Inspiration

I have pictures from the last two weeks I haven't blogged, but I wanted to start the new year off with a little inspiration. I love this song and each time I hear it on the Disney Channel, I love it more. Yes, I know it is somewhat tween style lol, but you can't beat the message. Disney has launched a green project and this is the song they used for campaign advertisement. Aside from the "green" message, it has some other amazing messages. I hope you all are inspired to get what you want out of this New Year!

Pictionary

After dinner one evening, we were all bored so Kevin came up with the great idea to play pictionary. It was a lot of fun. Laycee and Logan's pictures were just scribbles, but it was fun to watch them "color" while we tried to guess. I think we might try this another time when we are bored again!

Temple Lights

The Christmas season is never complete without a trip to the temple to see the lights. The temple grounds are beautifully decorated with Nativity Scenes and Lights.

The Temple
We went on this particular night becuase our niece Alisha was singing in the choir. They are an acapella choir. The of course did an amazing job.

The Three Kings

The best picture I could get of the lights as a whole.

Afterwards, someone across the street was selling hot chocolate and doughnuts, so we went over there to finish the evening with some yummy treats. I love Christmas treats!

Comforts and fashion

Haylee got a new outfit, so she posed down the "runway" for us. Isnt she a natural? lol

When I was a little girl, I remember mom making two things during winter time. Carmel toast with hot chocolate and carmel popcorn. We had all the stuff we needed for the carmel popcorn, so we popped some up.
Baked it and got to eat a yummy treat after our fashion show!

There are just some comforts from childhood you never want to give up.

Christmas Photos

Its that time of year... Photo Time. I think each year gets more challenging. But I did get one picture where they are all looking. I have to thank mom for the beautiful dresses as well. Not what I would typically pick for the girls, but they are amazing and Haylee LOVES it.

Ok, I know they aren't smiling, but it is super cute!
This was the best picture I got and what do you know? It turned out too dark to see anything!

Our first attempt

Prescott

Dec 5th, Prescott held their annual tree lighting ceremony. They have day long festivities with a parade. So, Mom, Kevin, Joe's family and us treked our way up there. We watched a movie on the way there.

We were lucky to see something more than cacti as well.
We got there and all have to pee, since they couldn't wait, we decided to share.

The hotel just outside of Prescott has the largest gingerbread display in (I donno, the world maybe they said?). This is a scene from Up!

The kids got to make their own gingerbread men.

Here they all are TL to BR: Haylee, Emma, Tyler, Trent, Laycee, Reagan, Logan

After looking at gingerbread and trains, we went to save a spot for the parade.

My sweet Haylee girl!

The fam!

The kids plus Emma

The girls minus Reagan

Marching Band... This was the longest parade I have even been to. It took nearly 90 minutes to get through!

It was colder than we anticipated, so Logan snuggled into what blankets he could find.

Haylee and Trent decided to try body heat.

Reagan, Joe and Tyler tried body heat as well.

Me and Haylee- Do we look alike? lol

Laycee cuddled with Nana who sat next to Lynnae and Kevin

Girl Scouts as reindeer

And Finally Santa!
It was a fun day and if we are every here during Christmas time again, I think I might head up there becuase the kids really enjoyed it.

Trees, Elves, and Dogs

Well these pictures are backwards. But... one night for Family Home Evening, we decorated the tree, dressed up the dogs and took some pictures. Here is Haylee, Kevin, Nana, Trent, Momo and Yuki.

Laycee and Logan with the clan.
This is their christmas card picture, or similar to it.

Fredy Rat Elf

So Kevin heard about this book, The Elf on the Shelf. It is about an elf with magical dust who watches over you each day and reports back to Santa each evening. When he comes back while they are sleeping, he finds a new place to watch. It has been very fun for the kids to find his new watch spot each day. I didn't know how I was gonna like the idea at first, but I love it! I am glad Kevin heard about it becuase the kids like it and it gives them a physical item to "watch" them. We have talked about spiritual parallels, so hopefully this fun idea will also double as a teaching moment.

And here are some pictures of the kids decorating the tree.

This as the kick off of our christmas season, and even though I posted these late, this took place nearly 2 weeks ago... so expect the next posts to be about our Christmas fun... or most of them anyway.

advent calendar

This yes instead of buying a calendar that has one piece of candy that my children have to share, or making one for each filled with candy, I saw this idea online. Ok, it didn't turn out exactly as I intended it to from the start and had I known we were doing a tree in the end, I would have chose different paper, but this is my creativty at its best lol. So, instead I cut 3x3 squares. Haylee and Trent helped me fold them in half and I finished the folding and glueing. It was a great project for us to do together. And instead of candy that I would be tempted with, nor do I think children need candy every day, we put for gummy vitamins in each day so they each get a vitamin instead! I love it and I think next year I will make one out of wood and fabric so we can use it from year to year now.

Photo Time

So when I was taking pictures of Laycee and then Logan for my blog sidebar, mom and I decided to get a couple of them together. It has been a long time since we have done that, so we took advantage of the nice weather. Here is pose one...

They were afraid of this plant, so this one never turned out good.
I love these ones.

This is my favorite!

And who doesn't love the Laycee love... except maybe Logan!

After Thanksgiving Trip

Ok since this was our first Thanksgiving in the states in some time, it was also our first Black Friday. So of course, I had to enjoy some of the shopping fun. Loni and I headed over to ToyRus to wait in a very long line for some great buys. I wasn't overly impressed with any of the adds, but as I looked at what else I needed to buy, I got everything I needed except 3 items! I was so excited! We got there about 1045 pm, finally entered the store about 1 am, and left about 230 am. I knew I had to drive the 10 hrs to Amy's the next morning. So I traded my spot with mom. Finally about 330 am I rolled in bed and at 630, Haylee woke me up to get going lol. So we got in the car and were on the rode. They watched 5 movies during the trip.

Some states have trees, and AZ has Cacti. They like to think they grow like trees though.
And Nevada has beautiful sunsets.

Thankfully, they are an hour behind us right now. Haylee was worried we wouldn't make it for dinner but we did. The kids were great. The drive was good. The visit was amazing! And the drive home went well. All in all, I was so glad to be getting away for a bit.

Thanksgiving

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

This was our first thanksgiving back in the states in several years. How lucky we were to be near family. So we spent it with both of our families. In the morning, I got the ham cooked and desserts made and we all got to talk to Dave on the computer, then we headed off to Dave's family lunch. We ate about 11 there. Then when Laycee and Logan were beyond tired and getting grumpy, we headed home. Mom almost had dinner ready, Joe and Lynnae were over, so the kids got more time to play. Laycee and Logan however, went to bed. We ate, took the kids to the park and just enjoyed this great opportunity to be greatful, full of food, and full of love from our families!

Boredom

The day before Thanksgiving was a half day for the kids. Kevin decided we wanted to drive into town to go to lunch at Papa Kelsey's. I haven't been there in years, so we went. And as we were waiting on the food, he kids got bored.

Logan has the most attractive smile!
Kevin and Logan playing

I rarely get such a great smile from Trent. I love it!

So these two were just hungry, not bored.

I couldn't help but post cute pictures of the kids.

Trent's Thanksgiving Play

Trent had a thanksgiving show. I was so proud of him becuase he can be so shy! It may be hard to hear, sorry, but I hope you enjoy getting to see him. If you can't recognize him, he is in group two with the blue and yellow shirt.

Photo of the Day

As I was looking through my pictures for Christmas card ideas, I ran accross this one. I think I posted it as part of a slideshow, but I just love it! The kids are all looking and they are all smiling and there is not a tear or pouty face in the crowd. What a rarity! This was a great night with all of them. So pictured L-R Bottom: Brielle, Logan, Laycee Top: Brookyln, Haylee, Bryce, Trent

Days like these make me LOVE being near family!