Saturday December 15 (add pictures)

It has been a fun day.....and it is late, so pictures later.

Woke up and cleaned the church.

Dad, and other fire guys, helped St Alphonsus with donating stuff to DI.

Porter had a basketball clinic.

I went and did more last minute shopping.

We all got back home, except Madi.

She worked until 3.

Dad had to go and fix some shingles on the roof.

That windstorm yesterday.....told you it was bad!

Cassi went and hung out with friends.

Porter, Elsie and I went to the Nielsen's house to make gingerbread houses with the neighbors.

That was a fun time.

Elsie stayed there and actually hung out all night with them so Dad and I could go on a date!

Anyway.....I took some pictures of the Edwards with GG.

Cassi babysat the Halls and took Porter with her.

Then Dad and I went out.

We have each other our Christmas gifts tonight too.

His gift to me was the most thoughtful ever, and maybe one of my favorites.

So let me preface, I sleep with like 30 blankets on me at night because I like the weight.

He bought me a weighted blanket!!!!

I think that the best gift ever is something that someone doesn't ask for, but the giver observes and notices and figures out something that the person they are giving to will love.

I never asked for a weighted blanket, never talked about it.

But for him to do that, I just think it is the most thoughtful gift and I LOVE IT!!!!!

I can't wait to go to sleep tonight!!!!!

Friday December 14

Oh man....it has been a blustery cold day today!!!!!

This morning, I woke Elsie up and she said she felt dizzy.

Then she felt nauseous.

We went in the bathroom to see if she would need to throw up.

The we decided to go downstairs so she could sit down but I could still keep an eye on her.

She kept saying she was dizzy and she was pretty pale and green!

I got her a bowl and sat her down and finished getting school lunches ready.

Well, before long, she threw up.

Just stomach bile, but still no fun.

So I kept her home from school.

After that, she felt better.

It was never really her tummy, it was her head and feeling dizzy.

So strange!

She took an hour long bath and spent the rest of the day playing piano or watching TV.

She didn't feel yucky any more.

But I still kept her home.

I felt bad because she really wanted to go to the school dance after school today...….but she was fine with missing it.
There will be others.

I got some wrapping done today as well as laundry and a little run.

After school, Porter and Max wanted to make cookies.

I didn't have any eggs, so we made an alternative kind....egg less chocolate chip :)

They had fun and did a good job.

I just told them what to do and they did it all.

Dad put to work the new Traeger.

He made some burgers and they were yummy!

He sent a picture of the burgers to Bubble and Eldon and they sent back a big smile photo.

They are so great!

Tonight the big girls went to the basketball games.

Port, Elsie, Dad and I watched Small Foot.

It was a sweet movie.

Now we are just hoping that this wind doesn't blow our roof off while we sleep tonight!!!!!

Thursday December 13

We delivered out 12 days of Christmas Nativity this evening.

It is always a fun thing we do every year as a family ❤

The countdown begins!!!!!

I just wish we had more family time together!!!!!!!

Wednesday December 12

I love it that as soon as Elsie gets up in the morning, she goes right to the piano :)

It makes me happy that she is enjoying it!

Today I worked in the office.

Then Dad and I had a day date getting more Christmas stuff done...and out to lunch.

We had a visit from some Santa elves this afternoon.

Bubble and Eldon brought us a gift that is ridiculously TOO MUCH!

She said they are anticipating some much needed man hours once they start re-doing their kitchen.

She wanted to make sure we are well fed.

They are too much!!!!

We are lucky to have them in our lives!

I also worked on getting all the stuff ready for YW this evening.

We had a mug exchange, and played games together.

It was a fun night and I think the girls had fun too.

Tuesday December 11

The kids all had half days today.

I got a run in and then got ready for the day.

Got the Christmas cards all labeled.....need to get them out in the mail now.

Cassi came home around 11, Madi went to lunch with her 'Friend' Jason.

When she came home, she and I went to the Boise Art Museum.

She needed to go for a class and I was happy to join her.

It was a fun time and we should do it more often.

We went to Costco on the way home, I needed to pick up a few things.

While we were gone, Cassi had some friends over.

Poor Dad, he still had sinus problems all day.

I told Cassi she could have friends over when I thought Dad would be at work.

But they were pretty good and kept the noise in her room :)

The little ones had piano.

Elsie is so excited about her new song.

She is gonna start learning hymns and she wants to play in YW :)

That sure would be cool!

Before dinner, while we were waiting for Madi to get home from work, the rest of us played a game called "Happy Salmon".

Bubble gave it to Porter for his birthday.

Anyway, it was a pretty fun game!

Then Madi came home and we had dinner.

Porter went caroling for Scouts.

And then we all went to bed.

Well, except for Madi, who is still doing homework...……

Monday December 10

Got some Christmas stuff done.

I feel a little behind this year...but trying to catch up!

Dad stayed home today....he is feeling a bit of sinus pressure :(

Hopefully it will feel better for him tomorrow.

Elsie has speech and PT today.

She is getting much stronger and working really hard in both speech and PT.

Sweet Katie gave Elsie a gift today.

She gave her the cutest Buffalo socks!

She tells Elsie that she started the trend......Elsie has loved Buffalos forever.

And now you can find buffalo stuff everywhere!

Anyway, that was so sweet of her!

For FHE tonight, we got stuff prepped for our 12 days Nativity thing we do.

We picked a family and got the bags ready.

We need to add some treats, and then we will anonymously deliver it on Wednesday.

It is a fun tradition :)

Sunday December 9

They had a teacher training for the primary teachers today.

Teaching them about the new 'Come Follow Me' program for next year.

I got to go and sit with the Sunbeams while they were in the class.

Oh those sunbeams are just so cute!!!!!!

We helped them make Christmas cards for their primary teachers.

In YW, we talked about spiritual gifts.

We did a fun activity where each girl wrote their name at the top of their sheet of paper.

Then we passed it around and each girl wrote what they thought was a spiritual gift of the girl with the name on top.

I loved the things they wrote about each other!

After church, Dad and I went and visited with our friends the Capalls.

Bonnie hasn't been feeling good, she fell a few months ago and hasn't been the same since.

Brent and Harvey were able to give her a blessing.

It was nice to sit and talk to them....and she said she felt better just getting to talk to someone.

She is very much an extrovert and just has not been able to get out as much as she would like....so a visit was just what she needed :)

Dad made a great stew for dinner.

After that we went back to the church for a great concert.

It was an Interfaith Community Concert.

Many churches coming together to sing Christmas songs.

It was a really cool experience.

The opening prayer was given by a Pastor from the Meridian United Methodist Church.

It is fun to hear different prayers come from the pulpit.

The second half of his prayer, he recited "The Lord's Prayer" in which much of the congregation followed along.

It was very heartwarming and touching to see people from all religions, celebrating our Savior Jesus Christ.

I very mush enjoyed the night.

It was packed full too!!!!

Like way more than Stake conference!

People dressed in all types of clothes.

People from all walks of life.

I am thankful our kids got to experience that tonight.

Saturday December 8 (add pictures)

We woke up and got ready and headed to the ward Christmas party.

Not Dad and Porter......they went to Porter's last basketball game.

Which they won.

An undefeated season!

Dad said he played really well today :)

Then they headed to the church for the rest of the party.

It was fun to mix and mingle together.

Afterwards, we stopped by and helped a new family move into the ward.

They have one daughter and she is gonna be in Beehives with me, so that will be fun.

Back home and we got the house chores and laundry done.

Port hung with the Edwards boys for a bit and then he went and shot hoops with his friend Cody and went and hung out at his house until this evening.

Madi worked and then had a work party and is now on a date.

We hardly ever see that girl!

Cassi hung out with her friend Kendyl and now she is at a birthday party with some other friends.

Elsie just hung out here at home :)

Mom and Dad had a little outing.....to Lowes and Walmart.

Not exactly the best date night, but it was what we could do.

Now the big girls are gone and the little ones are in bed and now Dad and Mom are gonna have a at home movie date night :)

Friday December 7

I got some more Christmas done today.

Also got our Christmas cards picked up......now I just need to address them  :)

I just love Christmas cards!!!!

Also got the pictures picked up to put in the ornament frames and also put new pictures of the kids on the wall.

This evening I took Elsie, Porter, Max and Graham to the live Nativity that they do over at the seminary building.

It was a fun.

Always fun to see Clive the camel :)

Then tonight the little kids and I hung out while Madi and Cassi hung out with friends.

Dad paid back a shift today, so he was gone.

But he will be home tomorrow :)

He is so handsome!

Thursday December 6

Dad got my washer fixed this morning, so I have been getting some laundry done today.

I also had Art Smart for Porter.

Pablo Picasso was the artist.

I think the kids had a good time.

Vern taught the class and it was a fun dice game to pick what the face would look like.

 Dad also fixed the heater in the car....

Have I mentioned how cool I think it is that.

Porter has been talking about a Lego advent calendar, but they are so expensive!!!!!

So we found a nativity Lego knockoff for cheap.....

It came in the mail today.

I have had these little numbered drawers for a long time, that I got from a thrift store.
Now Porter is making his own Lego advent calendar :)

And I love it!!!!!!

I just love how creative he is!

I just wanted to document the hat...…

I don't know how many years in a row this is, but when December rolls around, out comes the Santa hat on his way to and from school :)