Christmas Tree

We have had a blast this week getting ready for Christmas. Brad and I started things Thursday night when we went to Walmart to participate in the Black Friday Madness. We decided not to go to early, but go there about 45 minutes before the sale was going to start. We figured out where our items were that we wanted and we divided up. He stood in line for half the stuff and I stood by the other half. It just so happens that I was in line next to a great friend of ours, Mr. Hershieder (Brad's best friends dad from high school). So I wasn't bored at all and had some great conversation while I was waiting. It took all of about 30 seconds to grab the things I wanted once the sale started. I met up with Brad who had also got the items we wanted (and a few extra) lol. One of them was a memory foam mattress pad. I said "Do we need one of those?". He said "Well once I saw how much everybody wanted them, I thought we might want one too." I had to laugh at that, because that is exactly how black friday is. You might never normally want something but when you see other people diving for an item, it really makes you feel like you have to have it all the sudden. Anyway, we got it and we LOVE it. So glad I listened to my husband. We ended up getting all the main items on our list so I was happy, and we were out of there 15 mintues after the sale started!

 Friday morning I found out I didn't have to work, so Kayla and I headed out at about 6:00. We mostly focused on her and some of the items that she might like for Christmas. It was some nice mother daughter bonding time anyway. And Brad even stayed home from hunting and watched the girls so that we could go. What a sweetheart!

Saturday we put up our Christmas tree. I let the girls hang all of the ornaments. But I warned them first that their mommy was not like every other mommy. I would let them hang them, but I was going to show them wear to put them. LOL, I know I'm a little OCD. But hey, we can't have our tree looking all crazy :)

The finished product:

Tonight for Family Home Evening we had a special visitor come straight from the North Pole.  Our very own Elf.  The girls are going to have to be really good now because he is going to be reporting to Santa every night.  They are so excited to find out where he will be hiding each morning when they wake up.

Thanksgiving

I have much to be thankful for this thanksgiving. But honestly it is not just today that I am reminded of how blessed I am. Everyday I feel thankful for the family and life that I have and I do not take it for granted. This year we had our Thansgiving at Brad's Aunt Mary and Uncle Kenneths house. We had a lot of people attending, so we decided to have it outdoors. It was a beautiful day and couldn't have been better weather. For my contribution to our big feast, I made a homemade chocolate and buttercream frosted cake and sweet potatoes with almond crusted topping. They both turned out yummy!

The girls watched the Macy's thanksgiving day parade while I cooked. I have memories of watching it with my brothers and sister.

Aunt Mary's backyard: 

Brad's cousin Kelli, my sister in law Jillian, Ross's girlfriend Krissy, and Ross

Cousins Charlotte and Hailey

Kelli's baby Charley was such a cutie.  Brynlee was being a papa's girl today (I think she is teething too, because looking back her finger is in her mouth in almost every picture).

Kayla was unsure about petting the horses after uncle kenneth said it might bite her finger, lol!

Brad and Craig giving all the cousins a ride.

We tried so hard to get Brynlee to smile, but i think she was tired and still getting over her ear infection.  But she still was a little sweetie anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

What? We still have Thanksgiving... I thought it was Christmas!

The title of this post pretty much sums up how I feel. Once we've had Halloween, I'm in full Christmas spirit. It is very hard for me to wait to put up my christmas tree. And it is really hard for me to wait to buy the Christmas presents. And truth be told, I don't wait. I've probably bought around 15 presents already. I just get so excited about this time of year. Which brings me to another problem that I have. I cannot go into Hobby Lobby without buying something, and it is almost always something I don't need. Todays example: a new table runner and centerpiece I made. But I'm still happy I bought it.

Hunting

This past weekend Brad and I went hunting early in the morning.  We left about 4:15.  I never thought I'd get up that early to go hunting, but I did.  We had us a nice little breakfast date at Mcdonalds and then headed out.  We carried our tree stands quite a distance and it really made me proud of the fact that Kayla carried her own tree stand in the other day.  We didn't end up seeing anything it was a really slow morning, but we still had fun together anyway.  Heck, we probably scared away any of the deer that would have come because we kept talking and laughing.  And then to top it all off, I wanted to get down from the tree stand about half way through the morning, because the wind started blowing and the tree was swaying.  I get kind of motion sick easily and it was just enough to make me feel disoriented.  Once I was on the ground I felt much better, we walked around to a new spot and saw a lot of sign of deer but still didn't see any.  I think I'll try again next week, wish me luck!

Oh and today, we had one of our church's missionaries return back to visit us after about 5 months after he went home.  Elder Nelson came over for dinner at our house with his mom, and it was so nice to spend some time with them and to see how much love they have for each other.  It always feels good making lasting friendships and to be able to see old friends.  I know Brad loves going back to visit the members that he taught on his mission. 

What to blog

I can't believe a whole week has gone by and I don't have anything to blog about, and haven't taken any pictures!  There must be something wrong with me, lol.
I guess I've just been really busy being a mom.  Kayla started basketball this past week and we went to watch her team be introduced to the crowd.  It was fun seeing her try something new, I can tell she's going to be good at whatever she tries.  As I was sitting in the bleachers, I couldn't help but think that we may only have 5  1/2 more years with her before she moves out.  How can that be?   Where did my baby go?  We ordered her basketball shoes and they fit my foot (I wear a 9).
Callie is reading really well and learned to tie her shoes this week,  She too is growing fast.  She went through one of those growth spurts where she almost skipped a whole size in clothes and shoes.  She is loving her kindergarten class and her teacher.  She likes doing homework and for that I am grateful.  She always wants to bring lunches from home, she has already decided that lunchroom food is "nasty".  Where do they get that from at such a young age?  Must be from Kayla :) She has also started speech to help her with her articulation.
Hailey and Brynlee enjoy going to daycare in some of the mornings while I work for a few hours.  They are there just enough that they get to make friends and play, but not there so much that they get tired of it or feel like they don't get to stay home with me.  Hailey is still her sweet little self.  She is getting tall and her hair is getting long.  She is still a little skinny minnie though. She is so sweet to Brynlee during the day and they are like little buddies everywhere they go.
Brynlee is starting to talk a lot.  No, I cannot understand 90% of what she is saying.  But that doesn't stop her from saying it.  We just wait until she is finished and say "Really!?"  She says "Yeah" in her little boy voice and struts away.  Whenever I tell her not to do something she says "K!" (okay) and pats my back to reassure me.  She sure is funny  She has also learned to sing and she will sing the ABC song, I am a child of God, Popcorn Popping, and many others.  She has also learned to say the prayer and has gotten really good at it.  She will repeat every last word that you say in a sentence and then proudly pronounces "Amen!"

Other than that we have been up to parent teacher conferences, games, work, church, chili cook off, shopping, helping my in laws with their house, and hunting.  Seems like we are always running around doing something.  I know that someday life will be slower though and I will miss all the exciting things, so I am trying to enjoy it all as much as I can.