Gingerbread houses

We had our friends the Tippetts up the other night to put together and decorate graham crackers houses.If your thinking Noahs cheeks look kinda chubby its becuase their full of candy. He had so much fun with his buddy Isaac they were wild boys!
Theres big Sydney and little Sydney. Little Sydney got really into it into this year . She was the last one left at the table decorating. We orginally didn't make her a house to decorate so we made a little one. The rest of the night she kept asking for a big house.

Here is Sydney's house. We tried to add onto it to keep her happy but it still wasn't big enough for her. I though she'd given up on it and we cleaned everything up only to have her come back begging for a BIGGER house.

Kelsey with her house, she had a lot of fun as did everybody the kids always love getting to eat a lots of candy

This is just one of the many Christmas traditions that we do, just another reason I love Christmas.

Tree Decorating

This last weekend we got our Christmas Tree. We were all set to decorate Sunday night when the power went out. So it stayed half decorated until Family Home Evening the next night.Kelsey and Noah didn't fight near as much as they did last year about who was putting up what ornament and in my book thats progress!
The girls were really into this year and would of gladly put on all the ornaments if we let them. Of course they would of all been put on in the same spot.

For some reason we can't get Sydney to smile with teeth? Oh Well. The girls have only broken 3 ornaments so far... hopefully thats it!

Noah's been doing this same picture every year since he was really little and it never get old!

If your wondering why Noah's shirt is off and its in the teens outside its because Nate does these huge fires in the fireplace and gets the house super hot. Of course Noah also chases the twins around the house.

My Little Picaso's

A few weeks ago I was feeling brave and got paint out for the twins. They spent hours painting picture after picture. Now they want to do it all the time which is fine but kinda a pain because I have to get out the paints and the tablecloth and when their done wash out the brushes....I continue to be awed by the differences in my girls. Of course I know their two different people but just how different is fascinating.

Aubrey wanted to try out ever color and cover as much of the page as possible with seemingly random messy brush strokes.
While Sydney stuck with one or two colors and took her time meticulously painting the pictures on the page. In case your wondering this theme carryings over into their coloring as well.

So they had a great time...didn't make too much of a mess. Sydney did get some in her hair and Aubrey had some on her face but thats what soap and water are for, right?!

Noah Turns Eight

Last Friday after school Noah had his 8th Birthday Party. He invited almost all the boys in his class. Luckily only 7 of them came, plus a couple cousins. Here there playing Hullabaloo which was a big hit and a lot of fun!Noah just wanted a regular cake but I talked him into this soccer cake I think he liked how it turned out but I guess he just doesn't get excited about stuff like that. He got a lot of fun toys. Legos, games and cars. Nate and I had gotten him a pokeman DS game, unfortunately it was the wrong one so after the party was over I took him to exchange it for the right one.

When the boys first got there they made their own pizzas which they loved and we played alot of games including bingo, musical chairs, and pop the balloon. I was sure wiped out but they all had a good time.

When it was time for the boys to leave they all gave Noah hugs good bye I thought it was really sweet. I can't believe my little guy is 8 years old it makes me feel kinda old too!

Applepalooza

A couple weeks ago my step sister and I along with the help of my Dad and stepmom canned applesauce and pie filling. We worked at it off and on for a good 8 hours but we got ALOT done.My step sister is really great, she's my age and she's married to my sister-in-laws ex-boyfriend who Nate and I double dated with when we were 16. What are the chances? Here's happy Aubrey and a couple of her cousins despite the cold they played outside for hours.
Kelsey was a pretty good little helper and the applesauce turned out so yummy. My kids can't stop eating it, which is good but I'm hoping it lasts a long time.
My Sweet little Sydney was attached to me the WHOLE day which made it challenging to do very much. She was actually pretty sick with a fever and runny nose which explains the clingyness. At one point she actually fell asleep on my lap which was pretty cute.

All in all it was a pretty fruitful day! (get it)?

Halloween Hijinx

Here's my sweet little care bears at the ward Harvest Party. Kelsey and Noah wore these 5 years ago. It was easy to decide who wore which one because when I was getting them dressed Sydney was crying so she was Gryumpy Bear and Aubrey, Funshine.One of my Beehives moms made Bee costumes for me and the rest of my beehive class. (One of the girls isn't in the picture). I look strangley excited to be wearing a big bee costume? The Young Women were in charge of the Party and it was a busy but fun night!

Kelsey thought the bee idea was a winner and decided to be a bumble bee as well. It took ALOT of shopping to find those black and yellow leg warmers. The shoes and the skirt is also new. The antennas we painted and put glitter on and I taped the stripes on her shirt. The moral of the story making your own costume is more expensive, time consuming, and overall pain the rear. But Kelsey was happy, thats the important thing right?

Oh yeah, it was Nates birthday too! His parents and my mom came up for pizza, cake and trick or treating. Unfortuntely Nate's been super sick and missed almost a week of work. I cant' believe I still ate that cake after he blew on it? But look at it...yum!

BabyMoon 2009

A couple weeks ago my bookclub went to the beach for the weekend, unfortunately my preggers friend Selena couldn't go...so in an attempt to rectify her pregnant pain we had a little slumber party at my in-laws cabin this last weekend.We made a friend favorite barbeque chicken pizza for dinner it was sooo yummy! The pic of me huggin the bear in my PJ's was taken in the wee hours of the morning after a lot of sugar, a lot of giggling and NOT a lot of sleep.
We all brought goodies and it was a tasty spread, we thought it was cool how Carrie's head looked like it was coming out of the counter.

So Selena's only got a couple weeks before her baby boy joins us and while her tummy is big and very cute she really doesn't look big enough to be 9 months pregnant! We think she looks great! And I don't mind admiting that I was more than realieved her water didn't break while I was sleeping next to her that night!

Carrie's showing off her way cool snuggie I got her for birthday. She takes it with her everywhere and we can't get her to take it off. It's a great idea for a Christmas gift for family and friends also available is zebra print and assorted colors.

It was a really fun night, I guess someone else will have to get pregnant so we can do it again but I don't think that will happen anytime soon!