Madeline's Tree

Right before Christmas, Madeline had a Christmas tree project due for school. They were given a Christmas tree made out of poster board and asked to decorate it anyway they wanted to, the only rule was they could not just color it with markers or crayons. Madeline wanted to do fabric with ornaments and she wanted to put real Christmas tree lights. At first Grant and Madeline were going to make their own battery pack Christmas lights, but we found some when the craft store was beginning to clearance out their Christmas decor. We tried gluing the rick rack on, but that didn't work so the crazy mom that I am thought of sewing it. An hour later I was successful at sewing the tree and tree trunk on Madeline's poster board tree. Then Madeline went to work punching holes for the ornaments and lights to fit. She was so excited when it was done and more excited to show off to her class that her tree lights up.

Gaylord Ice

Every year one of the local fancy hotels has an ice exhibit. They bring in Chinese Ice Sculptures to create these fancy sculptures based on the theme for this year. This year it was Charlie Brown Christmas. My kids love anything to do with Charlie Brown so I knew they would like the exhibit. The catcher was the price of tickets is not cheep. I debated about it for a few weeks and decided it would be our big Christmas activity. When the kids found out they were excited and so were we! We ended up going the week of Christmas which I think was a mistake. The ice exhibit was neat, but we were not able to really enjoy it and take everything in. There were so many people (they didn't have it well organized) that we were just being shuffled along.

They provide you parkas because they keep the place -9 degrees. Spencer of course didn't want anything to do with the parka or any jacket of that matter. So we carried his thinking that when he got inside he would change his mind. Instead he just wanted his dad to carry him while he curled up in a ball. Grant finally was able to get Spencer in the parka but he refused to put his arms in the armholes. So here is Grant trying to hold Spencer in a slick parka who is curled up in a ball who also refuses to put his arms in the armholes. It was a definitely a challenge. Anthony and Madeline enjoyed it, but Anthony was ready to get out. He doesn't like it when it is too hot or too cold, he likes things just right. At the end of the exhibit they have an ice slide for the kids to go down, but our kids were more interested in getting out of the exhibit then going down the slide.

Did I think it was worth the price of tickets, no but the excitement on my kids faces made up for that. Will we be going again? No. Do I recommend people going? Yes if you can get the first showing otherwise save your money. Am I glad that we went? Yes, despite it being overly crowded and not being able to take in the ice sculptures our kids still like to talk about it and talk about how much fun it was.

O Christmas Tree

Christmas Countdown

It is already mid January and I am just now getting to Christmas. Hopefully by the end of January I will be caught up. Grant's parents moved in with us so I have been a little bit busy with getting things settled; but I will save that for another post. Every year for the month of December we countdown to Christmas with fun little activities each day. We didn't get to do 24 activities like we had wanted. I got sick with the flu around December 11 that took a couple of weeks to get through and then Grant's parent moved in and I lost my office for a bit until we finished the garage/office conversion. We did get a few activities in and the kids had fun. Also this year I finished all of my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving so it was nice not to have to worry about any shopping during December. I was just able to focus on the kids, the family, and enjoying the Christmas Season together.

1. Make and decorate Christmas cards.

2. Watch The Grinch Stole Christmas.

3. Decorate the Christmas tree.

4. Go see a nearby Nativity and go out for Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory.

5. Watch The First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

6. Read a Christmas story and decorate hot chocolate mugs.

7. Make ornaments.

8. Make smores.

9. Watch Charlie Brown Christmas.

10. Sleep under the Christmas tree.

11. Go to ICE exhibit.

12. Decorate Gingerbread Houses.

It was a fun countdown and can't wait for next year and hopefully I won't get sick so we can be able to enjoy more fun memories