Babies R Us

I love that we're still playing with baby dolls at our house. 

For Christmas Kami and Kaitlyn both got a new doll.

 Kami got a toddler size doll that she packs around on her hip all day.

Kaitlyn got a newborn that she swaddles and cradles while she plays.

These girls love their babies. Every night they dress them in pajamas and get them ready for bed.

Every morning they get them dressed and comb their hair. 

They take them for walks, and check out books from the library to read to them. Most nights, they even eat dinner with us. 

Each morning they bring their baby down for me to tend while they're away at school.

Even "Aunt" Kelsey is sometimes forced to get in on the action.

I know it's only a matter of time before they no longer want to play with baby dolls so I'm cherishing every moment I can.

Dreams

I've always had a thing for string instruments. Growing up I daydreamed about sitting 'round the fire with all my friends. I'd be strumming Free Fallin' on my guitar while my friends and I all sang along. Having the best time ever, of course!

Grandma and Grandpa's Tree

 Each year, usually the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, my parents (Grandma and Grandpa Luke) invite the grandkids over to decorate their Christmas tree. This is a tradition we look forward to every year.

It begins with dinner, then the grandchildren get busy hanging 100's of ornaments and other various knick-knacks (some new, most old from when I was a kid) onto the tree, ending with dessert and usually an uplifting Christmas message.

This year we watched THIS VIDEO and committed to 

Follow Our Savior Jesus Christ. In 25 Ways. Over 25 Days.

We even came up with our own plan to Light the World, which I'm super excited about.

Christmas Party 2015

The day after Christmas (yes, I'm still posting about Christmas), we had Clint's siblings over for a Christmas party.

FUN FACTS FOR YA:

Clint has 7 siblings, two sister, and five brothers.

Out of the 7, five live close-by (with-in a 45 minute or less drive), only a sister and a brother live out of state.

Two of his siblings were able to make to our little get-together, his sister, Lisa and his brother, Scott.

We had the best time.  We went sledding, and redneck sledding (don't know what that is- look here).  We ate, and visited. The cousins played together, the brothers played together, and the sisters played gabbed together - a whole lot!

We also played the Candy Bar Game.  The kids think it is the most fun game ever!

We play it by placing a ton of candy bars on the table. (I usually do two or so for each person playing.)  Then you get 3 sets of dice, and evenly space them out between the players. (I like to put these on a paper plate or in a pie tin so they are kept kind of contained.) When everyone is ready to play, you set a timer for 7 minutes, then yell GO!  The players who started out with the dice, roll them once.  If they roll doubles (the same number on each dice), they get to pick a candy bar.  They then pass the dice to the person on their left, who does the same thing (rolls, grabs a candy bar or not, and passes the dice). Once all the candy bars are gone from the middle of the table, the fun begins.  If you roll a double, you can take one from anyone on the table.  We've played where you can hide your candy bar, so everyone must remember what you have and ask for it correctly in order to get it, but for this young group, we just had everyone keep them on the table. Once the timer goes off, whatever candy bars you have are yours to keep.  Some players are left with 4 or 5, some are left with none.

This is a super fun, competitive, fast-paced game that seems to always be a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Nativity 2015

HAPPY 2016!

May this be a happy, healthy, and blessed year for you and yours.

We haven't acted out the Nativity for years.

Clint and I decided this is a yearly Christmas tradition we'd like for our family to have.

We feel it is important to center our Christmas on the Savior and His birth. Hopefully this year will be the beginning of many nativity plays to come.

MEET THE CAST:

(Note: each child chose their own part)

Mary- #2

Joseph- #4

Baby Jesus- #6

Angel- #5

Shepherd- #3

Wise Man- #1

Narrator- Clint

Photographer- Rachael

Luke 2

1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should betaxed.

3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and theglory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David aSaviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Matthew 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Secret Santas

A few years ago we started this Secret Santa tradition.  Each of our children draw a name.  Throughout the month, they do secret acts of service for that person.  They also give a small gift to that person. We exchange the Secret Santa gifts during our Christmas Eve festivities.

This year we started with the youngest to oldest giving their Secret Santa gift to the person they drew.

#6 --> #2

#5 --> #1

#4 --> #6

#3 --> #5

#2 --> #4

#1 --> #3

Christmas Day in the Morning

Wordless Wednesday

Gingerbread House Throw-Down 2015

 Last year, we started a new Christmas Eve tradition-

The Gingerbread House Throw-Down
Guys vs Girls

  This year, the guys meticulously planned out their design

 They really thought through how they wanted to decorate their house.
When I say they thought it through, I really mean they THOUGHT it through.

 While Team Girls was halfway through with their house,

 Team Guys was still thinking

 and thinking. . .

 Team Girls is almost finished

 while on the otherside of the table, Team Guys have finally finished all that thinking, and have come up with a plan.

 I've got to give credit to #2 who instead of going for the 'WIN', she went for the 'GIVE', and let her little sisters do most of the piping and decorating.

I love how the kids place boxes up so the other team can't see what they're doing and copy off them.

 Finally each team was finished, and it was time for the reveal. . . . .
Which team would you choose as the Champions?

Here we have TEAM GIRLS

front 

and side

 And TEAM GUYS
front

and side.

The judges (Dad and Grandma & Grandpa) chose TEAM GUYS as the winner!

Holiday Peak

Last week was rough on my nerves, and I can honestly say that I'm glad to be done with it.

The kids were out of school the entire week, which was great and awesome except for the fact that they were ALL "jacked up on Holiday Dew".  They were bouncing off the walls with Christmas excitement - even my teens.  Combine that with a husband who was very busy working super long hours being Santa's helper at work all week- Saturdays and Christmas Eve included.

It's a wonder I made it.

All week long I was like the 4th Destiny's Child chanting:

I'm a survivor

I'm gonna make it

I will survive

Keep on survivin'

Last week we had a jolly-holly good time at our local water-park turned North Pole.

Here we are riding along on the lazy river.  We went sledding down a waterslide and saw Santa.

It was really weird being at the water-park at night in the middle of winter wearing our snow gear instead of our swim suits.

We also went to Temple Square with my parents, Gram, and my sister and her boys.

I love Christmas at Temple Square. It's beautiful and the Christmas Spirit can be felt everywhere.

"The spirit of Christmas is something I hope all of us would have in our hearts and lives—not only at this particular season but also throughout the year."

-President Thomas S. Monson