Day 20 of Advent

Day 20 fell on a Sunday and since we don't get home from church until 5:30 we usually have to do something simple and this night we decided to read a Christmas story before family scripture time. Somehow the Grinch came and took my many Christmas books that I have, but I was able to find one, not the one I wanted but the kids enjoyed it and that is all that matters.

Day 19 of Advent

For day 19, I invited my family to come and participate in making a wreath for my step father's grave. It was our Christmas present for him. The wreath was filled with things that remind us of him. The kids had little wood things to paint and the adults did the clipping of flowers and festive berries and of course the hot gluing; my little niece even slobber over a few star ornaments as a way of leaving her touch to the wreath. Afterwards I treated them to a homemade lunch. On Christmas Eve we will deliver the wreath to his grave and wish him a Merry Christmas.

Day 18 of Advent

Day 18 arrived and it was time to see Christmas lights as a family. We tried the neighborhood last year with our kids and they were not thrilled and actually fell asleep so after a little research I found a near by resort (Gaylord Texan) that had an indoor Christmas light display filled with minature train displays, a life size gingerbread house, Santa's workshop, and lots of Christmas trees filled with lights; so that is where we went. The kids had fun, but Mommy and Daddy were not too happy to find out when it was too late that there was a parking fee; we will keep that in mind for next year.

Day 17 of Advent

Day 17 was a busy a day not too mention I was already experiencing a busy week so we change plans and did cookies and milk that evening. What kid could resist Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes with a glass of cold milk, YUM!

Kids were happy, Parents were happy and we accomplished day 17, a very successful evening.

Day 16 of Advent

Day 16 brought a new art project for our kids, a little wax paper, a template of a snow flake, and some glittery t-shirt paint and you have your very own snowflake window clings. The kids had a blast doing this and easily used up all the paint and now our back door is festive for the winter season.

Day 15 of Advent

For day 15, we made life saver garland, a simple idea but turned out to be a little complicated and too heavy for our tree. We will re-examine this idea and refine it for next year, but the kids had fun stringing the life savers on.

Day 14 of Advent

For day 14, we made Christmas candy cane ornaments using pipe cleaner and tri beads. They were simple ornaments that were able to fit all of our children's level, a fun activity to do after Family Home Evening.

Day 13 of Advent

For Day 13 we made Christmas Kiss Centered brownies using Christmas Kisses from Hershey, you can find the recipe here. Let me just say they were divine. We kept a few for ourselves and then delivered the rest to the family that Grant Homes Teaches. Our children love to help cook and bake, especially Madeline and Spencer loves to taste any of our creations, so needless-to-say making treats was a big hit at our house.

Day 12 of Advent

Day 12 landed on Saturday and off we went to the Children's Museum in Fort Worth. They just finished a total remodel and so it was neat to see everything for the first time. We have a membership that allows us to see both Dallas and Fort Worth Children's Museum for free, and then after a few hours of play we went out for lunch. A fun family outing!

Day 11 Advent

Sleeping under the Christmas tree brought excitement and adventure for the kids, but first we all gathered around our really small tv and watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version) and enjoy Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes.

Day 10 of Advent

Since we are living in Texas and are not fourtunate to have white fluffy stuff falling from the sky, we decided that we would use our snow cone machine and make snow cones, and since the stores do not sell snow cone flavoring in the winter time, we used a simple recipe found here.

Yummy!!

Day 9 of Advent

In our house it isn't Christmas without watching Charlie Brown Christmas.

One good movie + One bowl of Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn = One perfect evening.

Advent Time

On December first we started our family tradition of doing advent with a new advent calendar idea found here. I sat down a made a list of 25 things that I thought we would enjoy doing as a family as we counted down the days to Christmas. The kids really have enjoyed taking turns seeing what fun we will have as a family each day; and boy they do not forget and make sure that I don't forget as well.

Day 1: Play board game in front of the fire

Unfourtnately Madeline got sick and required a few days in the hospital so day 2-5 were spent as a family in the hospital eating dinner and playing in the playroom each night.

Day 6: Watch The First Presidency Devotional and have treats.

Day 7: Set up the Christmas Tree!

Day 8: Have smores and hot chocolate

Leaves are falling all Around

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Two Thumbs Up!

Spencer gives Grandma Thompson blackberry crumbly crust cobbler two thumbs up!

I love to See the Temple

Happy Home

Our Eternal goal of having a happy home, this is Madeline's rendition of our happy home.

Halloween 2009

Madeline

Every year at Madeline's school the Kindergarteners do a storybook parade for Halloween where they dress up as storybook characters and parade around the school.  This year I thought it would be neat for Madeline to dress up as the storybook character Madeline.  I was able to find a hat on e-bay and a dress pattern; and with a little sewing and a lot of luck I was able to accomplish the task of turning Madeline into "Madeline."  She was pretty excited, and she was a hit with the faculty at school.  

Madeline Goes to the Farm

Madeline was able to go on a field trip to a farm, or as I called it a "city" farm.  Madeline is terrified of animals, but she did remarkably well and enjoyed petting some of the animals.  For some of the animals she preferred to keep her distance.  Her favorite was to hold a baby duck.