A very merry Thurman Christmas

Cookies for Santa.  I was so tired and I'd been in the kitchen for awhile already, but I just couldn't skip Santa cookies-glad I didn't, the kids had a great time decorating them.

We enjoyed a tour of our neighborhood Christmas lights Christmas Eve

One of the two pictures of me taken for posterity's sake

Ed was hilarious as "Baby Jesus".  He was way too big for the manger, but played his role nicely.  Cam had wiseman, shepard and innkeeper costumes on simultaneously.  All the kids got into dressing up for the nativity reading.  More so then when they were younger, I think!  Do you think baby Jesus would have liked footsie pajamas?

We read President Monson's "A Christmas Dress for Ellen"

11:30 p.m.  All is calm, all is bright, all is under the tree

Inky had a wonderful time with all the wrapping and ribbon.  She was intrigued by all the new smells and arrangements. Cam quickly shooed her off his gift.

Eddy with his gift from Santa, and a dragon he got in his stocking.

Johanna rockin' out with one of our new rockband instruments.  She had fun playing rock star all afternoon, until the drums and one guitar stopped working (that's what you get with used electronics!)  I'm hopeful in at least one case, new batteries are the fix.

The aftermath....

Breakfast-huckleberry french toast....mmmmm

Picture of Andrea no. 2  Post church.  Notice my corsage.  Our ward music chair got them for everyone participating in the program today-I accompanied a vocalist on "o holy night".  Also, this adorable velet jacket (Katy's castoff) looks much better in person-this picture just does not to it, or me, justice!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Christmas-lots of work for Mom, lots of fun for kids

Camden, Logan, Blake and I worked hard for an hour making 34 reindeer bags for Cam's class party.  I almost tried to do them all by myself....1 hour times 4 people = 4 hours!!!  glad I didn't

My first batch of holiday treats for our new ward friends.  Pizelles, JoAnn's chocolates, white chocolate dipped gingerbread stars, fleur de sel caramels....oh my!

Earlier this week all of my kids, plus a number of kids from our ward sang and played instruments at the local VA facility.  I think they all had fun.  They all got jingle bells, which Ed loved 

We have a Super 8 hotel close to our neighborhood.  They have a water slide with open swim hours.  We tried it out on Wednesday.  The kids had so much fun in the water, and I happened to meet two friends there, so I got to chat while the kids swam.

The pool pictures all turned out steamy.  Cam thought this was quite funny in the hot tub.

Ed loves to give the thumbs up sign.  He had a fun time in the pool too, and managed to keep his hair dry until the last 30 minutes.

Johanna and friend Sophie have been hanging out all week.  Good thing we like Sophie!

Cam performing "Go tell it on the Mountain"  flawlessly

Holiday Happenings

This little gnome popped out of a birthday card for Blake singing a very annoying song-Blake is checking for hidden gnomes in this picture.  Also pictured is Blake's Jello cake-his oft requested birthday treat.  Happy 40th Blake!

Grandpa brought some wooden turkeys he'd made for the kids to paint.  They had a great time doing it and they turned out beautifully!

This picture is for Jennifer-who makes fun of my Turkey Frame Soup.  It was delicious-why waste a thing of taste and beauty (okay, not so beautiful..but tasty!)

Cam and Logan drinking our fave holiday drink-grapejuice (grandpas) and 7-up. 

Our 5 buck Christmas tree (plus a little gas).  Really, why buy one?  The kids had a great time looking for this, though Johanna had to stay with Ed because somehow he got in the car with no shoes.  It was great to drive up out of the fog too-we all brought snow clothes, hot cocoa, etc. because it was cold and frosty in the valley, but as we drove higher-all was sunny and bright!

Can you see that the tree goes well above my second story bannister???  If you look closely, you can see the string Blake tied from tree to bannister because it started falling on me when I was putting lights on.  I actually like it now that it's decorated-it's very pretty, though I don't think we'll get one this big again...14 feet!!!

Logan and Johanna had a concert last night.  Johanna played with the concert band and they both played guitar.  It was a very interesting, and actually entertaining concert.  Blake had the camera and couldn't get a picture of both of them.  Too bad-I had come later and was in a perfect spot, but alas, no camera...oh well.

turkey trot

We had a great time running the Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. Johanna and Logan ran the 2 miler and Blake and I did 8 together. What a great way to prepare for feasting!