{ Merry Christmas come and gone and a year end GIVEAWAY}....}

via 1825

....Just like that seems so crazy for the whole month its run run run especially with all the things our kids have from parties to school concerts, choirs and birthday in there craziness but so fun I love December and I love the feel of it all!
I had this awesome post written in my head on DEC 22 10 years from that day we picked up our first beautiful baby boy Kolten... its a day I will never forget and a Christmas present that will never compare to anything. love this boy and I really really can't believe he is 10..... 10 years since I have worked {i was a teachers assistant for about 7 years before that, and now I have four beautiful children CRAZY :) 

So from this beautiful perfect handsome boy!

 to this older handsome version of that cute little baby boy...

  10 years old..... Wow! 

for his birthday he got his ipod he's been praying for so he was super excited! He is responsible and we get to control the music so hopefully it all works out!
Then onto Christmas eve we had a family get together soup and buns at our house for the afternoon,  played games did our program and played games and then most went to there other side of the family it was a fun afternoon and fun to see family we haven't seen in a long time!
Crazy times for sure!

 played lots of fun minute to win it games...so fun!

.....then came Christmas day it was a fun day fun that church was on Sunday too gave the spirit and tone for the reason for the season loved it! We went to a different ward and throughly enjoyed the program ....it was a good day....
ps I joined the 21st century too and got an iphone 4s from D and I have to say I love it! I got a sewing machine too so now I have some work to do to catch up with all you domestic people ;) cause I don't sew but I do want to learn :)

And my project this Christmas was a craft I made for neighbor gifts  I like to give something that can be used each Christmas too...so I did this sign I had seen on Barn owl primitives mine aren't as awesome as there's but I do like how they turned out there's are $70 each .....

AND I HAVE ONE GREEN SIGN LEFT TO  

GIVEAWAY

SO ENTER FOR THE CHANCE FOR MY LAST ONE If u want :) 

Tell me what your NEW YEARS resolution is for the coming year :) 

something exciting something continual or something new...

or ASK me a question anything

or for you silent ones who never say anything now's your chance to:)

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS :)

{Me Thinks...}

Me thinks...

Another year over {almost so hard to believe} ...........Another Christmas....another year of my kids growing up.....another project completed........ another Sunday down...........Another day :)

So FROM 2010 to 2011 

Here's this years addition of CHRISTMAS SUNDAY PICTURES

I only bought L a new outfit and reused some of the boys' that they had since they all fit better anyway...save some money right....only other problem was it was after church and they were a little rumpled and had green mouths from the suckers they got in primary so they are far from perfect but thats us.....

I can't believe how much they change in a year!

ha ha K

And of course the bloppers just trying to get the one good shot :)

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...as for the project I finally got one of my basement walls up it still needs two canvas' printed and the big canvas needs a few things around or beside just not sure what yet....we also have a new couch coming so we are super excited about that! Slowly its coming together!

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So for random sake and nothing to do with Christmas some Good recipes around here to share are these

Green Smoothies I've had one every morning for the last week and half and seriously its so good {I have to leave out the mango because I'm allergic to them but I just add more peaches:)....found here

and this was SO good Santa Fe Chicken... found here I added lettuce tomato and a little cheese one top too...

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And there ya go another post by me lol :)
Loving the Christmas season

the music, the parties, the excitement, the serving others just the feelings that come with Christmas it really is my favorite time of the year...

I have a great bunch of kids and one awesome husband I couldn't be more blessed then to share my life with these five :)

Have A great WEEK

{SundayStory}

I love this one.

Hero at the Grocery Store

by Stephenie Meyer

ensign 2006

Christmas stories happen in the most everyday places. I was part of one not long ago at the grocery store. I hope I never forget it, though the memory is bittersweet.

I had been shopping for almost an hour by the time I got to the checkout lines. My two youngest sons were with me, the four-year-old refusing to hold onto the cart, the two-year-old trying to climb out of the basket and jump down to play with his brother.

Both got progressively whinier and louder as I tried to keep them under control, so I was looking for the fastest lane possible. I had two choices. In the first line were three customers, and they all had just a few purchases. In the second line was only one man, a harried young father with his own crying baby, but his cart was overflowing with groceries.

I quickly looked over the three-person line again. The woman in the front was very elderly, white haired and rail thin, and her hands were shaking as she tried unsuccessfully to unlatch her big purse. In the other line, the young father was throwing his food onto the conveyor belt with superhuman speed. I got in line behind him.

It was the right choice. I was able to start unloading my groceries before the elderly woman was even finished paying. My four-year-old was pulling candy from the shelf, and my little one was trying to help by lobbing cans of soup at me. I felt I couldn’t get out of the store fast enough.And then, over the sound of the store’s cheery holiday music, I heard the checker in the other line talking loudly, too loudly. I glanced over as my hands kept working.“No, I’m sorry,” the checker was almost shouting at the old woman, who didn’t seem to understand. “That card won’t work. You are past your limit. Do you have another way to pay?” The tiny old woman blinked at the checker with a confused expression. Not only were her hands shaking now, but her shoulders too. The teenage bagger rolled her eyes and sighed.

As I caught a soup can just before it hit my face, I thought to myself: “Boy, did I choose the right line! Those three are going to be there forever.” My mood was positively smug as my checker began scanning my food. But the smiling woman directly in line behind the elderly lady had a different reaction. Quietly, with no fanfare, she moved to the older woman’s side and ran her own credit card through the reader.“Merry Christmas,” she said softly, still smiling. And then everyone was quiet. Even my rowdy children paused, feeling the change in the atmosphere.It took a minute for the older woman to understand what had happened.

The checker, her face thoughtful, hesitated with the receipt in her hand, not sure whom to give it to. The smiling woman took it and tucked it into the elderly woman’s bag.“I can’t accept …” the older woman began to protest, with tears forming in her eyes.The smiling woman interrupted her. “I can afford to do it. What I can’t afford is not to do it.”“Let me help you out,” the suddenly respectful bagger insisted, taking the basket and also taking the old woman’s arm, the way she might have helped her own grandmother.

I watched the checker in my line pause before she pressed the total key to dab at the corner of her eyes with a tissue. Paying for my groceries and gathering my children, I made it out of the store before the smiling woman. I had made the right choice of lanes, it seemed. But as I walked out into the bright December sunshine, I was not thinking about my luck but about what I could not afford.

I could not afford my current, self-absorbed frame of mind.

I could not afford to have my children learn lessons of compassion only from strangers.

I could not afford to be so distant from the spirit of Christ at any time of the year—

especially during this great season of giving. I could not afford to let another stranger, another brother or sister, cross my path in need of help without doing something about it. And that is why I hope never to forget the Christmas hero in the grocery store.

The next time I have a chance to be that kind of a hero, I can’t afford to miss it.

Have a great sunday....

{Gratitude Challenge 10}

This time of year from thanksgiving to Christmas I seem more aware of all the blessings I have, I mean I'm thankful and aware all year just seems like I think about them more deeply....maybe because one of my greatest desires came true and set off a lot of chains of thankfulness....and it  happened around Christmas and that would be my soon to be 10 year old that I can't even believe is turning 10 next week, its so crazy to think that much time has gone by....So I'm counting my blessings 10 at a time A list of 100 things I am thankful for..... broken down by 10: 

Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for: 

1. My vision      

2. My legs to walk run and jog

3. Reading I love reading

4. Hearing

5. laughter 

6. talking 

7.writing 

8. Mobility that my brain works to tell my body what to do

9. ability to hug my kids and  husband

10. to breath 

Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for:

1. clothes that cover me and keep me warm

2. home to raise my family in

3. bed to keep me warm

4. camera to capture all the memories along the way

5. My suburban  {most of the time haha}

6.my computer to keep connected and just about everything about it

7.the ipad for all its incentive reasons and many others too:)

8. my elliptical and treadmill to keep me going

9. All books to read

10. shoes:)

Write 10 Living People you are grateful for:

1.My husband he is the VERY best for me:)

2. My children {and each of their birth families}

3. The leaders of our church

4. Doctors that keep us healthy when we need it

5. Teachers I've had throughout my life

6. My entire family {all of em}

7. Those that teach my kids and have taught them

8. My friends that know me better than my family sometimes

9. My primary kids they teach me things every week and make me laugh

10. Those that go through hard trials and come out on top they teach me so so much.

Write 10 deceased people you are grateful for:

1. Jesus Christ for making it possible for us to come here

2. Adam and Eve for paving the way

3. Joseph smith for following his heart no matter what

4. All my grandparents and D's the ones I haven't met and those I have for going before us and making it possible for us to be here

5. My childhood friend Cass 

6. my cousin Keri who taught me more about life and being kind to people after she left this life tradgically...

7. My Grandpa Mecham his quite way and teasing manner

8. I miss D's gruffy grandpa miss him he liked to tease too

9. My Grandma Mecham her warm kitchen, she always had an apron on and a smile for us....

10. President Hinckley

Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for

1.flowers of every kind

2.water from creek to ocean

3.rainbows

4. summer breezes

5. rain storms

6. warm places all year round

7. smell of fresh cut hay

8. dewy mornings

9. bizarre storms cause they make us appreciate the beauty of the good days.

10. full green trees in summer

Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.

1. I got presents wrapped

2. our burb fixed {glad its fixed just not glad for the bill}

3.my boys that are home

4. K2 we played fort

5. D and his charming self

6. L got a beautiful card from a student teacher full of praise for little L made me stinkin proud of her

7.to get out tonight

8. a clean house

9. a trip on the elliptical to feel better

10. prayer

Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for

1. PEI it was fun to visit years ago

2. Bahamas a warm reprieve a dew winters ago

3. right here where I am

4. The many places I lived in that shaped who I am

5. Florida the fun we had living there with three of the kids and the great people we met and probably the best ward ever.

6. Utah because lots happened and happens there i like going there.

7. Rexburg Idaho I met my husband there even though we are from the same town:) thank you RICKS:)

8. Cardston Alberta Temple because lots of awesome things happened there.

9. Ireland cause D lived there for 2 years and i want to go over there someday...well all of europe 

10. New york cause I want to go visit there someday as well as all the church history spots because so much happened there

Write 10 modern inventions you are grateful for:

1. fridge

2. toliets

3. hair dryers

4. showers

5.dishwasher

6. computers

7. phones

8.cars

9. airplanes

10. electricity

Write 10 foods you are grateful for:

1. fruits

2. vegtables

3. green smoothies

4. black licorice &{jelly belly's}

5. egg white omelets and english muffins

6. cafe rio salad 

7. chicken

8. some pasta

9. cresent rolls

10. yogurt /oatmeal

Write 10 things about the Gospel you are grateful for:

1. Temples

2. The resurrection

3. The atonement

4. Baptism

5. The book of mormon

6. The law of tithing

7. President Monson

8. Each organization for every age.

9. Temple ordinaces

10. MY testimony 

want to know more click here

"When you make a list like this, we discover that a list of 100 doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all the things God has given us."

Having a positive attitude and seeing the blessings we do have can go a long way to a happier life. Its true because just doing this made me realize all the things I take for granted that could be taken in an instant and I always want my family to know and those that know me to know that I really do appreciate all that I have we are very blessed.

So CAN YOU DO IT? TRY IT? It's not as hard as it seems :)

 
Remember the REAL reason

slow down, enjoy it

be happy :)

Have a great weekend :)

ps. Does your family wrap santa/ stocking gifts?

and what do you do for Christmas morning breakfast?

{Me thinks}

i feel like i'm behind on my blog, my life, Christmas cards, on getting my neighbor gifts on all things pretty much...Sometimes it feels like the same things every year at this time just take so long to get accomplished and it comes so quick! and every year I say I'm going to start earlier and simplify yet.... here I sit wondering what I'm doing:) Joys eh! 

Me thinks.

Sometimes i feel like there are so many expectations to a lot of things in life ...we are always running and usually on empty.. we stress over what we are expected to do or think we are expected to do .....what we expect should happen...but true to life is that we can expect the unexpected and I think I'm slowly learning that. at least I hope I'm getting better at recognizing that just because something is expected to be a certain way then isn't .... its okay...even if I wouldn't have it that way or do it that way ...i have to learn that its each to there own and that is why we all have different situations and different expectations...its learning to accept that not worrying about the why's but moving on and expect less from others and really more from myself within...... 

so I'm not disappointed, hurt or offended. 

Cause one thing about life is that it's always changing because its, well life. and in the long run its short. No time to worry about missed expectations and miss opportunities move on face it and overcome it.

It will happen. My sister in law once gave me some quote blocks she made for me and I love them because they really are good words to live by.

live simply. give more. expect less.

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So in other fun I have a little 2 year who decided to add the words "NO, DON'T , OUT and Go AWAY" to his vocab the past couple of days... he is still my sweetheart kind hearted sorry saying boy 

"I mean he apologizes to the couch if he runs into it:) sweet boy!

We're trying to teach him that you don't have to apologize to THINGS just people" Its still super cute though. Last night he wanted me to hold him he always says things like a little generic not the right word but I can't think of the right one right now.... all I know is that nobody would know what he is talking about unless your here but he says words like 

cup that actually means milk or water

so =

cup = milk or water

shoe=foot

there are more but I can't think right now:) 

So anyway back to last night I was singing to him and rocking him .... he was just snuggling and laying his cute little head on my shoulder and I enjoyed every minute because he is just growing up way to fast! Anyway D walked in and he jerks his head up and points his finger and says 

"out here" 

D said thats a first it was so funny and then K2 put his head down again and said song=sing:) love it love him!!! He is SO fun I just love him! Look at those blues!

and cute little miss L got a haircut much better:) She is so full of spunk she asked me to make the appointment cause she didn't want to fight every morning {she hates getting her hair done so she calls it fighting I call it doing hair but whatever it is ...I think she looks so grown up and so cute!

She is having a great year this year learning a lot and making new friends and learning that there are rules and teachers and mom and dad do know a little of what they are doing:) She is spunk...she know what she wants so far this year she joined choir on her own and joined a science club which she said she really enjoys and I think all the more because she wanted to do it so she did it! Got to love that kind of drive! We both are pretty stubborn sometimes but I love my little girl! 

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SO thats pretty much my life and thinking to much. I'm good at that...

It's all in the thinking.

oh well keep calm and merry on ....

{seriously how many keep calm signs can they keep coming up with ;) }

Have an awesome week....

{Thankful Thursday...}

SO  Thankful for my kids they are so full of life I love it! I am a lucky mama:) I found this mommy questionnaire from somewhere and today I talked to each one individually and wrote down their answers it was funny and informative. Don't you ever wonder what your kids are thinking or how they see things?? this is one way to find out...I quite enjoyed it cause its fun to see what they think of first..

Sometimes life feels like this picture

like I want to scream like things are out of control...like nothing is right...but then I look around at all these kids and think I get to be their mom!!  what a blessing in my life!
Around this time of year I reflect a lot on my kids and the most precious of all gifts I ever received and ever will are these four children... nothing will every come close because I can't even begin to comprehend the emotions I still feel some days for all involved.
It brings tears to my eyes because I can't even imagine what each of those young girls went through because they loved their sons and daughter so much they sacrificed for them and that reminds me of someone else...and thus each one is a Christmas miracle my first my have literally been, but each one can be held right up there.
AND that is something I will never take for granted..

K -10 years old

1. What is something Mom always says to you?
-be true be honest be grateful be ....6 be's

2. What makes Mom happy?

-when I play with k2 and watch the kids

3. What makes Mommy sad?

-when I'm not being nice

4. How does Mom make you laugh?

-tickles me

5. What was Mom like as a child?
-i don't know

6. How old is Mom?

-36 {ouch not yet!!}

7. How tall is Mom?

-about 4 inches taller then me {ha ha thinks he's pretty funny:) }

8. What is Mom's favorite thing to do?
-cook for us

9. What does M do when you're not around?
-reads or watches movies when she is on the elliptical

10. If Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
-cooking {far from it but nice to know they appreciate it:)

11. What is Mom really good at?
- cooking {so he likes my food:)

12. What is Mom not very good at?
-art and math

13. What does Mom do for her job?
-takes care of us

14. What is Mom's favorite food?
-stuff thats healthy

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
-everything {aww}

16. If Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
-Garfield's girlfriend  {no idea who that is?}

17. What do you and Mom do together

- everything

18. How are you and Mom the same?
-were almost the same height {ha ha!} - and we both are organized:)

- we both don't like junky clothes ?not sure what that means but it made me laugh...

19. How are you and Mom different?
-I'm good at math and she's not

20. How do you know Mom loves you?
-she does everything for me and tells me she loves me every night

21. Where is Mom's favorite place to go?
-hot places 

L- 7 years old 

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?

-I love you

2. What makes Mommy happy?

-when I listen

3. What makes Mommy sad?

-when I don't listen or I lie

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?

-tickles me

5. What was Mommy like as a child?

-a rat   {whatever that means silly girl!}

6. How old is Mommy?

- 35

7. How tall is Mommy?

-100 degrees  {a little mixed up? ha ha}

8. What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
- to help people

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?

-goes to lethbridge

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?

-her kids {awesome}

11. What is Mommy really good at?

-trying to make her kids happy

12. What is Mommy not very good at?
- skating

13. What does Mommy do for her job?
-take care of kids

14. What is Mommy's favorite food?
-i don't  know

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
- when you make me happy

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
- I would wish that you would be oddette {love it her favorite movie:) swan princess

17. What do you and Mommy do together?
-watch a movie, play sometimes

18. How are you and Mommy the same?
- kind of have the same hair color

19. How are you and Mommy different?
-that your taller than me

20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
-kisses and hugs

 21. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
- home {:)

M- 5 years old

I used this picture cause he was super grouchy when I was getting his answers..

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?
-clean up

2. What makes Mommy happy?

-when I do good stuff

3. What makes Mommy sad?

-when I do bad stuff

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
-by making funny faces

5. What was Mommy like as a child?
-i don't know

6. How old is Mommy?
-i don't know

7. How tall is Mommy?
-i don't know

8. What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
-open book presents

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?
-go to the store

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
-for drawing {i don't draw ha ha}

11. What is Mommy really good at?
-snuggles and writing {didn't know that}

12. What is Mommy not very good at?
-not getting on games 

{he always wants super mario or computer games and I rarely let them...unless they are worked towards sensing a theme in M's life lol}

13. What does Mommy do for her job?
-be nice

14. What is Mommy's favorite food?
-whitney cassorole {thats his I love it too but its his favorite!}

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
-when I'm done my jobs it makes you happy

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
-a unicorn

17. What do you and Mommy do together?
-stay home 

18. How are you and Mommy the same?
-i don't know

19. How are you and Mommy different?
-i don't know

20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
-let me do stuff

21. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
-to  lethbridge {not really!}

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We also for our Christmas countdown filled out our dear Santa lists this year we are following more closely to this outline...it was once again fun to read what they put down...

via pinterest
Some have added to share I like that one too 
 

so k put 
in the same order
i want lego
i need pants
i'll wear DC shirts
i'll read knights of the right
and I'd really love you to bring me
anything boyish but mostly an ipod

L put
i want a alive baby doll
i need a sister and a book
I'll wear a justin bieber shirt { ha ha}
I'll read a swan princess book
..and I'd really love you to bring me
a doll like a sister :)

M put

i want a penguin and bowser {he always asks for the randomest things}
i need to see baby Jesus
i'll wear a bowser shirt
i'll read He can't {k was scribing for him}
and I'd really love you to bring me a
bowser toy {guess I'd better figure out who bowser is eh}

along with todays advent countdown they took food to the school hamper and we are all loving the countdown fun:)
LOVE MY KLMK2
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and because sweet little K2 didn't get any time this post here are the pictures I got back yesterday from a friend who was a nurse working that night. She took these on her iphone, 3 stitches later this brave little boy of ours did amazing! Love him!

He is my snuggler especially today the flu caught up to him...poor baby....

Enjoy life. so many lessons to be learned. EVERYDAY.

 and my favorite quote of the season so far:

Are you one of the INN crowd or one of the STABLE few?

{ Me thinks Monday...}

via

Been awhile since I've had some sort of schedule seems like I'm always running...plenty of thinking going on just not enough time in the day to get it out. Simply because all other things come first:) 

Because I don't want my kids to think the only thing I do is sit at the computer and ignore them all day..I try hard not to do that:) and only be on here when they are napping or later at night..So that doesn't leave much other time for the things that need done... 

But we spend lots of time doing things like this:

Just this weekend 

we went to our town party old fashioned Christmas

D was sick all day so he didn't go anywhere all day Friday so I took three kids and M hung out with dad...

I didn't get one picture... my sister did of Friday night so she sent me these:)

{santa went a little overboard on the rosy cheek bit eh}
then I went to a party afterwards.... 

good times:)

went to a funeral

took the kids swimming

had a "B" family party cause two of D's siblings were coming to town for the weekend so we had 2 family dinners, games, lots of laughs

church

devotional Sunday night

and another family dinner:) 

Kids had fun tired them out anyway!

tis the season i guess right...

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ME THINKS

What makes you cry?? Do you cry often?

.....at sad commercials or those touch the heart Mormon messages, or you tube stories that go around on facebook that make you stop and think what am I doing? How do I come across? 

Where am I going? and how and 

what am I teaching my kids? What kind of example am I to them?

sometimes when something touches you it really makes you  

stop. think and evaluate  

what you are doing and how you come across to people to my kids to my husband and families....

 to actually apply it is a hard thing to do sometimes

to change what you are used to to change how you talk to your kids to people...how do you come across.... judgmental? condemning? demeaning? is it nice?? 

is it helping anything? 

Is it worth it? is it dragging others down?

I've had a hard look at some of the things I see around here that develop a pattern..... that causes the fighting, the tension, the chaos some mornings...

If I pick out one of my children's clothes the night before life is much easier:) or if one is up an hour before the bus comes life is much smoother I probably say hurry hurry about 20 times a morning and I hate it!
one step at a time things can change....

So among so many other things we learn that it starts inside and as a mother {or person in general}

we set the tone for ourselves for our home..... our children are always watching us and i hope the good shines through that they know we are just trying to make it through everyday teaching them the life lessons along way through work deed and example...

is it worth the effort your so obviously trying to accomplish?? Yes every bit of it...if it means biting your tongue, saying a prayer
whatever it takes is worth it to everyone around us....

People have no idea what others go through we never know...I hope we are more tolerant of others more accepting of different...... CAUSE we are all different in our own ways and its okay!
-----------------
Sometimes I get frustrated with a child of mine .....

I hope people know I do teach my children {but a certain five year old in the house makes me feel like a bad parent sometimes}.....
he is constantly in trouble moves from one thing to the next he wears me out....last week was hard I got a couple phone calls from concerned parents telling me what my lovely son was up too....

Sometimes I just worry to much about what others think about what he does instead of focusing on him and following through and helping him understand the things he can and can't do....being a parent is so hard sometimes... I just can't help but think if he/she's doing this now how will he/she be when he/she is 16.....
But worry about today and tomorrow will come soon enough.

truestory.
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Question: What is your favorite Christmas treat you make every year?
Who's reading these days anyway? Now's your chance :)
Have a great week!

{Favorite time of the year....}

I love the sights and feel of excitement of it all.....

via

 Love pinterest for all things christmas that I have posted from simple frugle decor to wrapping a gift check it out here I think you can get to it and then you click the picture, a couple of times and it will take you to the website of each thing and printable:) Best ever!

So many fun ideas!

I love this lotion from bath and body works vanilla bean noel around Christmas time..... I'm kind of weird my lotions have season's too since thats when they come out in stores too.... and I only wear them in that season ...is that just me?

i love our book advent countdown we started last night the kids love it too and get so excited to see what book and what the activity for the day is:) Kind of makes me feel like a good, fun crafty mom for at least those 24 days of the year:)

via

I love that this time of year my feelings of becoming a mother for the first time are so strong 10 years ago already crazy! I read an article in the ensign today that touched me because I could of written it ...because I feel the same way...can't believe that beautiful baby boy is going to be 10 in  a few weeks literally the best gift I ever received for Christmas ever....as each of my children are whether it was Christmas or not

It says...here is the link to it.

"Each Christmas as I reflect on the birth of the Christ
child, I also pause in gratitude for the precious gift of
motherhood that came to me through the miracle of adoption.
Amid the holiday flurry, my thoughts always turn to
each of my children’s amazing, courageous birth mothers,
whose selfless love made my dreams come true."

SO because we haven't seen one of these questionnaire tag things around all year here's a Christmas version:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both  - but  I like playing around with printables and tags and paper all that fun

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, pre-lit :) upstairs and down but I do love real trees the smell not the clean up!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after American thanksgiving but we did it early this year! Why not enjoy it that much longer!

4. When do you take the tree down? Typically we have done it on the day after New Years Day fresh clean new start to a new year..but we'll see!

5. Do you like Egg Nog? a glass  a season maybe...I like it the light kind just choose not to drink much of it...
6. Favorite gift received as a child? An alarm clock for some reason I really wanted one and remember that the most?
7. Hardest person to buy for? My father in law hands down so hard to buy for! D is too :) but not as hard as his dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? K right now perfect age Lego all the way":)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes The Willow Tree nativity set! Love it!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail another part of my favorite part of the year I actually get something fun in the mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? no comment....:)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love polar express with the kids but I also love all the classics....white Christmas, wonderful life, what other good ones do you love??
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In november if I'm on top of things so far I'm doing alright...a few more to go!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? maybe ;)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas and favorite Christmas dessert? My mom's fruit bread and goat cheese {we have a Norwegian big breakfast every Christmas morning and thats my favorite! Cause I'm half Norwegian explains my feisty side doesn't it ha ha!
16. Lights on the tree? Is it christmas without! - I love white blinking lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I love the classic old school ones, josh groban, anne murray lol I really do! , so many to name!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We do christmas at our own house travel 35 minutes to my parents house {cause I've never missed a Christmas morning in 35 years pathetic?crazy? but I love it!} Then we head to D's parents 5 minutes from there!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? yes can you?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? WE do pj's christmas eve a program and nativity story and the rest on Christmas...

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? 

When people or businesses say HAPPY HOLIDAYS I hate it its not a holiday gift or a holiday tree its CHRISTMAS!!!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Changes this year we have aqua red and silver love it!

24. Handmade ornaments or store bought? Some of both

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don't have a clue a new cap for my camera, an i phone but not the bill that goes with it ha ha, really I don't know this year...maybe a cheaper singer sewing machine maybe I would get crafty and sew?? we bought a new couch and my new dishwasher is a dream. Life is good and I'm happy and don't need much else!

MERRY CHRISTMAS your turn now:)

{ Inferno.}

The view from our back window yesterday{this was taken by geoff vaz}. Saddest part of it all is it's the Ranch burning up  
{We do not live at the ranch  D is the general manager for the LDS Church ranches..}

and D was in the thick of it...

We had all been up there to start with 

after church yesterday we walked in and looked out the window we were having hurricane catergory 1 winds which never happens like that here that bad....

we saw smoke and D said lets go make sure that isn't the ranch burning up.....

so we drove to the ranch and what was happening was beyond anything he probably imagined or hoped ever would happen fire was racing in a serious inferno across the grass! 

I have to admit I loved being involved and I guess in my next  life I'm going to be a storm chaser:) 

I also loved watching D in manager mode,

I tried to keep the kids quiet and under control and 

Despite the destruction, the chaos, the insanity of the force of winds pushing the fires for those three hours flying around the ranch talking with the emergency crews and watching the droves of people showing up to help was pretty incredible D kept saying "I gotta get you guys outta here" 

then another 1/2 hour would go by but after three hours the kids were getting kind of scared and we had run into the previous ranch manager so I took his truck and the kids home. And he jumped in with D.

{Funny part we were so close to the fire at one point just beyond the fence D opened the door to talk to the fire fighters to tell them where to go...anyway the ashes and smoke poured in and the kids ducked to the floor saying

"get as far down as you can and cover your mouth and nose" 

we learned this in school" 

{I was smiling and thinking well I guess if we had a fire at home they might know what to do}

Anyway I got home the phone rang constantly..friends and family wondering what they could do or what was happening..and then

Waited out the night for what news we could and worried about everybody fighting it! D came home just after midnight for a few hours and then went back out before it was light again....

Today they will see the damage done....

WE ARE SO THANKFUL 
 the cattle, the horses, and the houses are all standing and survived.....because they just as easily could have gone up too....So that is a big blessing....

THANKFUL also for the many many people who showed up with equipment, brooms, water trucks, tractors and food and all the fire fighters. D said it was amazing how many people came to help and how freaky it was in the dark working, driving where they've never had vehicles on in some places, walking and brooming it out in some spots.... 

Thankful

On the way home we could see fires burning on the horizon and knew something else was up too....

found out when we got home that the city had fires surrounding its edges and moving fast and whole neighborhoods ready to be evacuated insane! It too was contained late last night.....

Seriously it was all a little eerie

Hurricane strength winds

and fires blazing on two horizons...

#1 I need to get good 72 hour kits ready meaning to do it forever but if you think it can't happen where you are think again

kind of what we all do isn't it....

But this is reality...  

and nobody is completely prepared for disaster.....

Today they will see what path the fire damage

took of the ranch and what was destroyed he has an amazing hard working crew past and present and

many prayers were answered for the safety of all.
Not quite what we thought would be a nice quiet Sunday night.

----------------------------------------------

So Its been quite the week:

Stitches for K2 

Stitches for me, then they got infected so antibiotics for me

the 6 hour flu? nasty think your going to die flu 

for M, K, L and Me

constipation for K2 not fun! tmi i know but it was so sad!

and then the trials, fire & wind

this

Inferno

we call life.

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa

onto another week..hopefully slightly less eventful ....