December...gone already?!

Can't believe it went so fast!! We had a wondeful Christmas!! I love spending time with my Family....crazy as we are and all!!! We even made it up to the snow while the girls were here! The snow wasn't ideal...but we made it work! Kaylee and Shaylin were here for 6 days....and we crammed in all we could!!
Their favorite part of the snow....warming up by the fire at our friend Bill's cabin!

Makin' sugar cookies and dancin to Mama Mia! This may be a great blackmail picture in the future!!! Pretty cooperative little brother here!!
It seemed the wrapping would never end!!!

I think we made 3 batches of caramels this year....ADDICTING!!

"Me and Kev"

So nice to have a sweet husband to share the holidays with!!

Then....a great way to end our Christmas vacation....PEDICURES!! sigh ~ soooo nice!

I put all the decorations away...so 2010 is here and goin- ready or not!!

I just got notified that I was chosen to be on a design team for a local scrapbook store!! Yahoo!!

Back to creating!!!!!!

2010 is here!!

HOPE IT'S A GREAT YEAR FOR ALL!!! CHECK BACK FOR MY CHRISTMAS UPDATE!! FUN!

Thanksgiving Weekend

And these 2 sweet daughters of mine drove from Utah just to be with us for The big day!! So glad they were here....it's always funner with a house full...and you can NEVER go wrong with daughters around!!!

Love them!!! Tanner wanted to see how heavy a turkey could be anyway....it's heavy he says!!! A 20 pounder!

We tried cooking it in a roaster Kev bought me that morning...I don't think I allowed enough time for it to cook...it didn't seem to cook as fast as the oven...but then again I didn't have any experience with it either...I will cook in it again and get used to it!! I want to try another turkey!!

And we all made these little turkeys to put on our tables beside each plate....but, we forgot to put them out!!! So they sat on the window seal to dry and look pretty!! Fun to make anyways!
Since Kaylee and Shaylin were here....we just had to get our Christmas tree that weekend too! We went to The Red Barn Tree Farm...I love that place for some reason!! Sure was nice to have the kids together for some photo's too!!!
We were soooooo productive that Saturday!!! We all got ready and went and got our tree....
I took everyone in to vote for my design team entrys...decorated the tree, put up our Christmas decorations, Kev put the outside lights up ( had a fall off the ladder, but luckily he didn't get hurt too bad!), Kaylee made us swiss steak for dinner....so nice to have someone cook in my kitchen....so delicious too!

Shaylin helped me with the lights on the tree while Kaylee made dinner...I swear there are 20 strands of lights on this tree! It took a LONG time this year it seemed! Nice to have it all up all month!! I love this time of year! I am trying to savour the season by celebrating everyday...and making it memorable!! Kaylee and Shaylin come back on the 23rd!! Wahoo!!!! More fun to be had!! I haven't played Rummikub since they left...the game is here waiting for them to return!!!

Christmas Quilt

My latest project!! I love this material...such FUN bright Christmas colors!! I decided that I can have a quilt that I just bring out in December right?! Why not!!
The photo really doesn't do this material much justice...it really is beautiful!! With a tiny specked black flannel back....mmmm, sounds COZY to me!!
I really should be working on my Christmas cards...but it's that time of year when sewing just makes me sooooooo happy!!
AND...by the way....also happiness is...when my girls come home for Thanksgiving!!!!!! YAY

Soccer in Washington

My Son Ryan (27) tells me that these are the funnest games in the rain! But..., when it is blowing like crazy ~ and cold....I have to disagree! This was the coldest game all year...we have had a wonderful soccer season and the weather has cooperated till this game last Saturday...so I really can't complain!! The boys still play and wipe the rain from their faces occasionally, but when there is a puddle right in front of the goal that stops the ball from going in...( on the opposing side ) Thats where we have to draw the line....geez, the goalie could be asleep and still be safe. ha ha. It ended in a tie 1-1....and were glad it was done!! We made a warm fire at home and had a LAZY rest of our Saturday at home!! YAY

Nice and muddy!! I was a little worried about my camera getting wet, as I was taking photo's while holding the umbrella to protect my camera. So I didn't get a photo of our muddy boys....but I wanted to...does that count!? Great sports...these guys!
Then....last but not least...these are my new favorite candy these days! I had to give up hot cinnamon bears because of my crown coming off while eating a caramel...( not good! )
So these make me happy every now and then...and they're cheap!!
Off to get my boy ready for school!!

Down to the last leaf!

I must say...while these things make such a mess of our yard....I do love to see them fall and change colors!! So soon there will be just one left....and we will miss this!! Tan and Jace loved running through them as I was blowing them into a pile!
And of course Tanner had to get inside the pile and cover himself~

So after the fun...we picked up a ton and filled our recycling can FULL...then the rest went out to the street. The city comes by with their big truck and sucks them all up!
And Tanner got to get in the can and smash them all down so we could fit more in..such a BOY!
They were acutally quite helpful....it helped to make a game of it and play for a while. I remember a time when the older kids had no choice but to rake up the leaves. Those were some complaining and whinny days I tell ya!! Now we have a riding lawnmower and a leaf blower which makes it Sooo much easier to pick up leaves with! Plus with an extra 60 plus trees across the street, we get our share of leaves in our yard and on our driveway!!

But...indeed I do love this time or year!!

Everyday stuff ~

These guys just happened to stop by when we were in the middle of a game of spoons the other night...so they joined us....Elder Vaenuku said that was the funnest game he had ever played. He's from Tonga, and has never seen snow!! Sure hope we have a VERY white Winter for him to see!! They are a crack up! Elder Armstrong taught us how to play music with the straw.

Something about cutting a V at the end you blow through, making it flat, then blow...( hence the chipmunk cheeks on Jace...ha ha)....then as you cut the straw off...the notes get higher...so Jaycee tried it....and it really worked!!

And for blogging sake...heres a look at our halloween costumes this year.