Christmas Fun!

The girls were invited to their friend, Taylor's, birthday party last Saturday. So that left me and DJ home alone. He was so bored! We had cleaned and got things tidied up in the morning before the girls had left. So I told DJ that he could make a Christmas craft if he wanted too. He thought that was a great idea. So I set things up for him at the table. He sat down and was making a Santa face out of a paper plate. He took it very seriously and worked very hard at it. So cute to watch.

While he was doing that I quickly made a double batch of short bread cookies with nuts in them. Then I did a double batch of plain short bread cookies. Once they had all cooled, DJ helped me melt some chocolates and we dipped the cookies. He was a great helper!! He loves helping me when his sisters aren't here to over take him! Ha ha! Then he just loses interest. We got a lot done in that afternoon.

Getting ready to dip the cookies!

The delicious, half chocolate dipped cookies!

DJ took a little break and was watching some TV. Silly boy, sat like that the whole time!! No sisters around to get mad at him to move!

Oh, I should mention that the Friday before I was super tired. Like so tired that I fell asleep around 3:00pm, telling the kids I just needed to rest. They were totally fine with that I let me be. But I guess Richard came home and they checked on me and I was sawing logs. So he got the kids ready and they took off for Lethbridge. I woke up around 5:30pm just as they were leaving. I was a little bummed that they left me at first, but then quickly realized that I had no energy, so I was glad to be home by myself. I tidied up and then got a movie going and watched while I ate some supper. It was a relaxing evening. They came home all happy and excited. They had gotten some Rudolph antlers and nose for our Durango! They were excited to show me.

On Sunday, DJ was excited to wear his suspenders with his suit jacket and bow tie. It was so cute. So I had to take some pictures of him by the tree and upstairs. He cracks me up. He went to church fine this Sunday and the Bishop announced that DJ got baptized and is the newest member of the church. I told DJ to look up and the Bishop smiled at him and that made DJ smile. Then all was well. Sheesh, all that craziness the week before cause DJ didn't want to be called up to the stand. What a boy!

His crazy smile! I love it!

So so handsome!

Love him!! He looks so big and old in his suit! So handsome!

For FHE we had a little lesson about Christmas and then watched Mr. Kruger's Christmas. The kids loved it and we talked about it for a bit. Then they got to sit down and each decorate a Ginger bread man. They all had so much fun and I loved that they each got to do their own. They loved that too! It made for a fun night!

Abbi and Brianna busy working on their gingerbread men!

This crazy guy had just gotten home from working late! Ha Ha!! We were all laughing at his crazy hair!

DJ and Cadence working hard on their master pieces!

Big smiles for Brianna!

They all worked so hard and did such a good job on their Gingerbread men!!!

I ended up getting sick by Tuesday night. I had the chills and was just feeling awful. I slept on Wednesday but still felt horrible. I could hardly swallow. So I ended up going to the Doctors on Thursday morning. Sure enough I had strep. I asked if I could get some blood work done to make sure things are all still ok. He looked at me and said he wanted to check my Liver cause I'm looking a little yellow. I laughed a bit and said, No it's just cause I'm eating too many carrots. He looked at me and asked how much. I told him around 1-2 lbs a day. It was really funny. So I'm cutting down with the carrots, cause I am looking a little sickly with my skin color. But man, I miss my yummy, crunchy carrots! ha ha!

Richard's parents watched our kids Friday night so we could go on a date. The kids stayed over night. On Saturday we woke up and decided to paint the upstairs. So I called to make sure that the kids were ok staying for the day. We are such last minute people! Ha ha! So we painted all day long. It is looking so good! I'm loving it!

Then last night we had another FHE on the Nativity, a lesson that Cadence gave us. So cute. Then DJ did a short little activity and then they sat down and started icing cookies. We had super tired and some sick kids. Abbi went straight to be. Her and Brianna have strep throat too. Not fun.

Cadence, Brianna and DJ working hard on icing their cookies!

DJ was taking this icing business very seriously!!

And there's my sick Abbi tucked into bed!

She really wanted me to take a picture of her Lego creations!

Two sick girls home from school.

Making Chocolates and Ward Christmas Party!

It's that time of year again. We all got together this year at mom's church in Raymond. She booked the kitchen. It worked out perfect. We did 6 batches of fondant. Usually that takes all day. But we started at 12:30 and I had to leave at 3pm and we were just about done. Having our Kitchen Aids and Boschs makes it so much faster!

We did that on a Thursday and then the next Tuesday we were planning on getting together with those that could make it at mom's house. I let my kids skip school so they could help with the little kids. They also enjoy helping with the dipping part too. Glad I let them come. It made it fun!

Rolling caramels!

Brianna taking a little break!

Watching a movie with Uncle David!!

He was trying to hide from me!!

We dipped our little hearts out! Ha ha!! We made a lot of chocolates. It's always fun to see them all come together. It's fun to laugh and visit together too as we are working. It's always a fun time! We got so much done so quickly. We got there at 9:30 and left at 1:45. We had to get Abbi to an appointment. We were basically all done except for the clean up and the peanut clusters! It was a big huge success!!

All us chocolate ladies with out awesome aprons on!!

Brianna loved helping!

Crushing the peanuts so we could roll the peanut chocolates in them!

Look at all those chocolates!

Yummy!!

On Wednesday I went to drive bus in the morning and told Cadence to get ready and then stay at home. I was taking her in to the Health Center to get her shots. She doesn't do well at all with shots. So I decided for her not to get them done at the school......I take her in. Good thing. The poor girl gets so worked up. So I got home and came in and DJ was there too. He was refusing to go to school (again.....it happens quite often). I told Richard he'd have to deal with it, cause I had to take Cadence right then. So we left with DJ screaming, cause he wanted me. We got to the Health Unit and went in to get her shots. She did so good. She was kind of freaking, but the lady talked her down and told her she'd do it fast. And she did. She didn't scream and bring the roof down like she did her first time. I was so proud of her. I had to hold her, but that's fine. She was so happy to have it done with. Yay! To make it even better, the kids at the school got their shots that afternoon. So all my girls got their shots that day. Cadence was super happy cause she didn't have to worry about it at the school!

That night we were going into the church for our Ward Christmas Party. It was freezing cold outside, so we got all bundled up and away we went. We got there and found a table. It was a delicious dinner. As we were eating Bro. Sabey was telling some jokes. He then said if anyone had a Christmas or north pole joke to come up and share it with everyone. Well our DJ loves to tell jokes, all the time. So he said he wanted to tell everyone a joke. I told him to tell it to us first. It was, "What's a dentist favorite animal? A molar bear!" Ha ha!! I told him to go ahead if he wanted. Thinking to myself, yeah right that's never going to happen. Well he talked Brianna into coming up with him. He walked right up onto that stage right up to the microphone. Richard and I were so shocked. This is the boy that refused to go to church the week after his baptism because he didn't want to be called up onto the stand. Yup, he walked right up there. He had Brianna ask the question and he said the answer. So cute. I was so proud of him. Way to go DJ!!!!

After we had our dessert the kids went to the Primary room to get dressed up for the nativity and their songs. Again, DJ went right out and got ready. I went and helped them. He was excited to walk out with his cane. I got a picture of all my kids dressed as sheppards! So cute!!

Look at all those cute Shepards!!

They went up there and sang a few songs. It was so cute. I was so proud of all of my kids. DJ refused to get up for the Primary presentation but I guess it's not as scary in the gym. Not sure. But he sang his little heart out. I loved watching.

Up on the stage singing away!

Then it was time to go home. It made for a late night but that's OK!!!

Magrath Hometown Christmas!

We went to the Magrath Hometown Christmas on Dec 1, 2016. It was actually the nicest one in a long time. We ate supper then headed in as a family. We parked by Rooster's and then started walking. We got to main street in time for the High School Band and the color guard girls marching down the street. Santa was there too.

DJ watching the little parade!

We talked the kids into skipping Santa this year. They were all fine with that. Plus we got to skip the HUGE line up. We walked over to the bank where they had a fishing pond and face painting. It was all free and we were one of the first ones there. It was perfect. They all loved it!

Cadence and Abbi both fishing at the ATB!

Cadence got a Christmas Tree. It looked amazing!

Abbi got a cool looking ornament!

Brianna got a cool ornament too!

Then we headed on over to the CoOp. They always have a chocolate fountain that DJ absolutely loves. He always insists on going over there. So that's what we did. They always have a fun Christmas tree set up there. It's fun to visit with people and see what booths are set up.

Cadence by the Coop's tire Christmas Tree!

Abbi and DJ both enjoying the chocolate fountain.

Abbi, DJ and Cadence by the cool Christmas Tree!!

Then we walked over to the Senior's Center to see what was there. Of course, I have to get a picture of my kids by the big blow up Santa. Then we walked over to the Magrath Museum and walked around there. It was neat to see all the different displays. We all enjoyed that.

The kids in front of the huge snowman!!

DJ really wanted to go on the horse carriage ride. So I stood in line with him and Brianna. We waited for a tiny bit and then went for a ride. DJ loved it. Phil Still was the one doing it. We sat up front and I was able to talk to him.

Brianna and Abbi on the carriage ride.

We found the others and drove over to the white church to walk around and check out all the Nativity Displays. They were amazing. We loved looking at all of them. Even my kids were really enjoying it. We had cookies and hot chocolate there too. It was a perfect evening. Then we went home. Glad we were able to go and enjoy ourselves and not freeze! It was so nice!