updated photo

The framing should be complete today with construction doors in place tomorrow. It is really taking shape. We are very excited!

Christmas 2009

We had a great day! We have a tradition that the kids sleep in our room Christmas Eve. At 5am the boys started to nag us about going downstairs. I told them wake me up at 6...and they did. We had a good couple of hours enjoying the surprises the day brings. We then had a fun breakfast (Butterbraids...mmm) and just hung out. The boys and Scott got airsoft guns so we went out to our new house and they ran around for an hour or so playing. It was a lovely day. I love the family I've been blessed with. (also...love the rubber boots Santa brought us all (aren't they cute :))...they will be so nice to have with 5 acres of mud...great idea Lisa!)

Before...at 6:08 am....

After...9:08am...

Davis

I need to tell Davis that if he is going to sneak down to see his presents that he needs to put everything back the way he found it.

I wondered why he came up to wake us up saying, "I hope Santa brought me Bakugan"...this picture explains the answer pretty clearly.

Mckenzie's performances

Here are a few photos from

the recent school Christmas performances. Mckenzie loves her dance classes and her singing group. Her cute dance partner is her friend, Caleb. (Thanks for the pictures, Lora!!!)

Christmas tree hunting

Scott, Grandpa Hunsaker, Reese and Davis went to the mountains to find us a Christmas tree. They had a great time getting out and chopping one down for our front room. An extra treat this year to have grandpa along.

snow day

I was getting the older kids ready for the bus when Lili showed up ready to go outside to play. Glad she is so self sufficient.

Christmas party

We had a Christmas party with our Families with Chinese Children group at a local pizza restaurant. We had a great time mingling and doing a little gift exchange. We had three new little ones to welcome into our group.

Davis brought home a cute little cload hat. He is now up to date on clouds.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving at my parent's house with my grandparents, Kristi and kids, and Leslie and family. Lots of fun and playing and eating.

Scroll down to see a week in review

Christmas program

Last night, we had our ward Christmas party. Sister Stewart put together the most amazing Christmas play. She asked Reese to play the lead as Nathan, Scott the dad and me the mom, Reese's friend, Landon was Jesse and his friend Ryan was a Shepard and several others to play other parts. Reese and Scott did such a great job, (all of the actors did). They worked really hard at getting the lines down. Scott was not to excited to do this because it is way out of his comfort zone...but, who can say no to Sister Stewart AND to an acting gig with his son? It was a wonderful way to start the holiday season. It was about a boy excited for Santa who in a dream travels to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus (along with Wise man, Shepards, and Angels). The primary kids sang many songs and there was a pick-up choir that also performed beautifully. Like I said, it was a wonderful way to start the holiday season with thoughts turned towards the Savior,His Birth and Resurrection. I will post picts after I beg them off of a few people.

Festival of Trees

Okay...I know I'm her mom...but, I am so impressed :) The girl can dance and sing :) and so can her friends :) The school dance company, ballet class and show choirs performed at the Festival of Trees. I'm sick that I did not get a picture of the ballet performance but Mckenzie and her friends were so graceful and beautiful, I wish I knew how to ballroom dance like they all do, and the show choir's sang and danced wonderfully. So fun to watch and I wonder to myself when I will not tear up when I attend one of these performances. Way to go guys and gals!!!

construction

Scott, Ken, the little girls and I went to the house to layout our kitchen. The framers needed help

standing up the 2nd story back wall so Ken and Scott both helped stand it up. Such a fun time for us.

Lili's artwork

Lili's entertainment during the applesauce project. Isn't it cute? I love when kids start drawing stick figures. She laughed when I showed her the picture and said, "she only has one arm 'cause one arm is broken"

.

Applesauce, anyone???

In October, I bought 15 boxes of apples. Nothing screams Christmas like making applesauce...note to self...make applesauce in the fall and not in December.

I made several jars of apple butter (in November), Scott made about 40 bottles last week (November) and my mom...ahh, my sweet mom... came down today and helped me do 100 quarts of applesauce. (that is 25 gallons of applesauce...pork chops anyone :) ). We only have two boxes left that I'm hoping the kids will eat and I'm planning to make pie filling.

I love making applesauce. The smell reminds me of my Great Grandma Hale (Udy) house. I feel a connection to the past since this tradition has been done each year for generations (probably not in December). I did buy a new sieve that attaches to my Kitchen Aid (an early Christmas gift) so I did not have to crank it...hope Grandma Hale is okay with me simplifying the project :) The Kitchen Aid attachment was so nice to use...my arm did not get the typical work out.

All of the kids loved helping. My scouts even made a jar to take home. Love my calling as Webelos leader and love the boys. And, love my mom...thanks so much!!!

Week 2

Here is our house after 2 1/2 weeks of framing. Next week the framers will begin the upstairs.

Meili's surgery

Here is a picture of a very scared and skeptical little girl prior to surgery. She did really well and is home now. The only time she cried was when I had to put her on the bed to be rolled away. The Dr. said that her tonsils were much too big for her little mouth and her adenoids had cobbling on them...so, we are glad they are gone. Now, hopefully in a week-10 days after she has healed she will get her first night of good sleep...and I hope this will prevent her from being tired all day long.