Family Christmas Party

On December 19th, we had our family Christmas Party. We started the night off with dinner- soups, poppyseed chicken, rolls, salads, and yummy desserts.
Then it was time for the Talent Show. Last year my mom talked the men into singing some silly songs, so this year it was the girls turn to make fools of themselves. It took a lot of convincing, but we finally agreed to do a Synchronized Swimming Routine. My mom and I choreographed the routine the day before and taught Cindy the day of the performance. What my mother can get us to do is beyond me.

We came out first in front of the water (the blue paper) and took off our robes, but on our goggles and then got into the water. As the music started we slowly raised our arms and dove one after each other into the water. This is me diving in.
Legs kicking and moving as we swam upside down showing our true moves.
We popped up out of the water.
And then it was time to do some spin moves in the center. While we performed everyone was laughing so hard. It was great! The hard part was trying to keep a serious face during the performance. After our performance, then the real talent started. The kids performed piano pieces and Sara sang.
Nicole wanted to do something, so last night she taught her self how to play Jolly Old St. Nicholas and Yankee Doodle.
Tyler performed his favorite song- Boogie Woogie Goose. He plays this every time he walks past the piano.
And Sara performed her song White Christmas, and did a dance in between the versus that Cindy helped her make up. Sammie also performed a Christmas song.
Then it was time for the Annual Christmas Bingo. Who would win this year???
Nicole decided that drawing on the chalk board would be more fun.
Ben didn't ever get Bingo but he had fun trying.
As we were getting ready to start a new game, Santa showed up! The kids were so excited. Nicole and Santa. She asked Santa for a Webkinz, and a REAL puppy, even though I told her I already told Santa no.
Santa gave her the game Operation.
Ben with Santa, and he went up all by himself. I was so proud of him. Way to go Ben!
Ben received 2 puzzles and color wonders.
Tyler with Santa. Tyler asked Santa for an Austin Collie Colts jersey, football gloves, and a helmet. He got the game Battleship. He was so excited.

Sara with Santa. This year she didn't know what to ask for so she wanted a surprise.
Sara got Apples to Apples.
It was a fun Christmas party, especially since many of my cousins whom we never see were able to join us for the fun.

Ward Christmas Party

On December 19th we had our Ward Christmas Party. We ate breakfast and then Santa came! The kids were so excited. Ben was a little leery to sit on his lap, so I had to join in on the fun.
Santa gave Ben a candy cane, he was so proud, until it broke and then life was over. Luckily Santa saw his distress and gave him a new one.
Sara, Tyler, and Nicole with Santa. Nicole informed me after she spoke with Santa that he was a fake because the real one comes to the Family Christmas party and that wasn't him. We can't trick her.

Christmas Class Party

On December 18th, Sara only had to go to school half the day, and it was a party! They first painted ornaments.
Then they decorated gingerbread houses.
After the crafts Sara and Madi ate donuts and hot chocolate.
Since it was an early out day Sara got to join the moms in making homemade Christmas candy! Yummy!!!

Fudge and caramel, what could be better than this?

Sara's Voice Christmas Program

On December 17th, we went to Sara's Christmas concert. She takes voice lessons from Debra Bonner's One Voice. The program started with all the kids singing I don't want to grow up from Peter Pan. Then each of the students performed a solo. This is Sara performing White Christmas.
After a few of the solos then they all performed You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray. The picture below are taken when performing this song.
They had a final group number.
Their class: Thomas, Sophia, Hazel, Josie, Tyler
Cloteal, Sara, and Amber

They all did so well. Sara has had so much fun in this group. She is so lucky to have such amazing teachers. Cloteal will be leaving in Feb. to go sing off broadway in the musical- The Color Purple, where she is the lead. Sara will miss her, but will have so much fun with her sister Yo Yo.

Christmas Books

On Sunday December 13th, Grandma and Grandpa gave each of the grandchildren a book for Christmas. Every year they give one to them so by the time they are married they will have ornaments and books to take with them.
Nicole got the cute book, Merry Christmas Hungry Bear!
Ben got Who will Help Santa This Year!
Ty got the same book.
Sara and her book
My mom gave us the Last Straw, which has a lot of memories for me. Each Christmas as children we would do this exact thing, doing service for family members and filling Jesus bed with straw so it will be soft. It is so fun that I can pass down this same tradition to my children. Thanks mom~

Nicoles Eyes

A week ago we took Ben to the eye doctor and Nicole to the dentist. Well at the eye doctor, Nicole decided that she couldn't see. Craig would hold up one finger and she would say he was holding up two. She played around for a couple of days, but we didn't think anything about it, until....

I received this note from her school teacher...

Jill,
I'm a little concerned about Nicole's numbers. I pulled her back one on one to go over her telling time test and found that she is really mixed up on her numbers. I wrote a # 1 and she said it was 2. I had her write her numbers from 1 to 10 and it was all mixed up.

This is an example of the attached paper with her numbers
1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 3, 3,0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1.....

I don't remember this being a problem before!? Will you talk to her and is if everything is fine.
Thanks,
Tammy

I looked at her telling time test and she missed everyone, and she missed everything on her homework. So I had a talk with her. She told me a girl put a pencil in her face and she couldn't see any more. I told her that we had to get her eyes fixed and take her to the doctors than because I know she is smart enough to do this homework, and the test, so we need to go get xrays done.

She told me Santa could bring her glasses. After more talking and crying I told her to go in the kitchen and write her numbers to 20, while I ran over to the neighbors. I can't believe she did this to her teacher.

Well when I got home from the neighbors, her eyes were Magically better. She redid her tests and homework and got 100 % on them, and she is all better.

Oh I am in big trouble, especially since she was smart enough to keep this trick going for a while. She is a smarty pants.

Cousins and Cookies

On December 12th, it was Sara's turn to pick #12 on the countdown, and her slip read: Make and decorate sugar cookies. So that is what we did that night, even though I had 10 little ones and Craig was at work. It was a lot of fun. Christian, Sammie, Sara, and Chey LOVE decorating.
Nicole, Sky, and Ben like eating the icing more than anything.
Tyler likes decorating but is very fast.
Bens Cookie: Like I wrote before he loves icing.
Sara's darling snowman.
Tyler was done with 3 cookies when everyone else was just starting. They look great!
Nicole was very proud of her candy cane.
It was a fun evening of decorating, laughing, and eating yummy cookies!

Economics Fair

Sara had an economics fair at school this year. The students all had to create a product and then sell it. They had to keep track of how many items they sold and how much they sold them for. Sara made tic tac toe boards as well as necklaces. It was a fun day!

Countdown to Christmas

We love Christmas! A friend of mine gives a child an envelope to open day during the month of December with an activity to do as a family. Like reading a book, seeing Christmas lights, your choice of what to have for dinner, etc. So two years ago I started doing the same with my kids. And this year we added this to the countdown. Instead of the kids opening an envelope, they get to remove the number of the day it is, and inside the muffin tin slot is a paper with the activity on it. They open this up in the morning and than at night they . . . .
get to open a Christmas present that is under the tree. There are 24 wrapped books under the tree, and each night before we go to bed that child gets to unwrap the book to see what story we get to read.


It has been so fun to do as a family. I love traditions.

Snow Days

On Wed. Dec. 9th Sara had her friend Trinity come over to play. It was a cold winter day, so they decided to stay in and do crafts, while the boys ....
went to play in the snow! Tyler tried to hit me with a snow ball. Shame on him!
Sliding fun!

Peace man!

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

Ben was ready for some HOT CHOCOLATE after shoveling the drive way with daddy, during the big snow storm we got on December 8th. Craig shoveled for 3 hours, and by the time he was done helping everyone clear their drive ways, it was time to redo ours, as if he had never shoveled.

Spirit of Christmas

During the first week of December, Sara participated in the Spirit of Christmas show at ALA. The show was fabulous! All the fine arts programs in the school took part in the show. It was amazing how it all ran so smooth.

This is Sara before the show started.
Sara getting ready to go on stage.
Sara singing Frosty the Snowman. The elementary choir had 2 costume changes during the night. They were busy back stage getting ready for their other 3 numbers.
At the end of the show everyone came out on stage to sing and dance the final number. It was done so well, especially considering all the many children involved- third through 12th grade.

Religious Knot

On December 3rd Tyler earned his Religious Knot for Scouts, along with other pins and belt loops. I am so proud of him and his hard work. He is so lucky to have great leaders! Way to go Ty!

Playing Kitchen

My sweet little Ben loves to play kitchen. He is so good at getting you what you want to eat, even when you change your mind time and time again. What a cutie! I love playing with him.

Decorating the Tree

On November 30th, we decorated our tree after church. Ben was so cute, because all week he kept asking when we were going to do it. Finally the day came. He was thrilled.
That night we went to my parents house, for dinner, and then we all helped decorate the tree. The music was blasting and everyone was having a great time.
Sara enjoyed the icicle ornaments, or should I say the snotcicles. She is trying to be like her Uncle Ryan.
Ben was so proud to be up on the ladder and didn't get down until it was all decorated.
This is Nicole's favorite ornament. A musical snow globe.
Sara was in charge of the high areas on the tree. . .
While Craig and Tyler got the ornaments ready to put on the tree. What team work. Once the tree was complete, it was time for Grandpa to give the kids a special ornament that symbolizes their year.
Ben got a Mickey Mouse ornament because he is obsessed with Mickey. If there is something in a store with Mickey on it, he will find it.
Grandpa gave Nicole the Three Musketeer Barbie ornament, because she loves all the barbie movies.
Ty received a baseball pitching ornament because he played on the Cougars/True Players teams this year and pitched.
Sara got a Hannah Montana ornament, because she sings so well, and has been performing a lot. She also loves the Hannah Montana movie.

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for the ornaments. They are all wonderful.