Nerves

So, today was my last day of class, my FINAL! I didn't even have to take my final. My teacher had stressed to us that if you already have 810 points or more in the class you already have an A and you do not need to take the final. Well, I checked my grade on Wednesday and after taking my final quiz and doing one more extra credit assignment I had 850 points in the class. I just couldn't digest the fact that I wasn't going to go to my last class and take an exam. So, I studied and I showed up today with my scantron in hand. My professor looked at me and said, "what are you doing here?" I said, "I don't know! Maybe I like to torture myself!" She said, "no, you just want to completely finish the class, I get it!" and she was exactly right!

After taking the exam I went up to her desk, she said "you are so funny!" :) and I turned my test in and said "Thankyou, I really enjoyed this class!" She said, "Will I ever see you again?" I responded "I hope so!" and I left at that. Bitter, Sweet! I'm excited that I completed a course, I finished the semester. But, I'm sad! I loved the class, the instructor, the material. And now I'm SO nervous! Next month I will register for a new course and I'm nervous what it will bring. It's all new stuff, a new instructor, new 18 yr olds :), new material. My husband was very encouraging tonight though, he said, "you don't have to be nervous, by completing what you just completed you know now that YOU CAN DO THIS!" He's right!

Now for catch up...Last Thursday in Karate Ashton earned his first tip on his white belt...

 Naturally, he was REALLY excited, on his way to yellow belt!

 Monday night for FHE we got our Christmas Tree...we got home late so we decorated it on Tuesday when the kids got home from school.

 Also on Tuesday I had to run to Michael's to get Sierra some paints and paint brushes cause she needed to paint her picture for an art contest she entered. The entry was due today.

 I was so bummed I didn't get a picture of the final product. The theme was "the colors of Friendship" and she painted all different colored hands overlaping each other. A beautiful piece of artwork.

 Tuesday night I went with the youth to Larc Ranch and Jake took the kids to see Santa. They told me when I got home that it wasn't the REAL Santa, he had a fake beard. :)

Wednesday night was the Relief Society Christmas Dinner and it was a yummy dinner with a beautiful program. I really enjoyed and felt the spirit!
After class today I bought one Christmas present, I'm on my way. Now I have one thing for Sierra and one thing for Ashton. Sierra went into my closet tonight to get some ribbon and accidently saw her present, DANG IT! I've got to come up with a better hiding spot. But, now they know that they better not go in my closet or I will take everything back. They are old enough for me to threaten reason with them. :)

Christmas bells ring
I love to hear them DING!
And when I hear this I think of our King.
Our King was born with a cow, sheep, duck, 1 big pig
and 2 nasty rats that love to dig.
But he was born in peace, love and joy.
So, when you get your Christmas toy,
think of that very special little boy.
Which is our Savior and King.
So, when you hear those bells ring...
Think about the birth of our King!
By: Sierra Young

Preparations...

We got our tree today...I was putting on the lights and Sierra says "OHHH, I'm just so excited!!! Oh, how they love to decorate the tree.


Kitty, she just likes to be close to us and sleep...

This is a taste of what it looks like near the end...Ashton has tired and is sitting on the couch admiring the tree...daddy enjoying a slice of pizza and Sierra still decorating! :)


Grannie brought over a Gingerbread kit for Ashton so we decorated that too!

Grannie brought Sierra a sewing machine and she sewed a stocking for her AG dolls.

Sierra and I watched "Evan Almighty", Daddy was watching the big game USC vs. UCLA and USC won and Ashton cuddled in his bed and watched his fav "How to Train Your Dragon."

A GREAT DAY!

Preparations...

Yesterday morning me and my kids went and picked up my mom and Norris and Brenna from the Flyaway. I told my mom..."wouldn't feel like Christmas without making a trip to the airport!" She said, "Grammy's home for Christmas!" My kids loved making the trip, they jumped out of the car to give loves. My mom treated us to IHOP, Ashton got a Funny Face pancake and giggled the whole time he was eating it. Sierra got a Tooty Fruity JR. and loved every bite too. A perfect treat, we never go out to breakfast. Continued on to Walmart to do some last minute shopping and what was hilarious was we were shopping for each other. :) Sierra wanted to get Ashton a present so I pulled her to the side and then Ashton wanted to get Sierra a present so I pulled him to the side. Good thing Grammy was with us and we hid presents under a sweatshirt in the cart! :) On to Sophi's house to see Lincoln's new Air Hockey table from his Grandma and Grandpa. She had all of Rich's family there and they had opened Christmas from each other and I told her "it looks like Christmas exploded in here!"

Today we got rid of and organized toys to make room for NEW! Sierra said "I love this, I'm finding things I didn't even know I had!" SCARY! :)

Grocery shopped for breakfast Christmas morning.

Hot Chocolate.

Wrapped presents.

Fire in the fireplace.

Made cookies for Santa.

A decorated truck full of carolers came up and then back down our street.

I think we are ready!

Gingerbread house!

We got to decorate another Gingerbread House, A real Gingerbread house this time...Thanks Illum Family!

The kit came with cookies to decorate and then hang on the tree! My kids each got to do two snowmen and two christmas trees.

Then came the house...

TA DA! :)

FUN STUFF!

Candy Houses!

On Saturday my mom had all of us over and we made our candy houses that we make every year. A very fun tradition!!!!

Uncle Norris helped Sierra make a village...Thanks Uncle Norris!

Thanks Grammy!