Halloween 2010

The ward has a Trunk-Or-Treat each year at the neighborhood park, just a block or two from our house. It is great to get all the stops done in one place! This year was Katie's last year as a trick-or-treater since she turns 12 in November. Our family rule is you are done trick-or-treating when you are 12. Emily, however has another 9 years of this fun stuff. I still get candy for all the big kids so no one misses out on getting some sweet treats!

Merry Christmas Mom...

For Valentines Day I gave each of the children a bag of treats. As I gave Emily her bag she says "For me? ...Merry Christmas Mom!" as she hugs me. She came back to me a few minutes later, still holding her bag, gives me another hug and again says "Merry Christmas Mom!"

Almost all put away......

I have finally got everything from Christmas packed back into their boxes and put away. This only took a week to get it all back out to the garage. As I was un-decorating, the children all complained and said how they wished we didn't have to take down the lights. They also didn't want me to take down our new nativity set. They thought that we should leave this up all year. I had thought about doing that too, but put it away anyhow. We had excitement each night at our house as we awaited the arrival of a new surprise each night for the 12 days before Christmas. Our Secret Santa brought so much joy to our home. Each night a new treat of some kind would appear at our door and one piece of this nativity set was also included. Their gifts were fun and generous! I would place each piece on the shelf in the hallway. The children would take turns opening the gift each night. We even left a treat out for them one night. That was fun! I will always cherish this nativity set. It represents what Christmas really means and the example of Christ-like love that we need to remember each day. We don't know who our Secret Santa is and I am a little sad since I cannot express my love and appreciation for their generosity and kindness to us. It means so much to me and my family!
While putting away the rest of the decorations I pulled the little box out and replaced this special nativity back in the hall where it was during Christmas. A little later Logan came and gave me a kiss and said "Thanks for putting the nativity back!"

I too was a little sad to take the trees down and put away the lights. The light of hope that we received from so many this Christmas season will light my heart all year long! We are grateful to all who made our Christmas so merry!

Christmas Day 2008...

We had a wonderful Christmas with my sister and all the grandparents over for the day. This children were delighted in all that they received. Even Emily got into the unwrapping of gifts. The family room floor was quite a disaster and took a few days before I could really say it was all picked up.

The Children's Christmas Tree

We have two trees at our house each Christmas. One for the children and one for me, more formally decorated. Jonny's first Christmas he was given and ornament from our friends/Grandparents, The Manns. The next year or two they continued to do so. So I decided to do the same and continue that tradition for each of my children. So now each year the children get a new ornament to put onto their tree. As you can see their tree is filling up. You can't see the ornaments on the sides and towards the back of the tree. The children also have ornaments that they have made at school and ones they receive from Primary each year, as well as any that we have made as a craft project. There are about 65 ornaments altogether that they put onto the tree. The children have so much fun decorating their tree. They love pulling out their ornaments and reminiscing each year.
I am afraid, with 6 kids adding 6 ornaments a year, I am going to need a larger tree before they all move out and take their ornaments with them. I might just have to trade my 9ft tree with their 7ft tree before too many more Christmases. This is a fun tradition!!!!

4th of July Celebration

The children had a "blast" setting off fireworks. Grandpa made sure that he got stuff the kids could light off. I am not sure if he even lit one firework! The trick is keeping everyone in the right order so they don't think they have missed out on a turn to light stuff. Emily was a real trooper through all of the loud fireworks, she didn't seem to be frightened at all! The neighbors must have set off hundreds of dollars, the big stuff you see in shows!There were fireworks for a couple of hours after we were done. We could have just watched what they set off and been just fine! But the kids don't see it that way. They want to light some too!

New Easter Dresses

Each year I make the girls new Easter dresses! I had bought fabric a few weeks ago and it just sat on my sewing desk collecting dust! Well, of course it is Saturday night, the eve of Easter and the fabric sits un-cut on my desk. I spent Saturday running kids to friends in Kuna, shopping, and anything but sewing. Finally it is 10pm and kids are going to bed and Kristina says to me "I can't wait to see my new Easter dress!" Great! How can I not stay up and get these done now! So it took me 1/2 hr to cut the fabric and then by 2:30 am after many, many yards of gathering we had Easter skirts! I had found Emily's dress about a month ago and that is what I matched the girl's skirts to. They are darling!

Emily's 1st Easter

Emily's 1st Easter! She is also 5 months old on Easter Day! Time sure flies by!