The Nativity

These are most of my beehives! Oh, how I love and adore them! They are such good girls, who strive everyday to be like Jesus and have such a sweet spirit about them.

I had received an email and a flyer from Cheralyn G. to visit her parents home during their open house times in December and view her 425 nativities that she has throughout her home. She has 600+ but only put out 425. ;) So, for our mutual night I took my girls to the open house. Sister King's home is so beautiful and seeing all her different nativities, especially the one's from other country's which depicted how those people view the Savior! Precious! I was thrilled also to have my 2 loves with me, they both wanted to come too! Couldn't miss it! :)

FHE in December

Today was our first day of Winter Break! I LOVE having my kids home! This morning my brother came over and babysat my kids so Brenna, mom and I could go do kickboxing, so fun!!! Sophi brought her kids over too cause she had to go work in Lincoln's classroom. Sierra got to babysit Lucy while Uncle Norris played Super Mario Bros with Ashton and Rocky. :) Then, we I cleaned bathrooms, SO necessary! A clean house=happy mommy! This evening we took Ashton to Karate and then home for a quick dinner, called leftovers. Then off to basketball practice. In the car we had FHE. Sierra wanted everyone to talk about Christmas for 2 minutes. We all shared great thoughts on Jesus! When we got home we all had hot cocoa with marshmellows, whipped cream and a candy cane, YUM!

While we enjoyed our hot cocoa I read a story from our notebook of daily Christmas stories. Afterwards we did our Jesus picture. Then off to bed! A great first day!

Busy Busy

I'm done with school for the semester and there is still no time...

Monday...exercise, Christmas shopping, work, Ashton karate, a quick dinner and then off to his first basketball practice

Tuesday...help in Ashton's class, work, shopping with Janelle to find Sierra a Christmas present, quick dinner, caroling with the youth

Wednesday...running, Christmas shopping, Ashton's karate, dinner, babysit Melanie-took Sierra with me and we cuddled on their couch and watched tv together while Melanie just slept

Thursday...Presidency meeting, Christmas shopping, work, Sierra to Activity Days-they went caroling to the assisted care retirement center-she was having a bad day and didn't want to go but I told her she needed to, that it would make her feel better to serve. When I picked her up she was SO happy, told me that she got to sing Silent Night in German by herself. :) Then we ran home and quickly got supplies needed for Sierra's presentation of learning. Off we went, back to school.

 Her presentation was on the sun. When I first got into the MPR she pulled me outside and needed to talk to me, she was in tears and totally stressed out. She said her group wasn't doing anything, they hadn't from the beginning, she made the model of the sun out of clay...she made the brochure, brought the heater, the lemonade and cups, she even brought the sunglasses for the boy in her group. I told her teacher that Sierra needed help. Her teacher then ended up talking to Sierra and then to her group and they stepped up and helped Sierra present the information, so she wasn't doing everything by herself. Her teacher is amazing, Sierra completely turned around and was herself again. She was happy and did such a great job presenting the information she learned about the sun.

 Jake left early with Ashton and got us dinner so when Si and I got home dinner was waiting for us. YAY, cause we were famished! Made lots and lots of chocolate chip cookies for Ashton's holiday party.
Friday...Holiday Party's! Sierra wore her adorable snowman shirt, Ashton got to wear his jammies,

 I wore my jammies too!

Took kids to school and then went to Megan W's house to help wrap gifts for the YW, their Christmas gifts. Back to school, helped with Ashton's party and ate yummy food! After school we were home for about an hour, listened to a message on the answering machine-Sierra entered an Art contest for the city-she was placed in the top 20 in her age catagory out of 800 entries!! and then off to take Ashton to Ramsey's birthday party. While at the party me and Sierra went shopping.

Tonight we had dinner with my dad and Tori, Sophi, Rich and family at PC's. Yum!

Life is busy!



happenings

Ward Christmas Party Friday night

 Janelle kept the kids for us and Jake and I went off to his work Christmas Party.

 Saturday morning Piano Recital, What a beautiful pianist we have here!

 I got to love on this sweet baby, Xander D., OH, how I LOVED snuggling him!

This picture of Xander talking to me and the picture of Sierra playing are from Heather D. Thankyou! :)
 Grammy came back from Orange County to be here! :)

 After the recital we went to Janelle and Terry's to help them put up and decorate their tree. They treated us to In 'N Out for lunch. Then, we went home and put together our advent calendars. The kids glued all the people together and they turned out SO cute! Now they are catching up cause there are only 15 more days! :0

Tonight we watched Mr. Popper's Penguins with the kids! A great day!

Final Grade

K, I know you think I'm crazy but on this last exam I got 78 out of 80 pts! Totally worth taking it, that was my best exam grade yet!
Final Grade in the class...931.5 pts out of 900.17 pts possible! An A! But I say it's an A++ :)

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. :)

Date Night

My mom has been staying at our house since Thursday and will be with us until Wednesday. We have loved having her! Tonight she was making dinner and we wanted to head over to the Stevenson's to say goodbye to Danny (leaving on his mission to Mexico). My mom said "you guys go, I will finish dinner and be with the kids." Great to have a live in babysitter!!! :) So off we went and had a great time visiting and munching on snacks. When we got home the lights were out, table was set and candles were lit. We got to have a date night. We had a chef in the kitchen preparing our plates and our children were our waiters. It was SO wonderful just to sit there and be waited on in our own home. When my glass was empty the children fought over who was going to refill it. Ashton even wore his sports coat and a bow tie. What a nice dinner, a nice treat! My mom said it was all the kids idea! :)

 Sierra was putting the fudge we got from the Elm's on the table for our dessert! (Trying to be sugar-free till Christmas) Sorry Brenna, I did eat it! I couldn't resist FUDGE!

Thanks kiddos (and mom :))! LOVE YOU!