Gett'n the Craft On

It has been forever since I did a little craft'n. 

I quickly remembered why I love it.

That sense of accomplishment that I made it and it is finished.

There aren't very many things I finish these days but when something gets done it's theraputic.

This is all over pinterest.  I thought it was adorable.

These have turned out to be such a fun thing for our family. 

Little love notes and trinkets are put in one anothers envelopes.

The kids love to check them for surprises.

Logan left Avery a sweet note.

She was still sleeping (5 a.m.) and he was on his way out the door to go hunting, when he ran back in to write her a quick note before he left so that she could see it when she woke up.

That boy has a heart of gold and I know he's only 10 and I'm not marrying him off any time soon but I often think, whoever gets him is going to be one lucky lady.

Kid History and One Liners

We are in love with watching Kid History videos.

Hysterical!

The kids tell the story and the adults act them out.

This is our favorite one.

We say one liners from it all the time that have now turned into inside family jokes.

These are so random that it's hilarious!

Heads are Going to Roll

As I was cleaning up I came across this.

My makeup brush has been used as a duster for the pinewood derby car.
Are you kidding me?!
The pinewood derby car has required mucho parent participation
so I'm not so sure if it was the ten year olds idea and the adult ok'd it or if it was the adults idea.

Either way heads are going to roll and fur is going to fly.

Time to Share

Logan is at a point where he loves piano. 

He plays constantly, learns new songs on his own and memorizes everything.

Trey's new years resolution was to learn the piano.

We had already been talking about starting lessons for him for awhile.

Now they share the piano.

It's ironic that the more soft spoken son plays the piano LOUD and proud.

The son who is louder plays the piano soft and quiet.

Both ways sound beautiful to me.

Family Motto for 2012 and Thoughts

Our family motto for 2012 is....wait for it....wait for it...Chose the Right.  I know totally original.  We toyed with a couple of different ideas but nothing seemed to gel.  I am fully aware that it is the primary theme for 2012.  In fact I might even follow their outline and use their cute printables.  Can we really learn about choosing the right too much?  I don't think so.  We are going to drill it into our cute little heads this year.  When Elder Bednar came to visit our stake he talked about agency.  He taught some principles about agency that I had never thought of before.  He mentioned that it is a commonly misunderstood principle.  It is not always OUR choice.  There are choices and then their are expectations when you have made covenants (which was your choice)  with the Lord, it is now his will not your choice.  Same with at home.  Their are choices in our home and then there are expectations in our home.  Homework....not a choice, but an expectation.  Modest dress....not a choice but an expectation.  Serving a mission etc.

A couple months ago I remodified our scripture study.   We read through the scriptures but sometimes I will just pick one (from the list of 25 scriptures every child should know) to go over.  We dissect it, try to memorize it, apply it to our lives and so forth.  It's amazing how much you can learn from one little scripture and how you can apply it in your life.  This has made the scriptures come alive to the kids.  It melts my heart to hear the kids say in their prayers "help us serve our fellow beings so that we can serve thee." They are learning from the scriptures and they prefer to study scriptures this way.  At stake conference our stake president challenged us all to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year or continue to read it if we already have started.  The book of Alma is seriously going to be the death of me.  It seems like we are never going to make it out of that book. :)

It was nice having Aaron home on a Sunday (Stake Conference).  As I listened to him play leggos with the kids and then go into Avery's room to have a feast with them using her play food....it made me realize how much I miss having him home and having his influence in our home.  Avery said repeatedly it was "the best day ever".  I miss my co captain and so do they.  But I know that he is bringing others to Christ and doing the Lords errand which there is no other place I would rather have him be. Whatever the Lord (prophet, priesthood leaders) ask we will immediately put an exclamation point at the end of it, not a question mark.  Aaron has always been a good example of this to me. 

To the Snow We Go

After Christmas we went up to the cabin to play in the snow.  I was sick over Christmas break so I was not sure whether or not we would go.  Aaron was already their with the priests which meant that I had to load up the kids and make the trip without him.  I told the kids we weren't going and Logan was so sad and disappointed that I finally gave in.  I am glad that I did because we had a great time even though it was brief.

Logan's at that age where he really does not want his picture taken.  I guess there never really is an age where they want their picture taken. 

Trey is such a dare devil.  Act first and then think later.  Aaron made the kids a sled run going down the driveway which is really steep.  As we drove up to the cabin, there was Aaron waving at us at the top of the driveway.  He couldn't wait anymore and slid down his own sled run to show the kids what he had made for them.  He's such a fun dad.  I wish I had a picture of him doing that.

This is really how steep it is.

Trey helped Aaron build a fort so they could have a snowball war.

I love spending time with my family.  No phones, no computers just each other.  It's so nice to go there to regroup and recharge as a family. 

We raced back down the mountain and spent New Years with some friends and their families.  I think every boy comes with a natural pyro gene in them.  Logan and Trey had purchased some fireworks with their own money a couple days before and they were jumping out of their skins to light them off.  We brought some snow back with us for all the kids to play with .  I wish I had a better picture of their snow ball fight.  It was a big wet mess but a fun time.

Christmas Mega Post

We had a great Christmas season.  This Christmas brought us many opportunities to serve others.  We had a couple of things planned and then other opportunities presented themselves as well.  We jumped at every chance we could get.  I want so badly for my kids to remember the real meaning of Christmas and serving others.  I think they got a better taste of that this Christmas.  They were so excited to serve others.

I also had the opportunity to teach Relief Society the Sunday right before Christmas.  I highly recommend that everyone do this.  As I studied and prepared for the lesson it put my mind and heart in such a good place.  It reset my priorities.  I had a pretty laid back attitude compared to Christmas' past.

This was my token craft that I did this Christmas.  I made picture fame silhouette ornaments for the kids.  They turned out pretty cute.  The frames are from the dollar store and were a brassy gold color.  I spray painted them, printed off the kids silhouettes using this tutorial, and attached some ribbon.

My sister brought these Joy blocks back for me from Tai Pan in Utah.  I love them....and her.

We went to my mom and dad's house for Christmas Eve.  Aaron told the boys before hand that if they "fell" in the pool again that he was taking back one present.  LOL  It worked, no one got wet.  The fashionistas showed up.  (My brother Nate and his wife Maressa.)  They often look like they just walked out of a magazine.  They are so adorable together.

My cute sister helping out in the kitchen. 

This year instead of drawing family names the cousins drew names for each other.  It was neat to see what they came up with for each other.  Logan used his own money to purchase Lego's for his cousin Blake.  Trey picked out and made a necklace for Emma.  And we found something Trey would like and got that for Ryan (they both like anything that is an action figure, makes explosions or is a weapon).

Avery was so excited about her kitty cat from Grandma and Grandpa. 

I love that all the kids used their imagination to make things for each other.  Claire made Trey a Pokemon card holding box with some cards.  Emma made Avery a dog house out of shoe box.  Avery puts as many of her little puppies in there as she can.

My Nana was so cute and called up my dad and told him "no one has asked me what I want for Christmas".  My dad said "well then, what would you like for Christmas."  She said she wanted Bill O'Reilly's audio book "Killing Lincoln".  One thing I love about my Nana is that she continues to educate herself and stimulate her mind even though her eye sight has faded she finds ways.

All the grandkids in their Christmas jammies from Grandma and Grandpa.

That night we set out some goodies for Santa and ran off to bed.

I don't think Logan slept at all.  The kids were up at 5:00 am.  Killer!

Our token picture before the chaos.

But this folks is what it's all about. That expression makes it all worth it!

I love watching my kids show each other how grateful they are.  Logan and Avery, my huggers.  Both so into it.

Avery and Trey.  Trey being my non hugger.  Avery is into it, Trey...not so much.  I am a product of learning how to be a hugger and cuddler.  My mom made it her mission.  So I know there is hope for Trey.  He actually has come a long way.

Each of the kids got luggage from Santa.  They have already used it to go to the cabin and boy was it nice to have them be responsible for packing and unpacking their own things.  When it came time for "where is this and where is that" I only had to ask the question...well did you pack it?

Some of their favorite gifts were;

Logan -Bear Grills knife that he wanted. 

 Logan thinks it would be so cool to have Bear Grills as his dad. :) 

It will come in handy on his javelina hunt.  He also loved his air soft guns.

Trey was over the moon about Skylanders and Lego's.

Avery was excited about a jewelry box with her name on it that she has been asking Santa for and a camera for her leapster.

My favorite gift was getting to spend more time with this guy.  Tithing settlement was over and he had a few less meetings.

I absolutely loved having Christmas on Sunday.  This needs to somehow be arranged every year.  The talks were beautiful and Aaron bore a sweet testimony about our Savior.  It only made Christmas that much sweeter.