COOKIE PARTY

Our 2nd Annual Cookie Party!

Now the first lovely picture is, yours truly. Barker wants so bad to take pictures with my camera. Kalia and Annaliesse are allowed to do it without any help, and it bugs him to no end.

So I let him when I hold it for him, He takes pictures of me and Remy.  And he likes to get rather close.. Oh that toddle boy has a spell over this Mama!

Anyways… on to our cookie party! Whoot Whoot!!

We had a great time, just like last year. Kids came, ate candy, sprinkles, cookies, icing and a veggie here and there.

While the mom's visited and laughed. What else could you ask for?!

I have this kick butt Cookie Recipe, gaven to me from Mom Moxley. They are Justin's second favorite cookie. But he only gets them a couple times a year. Mostly cause they are so much work!

And this little Remy blows me away.
Thanks for the stinking cute dress Laina!

Handprints and P traps

These kids kill me with CUTENESS!!

For some reason Remy woke up for 2 seconds and wailed and I got a pic. Oh that face!

So I read the books and made a deal with Kalia- let me feel her super loose tooth and then we would do the craft. She wasn't really into it, but she let me feel it and I pulled (I know mean Mommy) and out if came!
She cried and then was super excited so she ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror. THAT is when it happened. She lost the tooth down the drain. :(

Oh my poor baby, she cried like a baby. Her heart was breaking, and I felt so bad for her. I finally got her calmed down, and Aunt Laura and Uncle Miles showed up and she tried to tell them the story and broke down again.

She calmed down again long enough to do the Hand Print Ornament craft.

Seriously the ornaments are adorable- the kids had fun making them and they all took turns using the camera to take pictures.

Remy even did one- although it does look like she is deformed… she only has 3 fingers and a giant thumb. I couldn't get her pinky to unclench! But I know next year, and the years after we are going to cherish these little handprints from 2013.

We didn't really get a good shot of the finished ornaments with the kids, Grandma and Grandpa had gotten home and it was midsupper hour.

Grandma walked in the house- and for the third time Kalia burst into heart breaking tears, but Grandmas fix everything, so her and Grandma wrote a note. She finished it with a picture of her dropping it down the sink.

But then ENTER SUPER DADDY!! Justin got home from work and decided to look in the P trap for her tooth- and it was still there!! He saved the day! She was so excited and there is nothing better then knowing your daddy has super powers!

What a afternoon/evening! To many tears for my taste- but I have a super emotional child and sometimes life is just to much to handle.

Snowcakes

Snowday #2- tidy up the house then onto our book and activity!

Barker wanted so badly to unwrap the present- but we are learning about taking turns. So it was a little intense for a while.

NOW I wanted to do something else, but the kids have been asking for snowcakes ever since October.

I thought the girls might be getting to old for this- but they still love it.

Another successful book and craft day!

Christmas Music, Christmas Baking, Christmas Decorating, Christmas Weather, Christmas Movies… need I go on?

How awesome was that snowstorm?!?!?!

Monday morning brought blowing white out conditions, freezing weather and my 6 year old still had a sore tummy. I made a grown up decision- cause I can do that now- and declared SNOW DAY!

While all the other adults were working and braving the roads, the kids and I baked, played, sang, napped and had a grand ol time!

Stories of Santa is a book with just the words to Up on the Housetop and Jolly Old St Nicholas. So I sing/read it to them. It is Kalia's favorite. I bet if the LDS Children Songbook came out with their Christmas songs in picture books- my kids would know them by heart already.

Gingersnaps and Sugar Cookies! Annaliesse is the only child that likes Gingersnaps- after Barker took a bite he gave me a totally grossed out look! HAHAHA

Dont worry ya'll. Kalia's dough was not used- well none of the kids was for that matter… to many licked fingers and hands picking noses.

Kalia was off and on all day. Not feeling great, but wanting to participate in the fun. So she would lay on the couch up stairs for a bit, watching Christmas movies, then come down and play for a while… off and on all day.

Tree always looks great- from 4 feet down! It was fun watching Barker decorate this year- he carefully hung everything off the lights.

Kalia's front tooth has been loose for weeks… WEEKS. It is hanging on for dear life.

Everyone gets a turn putting the star on.

Christmas time rocks.

Christmas COUNTDOWN!!

ITS ON!

Our Annual Christmas Book Countdown!

Oh what a joy it is to plan this every year. As I wrap the books and plan the activities in November, I am so excited knowing how much fun my kids have, I feel like a kid!

This year has been a bit different. Laura got married November 30, and we made lots of her decorations and favors, and Eric's family was up visiting. So a house full of 13 people of a week, getting ready for a wedding… it was just crazy nuts here! It was great fun here for a week- but no time for planning our countdown.

Oh well!!

Its not every year your SISTER gets married! WHOOT WHOOT!

So Sunday (day after the wedding) was December 1- Kalia had come down with the flu and, Annaliesse was coming off a 48 hour sugar high, Barker was exhausted to tears constantly and very very grumpy, and Remy slept most of the day- being held by loving relatives at the wedding all day is hard work.

We opened Snowman at Christmas and played a quiet game of Roll a Snowman.

Barker is the youngest (able to participate) but he was busy being grumpy, so Annaliesse got to open the first book!

Remy was in her swing, so Annaliesse took the book over to her and showed her.

Barker sat on my lap the whole time and only stopped whining when I read the story.

Don't worry- Dad was there too. He was invited to participate but…

We used this game sheet- and the girls loved it. Kalia only played with us once, she was just too sick to be very excited. Barker played a couple times, but got grumpy again.

Annaliesse and Mommy played for a long time. She loved it- and it was great for her matching and number comprehension.

Then she says to me- "Look Mom! I can write my name in scribble language just like Grandpa does!"

Hilarious!