

I love the tradition that I 'inherited' when I married Steve of making gingerbread houses!
Nothing says Christmas like the smell of gingerbread baking!  This year we have gotten a jump on things...the house has smelled so good and there has been fun memories made!  We have actually done two houses this year. One we gave to the girl's Beehive teacher who feels about gingerbread houses as I do about snowmen!!!  We took that over the day before Thanksgiving and today Steve  finished the church that he created. It looks amazing!!!

Alyssa and Eli love to be in the thick of things, helping! Dad was practicing his icing techniques!!!

Our friend Debi is a huge Patriots fan so Emmy decided to put a Patriots symbol above the front door.  The first house....

The church....

He does such a great job maybe I can talk him into making a village?!!!!!