It's That Time...Christmas Time is HERE!!

I know I say that Fall is my favorite season of the year, and it really is. But my favorite month of the year is most definitely DECEMBER!! Christmas. Ah, I love everything about it. I decided to do what we did last year again this year because I loved it so much. I re-did it to include different activities, different videos and songs, etc., but I kept the scriptures the same. I love soaking up the Christmas season each and every day (Yes, I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet. Calm down, though, December starts on Sunday!).

So here is this year's schedule in case anyone wants to follow along. Hopefully I will post a picture daily of our activity as well. You probably don't care, but I enjoy it! :)

Day One, Sunday 12.1.12

Song: Mary’s Lullaby (Children’s #44)

Scripture: Luke 1:11-17

Reading/Video: Watch “the Coat” http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-videos?lang=eng#the-coat

Activity: Watch “The Forgotten Carols” (lucky us, we have it on DVD)

Day Two, Monday 12.2.12

Song: Christmas Bells (Children’s #54)

Scripture: Malachi 3:1

Reading/Video: Read “Twelve Days of Christmas” http://www.lds.org/friend/1975/12/twelve-days-of-christmas?lang=eng&query=christmas

Activity: Go to library and check out Christmas library books

Day Three, Tuesday 12.3.12

Song: Silent Night (Hymn #204)

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Reading/Video: Watch “Because He Came” http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-videos?lang=eng#because-he-came

Activity: Color Christmas pictures

Day Four, Wednesday 12.4.12

Song:  Oh, Come All Ye Faithful (Hymn #202)

Scripture: Luke 1:26-33

Reading/Video: Watch “Oh come Emmanuel” http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=ugV6QGcafEE

Activity: Provo River Christmas Cruise

Day Five, Thursday 12.5.12

Song: Picture a Christmas (Children’s #50)

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-19

Reading/Video: Watch “The Greatest Gift” http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-videos?lang=eng#the-greatest-gift

Activity: Bake and Decorate Sugar Cookies

Day Six, Friday 12.6.12

Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem (Hymn #208)

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Reading/Video: Coloring page Nativity Scene (on desktop)

Activity: Watch a Christmas Movie

Day Seven, Saturday 12.7.12

Song: The Shepherd’s Carol (Children’s #40)

Scripture: Matthew 1: 20-25

Reading/Video: Watch “Kids and Christmas” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM8XoT7qnxY

Activity: Make and decorate gingerbread houses

Day Eight, Sunday 12.8.12

Song: Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains (Hymn #212)

Scripture: Luke 1:39-56

Reading/Video: Read “Greg’s Christmas” http://www.lds.org/friend/1985/12/gregs-christmas?lang=eng&query=christmas

Activity: Watch LDS Christmas Devotional

Day Nine, Monday 12.9.12

Song: Sleep, Little Jesus (Children’s #47)

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Reading/Video: Watch Motab’s “Carol of the Bells” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUX22dJGG4

Activity: Write letters to Santa

Day Ten, Tuesday 12.10.12

Song: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Hymn #209)

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Reading/Video: Read “Christmas Oranges” (We own it, but I am sure you can find it online if you want to)

Activity: Sing and dance to Christmas songs

 Day Eleven, Wednesday  12.11.12

Song: The Nativity Song (Children’s #52)

Scripture: Luke 2:15-20

Reading/Video: Watch David Archuleta the Motab’s “Silent Night” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNep23JerIk&list=TLVvM6kHi29U2vgP-zLvGcOqviNAB-Pp-q

Activity: Take kids shopping for each other’s gifts

Day Twelve, Thursday 12.12.12

Song: The First Noel (Hymn #213)

Scripture: Exodus 13:2

Reading/Video: Do the Connect the Dots Christmas Activity http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2012/12/fr12dec35-dot-to-dot-2012-11-08.pdf?lang=engActivity: Wagon Ride/See the Lights at Thanksgiving Point

Day Thirteen, Friday 12.13.12

Song: Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby (Children’s # 48)

Scripture: Luke 2:21-24

Reading/Video: Watch “The Wisemen Seek Jesus” http://www.mormonchannel.org/bible-videos?v=1330140164001

Activity: Go see Santa

Day Fourteen, Saturday 12.14.12

Song: With Wondering Awe (Hymn #210)

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-5

Reading/Video: Read “A Temple Square Christmas” http://www.lds.org/friend/2009/12/a-temple-square-christmas?lang=eng&query=christmas

Activity: Attend the MOTAB Christmas Concert

Day Fifteen, Sunday 12.15.12

Song: Once Within a Lowly Stable (Children’s # 41)

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Reading/Video: Watch MOTAB’s “Away In a Manger” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmLsEUWK4u4

Activity: Deliver Neighbor Gifts

Day Sixteen, Monday 12.16.12

Song: Away in a Manger (Children’s #42)

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38

Reading/Video: Read “The Christmas Basket” http://www.lds.org/friend/2009/12/the-christmas-basket?lang=eng&query=christmas

Activity: Do a Christmas craft

Day Seventeen, Tuesday 12.17.12

Song: Joy to the World (Hymn #201)

Scripture: Hosea 11:1

Reading/Video: Watch MOTAB’s “What Child is This?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTyuW1Q2oxU

Activity:Watch a Christmas Movie

Day Eighteen, Wednesday 12.18.12

Song: Who is the Child (Children’s #46)

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15

Reading/Video: Read “The First Christmas Gift” http://www.lds.org/friend/2010/12/for-little-friends/the-first-christmas-gift?lang=eng&query=christmas

Activity: Read Christmas books

Day Nineteen, Thursday 12.19.12

Song: Angels We Have Heard on High (Hymn #203)

Scripture: Matthew 25:40

Reading/Video:  Watch “Mary and Joseph Travel to Bethlehem” http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-videos?lang=eng#mary-and-joseph-travel-to-bethlehem

Activity: BYU Museum of Art Christ Exhibit 

Day Twenty, Friday 12.20.12

Song: Little Jesus (Children’s #39)

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18

Reading/Video: Read “Thoughtful Gifts” http://www.lds.org/liahona/2011/12/thoughtful-gifts?lang=eng

Activity: Build a snowman

Day Twenty One, Saturday 12.21.12

Song: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Hymn #214)

Scripture: Micah 5:2

Reading/Video: Watch Motab’s “Gloria in Exelsis Deo” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ztlrVUMH3A

Activity: Deliver Sub for Santa Gifts

Day Twenty Two, Sunday 12.22.12

Song: Stars Were Gleaming (Children’s #37)

Scripture: Matthew 2:19-23

Reading/Video: Watch the Christmas Story: http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-story?lang=eng (Dec 24)

Activity: Go to Temple Square to see the lights

Day Twenty Three, Monday 12.23.12

Song: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Hymn #207)

Scripture: Luke 2:39-40

Reading/Video: Watch MOTAB’s “O Holy Night” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp9g1-X9gzQ

Activity: Watch Santa’s Reindeer and a video from Santa

Day Twenty Four, Tuesday 12.24.12

Song: When Joseph Went to Bethlehem (Children’s #38)

Reading/Video: Watch the “Hallelujah Chorus” http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-videos?lang=eng#motab-hallelujah-christmas-2010

Scripture/Activity: Act out the Nativity

Once Upon a Time...

...We re-finished our bathroom (FINALLY!)

 I know you thought you were going to get a good story with this post, but instead you get pictures of our toilet. Let me tell you, though, that this is about the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, after my marriage and the birth of my children of course.

We have been wanting to re-finish our bathroom basically since the day we moved in, but doing so costs time and money that we have little of. But, we finally got around to it with the help of our amazing brother-in-law Ren and his brother Skippy (not really his name-- but I totally forgot what his real name is because they just call him Skippy, poor fella). The project took much more time and much more money that we anticipated (of course), but it is SO WORTH IT!

Let me just describe in great detail (and then show you a picture) what we were up against. We used to have blue tile, a lovely blue tub, a see through window in the shower (hello neighbors!), glass shower doors, and a beautiful gold sparkly sink. This bathroom was clearly a gem in the 70s, but well, we are now 40 years past then, so it was time for it to go. We enjoyed all the blue while it lasted. Truly.

And so, after weeks of work where everything was completely ripped out and taken down to the studs, we have a new and very improved bathroom!

Oh, some pictures of the process first of course:

Our house was an absolute disaster for two weeks. Oh boy. You know how I hate disasters. I heaved a huge sigh of relief the day we finally put all that equipment away, dusted, swept, mopped, and scrubbed. Ahhh....

Working on cutting that board...whatever it is called.

Getting rid of the old blue tub. So long, tub! It sat on our front steps for two days first because it was cast iron or something equally heavy and it took all their energy to haul it from the bathroom to the front steps. It was so ugly that I finally insisted that they move it all the way to the dumpster in the driveway. It was quite entertaining to watch. :) 

I know it appears that Devin is doing nothing in all of these pictures. He might have been at that very moment doing nothing, but he actually worked quite hard. They all did. I was the one who really did nothing. I watched, though, and that is important. 

 And some pictures of the final product:

We went with a gray and yellow theme and I quite enjoy it.

Weird quality to this picture, but you get the idea.

Devin is a better photographer than I am, apparently. This is his picture.

Yay for a new bathroom!!!

Hallie's 5th Birthday Interview!

Almost a month late, but better late than never, right!?

Hallie-isms & Jace-isms

It's been a while since I posted some Hallie-isms and Jace-isms, so here are a few from the last month or so. Love these crazy kids.

Hallie:
*"Mom, when I have kids, I am going to name the girls Junior Bow, Junior Heart, and Junior Star. I am going to name the boys Ryder, Taggert, and Asher."

*One day at dinner: "Mom, why don't you want another baby?"
Me: "I do, but not right now."
Hals: "Because it is hard work?"
Me: "Yes, it is hard work."
Hals: "Well why do you do hard work for us?"

A few minutes later:
"Mom, does Heavenly Father make babies?"
Me: "Yes"
Hallie; "Is that ALL he does??"

*Me: "Hallie do you feel sick?" (We were having bouts of sickness at our house)
Hals: "Not necessarily".
Me: "Do you know what that means?"
Hals: "No. What does it mean?"

*After I was singing (quite loudly and off key I might add) while getting the kids ready for bed: "Okay, mom, Okay. That's enough. That's making my head hurt."

Jace:
*Hallie to Jace: "What do you say for giving me a headache?" (after Jace had been screaming)
Jace: "Thank you for giving you a headache."

*"Mom, we get to go trick-or-treating?"
Me: "Yes, but not for a few weeks"
Jace: "And we get candies?!"
Me: "Yep"
Jace: "Ohhhhhh, that's very nice. That's very nice."

Similarly,
* (After I got home from doing a supervision for a family who recently adopted)
Jace: Did you get to see the babies?
Me: Yes, I saw the baby!
Jace: (whispering): "Ohhhhh, that's sooooo nice."

*Jace to a sick Florinda: "Oh you poor sweetie! You little sweetie!" Funny that he chose that word since neither Devin or I really use it. Fantastic that he was being nice to his sister though (he is usually not).

*One night Jace was whining unrelentingly that he wanted medicine (why he thinks having medicine is a privilege, I have no idea), so when he wouldn't quit, I finally went into the kitchen and got him a teaspoon with water in it. I was certain I was quite clever and that would do the trick since he usually gets medicine off the teaspoon. Not two second after he drank it, he said, "that's not medicine! That's water!" Not so tricky.

*Me: "Jace, how do you know that I love you?"
Jace: "I just remember, Mommy!"

I have a few hilarious ones from Jace that are not so appropriate for the interweb, so I won't post them. He will thank me later. :)

Happy 5th Birthday Hallie!!

WARNING: Major picture overload ahead!

We celebrated Hallie's birthday twice this year-- once for her first "friend party" and another time on her actual birthday. She is starting young on the week-long or month-long birthday celebrations like someone else we know (her grandma Lisa, cough cough).

 I decided that my kids can have friend parties when they are 5, 8, and 12 because every year would just be too much, and I am not even one of those moms who goes all out with party favors and cute Pinterest-inspired decorations. Nope, I buy a few balloons and throw up some crepe paper streamers and call it good. Still, a lot of work though! It may have had something to do with the 14 kids we had, 10 neighborhood friends and 4 cousins. Good times, good times. It was a princess theme, in case you couldn't guess. And with that, let's let the pictures tell the story:

My two little princesses and one little prince

The first step was to have everyone decorate their crowns. This was probably their favorite part!

Alisa stayed to help us and I was oh-so-grateful. We also had our teenage neighbor, Ann, help, plus Lola. I needed all the hands I could get! 

Next, we played Pin the Lips on the Frog. Super funny. We had lips all over the place- different walls, the piano, a shelf... only a few actually came close to the frog. 

Before presents, we played a few rounds of Princess Bingo, which also seemed to be a hit. Then of course, presents, which were a big hit for Hals. She got spoiled, even though I specifically said in the invitations no presents. Sheesh you people. :)

Not so good at taking pictures, apparently. Hals big gift (and about only gift, let's be honest) from Devin and I was a new bike! There it is. I should have gotten a better picture of it. She was excited. Now she just needs to learn without training wheels.

All the kids, minus Ryder, who wouldn't get in the picture. Top is Brynlee, and Flor. Next row: Emma, Hannah, Abby, Ashley, Hallie. The next row is Jace, Brooklyn, Ellory, Samara. Bottom is Joseph, Cardston, Wally, and Megan. 

Again all the kids: Brynlee (cousin), Emma (friend), Ellory (friend), Wally (friend), Flor in the back, Megan (cousin), Ashley (friend), Hals, Jace, Hannah (friend), Abby (friend), Cardston (friend), Brooklyn (friend), Samara (cousin), and Joseph (friend). Again, Ryder did not want to have his photo taken. And who can blame him-- it was bright out there! 

After I subjected the kids to thousands of pictures, I finally fed them. Again, I was super glad for the extra help! 

Ashley wanted to sit under the tree all by herself. Whatever floats your boat, girl.

Well there's Ryder smiling and looking happy! I joked with Kirston (his mom) that next time all I need to do is feed him first and then try to take his picture. :)

Finally, we had cake and ice cream. Good thing we love Costco and they make cakes that feed a billion people!

This picture cracks me up. Can you tell it was bright outside? Hallie with her friends Wally and Cardston. Interestingly enough, in her 5 year old birthday interview (to be posted soon), she says that Wally is her best friend. Cardston, on the other hand, is the one she has said is going to marry her (not who she will marry, always who will marry her) since the time she was really young. Can't go wrong there, he is a cutie. 

\

Phew. The party was a lot of fun! I am glad we did it, but also glad for the three year break before we do it again. 

Hallie's actual birthday (Nov 4) was much lower key. She got flowers and balloons from mom and dad as is tradition and had cereal (her request) for breakfast. She then had preschool and played at home. For dinner, we went to Sarah and Danny's house and made sushi because Hallie requested fish for her birthday dinner. Good call girl, good call. I cannot express in human words how much I love sushi, but it can become an expensive habit, so making it on our own was such a fantastic idea. It was just as good, if not better, too. We also had enough leftover that I ate it for lunch two days in a row and dinner for one more night. WIN. Yes. I need some right now. Too bad Devin doesn't like sushi. His loss. At least Hallie is following in my footsteps, though, right? 

We of course had to have another cake. Look how exasperated she looks, like "Another cake?!" haha. 

Well, she's cute.

As is this handsome little man! He loved his ice cream (Josh, my cousin Sarah's little boy)

Oh, and just have to throw these pictures in. Hals got a new dress, sweater, tights, and shoes from my mom and wore them to church on Sunday. She was loving posing for me so that I could take her picture. I mean, just look at this. Haha.

Enough pictures already, I know. I just have a hard time choosing and tend to include them all. Do forgive.

And here is some information for record's sake about our cute five year old:

*Hallie in preschool two days a week with her friends Abby and Brooklyn. We have a carpool going with them and it is fantastic, so we only drive every third week. Hallie loooooves going to preschool and keeps track of the days of the week so she can count down until the next time. She also does a computer program called Upstart (Rusty and Rosy) at home that is wonderful. She has done it through our stake center the last few years and was on a waiting list to get it at home, which is possible for children going into kindergarten the next year. She does it at least 15 minutes per day, 5 days a week and learns things like reading, math, science, etc.

*Speaking of reading, she is on her way. Hallie can sound out simple words and we practice reading each night. She loves it. I haven't taught her anything-- it is all the computer program and her preschool. Fantastic for a parent like me. :)

*Hallie really likes singing and has quite a cute little voice. She remembers a lot of words for songs on the radio and I often catch her (if I am sneaky and she doesn't see me) rocking out and really getting into singing in the backseat of the car. She gets really into the movements and sings quite animatedly. If she sees me looking, though, she stops. Totally wish I could get a video- it is super entertaining.

*At church, Hallie also gets really into singing the songs and knows all the words. I am in primary now with her so I get to watch her and I am always impressed. For one of the songs the kids have learned for their primary program, they are doing sign language as they sing it and she has mastered that as well. I think she really enjoys music and it seems like she might have some musical talent, though I am certain she did NOT get that from me!

*Hallie has a soft heart and likes to remind me to use my "nice voice" (scary that she knows I have a "mean voice"). She also is protective of Flor and Jace (at times). She can be quite the little mother to the other two, often calling them "honey" and such.

*Hallie is VERY attached to stuff. It is a little crazy sometimes. I have no idea where she gets this or what to do about it sometimes. I mean, we had to throw away a pair of socks because they had holes in them and she cried for like a half an hour. I have to really prepare her if we are getting rid of anything and let her be involved as much as possible (like, she threw the socks in the garbage herself- while crying of course). I may have a future hoarder on my hands! Every few days I will find massive amounts of things that she has squirreled away in her bed, too. Anything we try to get rid of is a big ordeal, even empty sticker pages, random jewels that fell off her dress up clothes, etc. Anyone else have a kid like this? I try to give her as much control as possible, but I am such an extreme opposite of a hoarder, it is hard for me to just keep random junk. I like to go through the toys every few months and chuck stuff. This does not sit well with Hals. Poor girl.

*Loves at age 5: princesses, fairies, movies (favorites according to mom: Despicable Me, Madagascar 3, and Wreck it Ralph), puzzles, barbies, riding bikes, drawing and coloring, playing with friends, dressing up, going to church, preschool, food (favorites according to mom: fish, pizza, broccoli and cheese soup, cereal, fruit, yogurt), and going to the park.

Well that's all I can think of. If you are still reading this novel, write me for your prize. :)

We love you Hallie Brynn!! You have brought us such happiness and laughter over the past 5 years and we are so glad that you are ours!