During the holidays I miss the baby days our family enjoyed.  There is nothing sweeter than a newborn tucked into the crook of your arm, snuggled up under the covers, keeping warm and smelling sweet.  Or a two year old who believes in Santa and magic and is excited by lights and trees and chocolate reindeer.  Fun times.  I wish we lived by PJ and Tate so we could enjoy their baby days.

There are also really nice things about having bigger kids.  Last night we went to the library to hear a free musical presentation by Maria Musica.  They were amazing.  All three kids sat quietly and listened.  After we went to A&W for ice cream floats, and we didn't have to unbuckle anyone's car seats or stop to change anyone's diapers, or rush home because a little person was cranky and tired.

Every season is special.  It's important to enjoy where you are and who you have with you right now, not to wish for those you love who aren't here now, or look forward to some future time.

This morning we got the 5:30 schools cancelled call.  There is no snow. What there is are extra kids swarming the house, boys in the basement playing video games, girls in the kitchen.  Tonight we are having company for dinner.  My plan was to clean the house and cook the dinner and walk the dog.  Instead my plan is to try and keep the damage under control, and nothing broken until dinner & to be grateful.

2 hour delay

We got the call that sends joy to every moms heart! A school delay!! Yay! Unfortunately we got the call 4x, one from seminary and then once for each school. Still better than getting up in the dark and cold!

Lu made good use of her morning time. She made sugar cubes for Hobbit, helped with dinner prep, did extra math for school, and changed Fluffy's water, and still had lots of time to spare.

Snowy Sunday

This morning we woke up to flurries! It switched to freezing rain pretty quickly bit after sacrament meeting the Bishop announced that we should all go home to be safe. I think everyone was happy, an unexpected short day is always fun!

Yesterday R and E went to help Scott with his eagle project.

The girls and I wrapped presents.

Gingerbread Party

For reasons I don't understand and am sad about the Girl Scout annual gingerbread workshop was moved to a Sunday this year.  We didn't want to participate so I decided to throw our own. Grace invited 9 friends and we made lots of fun plans.

The girls all came in their pajamas and we played lots of games. We played some minute to win it games. They had to make a Christmas tree out of cups, stick a reindeer nose on their nose by putting Vaseline on the tip of their nose and having a Pom Pom glued on the end of a string, then without useing their hands they had to hold the string with their mouths and flip the Pom onto their nose and make it stick. They put stockings on their hands and had to unwrap Hershey kisses and then throw them through a wreath. We played many others and I think they enjoyed them all.

We ate "breakfast" which was red and green pancakes, sausage and assorted juices.

We made jingle bell necklaces and gingerbread houses.

There was a lot of screaming and running around and shrieks of laughter and singing, and then we turned on Disney channel fa la la la holidays with a line up of insepid shows that they all love. 

special footnote: I told Rob that I really needed his help, often when we have kid parties he is there and then escapes to the sanctuary of our bedroom, and really that's fine.  This time we had many tasks to do and I could not have done it alone.  Anyway I asked him and he was a great assistant party princess.  He made food, ran the timer, walked the dogs in the middle (per my request and of necessity), and stayed in the party area the whole time.  He did wear his ear plugs :) and he was amazing! Thanks dear.

Brain Battles

Ethan, John and Sar

Yesterday Ethan stayed after school for "brain battles" which is what they call their science fair.  At 4:30 we went to check out all the projects.  Those kids had some great ideas, I was really impressed with them.  Ethan didn't win anything but I think we have a better idea of what to expect next year.  There were cash prizes and thousands of dollars were given out, which is pretty cool.  The kids didn't know so that was a great surprise.  While we were driving home E was already brain storming what he could do next year.

Ethan explaining his project to someone

When we got home we worked out his field trip report.  That's where the bottom picture comes from, they had to construct domes and this picture was in his report.  That's him in the middle with the red stripe  across his shoulders, next to Gerig whose shirt is all red. 

field trip dome building

This morning when I picked up the car pool kids they all started talking about the science fair, it's always interesting to me to sit quietly and listen to them talk. Sometimes they talk about books they are reading, or friends that they have.  The boys often give blow by blow repeats of whatever game they watched.  Sometimes they talk about school and science though.  They are all excited for next year and talked about possible projects and problems with their projects the whole time.  These kids are smarty mcsmarty pants. It's fun and scary at the same time.

In other news it was book of mormon morning and this week we met at Joann's.  She made delicious wassail and scones for us.  I really enjoy our mornings.  The discussion is so uplifting.  It's been a  gift to me to be able to go and enjoy that each week.  Then Jennifer and I had visiting teaching lunch, and talk about cub drama (insert sigh)

sleigh bells ring

Tatum and Rosie in the snow

It's a minimum day today.  The kids are thrilled!  Grace, Genevieve and Elle are at the playground.  Ethan, John and neighborhood boys are at the green playing football.  Hannah is in her room "doing homework".  I am doing laundry.

Yesterday I drove with Katherine to Annapolis for her doctor appointment.  It was a kind of a long drive, although I always enjoy her company.  Grace had Brownies in the evening and earned another patch.  

Today Monique and I had our 2nd annual visiting teaching breakfast. It was really fun.  Noreen, Malia, Tracie, Jodie, Lindsey, Sarah, Darlaina and Monique and I were there.  We ate delicious french toast and fresh fruit.  Mo gave us a sweet lesson and made pretty necklaces for each of us.  We laughed and were so happy to enjoy each other's company.  It was a gift, being together with sisters in the gospel.  My life is blessed by the sweet people I know.

Ethan is the one on the right hand of the photo with the red ohio state shirt and yellow shoes

Cyber monday

And I didn't buy anything.

What I did do was drive the STEM carpool, make lunches, decorate for Christmas, go to a horse lesson, talk to mom on the phone, take Lu to her lessons, and made "world's greatest chicken" for dinner, went for a walk with Ziva and Monique, cleaned a little, made fHE treat. 

My lesson was fun and alarming. We trotted and every muscle in my body is sore. Posting is hard. Balancing is hard. My stirrup was everywhere. Annie wanted to jump and it was a muddy mess. Loved it. Also good news my red coat smells like horse! I have barn clothes! And I need to start wearing depends to ride. Too many muscles to keep track of!

Cute picture of newlyweds Jenna and Clayton is unrelated.