Sunday December 10

It was a very nice day today at church.

We did miss having Dad here.......but it will be nice to have him home tomorrow!!!!!

During 2nd hour, I got to sit with the Sunbeams and help them write Christmas cards to their teachers :)

They were so sweet.

I was wearing one of my lockets.

One little girl said 'It's okay if teachers let the little kids wear their necklaces' :)

So I let her wear my locket during the time I was there.

Such sweet little ones!!!!!!

After church we think we spotted Scooby!

He's the black cat we had several years ago, that went missing when Madi got her own kitten.

Well, he was on our front steps when Cassi noticed him.

We tried to sneak up, but she started running away, but when we called him name, he stopped and turned around!

He still ran off, but he stopped and slowed down!

We are pretty sure it is him.

Which is so awesome!

Hopefully we can keep seeing him around!

Later on, Cassi and I went to the Family History thing for the youth.

I learned more, finally connected Brent's line to mine and even found a couple new names.

They were boy names......but still cool to find them!

One was a baby that died at birth that wasn't connected to his family.

It really is so neat to be a part of family history!

And it is SO EASY now!

My Grandma Beardall was very into family history.

I think she is up there thinking 'Come on guys!!!!!  Get the work done!  It is so easy!!!!!'

I don't wanna let her down!!!!!!

Saturday December 9

It has been quite a busy day here!!!!

We started the morning with me cooking the egg/sausage breakfast to take to the ward party.

I also made three gallons of hot cocoa to take also.

But before that stuff, I got up and worked out, made sure Madi was up, and fed Madi a good breakfast before she left to take her ACT.

We sent her of, and the rest of us got ready and went to the ward Christmas breakfast.

It was decorated very cute as the Polar Express.

It turned out so nice and it was a really fun time with a cute program.

After that, the Hall kids came over so Sherrie and Justin could work out a couch problem they had with RC Willy.

After they left, we did Saturday chores.

Madi came back from the ACT, then went on a lunch date with Tripp, then left shortly after that to do on a Sadie Hawkins dance that she asked John Milner to.

There is not an actual dance to go to.

The girls asked these boys to the dance a LONG time ago......

Then they heard there would be a Harvest dance a few weeks after Sadies, so opted to do that one instead.

Well, come to find out, there was no Harvest Dance.

So it really turned into a giant group date where they had matching shirts :)

They planned to make gingerbread houses and go roller skating.

She should be getting home soon......

This evening, the Hall kids came over again.

I took them over the Nielsen's house for their annual Gingerbread making party.

We all had a fun time and they made some really fun gingerbread houses!

We came home and got the little ones showered.

Cassi was babysitting for the Reid's all night, so she just got home.

It is a late night again.

Hopefully everyone sleeps good and we are all in good moods tomorrow!!!!!!

Everly is my little buddy....cuddling me during the prayer :)

Billy was really struggling to get Sierra's house put together......and Sierra couldn't stop laughing at him!!!!!!!

Elsie's house

Porter's house

(He was awarded with 'Best backyard')

Friday December 8

Dad left around 10 for an overtime shift today.

I went and taught Art Smart for Elsie's class.

That went well.

I really like her class and teacher.

I came home and tried to start thinking about ordering my Christmas cards....but I am having a hard time downloading the program onto my new computer.

I will give it another go tomorrow.

But I think this years card is pretty cute :)

Madi hung out with friends after school....they went to a soup place for diner then to the basketball game.

She came home early because she has to take the ACT tomorrow.

Cassi went babysitting and when she got home, she went to a friends house for a little bit.

The little ones and I went with the Halls to the Live Nativity that is over by the seminary building.

It is always a fun time with Clyde the camel.

We got to feed him his favorite treats, peppermints.

Elsie didn't want to do it, so I did it for her :)

The boys thought it was pretty fun.

We came home and watched a Christmas movie on Netflix while I got a egg/sausage/potato casserole ready to take for our ward breakfast tomorrow.

Thursday December 7

It was quite icy out this morning.
Elsie was worried about slipping and falling.
On the way to school, I asked the boys to watch Elsie so she didn't slip.
When they all got out of the car, Porter and Max each grabbed on e of Elsie's arms and helped her to class.
It was the sweetest thing!!!!!!!
I wish I would have gotten a picture of it!
It was the best!!!!!
Dad and I had another gym date this morning :)

When we got home and ready, we had another date to Target....

I needed to buy a winter coat, and he was good enough to take me.

Not much else happened today.

Kids had a good day.

After school I took the little ones to the library while the big girls went and did a little clothes shopping.

This evening I went with Sherrie to the RS Christmas dinner.

It was a nice evening.

Not too crazy of a day.......but it was a good one :)

Wednesday December 6

I helped in the office today.

There were so many kids that came in sad today :(

Breaks my heart.

There was one kid who was having major anxiety attacks!

His mom was dropping him off and things were not going good.

I had a flood of emotions of when we went through this with Cassi.

The mom and boy went and waited in the principals office so the school officer could come talk to him.

The school counselor wasn't there today and the school  officer is REALLY good with the kids.

So when he went in there, Mom came out.

I don't know her, but I hugged her.

I told her that I went through the same thing.

And that it gets better.

I don't know if I helped her feel better at all, but I think it would have made me feel better....back when we were going through it with Cassi..... if I had a mom hug me and say it would be okay.

I came home and then Dad and I went grocery shopping and also some Christmas stuff.

When the kids got home, Elsie went to activity days and Porter went to scouts.

I got to watch Everly during scouts.

She's so gosh darn cute.....

I had to leave and go for a Beehive presidency meeting.

Then we had our YW activity.

We made stuff for our combined activity in a couple weeks.

Then after YW, I had another presidency meeting, with our YW presidency.

So I am very ready to go to bed!!!!!!!!

Tuesday December 5

Dad and I went to the gym together this morning and then almost finished up Christmas shopping stuff.

I can't believe it is coming so quick!

But I am very excited :)

Poor Madi has been having a boat load of homework the last couple of days!!!!

But she just keeps plugging along!

This evening Elsie had speech.

We had dinner together as a family.

Then Dad and Porter had basketball practice.

And Cassi and Avery hung out.

Monday December 4

I got to hang out with Everly today :)

Today is Justin's birthday and Sherrie took him out to a movie.

We had lots of fun laying with dolls, the balls on the pool table, coloring, playing songs on the piano, and watching some mickey mouse.

She was so good and didn't want to leave when her mom and dad came to get her :)

When the kids got home, I made some banana bread.

We had enough to take to the Leavitt's and the Edwards.

Also, Cassi, Avery and I went and visited Sister Reid and her new little baby girl, Hattie.

She is just so tiny and so sweet!!!!!!

It was when we got home from visiting her that we went and visited the neighbors.

We hung out and talked with them longer than expected.....so it turned into a late night.

But it sure was nice.

We are so blessed to have such great neighbors!!!!!!

Sunday December 3

Cassi woke up with a headache....so that was no fun.

She stayed home from church.

Elsie was a rock star.

She went to class and was happy and no problems.

Church was great.

I really enjoyed our YW lesson about spiritual gifts.

And how sometimes looking at our weaknesses will help us see our strengths.

For instance....I have a ridiculously bad memory.

Like really bad.

That was the main reason I started journaling/blogging.

And now look.....I have this awesome record of the life of my little family.

I am so grateful for that!

So try that out....look for something that you feel like is a weakness and see how it has become a strength for you.

This evening we watched the First Presidency Christmas devotional.

Beautiful music and beautiful messages shared!

Saturday December 2

Today was quite a busy day.

The big girls got up early and went with the Young girls to go to the Meridian temple to do baptisms.

What a great morning!

I let Dad sleep in....he has been lacking in sleep the last few days.

I got going on some laundry.

I heard the little ones upstairs, and Porter was reading Elsie a story in front of the fireplace/heater.

It was so sweet.

It didn't last long........the started fighting not too long after that :(

The girls came home and we got laundry put away and chores done.

The kids also got the tree all decorated upstairs :)

After lunch we all headed to Porter's basketball game.

It was a good game.....playing kids who were on the same level.

Port did get a whack to the face.

Someones head hit his cheek.

He will have quite a bruise tomorrow!

The game ended in a tie.

Came home and I left to go to a baby shower.

Dad and the kiddos sot some pumpkins up.

When I came back home, Dad, the big girls and Porter were getting ready to go to the BSU game.

They had such a fun time!

They also went with Justin and the boys.

Elsie and I got to have a girls night with Sherrie and Everly.

We went to Red Robin and then got ice cream from Chik-fil-a.

It was a fun night.

The others came home close to 10:00.....and Elsie wanted to stay up until they got home.
So we all are getting to bed late!!!!!!

It was a fun day for everyone though.

Hopefully no one is grumpy tomorrow for being too tired :)

Friday December 1 (add pictures)

I got the rest of the Christmas out and boxes packed up.

I actually wanted to take a nap after the kids left this morning......

But then I remembered that I needed to run and get some cardboard from Lowes.

Also, I had a couple UPS returns and I needed to hear them come.

So I never laid down.

That's okay.

I was more productive.

I just went to bed with a lot of pressure in my head last night and it was still lingering this morning......hoping it goes away fast.

Dad worked another shift today.

Pretty soon they will have new guys on the line and he won't have the over-time opportunity anymore, so he is taking advantage when he can.

But he is on his way home right now, so that is good :)

Madi had a date tonight and Cassi went babysitting.

The little ones and I went to Walmart to get items for a Christmas giving tree for our ward.

That is what we did for our #lighttheworld today.

Today is day 1.

I am excited about doing this with my family.

I loved it last year and I think this year will be even better.

They each gave money from their own banks the help purchase the items.

Big girls did too.

And Porter and Elsie wore some fun Santa hats while we went out and they got lots of smiles and comments on them :)

Our service elves came today too!

Elvis just watches from the mantle.....but Elvira, she goes around doing secret service around our house.

Today we had Cassi's bed made, we had dishes done for Madi before she had a chance to get to it, and a really nice note for Porter left on his bed.

I am sure she will start with doing something for Elsie tomorrow :)

My kids get so excited when it is their turn to do the service.

It makes me happy.

Maybe one of my favorite Christmas tradition :)