Teddy Bear parade

This morning I packed up the little ones and heading to the school to watch Cassi's 1st grade teddy bear parade.
A pretty cute idea, that the kids really had fun with.

Cassi was excited to see us there.

All the kids had such big smiles on their faces.

They walked up and down the halls, and all the other classes came out to watch too.

So Madi got to see Cassi too.

I have to say, it was much more exciting then the way real parades are going now a days!

In fact, Elsie had the time of her life....waving and pointing and saying HI...

She was loving it!

Porter, as you can kinda see in the stroller...was bored.

The meaning of Christmas

I was lucky enough to go to my Relief Society dinner tonight.

I have an amazing ward with amazing ladies.

I love to be around each of them.

Tonight was a Christmas dinner with beautiful musical numbers and wonderful words of Christmas.

Again, just what I needed to hear.

We talked about receiving Christ for Christmas.

God gave us the gift of his SON.

But a gift is not a gift unless we receive it.....like a present left unopened under the tree.

We talked about simplifying our lives so we can let him in.

The best memories of Christmas aren't about what we got...but about what we felt.

And the spirit that we feel when we remember the greatest gift of all, the Atonement.

I have had my mind on Simplifying this year, so I can actually enjoy this time of year.

And I have been doing a pretty good job.
But what I was missing, is the very core of Christmas.

We haven't even talked about the birth of Christ yet.

Of course I would have gotten to it before Christmas, but why not start now?

I don't even have a Nativity!!!!!

Can you believe that?

Every year for the last 10 years I have been looking for the perfect Nativity...so I have gone 10 years without a Nativity.

Actually, we have a little people nativity set, but that isn't quite the same.

Anyway, so I need to find myself a decent, non expensive nativity so my family can have that daily CHRISTmas reminder.

It was a beautiful night, and just what I needed.

Staying warm...

Thanks to a great suggestion given by one of our friends (thanks Jessica) we went and got Elsie an electric blanket.

It is a good way to keep Elsie's body and muscles good and warm all night long!

And she sure does love it.

I put it under her, on her mattress.

I could have gotten a mattress cover, but I thought this would work well, being so versatile.

She can use it under or on top of her.

I am excited to see how it will work for her!

Well, I learned something today.

Something that I should already know.

My boys HATE shopping.

Brent, Porter and I left for shopping as soon as the kids were off to school.

I had a lot of things on my list to get done.

And a lot got done.

But I did have two unhappy boys.
Oh well, we are almost all done...they can deal with it, right!

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I think that laundry should be on hold through the Holiday Season.

I started laundry today and I could not believe that there was so much!

AHHHH!

That is getting done too, and I am still having fun with the season, even though there are a lot of things I need to get done that ARE NOT related to the season...

But I am not stressing out!

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At least we have pretty good helpers around here.

Most of the time.

Madi shoveled all the snow from the Trampoline today...ya, it should have been done last week, but it is done now, so that is good.

Christmas Countdown!!!

We had a fun family home evening tonight.

Well, we got some things done that needed to get done.

That is always good.

And in the end, the girls wanted to make a paper chain Christmas countdown for their bedrooms.

They turned out cute...but makes me a little nervous!

My goal for having everything ready by the first week of Christmas....HA!!!

Not gonna happen!

Oh well, I am still not too stressed....

Rough Day.

We all have our bad days.

But I always feel so bad when Elsie has a bad day.

The way she feels seems to be very weather related.

When it is cold her muscles seem to get really tight and stiff and makes it hard for her to walk.

So she falls a lot but she is a good sport, and just gets up and keeps on going.

So today was one of those days.

She seemed to sleep really well last night, and slept in till a good time this morning.

She was pretty stiff this morning, and she fell down a lot, but she was still happy.

We got all ready and went to church (minus Dad, he is working).

She fell a few times and even scratched her arm bad enough that I had to take her out of sacrament...with Porter following behind me, with his way-too-short pants that I was hoping no one would notice..ha!

Everyone was looking.

Anyway, she calmed down and was really excited about going to primary.

She loves Sister Roll!

But we noticed a rip in her dress.

I tried to fix it with paper clips.

Took her to class, and it didn't hold, and she got upset so I had to go get her.

Then I thought about using the stapler!

We went to the library, borrowed the stapler, and ran to the bathroom to fix her dress.

It worked great...(until it comes time for me to try and take out all those staples!!!)

She went back to class and all was going good and a little while later someone came to get me cause she was having a melt down.

Poor girl.

She was just so exhausted!

It takes so much of her energy to get herself around with she is so stiff!

I took her and rocked her and she fell asleep.

So I got to enjoy Relief Society, and that was great!

Like always, it was just what I needed to hear.

I really enjoyed the lesson, even with my arms and butt falling asleep!

We got home and things were good.

She still fell a lot...but she recovers from that okay.

Then she smashed her fingers trying to move a stool/potty closer to the sink so she could wash her hands.

I heard this blood curdling scream from the bathroom and I couldn't think what in the world it could be!

I ran in there and Elsie had her fingers stuck in the hinge part of the stool/potty.

She was so sad.

We got her calmed down and all ready for bed.

She was VERY ready to go to bed.

Poor girl.

I wish I could make things easier for her!

And look at her...happy as can be.

She is the light of our life.

She has such a pure little heart and she makes us a better family, just by being the sweet spirit that she is!

I hope that she sleeps good tonight and I can give her legs a good massage in the morning and give her a good start to the day.

Santa Clause is HERE!!!

Today has been a fun packed FULL day!!!

My sister was coming to visit from Idaho Falls.

They are heading to Nampa for her husbands side of the family, a baby blessing.

Well, I am happy that she stopped by on her way through!

It was so great to see her and her family.

The kids all played really well.

(Until Porter got tired and started pinching and biting!)

We made pizzas for lunch...each kid got to make their own.

It was really fun, and surprisingly not as chaotic as one might think...I am taking 8 kids here...(9 if you count Sean Sr...ha ha ha...just teasing!)

Thanks Sara for stopping by we really enjoyed your visit!

Cute cousins:

Madi, Russell, SJ, Brad, Samantha, Elsie and Cassi (Porter was taking a much needed nap!)

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Then we got to go to the ward party tonight...and guess who showed up???

SANTA!!!

Before the party Elsie was so excited about Santa...then he came, she was not so excited anymore.

After ALL the kids in the ward went through...which was a VERY long time...

I convinced the little ones to go near Santa if they were clinging to me...

So we did it, and got a picture.

Oh the memories.

(Brent was working tonight...so he didn't get to see Santa)

Can you see the concern on Elsie's face???

She actually had a blast tonight cause she spent most of the night with Sister Roll, her primary teacher...who she just LOVES!!!!!

I am so Thankful for Sister Roll and the love that she has for Elsie.

And actually, Santa is Sister Roll's hubby. 

He made a great Santa!
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On a Santa note....we lost a believer this year.
Madi has been suspicious for the last couple years, but finally asked.
She is excited to be on the other side of it now...but it is still sad to see them loose that magic.

Christmas Program

Today was the 1st and 2nd grade music performance.

Cassi loves to sing and was very excited about this concert.

I went and left Brent home with the two little ones...cause last time, when we went to Madi's concert...things didn't turn out so good with them.

Cassi looked beautiful and sang her heart out.

I just love her little voice.

And I promise I did her hair cute today.

All curly and pretty.

I am not sure why I take the time...she comes home like a little rag-a-muffin!

Oh well, she is still cute.

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I started on my big project that I am doing for the kids for Christmas...it isn't gonna be hard, but just a little time consuming...especially doing 4 of them.

I can't say anymore, cause the kids like to look at the blog...

So you'll have to wait until Christmas!

 I also found a great deal.

I had already gotten something for all the kids, but found it today for half the price....

So I bought them, and will take the others back next week sometime!

Isn't that great!

Again, I can't say what it is...but I am super happy about it!

Just hangin' out.

 Isn't this so sweet?

The little ones wanted to go up stairs and watch Toy Story 3 together.

I wasn't sure if leaving them alone upstairs would be a good idea...Porter can make some pretty big messes, and Elsie can talk him into doing stuff he shouldn't be doing.

But n I went up they were just sitting here all cute watching the show.

This must have been at an intense part of the movie...they look so serious and focused!!!

Oh they are just so cute!

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So I am becoming less and less stressed...

Christmas stuff is ALMOST done!

I am going to be able to enjoy the season...YAY!

I am trying to hurry up with all my editing too...so people can have their pictures in time to do Christmas cards!

Which, by the way, I ordered mine today...another check mark on the list!

Oh and, today the tree fell on Elsie!

Porter and her were playing and he kinda pushed her into it and she grabbed it for balance, well, I saw it tipping and tried to make it to her...

It didn't fully fall on her, but it sure scared those two little ones to death!

One of the legs broke, so Brent had to fix that back up, but we think that we will be shopping for a after Christmas sale Tree this year.

Ours has seen better days!

What do you do on a snow day?

The morning started with a 5 a.m. call from the school district.

But I was confused...the recording was in Spanish.

I had no idea what was going on...(you know how it feels to be woken up by a ringing phone that early, right?)

After I hung up, Brent asked who that was, and I said the school district, cause that is what the caller ID said...but then I told him it was in Spanish...weird.

So as I was telling him about it, my brain started to kick in and I assumed it was for the school being closed due to the snow.

But crazy....and everyone I have talked to got that Spanish phone call...

So first things first...

The drive-way needs to be cleared.

Brent has always taken the kids out to help with that, and they are great little helpers.

Then they had some friends over and spent a good couple hours playing in the snow building forts and making a crazy mess of the beautiful snow in our front yard!

Then they came in and played more...it was nice for them to be busy with friends, cause if it was just the two of them, meaning Madi and Cassi, there would have been trouble!

Then after LOTS of laundry and chores, we were able to get the Christmas stuff down and put up our Christmas tree.

It isn't finished...I will take a picture when it is done...

We put it up, put on lights and I let the kids hang up all those home-made kid ornaments that they make at school and such and we love, and just can't be thrown away....

Then we got them into bed and now I will go put on the finishing touches...

Cassi got to put the Star on top this year....always a great honor.

So it was a crazy day...I got NOTHING on my list done...but I did get some stuff done that needed to be done, so that is good.

I wonder if they will have school tomorrow???