oh so cute...enjoy grandma and grandpa

Some cute kids all dressed up nice for church!
A proud mom, with her pretty girl

And some good lookin' boys

making houses

We made gingerbread houses today.

The kids (Ame especially) have been anxious to make them

all week.

Today was finally a day we didn't have a million other things going,

so we could devote our morning to some more holiday fun!

(PLEASE ignore the messy house)

Ame's work in progress
Kaipo in between in candy eating
And the finished products...one will stay and one will go
(for our 12 days of Christmas treat tonight)

Luckily they both didn't cave in!

This mom is definitely NO EXPERT in the

house building area.

The kids don't seem to care.

It just means they can eat away

at the poor little house,

without feeling the least bit guilty!

(as if they would anyway)

It was fun while it lasted!

Isn't it all about the moment anyway?!

decoration favorites

I've been meaning to do this for a while for my mom,

who wanted to see our Christmas Decor.

It is hard to get a look at the whole house, so here is a glimpse mom,

of some of my favorites around our Holiday home.

The wreath (as you know) I made last year, but the little tree is NEW.

It has different settings that allow for various lighting and songs.

It is s fun addition.

I have had this picture

(which has a beautiful thought on the opposite side)

for years, given to us by my always inspiring Mom.
I got this nativity last year, which I LOVE!

Here's is my wanna-be Hawaiian addition
to the tree, made last year as well.
Can never get enough of this reminder!

I didn't make a lot of new additions this year

...just didn't have the motivation.

although I do have some ideas for next year-

which could very well change in a year from now!

But I have TRIED to fill our home with the

Spirit of Christmas,

and hope that my family is enjoying it

...because I surely am!

Cousin exchange...missing a few

We got together last night with my brother Jason's family & my sister Karli's family, for some present exchanges and some good Holiday cheer! My brother Jason and his family are going to Oregon for Christmas so we got to have an early Christmas with everyone (minus my brother, Aaron and his family-who we really missed, AND my parents of course).

Here's all the munchkins doing their VERY best picture posing!

This is what you get with mutliple parents taking pics-feet & other cameras in the way, and no eyes on you while YOU are trying to get a picture. But they were good picture takers, anyway! (LeAnne and Karli must have been the place where the kids focus was)
Each of the kids got their turn on the LITTLE Christmas chair, to open THEIR present.
(youngest to oldest of course)
Ash got a beginners art/doodle set...just right for him

Kaipo got a Batman Chopper

(which as you can tell he LOVED)

And Ame got a design your own flip flops/slippers set and more art supplies

(which SHE can NEVER get enough of)

Thanks to our great friends the Robinson's for their gift in the mail,

which supplied great entertainment.

After presents, we had several roaring game of

DON'T EAT PETE...the kids had a blast with this one!

Thanks to all our family for their love and generosity.

We are overflowing with gratitude!

LeAnne, thanks for the yummy dinner too!
Our Christmas Season just keeps getting more and more Merry & Bright!
**************************

I just had to throw this picture in there.

Have a seen a cuter reindeer than this one???
Our little Ashy boy is growing up WAY TOO FAST.

excitement for the opportunity to give

Our family is SOO excited for what we are starting tonight...

(this is for an inactive family in our ward)

*********************************

Here's the note to begin it all:

We hope your family is having a FUN filled Holiday Season this year
Our wish is that the next 12 days

will bring a little more excitement and meaning to your Christmas.
Listen for the doorbell, or check your doorstep
EVERY night,
because there will be something waiting for you to enjoy!

Have yourselves a Very Merry Christmas!!

(our first gift is a stocking filled with The Polar Express Movie & Popcorn)

The Bells Ring for ALL who truly Believe!

Santa's Helper

We made a visit to the Mall to get a glimpse of Santa

and let him know how the kids have been this year.

It was very funny how serious Ame took this talking to

Santa thing.

At home, B4 we left, she kept asking me "what should I say,

what should I say? I mean, I know I have been naughty, but

I have been good too!" Kaipo didn't have to think too long or hard

about HIS answer :)

Another funny thing-when Ame got on Santa's lap,

it was like Christmas story, she couldn't think of

anything she wanted. He said he would just surprise her,

and she was OK with that. Although, she has been very specific with ME

about what she wants, so that is whats most important, right?!

Typical toddler response to the scary man,

in a Red suit and beard.

Ash obviously loved his visit with Santa.

Santa wasn't too willing to hold him very long either!

This Santa wasn't quite as pleasant as Mrs. Claus from Kaipo's fieldtrip, but I think I was the only one who picked up on that.

Another Great Pre-school Fieldtrip

Today Kaipo's class went to

Christmas Village

in Downtown Ogden. I have seen it b4,

but we haven't actually ever been.

It was such a neat place, full of Christmas Spirit.

I can imagine it is even more

amazing at night, with all the displays all lit up.

The kids got a personal tour from...

Mrs. Claus It was cute to see the amazement in the kids eyes, as she came out.

The village is full of all kinds of different displays,
each inside a little cottage. Luckily they were each locked
because Kaipo sure wanted to see everything up close.
Ash was a good little boy, but only lasted IN the stroller,
for a short time. Then I got to spend the rest of the time
pushing an empty double stroller, while chasing him
AND Kaipo around the village.
HAD to get a picture of this display-
the Elves enjoying a round of golf.
Here's the whole crew in front of
Mrs. Claus' Cottage.
And they each got to go inside and have their picture taken.

Ash wasn't quite sure about sitting on her lap,

UNTIL she gave him a bag a treats!

It was really cold, but we were all bundled up, so it wasn't too bad.

Plus, Ms. Michelle provided Hot Cocoa for the kids,

so that warmed everyone right up!

This was another great way to

enjoy the Holiday Season!

I LOVE the great fieldtrips we have been able to go on with Kaipo and his Preschool.

Holiday Fun...all within 24 hours

Our Good Friends, the Jordyns, called us Thursday and said they were going to

ZooLights

on Friday Night. We decided to join them and it was amazing! Of course we picked THE COLDEST NIGHT so far, only in the 20's I believe, but THAT didn't stop the kids one bit, from having a blast!
It was incredible all the light displays they had set up. Imagine the hours of work to set it up and then the electric bill!!
There weren't many actual animals to see, except those indoors.

Kaipo was fascinated by this Boa.

We had some good times, indoors, while TRYING to get warm!

Ash was MUCH HAPPIER to roam about, not confined in the stroller.

Ame with Donavan (he is our other good friends, the Tongs, son) and Skyler.

Cute Gingerbread house

Even better WITH the WHOLE family!

(nice reflectors QUinn)
*************************

SO after a very late night Friday, we were up bright and early Saturday for our Ward Christmas Breakfast.

The theme was

All Aboard!

The Riverdale 8th Ward Express

(all were encouraged to wear PJ's)

above: one of the Bishopric members read aloud

The Polar Express to the children

SOme of the children did a nativity.

Ame was an angel.

The primary children all sang, and I had to include this picture below.

Although very blurry, you can see the primary president TRYING

to talk Kaipo into...not playing with curtains, not running around and singing with the rest of the children. SHE is very patient, and speaks so kind and softly. Not quite the same tone as what Kaipo is used to hearing!

It was nice to be able to just enjoy the party, rather than stressfully running the show.

Although, Quinn teaches on Sat. mornings & was not with us, so my stress was just channeled in a different direction!

We LOVE the polar express and thought this theme was fun . We came home and hung our BELLS on the tree. We hope you remember...

The Spirit rings true for All who Believe!

*We hope you are enjoying the Holiday Season*

It's so nice!

It is wonderfully nice to FEEL love,

through the good times and the bad!

Another Thankful Day

Our Thanksgiving Day started with Flag Football, for Quinn. He tried to organize a Turkey Bowl. That was such a BIG thing when we lived in Hawaii, but he only got one other ward to get involved, so it was just a fun/competitive game with some friends.

Unfortunately, as he dove to catch a ball, he landed right on his shoulder. It has really been hurting him since then. He even gave up a golf opportunity today, so I KNOW he truly is in A LOT of pain!

The kids enjoyed donuts and hot cocoa at home. It was just too darn cold outside to watch daddy, that early in the morning. Plus no other families were there to support, so we decided to enjoy a relaxing morning at home instead, and leave the BIG boys to their own fun. Ash is trying to copy his SILLY brother and sister, but kind of missed his eye!

After daddy got home & had a soak in the tub (to try and relax his shoulder AND back) we headed to my parents house-wishing they were there-to hang out with my brother Jason and his family. We saw my sister, Karli for a few minutes and she took some family pics for us, but then they were off to feast with the Grover's.

We snacked A LOT before dinner, but managed to save room for the awesome dinner LeAnne made. I should have taken a picture of all the food we had. The nice thing about A LOT of food, is there is a lot of left-overs. She was generous enough to send some home with us, so we could enjoy more yummy food as leftovers!

LeAnne's sister & husband, and her brother all joined us for dinner as well.

In addition to an awesome meal, we had delicious desserts to top it all off. LeAnne made pumpkin squares, pumpkin pie and apple pie. I made a chocolate/mint bundt cake, for those non-pie fans (Quinn).

It was a relaxing day, FULL of Food and great company. The kids played hard and the rest of us talked & talked!

****

I felt tremendously grateful as I contemplated my blessings through this day.

Why am I so lucky to have been given soo much??

I have the greatest family-husband, children, brothers, sister, parents and in-laws-who all love me, despite all my shortcoming!

I have so many more blessings that are near and dear to my heart. I feel so indebted to all those who have blessed my life, through their often tremendous sacrifice.

I hope to remember THESE thoughts more throughout the coming year, especially when I am feeling selfish and NOT SO grateful...

because I am SUCH A LUCKY GIRL!