Gingerbread Houses

I have a love/hate relationship with gingerbread houses.  I think they are fun to make, but man they are messy! This year we took our houses to a whole new level.  Maybe not in originality, but in ease of construction.  We borrowed our neighbor's wooden gingerbread houses.  The wood is very light weight and all precut so assembly was a piece of cake.  My neighbor also gave me a recipe for Royal Frosting. Wow! That stuff sticks like rubber cement.  Our house are completely earthquake proof.  Normally our houses fall apart and collapse constantly.  The candies fall off and it is just a sticky gooey mess.  This year it was just a sticky mess.  I helped Grant with his house then I was having so much fun I made Celeste and I each a gingerbread house.  

Next year I might not use the wooden gingerbread houses, but the Royal Frosting is a definite must.

Kindergarten Caroling

Grant has been singing Jingle Bells, Rudolph, and Santa is Coming to Town all month!  He only knows about half the words to any of the above songs.  Grant's version of Jingle Bells is especially monotonous.  He sings, "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, in a season's sleigh" over and over!  We have tried to teach him the other words, but he seems to resort back to the "season's sleigh" version.  

For a while I couldn't figure out why he would always come home from school every day singing these songs.  I thought he was learning in the songs in music class, but he only has music on Friday.  I eventually realized Ms. Clegg was the culprit and was singing these songs every day.

On the last day of school before the Christmas vacation Grant's class sang all the songs for the parents.  My favorite song was the "Reindeer Stomp" which was a darling rendition of Hokey Pokey.

I tried to get a picture of Grant, but he got put in the back and so I couldn't get a great picture.  He sang really well and I was glad I was done working so I could hear him sing.  

First Snow

On a Saturday, earlier in December we had our first good snow storm.  Grant was so excited to play in the snow and was so mad I wasn't willing to take Celeste out in the snow.  Kyle was out playing basketball with some friends from work.  I told Grant he had to wait until Kyle got home, but when we heard the neighbor kids out playing in the snow I sent Grant out.

  

Our neighbor built a makeshift sledding hill in the middle of his driveway.  Grant and his friend Elleigh loved it!  Grant probably played out in the snow for close to 4 hours.  

Christmas Wreath

I love crafts.  Anything crafty.  One of my favorites though is making floral arrangements and especially wreaths.  I was a little sad when Kyle told me he threw out my old Christmas wreath.  But, not so sad when I found out it was covered in mouse poo.  I got all excited to make myself a new one!  I decided to do a more winter theme wreath so I can keep it up all winter.  I think it looks awesome on my big red door.

(I will ever be grateful to Shayla for teaching me how to make such awesome bows.)

Christmas Nativity

I hope all of my dear friends and family have a wonderful Christmas tomorrow.  I am so grateful for this time of year.  I will be honest, I have been a little grumpy lately.  I don't know if is a blessed time of  the month, the stress of working, or a number of other things.  Probably a combination of everything.  I have tried to be happy and embrace the true meaning of Christmas.

I am much happier now and a lot less stressed out.  (Going to bed early is always a good cure for me.)  Last week, our neighbors had a few families over for the Nativity.  The kids were a little silly, but we still had a few moments when we could feel the Spirit.  It was a good reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Maycee played Mary.

Allie and Emily were both angels.

Eva was just a stable beauty and posed for the camera non stop.

Grant, Elleigh, and Daniel were the "wise guys/girls."

This is the best picture of the crew.

I am so grateful for Christ and the life He lived.  I love the peace Christ brings to my life.  I wish you all the peace and love of Christ this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Celeste Loves The Tree

Celeste was rolling a little bit before we put up the tree, but she figured out really quick (like less than 48 hours quick) how to get from point A to point B.  She puts her feet in the tree and giggles when the needles rub on her toes.  She pulls on all the lights and ornaments.  The only time she cries is when she gets stuck under the tree and get out.

Christmas Best

The kids in their Christmas outfits.  

Christmas Outfits

We found this dress for Celeste at Kohl's and because we had Kohl's cash we paid 21 cents for it.  My mom bought Grant this darling sweater and shirt when she was up in October.   I think Grant and Celeste are about the cutest kids I have ever seen!

Snuggle Bunnies

Grant usually wakes up before Celeste in the mornings.  When Grant hears Celeste he runs in and jumps in bed with her.  They lay in bed and giggle together.  It is so much fun to hear them laugh together.  I hope they always remain friends.

7 Months

Celeste was 7 months on December 1st. I am a little slow getting her pictures up, but a little update on how she is doing.  As of the 1st Celeste loves baby food and continues to eat oodles of it.  She sleeps through the night on occasion.  Celeste  loves to roll around on the floor and really wants to sit, but just can't do it by herself yet.  She loves to smile and giggle.  We love her to pieces.

Picking Out The Tree

The past two Christmases we had a fake tree because we were in an apartment and didn't have access to our tree stand or any of our decorations.  We were excited to pick out a real tree.  We wanted to get our tree on Black Friday.  Kyle and I went to some of the spots where we saw trees last year, but no one was set up yet.  We were worried we wouldn't be able to get a tree, but then we heard an ad on the radio for fresh trees at a nursery.  Hurray!  

Grant was so excited to get our tree.  He was being silly and put his hat clear over his face.  Then he asked me to take his picture.  

Grant helped us pick out a tree.  He liked this one the best.

Celeste could have cared less and slept through the whole tree picking process.

We had a blast tying the tree to our car.  It was another moment Kyle really missed his truck.  The tree made it home just fine.  It is now decorated and beautiful!  More pictures coming!

Thanksgiving Day

We had a very quiet Thanksgiving this year.  We didn't go anywhere and no one came to visit. 

Grant requested Sprite to drink.  Kyle requested "butt rolls" and cranberries.  I also made candied yams and traditional stuffed celery.  It was all so yummy!

It was a very quiet holiday, but absolutely wonderful.  Our family has so much to be grateful for this year: 

our health, our home, our jobs, Grant, Celeste, to name a few. 

I especially enjoyed getting out my holiday dishes.  I haven't seen them in over two years because they were in storage.  It was nice to add an elegant touch to our delicious meal. 

Grant is a Champion

Grant was nominated for a "I am a Champion" award by his Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Clegg.  Ms. Clegg nominated Grant for his love to learn and willing to always do hard things.  We were so proud of Grant.  He has done really well in school and really does love to learn.  Kyle was able to go to the  award ceremony.  I had to miss it because I am working this month. Lame! 

He got a really nice certificate and a $5 gift certificate to a frozen yogurt shop.

A Thanksgiving Craft

I made this "thanks" banner at a Relief Society activity.  I actually added brown binding to the edges of the flags because I didn't like the raw edges.  The funny thing about this banner is I actually made the banner at home.  I went to the Relief Society night to socialize.  I ended up helping a few sisters who had never sewn anything before.  I spent two hours helping and visiting.  It was wonderful.  I came home and whipped this banner up in less than an hour.  I love how it turned out. 

The Final Stretch

I have almost survived!  I only have one more week left of work.  I am so glad!  I have loved being a professional again, but I am ready to be home with my kids again.  I really miss them a ton.  Being a mom is a full time job, but then when you add work it is intense.  I have a new found respect for working moms.  I am grateful for a husband who has a good job and is able to support us so I can stay home.

Life of Pi

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4214.Life_of_Pi" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Life of Pi" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320562005m/4214.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4214.Life_of_Pi">Life of Pi</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/811.Yann_Martel">Yann Martel</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/773861505">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I knew this book was different before I even picked it up.  I don't know if I just had lowered expectations or if I was just in the mood for something different, but I loved this book.<br>I love biology and psychology so I found the first part of the book fascinating.  I found the story completely believable.  <br>Now you can say I am narrow minded, but I didn't see a whole lot of symbolism in the story and the story didn't bring me closer to God.  However, the story did remind me of humans' innate ability to survive no matter our circumstances.<br>I didn't think the alternate ending Pi gives to the Japanese investigators  frustrating and wish the author would have just left that part out. <br>Overall, I thought the author did a fabulous job telling a story of a boy stranded on a life boat in the ocean for 227 days!<br>No swearing and no sex.  Some violence.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2251204-kelly">View all my reviews</a>

Girls' Night Out

In November a few ladies in the ward got together for dinner.  The night started out by almost literally getting hit by a car.  We were driving down the state highway when a deer ran out in front of us.  Jenalee saw the deer, but the car next to us did not and hit the deer.  They tried to swerve and avoid the deer nearly running us off the road.  We pulled to the side of the road to get our bearings.  Auna told us we shouldn't get out of the car  because the highway is a busy road and we could get hit. Jenalee got out of the car and later swore she didn't her Auna say not to.  

The driver of the car was very distraught about hitting the deer.  His kids were sobbing and very upset. While everyone was looking at the damage the deer caused to the vehicle another car came down the road and almost hit the deer.  They swerved and almost hit Auna, Jenalee, and the driver of the other car.  

We were very lucky no one got seriously hurt.  We learned no one should stop on a busy highway unless absolutely necessary.  It is very dangerous.  

We were so grateful nothing serious happened and were able to enjoy the rest of the evening.  When I say enjoy I really mean laugh for the next four hours straight.  It was so much fun!  I can't tell you all the stupid stuff we laughed over, but it felt so good.  I haven't laughed that hard for so long.  I felt like I was a silly teenager all over again. 

After dinner we went to a new out door shopping mall that reminds me a lot of The Gateway in SLC.  It isn't finished yet, but so far is really cool.  There were some neat water fountains and lights around the walkways.  We decided to take our picture to remember the evening.

 

Now for those of you who know me aren't surprised at all to find another picture with my mouth wide open.  My mom will be so proud.

But let me explain why.  So, Wendi is on my left and she is standing right next to the outdoor fire lamp and she is telling the person taking our picture to hurry up because her arm is on fire.  The lady on her left is also chuckling, but she somehow managed to close her mouth when she laughed.  I should also mention there were about four pictures taken and this was the best one.

From left to right: Seri, Kathy, Jenalee, Brandi, Me, Wendi, Brandy, Auna

We can't wait to do it again.  It was so much fun!

Christmas Tree

Grant when we picked out our Christmas tree.

"Christmas Means A Little Bit More"

I love the holidays! I love the spirit of the season.  It seems like everyone is a little kinder, more generous, and more Christ-like.

One of my favorite things to do is shop for people.  I usually think about a person and what I want to buy him/her for months!  I like to shop around and do some research about different items.  Buying a gift is a lengthy process.  For example, I have my brother this year and I thought of something I wanted to buy for him back in September.  I have thought of other things, but I really like this one particular item.  I have done some research and know exactly what one I want to buy.  I have been watching for sales this weekend to see if I can get a good price, but if I don't I will buy it any way.  I hope he will like it, but more importantly I hope he knows how much thought I put into the gift.

Speaking of "thought" I don't like the phrase "it's the thought that counts" because if someone really thought about a gift it wouldn't be something lame or something a person doesn't like.

I have been accused of being difficult to shop for.  I don't really think I am difficult to shop for.  The problem is I don't care so much about material items as much as I care about the thought.  I would rather have one very meaningful gift than 100 thoughtless ones. 

I don't like going to the stores around Christmas time because stores are covered in thoughtless gifts.  Thoughtless gifts often pre wrapped that won't mean a thing to the person receiving it.  Notice that after Christmas all those thoughtless gifts will be on clearance, why?  Because no one really wants or needs them.

As a child I remember wanting gifts and wanting to open presents.  I was excited for Santa to come.  I was excited to see what was in all those fancy packages.  As a young child Christmas came from a store.

However, like the Grinch figured out in the famous Dr. Suess story, "maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more."  I too have figured out Christmas doesn't come from the store.

Looking back on past Christmas's the ones I remember the most are the ones where the gift giving meant something.  There have been a few years where I have bought or made a fabulous gift for someone.  I remember how I felt giving it and how much the person loved and appreciated it.  

I also remember a few Christmas's when someone has bought me something very special.  The gift meant more to me than anything else in the world.  I knew they had spent a lot of time and effort (not money) into the gift.  I knew they loved me and wanted me to have something special.

I don't always get the best gifts, but I really try.  I enjoy making things homemade.  I often make calendars for a few certain people.  I know they appreciate them.  I enjoy making them.  It takes me a while making sure everything is just so. 

Gift giving has been a small sore spot between Kyle and I.  Kyle's family had all the gifts come from Santa.  My family had just a few things come from Santa.  This may sound selfish, but I like the credit of picking out something amazing.  I don't want Santa to get all the credit.  I want my children to know I love them because I spent time and money picking out a gift special for them. 

Sometimes I also feel like Kyle and I just buy things to fill a certain quota.  It bugs me.  I like gifts to mean something.  I don't like to just buy stuff because I have to be fair.  

I will be honest I have been a little grumpy lately because I am stressed about gifts.  I don't like it.  I want the happy feeling I get when I buy gifts.  I want to feel the  true meaning of Christmas.  With that I wish you all a wonderful shopping season!  Best wishes in your gift giving endeavors!