Christmas is here

Friday was Riley's class "Winter Party". It was a lot of fun. Our room mom is amazing! She always has the funnest activities for them to do. She made a little ginger bread village for each child to decorate. The trick is in the construction.
If you have ever tried to make a ginger bread house before you know it isn't easy. The walls don't stay together and the icing isn't the best glue. Here's the trick she used; hot glue and an empty milk carton. The milk carton is the perfect size and if you use enough hot glue you can stick anything together. The graham crackers and sugar cones made perfect little houses.

The kids are so excited that Christmas is so close. The proof is in the sugar overload!

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Easiest Recipe ever!!!

Turtles

1 bag waffle pretzels

2 bags Rollo's

1 bag pecan halves

Preheat oven to 350.

Cover a cookie sheet with foil. Place pretzels side by side and top with a rollo. Bake @ 350 for about 1 1/2 monutes. Just until the rollo starts to melt. Remove from the oven and press pecan half into the melting rollo. Let cool in the fridge until the chocolate has hardened.

SNOW DAY!

Like I said, school would be closed today. The kids were up at 7 am this morning looking for thier snow gear. Out the door by 8 o'clock and still outside playing. And again I lasted long enough to take pictures.

Riley and her friend singing some holiday cheer!

Our first snow in Tennessee

So all this week it has been raining and the temperature finally dropped low enough that it started to snow. The kids were thrilled. After living in Texas for 5 years they are so excited to live in a place where there is a chance for snow.
By 7 o'clock there was at least an inch of snow on the ground. Lane and Riley couldn't get dress fast enough to go out. It took me a minute to remember where I had packed away the snow gear.

It took most of the snow in the back yard but they got enough to make a snowman. Riley keeps saying that this is her first snow ever. She had been to Utah 2-3 times in the winter but I don't think she remembers. It's been almost 3 years since we have been home for the holidays.

It's amazing how when you are a kid the cold doesn't seem to bother you. Lane and Riley stayed out for 1 1/2 hours playing in the snow. The only reason they came in was because it was late and I made them. I of course only lasted about 20 minutes!

I'm pretty sure the schools will be closed tomorrow. For those of you that live in a colder snowy state you will find that as funny as I do. 1 inch of snow calls for a SNOW DAY!

Christmas Cheer

If you have the time check out Jason Wright's blog spot. He's the author of Christmas Jars and The Wednesday Letters. He has a lot of uplifting and humorous stories.

http://jasonfwright.blogspot.com/

Christmas is here!

I am so happy to be done putting up the lights outside. It has been FREEZING!!! After spending 5 years in San Antonio I have totally wimped out on a cold winter. The last week our highs have only been in the 40's and I was out in the morning putting up lights in a balmy 29 degrees!

Lane and Riley helped decorate the Christmas tree. One of our family traditions is that each one of us gets a new ornament each year. So with 4 kids our tree has it's fair share of Star Wars, Spiderman, Skooby Doo, Hello Kitty, etc. One day I will have a grown up tree.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Tis' the season to be thankful

So I was getting out all the Christmas decoration yesterday (which I LOVE) and I was thinking off all the places we have been to celebrate the holidays. We are so lucky to have all the things we do and I wanted to list a few of the things I am thankful for.

- First and foremost my wonderful husband!
- Even though they make me crazy sometimes.........4 great kids
- Good health
- The country I live in and all the freedoms we enjoy
- My bed after a long day
- Visiting with my family
- The Gospel
- Cool crisp Fall mornings
- Hot chocolate on a cold rainy day
- Wonderful teachers
- A good book
- Friends that are always there to listen
- A clean house
- Watching my kids grow and learn
- Last but not least I am so thankful for my SAVIOR.
I am so grateful for the sacrifices that he has made for me. I feel so lucky to be on this earth and given the chance to return to my Father in Heaven. I hope to show that love and gratitude each and every day.

Recipe of the week

A new twist on Cranberry Sauce

1 pkg cherry jello
1 1/2 c boiling water
1 can whole cranberry sauce (not the jelly)
1 sm can crushed pineapple (drained)
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz cool whip

Mix jello in hot water until disolved. Let set up in the fridge for about 1 hour (this will help keep the cranberries from floating to the top) Stir in cranberry sauce and crushed pineapple. Refridgerate for 2-3 hrs. Mix cream cheese and coolwhip until smooth. Spread on top of Jello. Chill and serve.

Optional: substitute cranberries for fruit or pie filling of your choice.