Letters to Santa

Today during Mommy School we wrote our letters to Santa!

Apparently Tessa was confused about her behavior this year.

Tessa asked Santa for a pillow pet, a Cinderella doll, Dora, and Wonder Pets

Adam asked Santa for a fire truck, a game, a book, and a pillow pet

Ready for Santa!

Christmas Cheer

We have been having a lot of fun getting ready for Christmas! The kids are counting down the days with our Christmas chain and everyday Adam reminds Tessa that Santa is watching them!

The kids loved decorating the house for Christmas!

We always have cinnamon rolls and eggnog (I have hot chocolate) after we decorate

Adam found this Santa hat in our decorations last Monday, and he hasn't taken it off! He takes it off for baths and reluctantly took it off for church. He sleeps in it every night.

My family celebrates Father Christmas (it's a Germany thing...going back to our roots) on December 5th. Father Christmas leaves treats in your shoes on the night of the 5th. We take it a step further and that is when Christopher Pop-in-kins "pops in" and stays until Christmas Eve. He watches the kids for Santa. It's a great reminder for them to be good!

Last night for family home evening we went to see the Spanish Fork Lights. The kids loved it!

Merry Christmas!!!

Snowman Fun

This month for "Mommy School" we are having some holiday fun. This week we have been doing fun things with snowmen and today we made a fun snowman treat.

Snowman Ice Cream Treats

Tessa didn't feel the need to use a spoon

Charlotte's Web

We finally finished it this week! Several weeks ago I started reading Charlotte's Web to Adam and because of the move it took us longer than planned. Adam loved listening to the story and I loved reading it to him! It took me back to my childhood when my mom would read to us every morning before school. We have to decide what to read next!

Christmas Time Is Here!

Decorating for Christmas has always been a big deal for my family. We always decorated together when we were kids and now that most of us are grown and gone, we still come home to decorate for Christmas.

Adam and Tessa loved helping Pa decorate the tree. We always love seeing the tree after the kids have decorated it. The bottom is FULL of ornaments and the top is bare. Mom and Dad have to redecorate the tree after we leave.

Tessa said, "I did it!" after putting an ornament on the tree

Uncle Danny helped Adam put the star on top

Soon to be Aunt Amy was sweet enough to read Adam a Christmas book

Our favorite family tradition when decorating for Christmas has to do with our stockings. We all still hang our childhood stockings up at Mom and Dad's house. Years ago we started the tradition that when we pack our stockings away, we write down our favorite memories from the past year and goals for the upcoming year. We stick that paper in our stockings to read the next Christmas when we decorate. We are always excited to see what we wrote. That is something that we still do in our little family. It is always fun to remember things we have forgotten and see how well we did on our goals. Our tradition of doughnuts and hot chocolate is also a favorite!

'Tis The Season....

The kids and I headed up to the mall this morning to see this.....Santa arrive on the chopper 5 helicopter. We didn't get to see him this year.

This is what we saw instead....very unhappy children!

It was only about 15 degrees this morning and I was doing my best to keep the kids warm. Santa was about 45 minutes late, and after waiting for about 20 minutes, poor Adam couldn't take any more cold. His toes were frozen and he was miserable. So we left. Adam kept asking if we could try again next year.

They were happy for about 10 minutes and I got some cute pictures before the ice started forming on their poor noses.

Thankful....

I have been thinking a lot this week about how blessed I am and all the things I am thankful for. I could spend all day doing this...so I will narrow it down to a few things.

I am thankful for this wonderful man! Thankful that he took a chance on me and that we have a wonderful marriage! I can't imagine life without him!

I am thankful for these monkeys! They keep me on my toes and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so thankful to be a mother.

I am thankful for wonderful families. I am SO grateful to have awesome in-laws!

I am thankful for my family...as strange as we may be:) I am thankful for my wonderful parents who taught me to value the things that bring me true happiness.

I am thankful for food:) It makes me happy!

I am thankful for talents and hobbies...and thankful that I am actually good at a few of them.

I am thankful for music. I am thankful that I can play it, sing it, and listen to it. It calms me down and picks me up. I love my music!

I am thankful for the gospel! I am thankful for the knowledge that families are forever and that we have a loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers! I am thankful for living prophets and scriptures to guide me. I am thankful for the temple and the truths that are taught there. I am so thankful that our family has been sealed for eternity!

I am thankful for my phone and computer. I'm thankful that I can communicate and keep in touch with people so easily. I am thankful for texting...it allows me to talk to Jodi like 100 times a day:) I'm thankful for you Jodi.....don't know what I would do without you!

So thankful for our home! It is such a blessing to be in a house! We love living here!!!

I am thankful for books and that I am able to read to my kids. There is nothing quite like those quiet moments when we read together.

My list could go on and on. I am thankful that we are so blessed and that we have learned to look for the blessings in our trials. The Lord has been so mindful of us and while not everything is perfect all of the time, we know that He is aware of us and wants us to be happy. I am thankful for this time of year and the opportunity it give me to reflect on all of my blessings.