A mundane week worth Journaling;)

 I've been doing a weekly journal for as long as I've been married, and I LOVE it!   But darn it all, I feel so guilty whenever I get on my computer and see this poor neglected blog.    Our life has been much busier, and actually is much more interesting then I've really described over the past couple of weeks, there just simply isn't time these days to "blog" like I used to.   You know?  And besides, who "blogs" any more anyways?    ;)

My appreciation for it was rekindled yesterday when I came home from getting our weeks groceries (ahem...a weeks worth of groceries that I got for FREE by the way, thanks to my high accumulation of PC points;)  and walked through the door.   There on the couch in our front room sat John and all the kids.   Snuggled up, reading through our blog book, laughing at all the memories.    It was the sweetest thing, and as I stood there in the doorway, arms laden (with a weeks worth of free groceries;) I almost didn't want to interrupt them and demand a little help!   But, I did...because I was about to drop the milk;)   

Anyways...the bottom line is I LOVED seeing my family look back and reminisce about the sweet days of our past, and I resolved to be a little bit better at recording the every day moments again.  No matter how mundane they might seem in the moment;)   

So...here is our week:

We were thrilled when John received this super cool Can cooker in the mail for his Birthday.    We'd enjoyed this cooking concept with Johns brother Aaron when we visited them in Utah this summer.  Apparently Aaron knew our life would not be complete until we had one of our very own.  

It is So cool!!!!!     

What you do is open the top and throw in any and every vegetable imaginable.

Literally.    Anything!

 You could throw in corn on the cob, potatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli, cabbage....ALL OF IT!    Then you add some meat on top.   Throw in some spice of choice, a bit of broth or liquid, and turn on the heat to medium.   

It all steams for an hour.

Then you have your goofy husband dump it out into a large baking dish or two and oila!   

Easiest, tastiest, and HEALTHIEST dinner ever!!!

Steamed vegetables and a bit of italian sausage.

The kids LOVED it, and exclaimed that we should eat with the can cooker every night!

And I bet you are pretty glad that I shared this with you eh?   

See how valuable this little blog actually is!

Another exciting event of our week came when we decided to paint our basement.    

Now when I say "exciting"... what I mean is that I "would have had more fun rubbing shards of glass in my eyes then paint our basement" - but alas it had to be done!

We got one room done and then decided to save the rest for another (equally exciting) time! 

The board games have been making an appearance around here more frequently and I love the silliness that accompanies family game night!    I'm not gonna lie- I have grown a little sick of the game CLUE, but that is only because John wins every time. And THAT's only because he's a cheater!!!

(I should know.   I cheat too, and "it takes one to know one" ;)

The other day Jessica came up the stairs, plunked down beside me and with a heavy sigh she looked up at me and said, "Ahh....Life can be so difficult!"    haha.   She's SIX!!!  What does she know about that?!!!!!

Truly, these kids make me laugh, and I'm grateful every day for them!

Christmas Art

The kids have been busy lately doing all sorts of crafts, and I had to save these pictures as they depict the excitement that my little ones have been feeling for Christmas.   

This one is my favorite:)

I love that you can see Santa on his sleigh just outside the window.    I love how she drew herself all snug in her bed.   And I love the 4 stockings and 4 bells hanging form the mantle.   

Here's a self portrait of Abby. 

(I noticed this version of Abby is wearing some snazzy blue eye shadow! haha:)

Awe....And here's my cute little Jessica - Santa hat and all!

They're getting excited!!!!

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is always such a great day! 

I love attending the local ceremony each year.    LOVE having John home.  

And LOVE that my kids are starting to understand and appreciate the purpose and meaning behind this day.   

Sam's cub troop was asked to participate in the ceremonies this year and to walk in with the veterans and local officials.     Sam took it so seriously and kept telling everyone that he "got to walk in with the soldiers."    Sam also has declared that he wants to be a soldier one day, AND has prayed for them and their safety each and every day this week!   Whatever his teachers taught him at school sure penetrated this boys heart. (Part of me is still hoping he'll just settle on being a stand up comedian;)

Abby participated in a special Remembrance Day choir and sang beautifully as always.  

(Nate and Jess were too young to participate in any way, and were there fore stuck to sit with John and I.  They managed to pass the time by climbing all over us, trying to sleep on the floor, and asking 50 million times if they could have a snack.  Luckily they managed to whisper and stay somewhat respectful the whole time;)    

The kids found this display afterwards that featured an ancestor of ours (Mark Beazer) who fought in the war.    

As always we set up our basement Christmas tree when we returned from the ceremony.   Abby has been looking forward to it ALL month!   She was very intent on setting the mood so that all was just right!    (She's all for setting up a scene;)  

When all was done the kids snuggled up on the couch wearing Santa and elf hats (as per Abby's request;) and finished watching their Christmas movie.   It was cute!

And now the count down begins!!!

(PS:  Don't our walls look great with all the white touch up marks on em?   We're selling our house you know.   Time to do that painting we've put off for approximately 4 years!)

Bball family Fun

This past weekend my Brother and his family came in to town.   They stayed at Jewels house, which always makes for a partay! ;)    

Kendall took everyone down to the school gym where the kids played dodge ball, basketball and just generally ran amuck.   (haha)

I sort of supervised my children, but mostly got caught up playing basketball with my niece Ava!   

Seriously, it was So.Much.FUN!!!    We started attempting 3 point shots, and in the matter of just a few minutes I got TEN 3 point shots.   TEN of them!

I was on FIRE- that's all there was to it.

Yeah, I know I should sound more humble and modest, but...it was just amazing, really!

My sister Jewel was our home town all star ball player when I was growing up, but I can't help but think I had it in me too.  (Sigh...too bad I was so scared of being beat up or pushed into lockers back then.  Who knows what I coulda become?   haha)

Okay, actually what is truly amazing is these nieces and nephews of mine who are all growing up so fast!    Ava, Ella, Mya, my own Abby...they are just really turning into remarkable young woman, and I loved having the chance to hang out and "shoot a few hoops" with em;) 

Birthday Boys

It finally arrived!

The big day.

The moment we've ALL been waiting for....

(or at least the moment our youngest has been waiting for;)

Nate's BIRTHDAY!!!!!

After bawling and throwing tantrums during everyone else's birthday celebrations throughout the year- finally it was his turn. 

His special day included:  

* the obligatory Birthday Wall of fame

* ice cream treats from his little friend Gray

* a new T-shirt from Auntie Jewel that he will likely wear every day for the next 365 days

* presents galore

* and a lousy attempt at a Super Mario cake! 

(the cake looked awful, but slap on a sparkling candle, and it didn't matter one bit;)    

  

We all absolutely LOVE this kid, and the way he makes us laugh/cry/scream/pull our hair out and smile.   (Often all at the same time;)

It was kinda funny, after he blew out the candles on his cake, and as we were cutting up portions for everyone, Nate turned to John and asked,  "Dad?   When is my next birthday?  Is it almost my Birthday again?"    haha.   

Just 364 more days little guy;)

Of course, I can't write about Nate's birthday without also mentioning the special day of a certain THIRTY EIGHT year old that I now know!!   ;)     It might seem to John as though his birthday is overlooked by all the trick or treating, dressing up, and busy- ness that is Halloween - but he seems to take it all in stride;)    

So long as he gets his "Ghost shaped Carrot Cake" - he's a happy man!!!!

Halloween

Wow, that last week in October is always such a doozy!!!

Between Halloween Carnivals, school parties, TWO birthdays AND Halloween itself- there wasn't a day of the week that wasn't consumed with festivities.

For Family Home Evening on Monday, the kids all got to decorate their own pumpkin.    

Sam dressed up for the occasion;)

Jess was mortified with the pumpkin guts.

Nate's attention span lasted two minutes.

And Abby was proud as punch with her pumpkin.

John was the happiest of participants, because he'd brought along his electric drill!

On Tuesday, we attended our ward Halloween Party.   

Hot dogs, carnival type games, and dozens of unattended children running through the church.   That's basically what it takes to have a party! ;)

We were actually on our own that night, as John had to be at Volleyball, and I was proud of Mario, the Gypsy, my green ninja, and the cute Butterfly for behaving as well as they did!

Thursday couldn't come quickly enough for my family, and they all left for school happily displaying their costumes.    John chose to go as Si from Duck Dynasty and when he wanted to, he could really play the part!   

The weather this year was PERFECT on Halloween and the kids were raring to go trick or treating!

We love our thoughtful neighbors who always go out of their way to TREAT our kids so great!

I opted to stay home and hand out candy, while SI took the kids and some of their friends out around town.

Nathan lasted for about 20 minutes only, before wanting to come home.   Naturally, I put him to work.  

He was such a clown for everyone who came to the door though, I think that was his favorite part of the night!

It's always fun when we run into the cousins!  (and I'm not sure this family is big enough for TWO ninjas!!!;)

By 8:30 things had started to taper off.  I finally told John to just give the "next person who comes to the door" the rest of the candy in the bowl, and call it a day.    

Halloween has never been so exhausting!!!   

(I must be getting old;)