I got a nut!

This dessert is SO yummy, but it is even better when you make $10 while eating it. Yes, at our Christmas Eve party tonight, I found an almond in my pudding dessert. It is quite the feat when our family is growing so big, and there are only 5 almonds hidden. It was a fabulous Christmas Eve. We spent the day with Clarks family beginning with breakfast at Stewarts. Holidays in our family are always planned around lots of yummy food. It is just how we are!


In between activites we just sat around watching TV and relaxing. We did take a break from TV long enough to go to lunch. We went to In n Out burger. I actually wasn't so impressed. Definitely not for the crowd that was there. It was funny though, we were in Centerville and I saw 2 families from home that I know. One was the boys principal, and they were horrified. After all it is Christmas vacation, and they don't want any reminders of school! Our last stop was Grandma and Grandpa Jones for our annual party. This year we did something different, instead of a gift exchange we did a service project. I think it was a great idea, and my kids enjoyed helping also. I saw pictures of kids receiving these hygiene kits we were putting together and they were so excited to get them. And all that was in them was a toothbrush & paste, a comb, soap and a hand towel. We are very blessed, that is what kept going through my mind. We had a great time today, thanks to everyone for all your hard work to make it a great day for my family. We love you all, Merry Christmas!!

This week

We did some fun things this week. Eden will celebrate her 6th birthday tomorrow (I guess actually today...I should go to bed, not stay up updating my blog). Krissy had a little party for her. Ally insisted on wearing her princess dress to the party. I guess when it is a nail painting party, you have to dress up as a princess also. She thought she was at a spa or something, just kicking back letting Lu do all the work while she sipped her nice cold beverage. Even Davis joined the fun of having his nails painted. His toes is as brave as he would get, but hey better than Owen he let them do a little sliver of one of his toe nails, and he got it wiped off as fast as the girls put it on.




Happy Birthday Eden, I hope it is a great one!
And my dad came up for a visit yesterday and today. By the time he rolled into town it was pretty late, so we just visited at Josh & Rachelles while we all fought over holding the baby. Poor little girl, just so many people who want to love on her. But today we spent the day in Salt Lake. It was crazy since the kids outnumber the adults by quite a bit, but we still had a good time. And besides wet gloves, a tumble on wet cement, and lots of sibling spats (namely Owen & Davis) we all made it through the day. I feel sorry for the passengers on the train with us on the way home though. We were all pretty tired and slap happy, Davis got my phone out and started reading jokes, and that was just the end of the evening. Krissy and I were in tears we were laughing so hard, we must've been really tired cause they were stupid jokes! Dad I hope the good 'ol Blazer is good to you on the way home and gets you there safely. Thanks for the fun visit, and Dianne we missed you!

One of our drives

The kids and I took another drive tonight to look at "Christmas Houses". We took along a treat (muddy buddies YUM) and stopped at Maverick for hot chocolate, and had a fun evening together. We ended up in Willard. We had to go see our favorites. It was raining so hard, where is the snow? We want snow for Christmas!

Simple neighbor/teacher gifts

I did this cute reindeer for scouts this week. The boys had a good time making them, and they were super easy. We also made some "muddy buddies" to put inside and then the boys took one to the bishop and one to our Cub Master. I will probably make some more for neighbor gifts.

I LOVE my boys teachers. They are fantastic, and I like to give them a little gift at Christmas too. Just something to know we appreciate them and the wonderful job they do. These were also easy (I am not a talented crafter and I need easy!) Just a glass jar with a vinyl sticker of the first letter of their last name. I just bundled some pencils with a ribbon and bell and there you have it.

Lifelong membership

We went to the dentist this week, and again the kids had no cavities. I really hope this is a habit they continue especially now that permanent teeth are coming in. They have always been fabulous patients!

Walmart Dresscode

I had a few errands to run today and Ally dressed for the occasion. I just wore jeans and a tshirt and my skecher slides, but man she wore fancy shoes and look at her jewlery. The girl knows how to dress to impress!

Traditions

One of the places we visit every holiday season, is the Christmas Village in Ogden. We all have our favorites that we love to go see year after year, and we also enjoy all the new displays as well. And what is better than an evening spent with cousins, and dinner at McDonalds!?!

Doesn't do mornings

Davis is my one kid who took after his dad. He does not like mornings one bit. The kid could stay up all night long and sleep all day if I let him. Owen and Ally are more like me. They like to stay up late, but have no problem getting up in the morning for the day. After 30 minutes of me nicely trying to get him to wake up, I spend about 5 minutes of not so nicely trying. Then he has about 10 minutes to get dressed and eat and brush and get out the door for the bus. This is how he eats breakfast. In the dark, under a blanket. And the thing is he is usually eating top ramen (I won't even go into his strange eating habits) under there. He says it helps warm him up with all that steam from the soup and the blanket over his head. Hey whatever works I guess.

Smells good!

Last night we got out tree. I could just stay at the tree lot all night long, smelling the pine. My kids just laugh at me, and roll their eyes. They know their mom is crazy. But now my house smells so good, and it looks like Christmas. We will see if it stays decorated all season. Ally has already done a number on it.

Night out with my kids

Tonight I needed some fun family time. So the kids and I went to get some dinner and than we went ice skating. My boys love to ice skate, Ally does great on the skates until her feet hit the ice, than her butt quickly follows! But we had a very fun evening together.





After ice skating, we went for a drive. I LOVE christmas lights, and all my kids share this with me. We all like to go for drives, and see the houses all lit up. We got out at a park in Roy, and walked around for a bit. What a beautiful time of year. I had a great night out with my kids!!

The countdown is on

I needed an activity for scouts this week and I had found this Christmas countdown that I thought was cute. It was fun and easy for the scouts. Ally loved being my model, she insisted on me taking this picture of her showing off our work. And anything that holds her attention for more than 5 minutes is considered a success. My boys thought it was great because they get to keep my "example".

Well...they are getting nothin'

I went to the store yesterday, and they had a very nice looking santa sitting there with NO line. Poor santa. When is there never a line for santa, especailly when the pictures are free!! Well, not one of my kids would even go anywhere near him. None of my kids have a picture with santa, so I thought hey maybe I will do it this year, but NO. All three just turned the other way and said no. Ally gave him a little wave. So I told them on Christmas Eve, santa will just pass right over our house. Might as well just get our little Charlie Brown tree now.



PS I HATE the flu! My poor kids!

Welcome Amelia Rose

Congratulations to Josh, Rachelle, Collin, Ty & Blake. Amelia was born this morning. She was 7lb. 15 oz. What a cutie!! We love you all.

Snow Day!

We were warned that we were getting a big storm. Schools & stores were closing and activities got cancelled. My kids and I were home waiting for the storm to blow in, and for about an hour it did, but then it was gone and it didn't leave much snow. We were pretty bummed, but took advantage of what snow there was. Only problem was that along with the storm came super cold temperatures. It has only been 15 degrees today, but we had a fun time sledding with everyone.

Concentration the Stewart Way!

I am always making fun of Clark and the kids. They all have the habit of sticking out their tongue when they are focusing on something. Friday we were invited to Boondocks to celebrate Jake's 6th birthday. (Thankyou Ryan & Christine, and I hope you had a great day Jake.) The boys take their bowling very seriously!

We're back!

I think this is our best year yet, what talent!!