Christmas is in the air

We got all the Christmas decorations down from the attic and the house is decorated. This is Kevin and I stringing lights on our prelit tree. Yes we are putting lights on our a tree that already has lights. After 2 hours of trying to get the lights to work we gave up and decided just to add lights. The tree is very lucky that it is not on the curb. We were both very frustrated. The girls were frustrated too because they wanted to decorate but instead they had cranky parents and no lights on the tree. We did eventually get it all figured out and the tree looks great.

Thanksgving

We drove to Kevin's parents house last night so we could spend Thanksgiving with them. This year we were the only one to come home so it has been a quiet day. The girls have kept busy playing and enjoying their grandparents. For dinner Kevin's Uncle and his family and then his grandma came. The girls were excited to have some more kids at the table. After dinner the kids went downstairs to play while the adults visited. It was such a great day. I love spending time with family. The girls had fun playing with their second cousins. It is amazing how kids can become instant friends.

Thanksgiving preparations.

Thanksgiving has got to be one of my favorite holidays. I have never actually cooked a Thanksgiving dinner but I enjoy preparing what I have to contribute. This year we made 4 dozen rolls, 6 dozen cookies and a pumpkin pie. I have never made a pumpkin pie before but thought it would be fun to do. I even thought it would be fun to start from a pumpkin instead of buying the canned pumpkin. We never got around to carving Ashley's pumpkin so I thought we should do something with it. She was all excited to finally do something with it. I had every one's help to clean it out. Ashley wasn't too sure about it but she helped. After baking the pumpkin and getting it all prepared Madison and Ashley lost interest and Allison was the only one around to help finish it. Allison worked very hard at helping me make the pie look pretty. It was so much fun to watch her work. I have never seen this meticulous side of her before. I think it turned out pretty nice. It looks pretty but we will have to wait and see how it tastes till tomorrow.

Cute Snow Shovelers

During the night we had a winter storm move through. We woke up to snow and the girls were ready to go play. Madison is always a big help and looks for things that she can to help out. She knows how important it is to dad that the driveway gets shoveled and she realized that he wouldn't have time to do it tonight so she wanted to surprise him. Allison and Ashley helped also.
The girls really had a great time shoveling and then playing in the snow. Since it was so cold outside there was ice under the snow on the driveway so they decided to sled down it.

It was fun watching the kids play in the snow but I do have to say that I think it is crazy that it is snowing when I still have green leaves on my tree.

Snow

I have never seen anyone as excited as Madison about snow. She must get it from the night she was born. I had an emergency C-section and the doctors that they needed to assist had a hard time getting to the hospital because of the roads were covered in snow and the were very icy. Well Madison has been on cloud nine all day today because it has snowed off and on. It hasn't stuck but I don't mind that. Tonight while we were talking to my parents on Skype Madison got this great idea that Grammy and Papa needed to share in her joy so she took my laptop outside to show them the snow. I love to see her enthusiasm because it makes me feel better about it. I really am trying to like snow but just the thought of driving on it makes it hard. I do love watching my kids play in it and the joy I see in their eyes why they are playing.

Madison's first band concert

Tonight we were fortunate enough to attend Madison's first band concert. She has been working so hard at learning the saxophone. I have loved to hear her practice especially when it started sounded like music. These last few weeks she has been practicing for this concert and I have loved hearing her play Jingle Bells.
I am happy that Madison decided to learn an instrument. I love that she is working so hard. She makes me very proud of her hard work and diligence.

Harry Potter Premier

Tonight Kevin took Allison and Madison to the premier of Harry Potter 7. It is actually quite funny that Kevin took the girls because he always told me how silly he thought it was that I would go to the Twilight midnight show and that he would never do it.

Allison really wanted to go to the midnight show so she worked on Kevin and worked on Kevin until he gave in. He is such a great dad. My girls have the best dad ever. he will do anything for these girls. He saw how important it was to Allison and that Madison really wanted to go too. They also happened to be out of school on tomorrow so that was the clincher.

Kevin knew what to expect because of the stories that Madison and I have so he wanted to be there early to get good seats. On his way home from work he took a detour to see what if there was any lines yet but there only one person in line. That made him feel a little more comfortable about going after Madison's concert. They left here about a quarter after 9. They got a pretty descent place in line which then got them great seats. Our favorite place to sit is the top row center and that is what they got. I can't wait to hear about it all tomorrow.

Oh I love this little girl

Each one of my girls bring such beautiful personalities to our family. Each of them are so unique. Ashley is so bubbly and happy. She can make anyone smile. She is always doing and saying the quirkiest things. She does have her moments when I want to ring her neck like tonight at Madison's band concert but then she will turn around and be the sweetest cutest little four year old. Today I bought Allison and Ashley new gloves and hats. Before Allison left to go to Harry Potter I gave her hers so she would not be cold while waiting in line. Ashley was really upset because she wasn't going with them. She also didn't like that she lost out on watching a movie with me here at home. Yes her behaviour at the concert was that bad. We had people staring at us because she would not sit still. Well I showed her hat and gloves and that seemed to cheer her up some. She took them to bed with her and when I went and checked on her later this what I found. She might have been naughty tonight but she always finds away to make me smile and remember what a sweet little girl she is.

Earlier today when I went into the kitchen to make dinner this is what I found.
I knew right away that Ashley is the one that cut it. I ask just to see what she would say. She got the biggest smile on her face and said yes. She couldn't get anyone to get her a brownie so she helped herself. She is my kind of girl. My favorite part brownies is the center.

Not giving up

I really enjoy scrapbooking but just don't have the time for it right now. It frustrates me because I am so far behind and sometimes feel like there is no hope so why even try. Today I realized the reason why I can't give up. My kids love to sit and look at the scrapbooks. They love seeing they pictures and reading the stories behind it. I may not be up to date but that is ok because one day I will get around to it. My girls will have the chance to enjoy them one day and I will not give up.

Laundry Day

What do two little girls do when their mom is busy cleaning and doing laundry all day.



Allison and Ashley had a great time playing in their tent today. They got along so well and played so nicely today. They made the best tent and even did a great job at cleaning it up when it was time to put it all away. It was really fun listening to play so nicely today. I really cherish these moments.

Toy Story Marathon

Today Kevin and I were feeling under the weather so we stayed home from church. I didn't want a mess to clean up so we had our Toy Story Marathon that we have been talking about since Toy Story 3 was released on DVD. Ashley was so excited to watch all three movies back to back. Madison and Allison took this chance to catch up on reading. Ashley didn't seem to mind that it was just the two of us. Ashley was glued to the TV and had a great time. She had her favorite blanket and stuffed animal and got cozy. Today was great day of relaxation. It was also nice to keep Ashley busy so that I don't have more work tomorrow. It was nice to have a nice quiet day.

Twins

These two have been fighting so bad this week. Allison is on track break so they have had a lot of time together. By Friday I was ready to to pull my hair out. I was so happy for the weekend so I could have some help with them but then this is what they did today. They wanted to dress a like and have their hair done the same. They wanted to do everything together. I am happy for these moments when they appreciate each other and stop fighting. Unfortunately it was short lived and they were back at it right before bed time. I wish the peace could have lasted a little longer. Oh well I will take what little I get.

Quality time with Ashley

Ashley was feeling a little left out because Madison and Allison got invited to a friends this afternoon. She was very bummed so I thought it might be fun to make something. On Saturday we got a pretzel at the mall and they were so good. I remember making pretzels with my mom when I grew up so I thought it might be fun. She loved helping me put all the ingredients together. Her favorite part was rolling out the pretzel and shaping them.
I think I really cheered her up and took her mind off of getting left out. She really enjoyed the final product.

Allison's FHE

Allison has been working on a Family Home Evening lesson all week. She was very excited for Sunday to come around so she could show us what she had prepared. I was quite impressed with her lesson. I have a box full of prepared lessons and that is where they normally pull a lesson from but Allison decided that she wanted to prepare it all by herself. She picked her topic of Adam and Eve and then went to the internet to help with her lesson. She had scriptures to read and then lots of great questions for us. She found a coloring page to involve Ashley and then set up her own little display of the Garden of Eden. Allison did a great job on her lesson. I love her excitement for the gospel. I love that my children are such a great example to me and keep me doing what is right. Thank you Allison for your great lesson on Adam and Eve.

We are so proud of Madison

Today Madison was off of school because it is parent teacher conference time. She definitely enjoyed her day off and I enjoyed meeting with all of her teachers. This year was off to a rocky start but it is definitely looking up. Madison seems to be adjusting and her grades are great. Madison's first quarter just ended and she is on the the honor roll. I am so proud of her. She is working through this hard time in life and coming out on top. I could not ask for more. All of her teachers are just amazing too. I was really nervous sending her to the middle school that she is at because I have not heard anything good about it. The school is not perfect by any means but it does have one thing going for it, the teachers are amazing. I am so pleased at how much they truly care for Madison and want to see her succeed. They have watched her go through the hard time and want to see her through this. Madison is just an amazing little girl and we are so proud of her.