monday morning cookie party

Daisy Scout cookie exchange

say cheese!

Lu and Delaney and Kyla

yummy cookies

anticipating

home

I am so enjoying having Sierra and Jenna home.  It's been a delight to hear their stories, to laugh with them, to have their help in the kitchen, to hug them.

I've missed J's piano playing.  She forgot all her music in Utah so has only played things from memory and we had to sneak up on her to record this so this is by no means a perfect performance but I wanted to remember it anyway :)

body builder mermaid

fins too small
shoulders too big
neck too skinny
bad hair day
button eyes or thread eyes??

maybe I need to buy a pattern...or maybe I'll try again tomorrow.  She's getting better.  This one is named Fanny the finless.

Don't worry Tate I still have 7 days.

last believer

 My baby is getting big, almost 7.  It's exciting and sad at the same time.  In our house we only have on kid left who believes in Santa and she's a little iffy about it.  Today Santa rode into our neighborhood on a firetruck and little kids flooded from their homes and ran to the clubhouse to see him.  There was a lot of fun and excitement in the air.

Lu waited her turn patiently and then told him she would like a real elephant...and a Barbie.

E refused to see him and after a short time went home...I didn't know the last time he talked to Santa was going to be the last time but here it is, another step away from childhood.

After all the kids got to sit on his lap and talk to him his sleigh pulled up and they got to take rides through the neighborhood. 

Merry Christmas!!

the trouble with pinterest

 Here is the trouble with pinterest.  I look at it and see all these crafty, creative, cute ideas for projects, home decor, baking, sewing, you name it....and I think I can do it.  Based on what I am not sure. 
So, I decided it would be so fun to make Tatum a little mermaid softy doll.  And it would be "easy and inexpensive". 
May I present attempt number 1:  Bethany the "a shark bit off one of my arms and then I went to clown school" mermaid.  I do not know what is up with her lips or what happened to her other arm, when I was cutting it out she had two.  I feel like she has hope and I still have 8 days to come up with a decent mermaid but it will not be easy (or inexpensive)

R on the other hand wanted to surprise us with a treat and so he went to the bakery and bought a beautiful cake.

Perfect product.

Hmmm??

Happy 19th Birthday Jenna!!

Nineteen things about Jenna

1.  Jenna is a mermaid, she is fast and graceful in the water.  I love to watch her swim.
2. She is an artist and draws well.
3. Jenna is a fashionista and knows how to put together cute outfits.
4. She is bubbly and fun.
5. She is a linguist, and has studied many languages...actually I am not sure that she speaks any of them but she likes to study them :)
6. She is a hard worker.
7. She is always happy.
8. She cares about people and treats them well.
9. She makes everything more fun.
10. She loves the outdoors and loves adventure.
11. She is smart.
12. She is funny and makes me laugh.
13. She is thoughtful.
14. She is always up for an adventure.
15. She likes to read.
16. She burns everything she cooks (or at least she did 6 months ago)
17. She is a musician and has the gift of music in her heart.
18. She is a true friend.
19. Jenna isn't afraid to try new things.

I am delighted she is my daughter and could not be more proud of her, she is who I want to be when I grow up :)  Happy Birthday Jenna!!!

getting closer

Christmas is almost upon us!  We are almost ready.

I have the gifts wrapped and under the tree
boxes shipped to where they need to go
turduken ordered for Christmas dinner
cards bought...but not sent
menu in mind

I have not:
written my talk for Christmas morning
taken care of snokards (what E called stockings when he was 2)
or done anything about our charlie brown outside lights

Ho Ho Ho!!