A December Picnic

Now this may be normal in December in places like CA or FL but in MO...well maybe it is normal. The joke is if you don't like the weather in MO just wait a moment and it will change:) Yesterday we were able to have a fun picnic of pizza, beanie weenies, and chips--haha because it was 66 degrees. Today the high is 31! We were so glad to have an opportunity to play outside even if just for one day!!!
It isn't as cushy as the grass but it was a little too damp for a green grass picnic and no one here seemed to mind:)

This was just too cute not to share it! The kids were playing cops and robbers and Megan wanted to "shoot".

This is what she was aiming at----especially her "jornan" haha

This is our neighbor helping my neice learn how to ride a big bike. Go Lea Go!!

Graham Temples

One of the nice things about staying home for Christmas has been that there has been no rush to anything. We didn't get to do all the traditions we had planned on Christmas day but I thought "Why do we have to cram it all in one day?" So we gave our gifts to the Savior in the stocking the day after Christmas:). It was actually really nice. Then we also didn't get the gingerbread houses done. So last night my neices came from Kansas City and for Family Night we talked about temples and then got out all the fun stuff to decorate our own temples. I got this awesome book for Family Night where you use treats to teach---I love it!

You can just see their lips quivering!haha What can you do with so much candy...the possibilities are endless! BTW glueing the temples first was way better than fighting all the frosting frustration. Thanks Tamra for another great tip!:)

Haley eating a hot tamale and learning why they are called "hot"!

Addie enjoying her little taste of the goods too.

So beautiful you want to eat them right?

Best Gift Award Goes to.....(drumroll)

Haley's book for dad! Why is this the winner? As Jordan patiently (this is an understatement since he woke up at 5 a.m. and waited until 7:30 for his sisters to get up!) waited to open presents and Megan and Haley emerged there were presents wrapped and some unwrapped surrounding the tree. And yet, Haley began searching diligently for the present she had made months ago (seriously)....a book made of lined paper glued together telling her dad that she loved him. I was humbled to realize how much she didn't care to open her gifts until she had given hers first. It was not the biggest or the most expensive, but it was what Christmas is truly all about......Merry Christmas!

Treats for Santa or is it Merry Christmas?

The carrot is for the reindeer--just fyi:)

A Megan funny---today as we were out we saw a dressed up Santa on the side of the road. When we passed, I pointed him out. On the way back Megan asked: Where is Merry Christmas? (aka Santa) haha

Happy Birthday Haley!!

Haley is officially six! Wow! Here's a glimpse of her special day:

Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a "sugar-cookie-kind-of-mom" but for Haley's birthday we did:). There is this beautiful thing at the store called pre-made cookie dough with shapes already cut out:)...did I feel guilty after abandoning my plan to make them homemade? Absolutely not. Cookies, frosting, sprinkles, and lots of smiles later told me it was all worth it:) (no one cared they weren't from scratch!ha--why do we do it to ourselves?)

We had a spur-of-the-moment paint your fingers/toes party for all those girls:). Haley had a surprise when Spencer and Emma came from Columbia to celebrate her birthday. Then our neighbor friends came to play too. Don't worry...thankfully Conner came over to help Jordan escape all the girlies!

We also went out to pizza to celebrate. We had the priviledge of having another special surprise when the Hills could come with us and since the two families were a bigger bunch we got the party room:). However, we had to go out of it to see the magician walking around! Wow--what a deal, eh? I mean I didn't even plan it and we got the birthday royal treatment:) Thanks Pizza Street -hahaha

The best gifts in life aren't things

Meeting Santa

As we realized Christmas is coming faster than we are ready:) we decided to take the kids to meet Santa. I realized that last year we never saw Santa (not that it is so important) but I thought we should go get the photo for memories sake of the child who doesn't want to even meet Santa:) Megan wouldn't even talk to him at first and you can see from her face (and body language) she wasn't sure of him reaching out to her!!
So this was Bass Pro's Santa wonderland. They had an area for kids to hit targets with guns and crossbows, a table to write Santa a letter, toy trains, and other fun things to look at.
How do you like that pink crossbow?
Happy Baby waiting her turn in line:)

Ashley Nicole Maughan

Last week my family was blessed to meet our newest member, Ashley Nicole Maughan. Although our time with her was short,(Dec.5th-Dec.9th) we are so grateful to know of our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness and for the blessings promised in the scriptures of eternal families. I am grateful to know that we will see Ashely again and that she will always be a part of us Maughansters.:) Sometimes it is hard to explain how much comfort and peace I feel knowing what I know is real. It's not just something to make me feel better for a time or only when I conveniently need to believe in something. There is no doubt in my mind that God is real and that He isn't some big untouchable thing floating around the universe. He is our Father, who knows us by name, who loves us, and who encircles His arms around us. I have felt that many times throughout my life in many different ways. I have my flaws and struggles and yet, His hand is stretched out still as He invites me to cast my burdens at His feet. However, this doesn't mean I don't hurt or feel sorrow either. The last while has been heart wrenching for me; learning that sometimes our trials come indirectly like watching others experience this life and feeling so completely helpless, wishing we could wave a wand and make it all better, but knowing that we cannot. It has been during this time that I feel like Elder Wirthlin when he said, "“For me, the Lord has opened the windows of heaven and showered blessings upon my family beyond my ability to express. Yet like everyone else, I have had times in my life when it seemed that the heaviness of my heart might be greater than I could bear.” (Come What May and Love It, Oct. 2008)As I have been blessed to be near Jeff and Cari I have been amazed that while I prayed to know how to comfort them, it is I who have been strengthened and comforted by their peace and their testimony of the truths I've mentioned. The really "good news" is that this peace and comfort is promised to everyone as expessed in the hymn played at Ashley's memorial service:

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thru throny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hastning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointement, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

White Elephant Gifts

For those of you needing ideas for those white elephant gifts this season here are a couple we found today on the internet for Dave's work party:

An Electric Plunger and a package of Batteries that say "Gift not included"!

Another funny one that we saw but didn't do was the:

origami boulder ( a piece of paper wadded up) BELIEVE it or NOT a guy sells them for $10 a pop!!!! For $15 you can get one with Haiku. Can you believe that?????

Coupon Craziness

Have you ever gone shopping and made money? Well..believe it or not, my sister-in-law does and while we were visiting, she took me out to show me how it was done. I bought the above items (plus one more lip gloss) for a total of $12.01 and when I was finished ringing I ended up with $7.17 to spend in the store on anything else I would want. So you could say I really only paid $4.84. The total for these products had I not had the coupons would have been $61.86. It's crazy, I know. I don't even know what to say. I'm still trying to figure out how I did it:)

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Last night we put up our tree---honestly, I think it is just as or more fun than Christmas morning. The surprise and delight of finding all the ornaments/decorations and relating past memories of each one warms me so completely that I LOVE this tradition probably more than anything else.

Each year we talk about getting an angel or star....this year Jordan took it upon himself to make us one---it's the best one I've ever seen!:) If you look close you can see the "angel" with even a bugle to blow!


About a year or so ago, I remember thinking "those themed trees are SO pretty. ( you know those ones that have like all one color or all similar ornaments that are really elegant) Maybe one year I will have one like that" but as I sat in the midst of my kids and and listened to them and eyed my Charlie brown tree (the one that is fake but acts like a real one with its' needles falling off and the one you have to spread the needles out and cover with as many ornaments as you can to fill all the holes;))...I decided that I really didn't want one of those this year after all....

Our First Thanksgiving

So we headed toward Columbia for our first stop of Thanksgiving dinner (is it any wonder why people gain weight at the holidays when they go to 3 different dinners?:). However, we did get a little bit of a variety as we started out with Mexican food--Dave's dad's pick and a great one in my opinion!!

Ok french fries aren't Mexican but she liked them!

The Second Stop

We were not at my brother's house for even 10 minutes when my agency was being taken away as Jessica is pounding the helmet on my head so Anthony could take me for a ride;). Dave went WAAAYYY more willingly as you can tell from his face:)
Uh-oh. Caught white faced and dough handed;)

Jessica corrupted my children in reminding them about sugar cookies---these I hardly ever do:) Of course Megan had a BLAST! as you can see--and just so you know she helped vaccuum it up too (including herself--haha)!
Then we headed to Christmas in the Sky---I know, I know, we hadn't even celebrated Thanksgiving but we had a very chilly fun time:) Megan LOVED the fireworks and cried when we put her back into the van even though everyone else was frozen through.






Nine girls and Jordan:)

We did a little Dance Revolution. Megan got her skills from me:) I can still busta move and get my groove on. I didn't try any hard ones though because I didn't want to make my nieces feel bad---hahahahaha.

Haley's got a gun (does the song run through your head?)

Are you noticing something with these two this trip?:)

And finally dinner is served. This year we decided to go non-traditional with a mulit-culture menu. We had Brazillian rolls, Clam Chowder, Chicken Kiev, Shiskabobs, Asian Shrimp Salad, and a mexican cake (I can't remember the name). It was all tasty and it was fun doing something different.

The Third Meal

I guess Saturday was the "true" feast as we gathered at Dave's mom's house for Turkey and all the yummies that go with. Jordan always looks forward to Grandma Vicki's pumpkin pie. It was really fun seeing extended family as well that we don't get to see as often. Unfortunately (well for me maybe they were glad I was calming down on the photo ops:) I didn't get a group photo but here is some of our fun

this was "how many people can we fit on this couch?":)

this was WWF baby style a.k.a Megan not wanting to share the toys with Jaxon and K'lyn sitting on her:)<

this was "please don't make me eat one more spoonful of prunes EVER again" haha

A Scrabble Thanksgiving

This is an idea for Thanksgiving but we're going to add it to our car trip ideas:). I saw this game where you take the alphabet and play Thanksgiving Scrabble---something you are thankful for with each letter of the alphabet . Of course you get the same points as the game--one for each word that someone else hasn't already taken and more points if you can think of a double like Aunt Angela;)haha!

Road Tripin' Fun

Here is a great great website for games in the car

http://www.momsminivan.com/

It has printable games like car bingo, travel battleship, cow counting;) and many more. She even has instructions for cat's cradle (the yarn game). Anyway, I just thought with the many miles to travel one could use this little tip!

Happy Travels!

My Eternal Family

Next year's Primary theme is My Eternal Family. Below is one of the songs our children will be learning called "The Family is of God". It is a beautiful song with a very powerful message and so I wanted to share it with you.


1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,
To love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share
Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,
To nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray,
To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be
A good example to each fam’ly member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,
I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

A new game for the Wii

So we don't have a wii but I had to smile during the past couple months when I looked outside my windows at the kids. Our neighbors have this machine to pick up the leaves....even as he was going more were falling down and my kids were trying to catch them. It reminded me of a video game where you have a basket and you try and catch leaves or apples or something off a tree. I had to laugh. Maybe I should send in this idea for the new Wii games.haha
Okay I know this is a lot of pictures but this is a couple months worth...when we moved here, the common thing said to us was "just wait till the leaves start falling". I can not even explain how many leaves we have picked up. Our neighbor has this machine and is outside every day...no exxageration picking up his leaves. We know why now. This week we have spent several hours outside blowing, raking, dumping and buring the leaves. It's amazing that when you look at the pictures you see big piles but that was at least a month ago. Today alone we took a huge tarp full of leaves to the burn spot at least 8 times. We had 2 blowers going, a raker, and the neighbor's leaf machine. You'd think we hadn't picked up at all before now. It is incredible. And what is more incredible is our neighbors who, as soon as I am outside, comes out too (even in 30 degree weather) to help us!! We are forever indebted to them. And that song "leaves are falling all around" has new meaning for me! But it does make for some cute photo ops!!!

It starts...

Jordan riding his bike through a pile.

Megan getting a free ride:)


Work it girl!

We're....almost....done...

Plum tuckered out!