Gingerbread house!

I know way to many pictures, But it is hard for me to simplify sometimes because the scrapbooker in me wants to include everyone and document it all in pictures. So there you go. We made our gingerbread house as our family activity this week. Dad does the usual construction of the whole thing and he helps the kids do all the decorating. My job is to take pictures and help them take turns nicely! It is always fun and of course it turned out beautiful! (Thank goodness for Costco's kits! Who wants to bake all the ginger bread anyway!)

Oh Fudge!

I had to share what happened to me today. My 13 month old baby started crying and throwing what can only be called a tantrum. So I tried to see what she wanted. I thought oh she is hungry. So I offered her one of her favorites, pretzels, no this only made her more mad, I offered her sippy cup no!!! So I would set her down and she would throw her self down and scream. I even walked to the other room and out side for a few minutes to see if she would stop..... NO. So I picked her back up to try to sooth her. NO! So I thought she can show me what she wants, So we go to the kitchen where she is pointing she is pointing to the counter so we go closer, there is the pan of fudge I finished making about 20 minutes earlier... She is reaching and crying. I tell her no and walk away. So she gets more hysterical and out of control.... after trying the experiment again 5 minutes later to see if that is still what she wants and of course it is (smart girl!) I am thinking, it isn't set up yet.... and I really don't think feeding my baby fudge is the best choice. But I give in (I know what would Dr. Phil say!) But How can I deny my sweet baby. (ha ha!) So I caved to make the crying stop! I give her less then an inch piece and she is in heaven but only for a minute because that was not enough to satisfy the chocolate craving apparently! So She starts to cry again till I cut another small piece and she devours it but this time happy in the end! I have spoiled this sweet baby! I never never never would have fed Ethan fudge at 13 months old! I was so strict on what he ate! But I take comfort in the fact that she still loves all those wonderful things that are good for her, veggies, fruit, meat, and dairy. So I guess I haven't totally ruined her!

It's a Boy X 2!!!

My Brother- In - Law and sister in law Scott and Annette just had a baby boy! He is beautiful! (Of course!) If you want to see his story and beautiful face you can click on Scott and Annette's link!
But before he was born my Sister in Law Jenniann had her baby December 6th! He was 9+ LBS! He's a whopper! I can't wait to see him this weekend. I will post pictures when I get back from visiting him! I can't wait to go and snuggle the baby!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Every year we like to find the biggest Christmas tree that will fit in our living room. We have these great high ceilings (first thing I noticed in the house and it was a selling point!) I always wanted to have a giant Christmas tree when I was younger! So finding one that is just right is always fun and some times a challenge. But worth it! I feel bad for Larry because he has the hardest job, getting the thing in the tree stand and then getting lights on it! Our kids always love the whole thing and usually make us crazy while he gets the lights on. They can't wait to hang their ornaments on the tree. But this year we thought ahead and Larry got the whole thing ready while the girls were napping and the boys were having "quiet" time in their room. So they were really surprised to come down stairs and have a tree all ready to decorate! It was a lot of fun and

less stress this way! As usual it turned out to be a beautiful tree and we all had fun. Hayden loves the tree. Every monring when I bring her down the stairs she sees it, smiles, waves and says Hi. I don't know if she is actually saying Hi but it sure sounds like it. It is so sweet! The great part about it is she doesn't bother it either. She doesn't even really touch it. I hope she keeps it up because I think I would go crazy with one more thing to keep her out of (she loves the DVD's and CD's right now!) Anyway it is a lot of fun and we think it is a beautiful tree!

Family Photos!

On Hayden's birthday my cousin Braden took some family pictures. He did such an amazing job! I thought I would post some of them! I hope you like them as much as I do! Check them out!


Family Photos! at One True Media - share slideshows, slide shows, MySpace slideshows, MySpace codes, free video sharing, video montages.

Hayden's First Year!

Well we had Hayden's first birthday! Alot has happend in that one year and we are so blessed to have her in our family! She truly is an angel!!!! I put a few pictures on here that I missed getting on my first attempt at a slide show! I hope I can get the link on here! Enjoy looking at our sweet sweet girl!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/my_shared?z=22980b0ef8e98fd9b6e504&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

I've been tagged!

Rules

1. List the link to your tagger and also these rules

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your blog also leaving the links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven facts.

1. Since Alli admitted it I will. I passed gas once in front of Larry while we were engaged!!! He was popping my back! I wanted to die!!! He still thinks it is funny!

2. I have only lived in two towns my entire life!!! I was born and raised in Prineville and then moved here to Monmouth!

3. I have never eaten Liver, brussle sprouts, or any other kind of guts (unless you count hot dogs!) Oh and I never plan on doing so!

4. In all my years of dancing I never learned to tap. I did ballet, jazz, & modern but never tap?! Weird!

5. I'm not good at sewing and am jealous of all those who can follow a pattern, But I do love to quilt! I usually make the pattern up myself and no matter how hard I try they always are falling apart somewhere soon after they are finished! But I love all the stages of quilting except for getting the thing on the quilt rack! (I prefer hand quilting)

6. I don't like ground beef. In almost any form I just don't like the texture! I use it in meals but I almost always just don't eat that part (I never tell my kids so they won't think it is ok too.)

7. Once on a date with Larry we were walking on the beach just talking (this was before we were even discussing marriage or even being a couple!) We were talking about kids and I said "When we when I have kids....." He has never let me forget it and he always makes it sound wayyyyyy worse then I actually said it!

I was tagged by Allison Bevans

I tag

Marylynn http://mandmwhiting.blogspot.com/

Scott and Annette http://tridavis.blogspot.com/

Kim Hodson http://hodson-family.blogspot.com/

Kelli Gard I will post her link later!

Kari Caulder http://nkcaulder.blogspot.com/

(I only know that many links that aren't already taken by Allison. I don't think anyone would appreciate being tagged 2 times! Sorry!)

Giving Thanks!

I was inspired last night when I saw a friends blog and she listed some of the things that she was thankful for. I went to bed thinking of all the things I wanted to list as I counted my blessings. It is therapeutic for me and helps me focus on all I have and not worry or not focus on the things that I want and often think that I need or that I don't have. So I thought it would be fun to put them on my blog too! In no particular order....

1. The Gospel
2. My sweet husband (he works so hard to take care of us!)
3. Ethan & the times he is my sweet snugly boy and eager to please me (I wish this were more often!)
4. Brock and his way of always making me smile
5. Ameila and her cute voice that is always singing
6. Hayden She is an angel sent from above who has filled a hole that was in my heart!
7. My mom who has helped me be who I am and still helps me to become better
8. My dad who taught me all I know about serving in a calling and so much more!
9. My brothers who teased me mercilessly when I was young but who I love now
10. My sister I wasn't sure if I liked her when we were little but now I only wish she were closer all the time! ( I miss you Emily!)
11. My calling in the church, It is time consuming but there is no better place then with these wonderful children!
12. My Beautiful home that is safe and warm and more then I dreamed I would ever have!
13. Dishwashers (how many hours does it save a week!?)
14. Washing machines ( I would not make a good pioneer) I know I complain about laundry but where would we be with out modern convenience
15. my garbage disposal (don't laugh it keeps my garbage from smelling even worse and saves me during canning season!)
16. Modern medicine! (epidurals especially!)
17. Computers and that we can keep in touch so easily now days!
18. Air conditioning!
19. Heat in the winter
20. a car that doesn't break down all the time!
21. Being able to be a stay at home mom and not have to go to work!
22. A husband who can fix everything (I know I already said him but he has a lot of things I am thankful for I wont list them all that would be inappropriate!)
23. cameras, with out I wouldn't remember most of life!
24. video cameras with out I would forget what my kids sounded like
25. My grandparents Ben and Donna, Both have passed on but have left an amazing legacy and helped me know the importance of family, and love in a marriage
26. President Hinkley
27. Katie Schmidt (now Katie Tucker) with out her through middle and high school I would not be where I am today that I know for sure!
28. Laura and Leti Wetzel with out them in college I would have lost all faith in having girl friends
29. All of my wonderful girl friends I have now! You all touch my life in different ways that I would be incomplete with out. (STOP MOVING AWAY!)
30. Kelly Gard- who showed me you can have sisters who were not born to the same parents!
31. Rain (as much as I really hate it there wouldn't be flowers or water to water ski in with out it!) The best rain is in Central Oregon though because of the wonderful smell!!!
32. Snow
33. Flowers
34. The Temple,
35. The priesthood
36. Music (Both inspirational kinds and fun kinds!)
37. Laughter (it really is the best medicine)
38. Sunshine (especially after the rain)
39. hot cocoa
40. all chocolate
41. all food in general
42. the craft of scrapbooking (it is very therapeutic for me and a social outlet)
43. our dog Dotty (she is always ready for snuggle or play time!)
44. a comfortable bed
45. chiropractors
46. My kids teachers
47. My kids friends that help my kids choose the right and entertain them in good ways
48. Good Books
49. The Book of Mormon
50. All other books of scripture
51. Joesph Smith
52. Gardens (only the parts you get to eat not the weed part!!!)
53. Games
54. Running water
55. Most of all Jesus Christ He is the giver of all gifts and the reason I have all these blessings and many many more. But I am sure you are tired of reading this as much as my children are tired of me writing this! I truly am blessed!

SHARKS!

This weekend we decided that we were over due for a family day of fun. We have been so busy with Soccer, primary stuff...... and on and on that we were going to do something with the kids that was just for fun. So we took them to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. We had won the tickets from the Library's summer reading program. So it was affordable to go. The kids loved it! (So did we!) They loved the tunnels with fish swimming all around. They really caught Hayden's attention! The touching pond was the main event. We spent 1/2 our time there! They just loved feeling all the starfish and other creepy things they have there! The otters were their usual playful selves. They kept giving kisses, and high fives through the glass. They are really funny and usually one of my favorite parts. We finished the day off with dinner at Mo's! The best place to go when at the beach of course! The sun was starting to set so it was a beautiful view! We had to go out on the board walk to watch for a while. I got some really great pictures of the sun set!

Batman Halloween!

The Cast of Batman: Batman Played by Ethan, Robin: Brock, Cat Woman: Amelia, The Penguin: Hayden, The Riddler: Larry, and Poison Ivy: Amanda! We all had fun coming up with our costumes and enjoy doing a theme each year. I will try to keep the tradition alive as long as my kids will go along with me. It will be a sad day for me more then anyone when things change! Anyone want some candy? We have waaaaaaaaaaay To much at our house!

Family Home Pumkin Night

My kids love our traditional Pumpkin Family Home evening. Every year the Monday before Halloween we carve our pumpkins. Hayden loved the pumpkins as long as she was not inside it. We always take a picture of the baby in the pumpkin and I thought it would be so fun to put on my blog... But the picture was to sad to post. She did not like it one bit! But she loved them from the outside. So that will have to do! They each got to design their one face and I did one that looked like Hayden (it had the same number of teeth anyway but defiantly not as cute as she is!) It was a fun evening for all!

Ethan's Pumkin looked like an ailein!
Brock's ended up looking cute with 2 square noses!

The Perks!

The "Sweetest" thing happened yesterday (Nov 10) I was starting to fix dinner and there was a knock at my door! There were all the Activity Day girls standing their with a plate of cupcakes and a note just for me and my family! It was so nice! I just love those girls!!! Thanks so much for thinking of me girls! I told Larry this was the perks for being the Primary President. HA HA!

I wanted to share the smile these cupcakes put on my babies face since this was her first cupcake ever (one didn't have frosting on it so I let her have that one!)
p.s. Notice her pig tails! This was the first time I attempted to put them in! Pretty cute!!!!

Brock's "Family"

Brock has a very active imagination! He has invented this family and I just had to share it with someone because I think it is so cute! Labor Day weekend we went to the State Fair and Brock got this Snake, Grandma Lucy gave him the Bunny Rabbit Bank for his Birthday. So naturally Brock made them a family! The mom is the Bunny, of course! The snake is the Dad, and all moms and dads need babies so of course when you cross a snake and a rabbit you get baby Tonka Trucks! So here is the little family Brock created. He has had them living together like this since he got the snake in September! OH and they also needed a home so his Easter basket was the natural choice! He usually puts his blanket over the basket for the roof! Today he decided it should be the back drop. He even told me it was just like the place we go (JC Penny) I am glad he thinks my pictures are that good! Anyway after doing the "family" photos all his other toys wanted their pictures taken so they each got in on the photo shoot. I thought I would share some of this experience!
Brock and Eddi have been best buddies for more then 2 years now! Brock got him for his 3rd birthday from his Grandma Workman! One of his and my all time favorites!!! Eddi was in charge of the photo shoot after this. But Brock informed me that he talks quiet so he would whisper in Brock's ear and say who's turn was next to get their picture taken! Next!!!










M-I-C-K-E-Y - M-O-U-S-E

Bear was a gift from Aunt Emily

Brock's first Christmas,

the Cat in his stripy Jammie's was from Aunt Brenda when Hayden was born.
This Tigger was mine I think. Notice he is bouncing!

Charlote's Web!

I found this beautiful spider web in our back yard. It was really big. I personally HATE spiders. But I won't kill spiders I find out side. (Only in the house!) So I showed the kids this web and Ameila was convinced that it was Charlotte's Web. She sat watching it for a long time. It is so cute how she thinks all spiders are Charlotte. She only wants to kill them if they are in the house too... I don't remember ever telling her that but she is fine with them as long as they are not inside. What a sweet girl!

Happiness!

The other day the boys were playing outside and Hayden was sitting at the back door acting like she wanted out too. (She loves to be outside especially if it means getting in the swing!) So I took her out and put her in the swing. She was thrilled and squealed and laughed. I needed to go back in to stir spaghetti sauce I was cooking down to can and I heard her starting to fuss. I headed to the door and before I got there I heard her laughing! I peeked and saw this site! Brock was pushing her in the swing and playing with her and she was loving it!!! She laughed every time he would push. It was so sweet to see them

interacting

in such a fun way. It made me so happy as a mommy to see my kids playing together!

I tried getting a good Picture of Hayden smiling in the swing but they are tough to get a good picture of. But I thought this one was pretty good! She is such a Jolly baby! We all just love her to pieces!

Soccer!

This is the first year we have done CYS soccer. The boys love it! Ethan is really into it and I see him playing as hard as he can each game. The games get pretty exciting! Ethan's team has tied all of their games so far. Which is just as good as a win to Ethan (it isn't a lose!) Brock's team has won all of their games. He even blocked 2 goals at his last game! He was so proud of himself! I was so proud he was paying attention enough to stop the goals too! Amelia is always so good about watching the games, Hayden isn't a big fan of game day since the games are always during her morning nap. But we all have fun anyway! GO Team!!! Oh Brock's team chose their name to be the Hot Reds and Ethan is the Panthers. What fun!