Christmas Eve Nativity

We had the traditional Christmas Eve Dinner with ham and Cheesy Potatoes, a Nativity, and new jammies. It was a fun night and made the kids very excited for the next morning. It couldn't come soon enough!

Nativity scene #2 with Jackson as the Donkey, Nick-Joseph, Carly- Mary, and Scarlett as baby Jesus. The whole crew! Loved the new costumes this year.

The Nativity Round 1

We had some amazing Nativities this year with great costumes and actors. I am not sure the kids got the point of it any more than before, but they sure looked cute! They posed pretty good for pictures too!

Baby Jesus.. Jack

Adorable Angel Emma

Little Lamby Natalie

And the whole cast!

Waffles and Santa

We had a big family party the Saturday morning before Christmas. It was fun to see all the cousins and I wish we got together more often! Uncle Devon made yummy waffles for everybody. I think he was baking for at least 2 hours straight! THANKS! Then surprise- Santa showed up! All the kids took turns on his knee and Nick let him know that he wanted a Nintendo DS for Christmas! That was news to us! I am thinking we need to move this party up a few weeks next year! Mckay wanted an indoor Trampoline! Hmmm, interesting!

and Natalie wanted a pink Barbie Doll and a kitchen. We also got proof that Santa is not Grandpa!

Sugar Cookies

Grandma had all the kids over to decorate cookies. It was quite a mess, but the kids loved it! Thanks mom! Nick was into making a pattern and asking everyone for their red and green candy!

Mckay was all about getting as much candy and frosting as he could on his cookie. YUMMY! And Natalie slept through most of it! She missed one too many of her naps during this holiday season!

Eating the Neighbor's Neighbor Gifts

This afternoon, Mckay went across the street to play with a friend. A few minutes later he came back with a mouth full of something chocolate. I asked him what he was eating. He told me that Cara wasn't home, but that she left a plate of chocolate on her porch with a note that said "For Mckay." Yea right!! Sorry Anne- you are now missing one of your goodies that was left for you. Mckay did say he went back and apologized, you just weren't there to hear him! So, I guess my neighbors don't have to worry about stray animals taking there goodies, just little Mckays! I couldn't help but to laugh!

Nick's first Match

(still having issues with the facial expressions!)

Nick had his first wrestling tournament in November. It was so much fun to watch him out there on the mat. I couldn't help but get into it! He had a lot of fun and it was good for his dad to get back into the wrestling scene again. They were a little low on refs, so Nate had to fill in. They do the matching up of the boys by weight, not age. Nick got matched up with the 2nd graders! It made it a little more difficult when he wrestled the boys that had been doing it for a few years- but he still had a good time. He smiled whether he lost or won!

Watering the Sheep

Nick asked me this morning why we have to always do the play on Christmas Eve where he waters the sheep??!! Hmmm, interesting. I guess all the years of acting out the nativity hasn't done so much for him. All I can think is that he must have been the shepherd last year and we kept him quiet by telling him to water the sheep!
Next, he asked if Grandpa was going to be Santa Claus again this year?! Hmmm, interesting. He told me that Grandpa is never around when Santa comes and that it must be him. I tried to let him know that Grandpa is always out with the reindeer, but who knows how long that is going to cover! I think there is an alternate plan this year since all the grandkids are getting older!

Later, Nick informed Nate and I that he had seen his Christmas present in the back of the truck the other day. The BIG Christmas present. GREAT!! SO, he waited a couple of days to tell me he saw it when Nate and I were trying to talk in "code" about where to put it. He could tell we were being a bit sneaky about things and said " I saw my present!" So we informed him that it was for the kids that we help every year and not for him. Is that lying? I guess we will have to wait and see what Santa brings. Good thing Santa isn't bringing much this year and mom and dad are filling in to help! IT doesn't totally ruin things. I guess we need to get better at our parenting skills.

Thanksgiving at Chunks!

When Nate went to take a picture of Mckay and I, Mckay put his arm around me and his cheek right up to mine- What a cute little man!!


We had a fun Thanksgiving this year that started out with eating at Chuck-A-Rama at 10:45 in the morning. Nate's family- 8 boys- love to go to Chunks for Thanksgiving every year. We have to miss out every other year- but this was an 'on' year- so we got to partake!! It was crazy busy, and definitely not your traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but the food was yummy. The kids were a little disappointed that they didn't have the usual mac and cheese, but the red jello squares helped satisfy their tummy's! I still can't believe how many other families besides ours that go to Chunks for Thanksgiving! I had Nate take a picture on our way out so we had proof of the line that forms out the door before noon!
We spent the rest of the day having a ping-pong tournament, sleeping, and making magnets! We then had "left-overs" that really weren't left overs but first timers (if that makes sense!), and I once again ate way too much! We had a great day and I am grateful for this holiday season!

I truly love this time of year. I am grateful we live close to our families that we can spend time with them often and that my kids get to play with cousins. I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and to have the knowledge of his life and death for each of us. I am grateful to have this time of year to focus on Him and the significance of His birth. I am grateful to be a mother and to have my sweet little children. I am grateful for our health and happiness! I truly feel that I have been blessed and I am so thankful for that.

Proclamation

I have had some people interested in getting the Proclamation On the Family that I designed, for Christmas. I will be placing a frame order soon (probably the first week of December.) If you are interested, let me know. You can click here: Kate's Creations, or go to ktcreations.blogspot.com. You can just order the Proclamation and find your own frame if you would rather do it that way. I can design it to fit any size square frame that you have. I have found a lot my frames at TJ Max and Ross. Sometimes they are mirrors and you can just take the mirror out! Let me know if you have any questions!

Nick is 6!

Once again, two birthdays in 3 days. It has been a party at our house lately. It kind of feels like an early Christmas as we left the new toys out and let the kids have a good old time! Nick is such a crack up lately! He is so into making funny faces when I take his picture. I think the one when he opened his present is real- meaning not forced- I caught his excitement right on. Hilarious! Good black mail photo someday! But the other photos- definitely forced!
Nick and I went to Boondocks the morning of his birthday. It was fun to just be the two of us. He loved finding the games that gave the most tickets so in the end he had 200 tickets to buy some lame toys! No, he loved it!
That night he had wrestling practice and then we were off to Leatherby's! MMMMM!!! I spent many birthday celebrations there when I was younger. I was hoping he would be okay with ice cream for his cake so I didn't have to create another masterpiece and he went for it. So, we stuck candles in the ice cream and sang happy birthday there. While we were waiting for the ice cream, Nick was very hyper. He stould on his chair and loudly announced to the fellow ice cream eaters in the restaraunt the it was his birthday. "IT's my birthday!!!" Ohhh, to be 6 again! He ordered a banana split and ate the whole thing by himself.

When I think of having a 6 year old- that seems crazy to me. He is growing up and so much fun. He is loving kindergarten and doing really good with his reading. Nick is so creative and loves to create some pretty cool things! He is a great big brother and helps me out all the time. I love you Nick-o!!

Holy Cow!

I just paid $2.08 for gas today! I was excited because I thought it was $2.28 at Maverick- but surprise- it was even less. I feel like I should drive somewhere far away!

Happy Birthday Mckay!

My little 3 year old fireball is now a 4 year old fireball! I am so grateful for Mckay and his enthusiasm for life. He is always telling me how "AWWWW....some" something was, or it was "COOOOOOO.....l." He loves to be my little buddy and have mommy time. He has gotten very good at doing puzzles of the last little while, and likes to do them all by himself now. He can't wait until he can actually go to wrestling practice with Nick, and has been practicing all the moves whenever he can. He has got the double leg take down, down. He is out of the stage of needing a nap everyday which makes me sad, but has learned to accept that we still have quiet time and is pretty good at actually being quiet! Mckay is lucky to have an older and younger sibling and loves to play with both of them.

We had a little Spongebob party for him. I can't take all the credit for the cake- Nate was the designer. The family got some good laughs out of it! Won't mention why- but those who know- haha- very funny!!
We took Mckay to Kangaroo Zoo to celebrate his big day. I am so happy to have Mckay in our family. I asked Mckay what is different now that he is 4? He replied, "I can be nice, be kind, and be like Jesus!" Wow, that is going to make all the difference this year. I can't wait!

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween! The kids loved Trick-or-Treating and thankfully the rain came and ended the candy collecting earlier than last year. Seriously, last year, Nate took the kids out for at least 3 hours! WHAT?!! I started to wonder if something tragic had happened!

This year, we decided to offer to buy the kids candy. I thought it would never work, but it was the best idea. They came home and we let them eat what they wanted, and then made the offer. They agreed to choose 5 more pieces and then say good bye to the rest! We went the next day to let them pick out the new toy of their choice to buy with their money. It worked out great and now I have loads of candy to secretly eat all to myself! Oh great- maybe not such a great idea!!
Nick decided to be Iron Man this year along with hundreds of others.
Mckay was our cute little Batman who didn't want to wear his mask or cape!
And Natalie wanted to be something different every time we dressed up. Once a lady bug, then a Supergirl (from last year), and then a pirate at the next party!

We met at my parents before the trick-or-treating for dinner with all the grand kids. My parent's neighbors had amazing decorations this year. They had about 20 full size freaky monsters set up around their house. Luckily we went when it wasn't too dark and not too scary for the kids.

You Know, We're just a couple of Mavericks!

Can you Read it?

Nick just brought me this note, and then covered his face. I love that he is learning to write me love notes, and grateful he still thinks I am the "gratis"!

AHHHHH!!

Just had to take a few pics of the beautiful winter wonderland we live in! AHHHHH!! Seriously, can I move to Hawaii for a few months? The kids were very excited to wake us up this morning and show us what happened over night. I really need to get my mind in the mode for winter. I know that most of us struggle with this change each year and somehow we all make it through and gladly rejoice when springtime comes again. We spent Saturday getting our yard ready for winter- while it was snowing. Guess we were a little late on this one. It will probably be back to 80 degrees next week, I will turn the heater off again, open all the windows because I can't stand turning the air on one day and the heater the next. I am grateful we have seasons as frequently as we do though. On Neptune, their seasons last 40 earth years. Can you imagine have winter for 40 years? Okay, we really are blessed to live where we live! I am grateful and will enjoy this winter season since it will only last a relatively short time.

LET ME OUT!!

Buying a new dishwasher is kind of an annoying thing. Not exactly what I wanted to spend $600 dollars on right now, but having a dishwasher that works great is a good thing. The boys were more excited to play with the box of course, and Natalie thought it looked like fun at first too. When she thought she was stuck in it, and had to wait for me to snap a picture, she freaked out- slightly!!