If you just BELIEVE...

This year for the Christmas program, the girls got to perform songs from the Polar Express. Our school goes ALL out for these productions and they are amazing. It truly does put a person in the Christmas spirit and I have enjoyed them every year.

**Side note: Last year they decided to divide the school up on two different nights since it was getting to big. So, we actually have to attend on two nights since our girls are only 1 year apart in school...It is still good both nights! :)

These are some pictures using the props that they put up for the program. They really do such a great job and I am grateful for such wonderful teachers who take the time with our students to do this every year. It is a lot of time and effort that they put in and we all know how well teachers get paid... ;)

I loved the Believe sign and wanted to take it home to put in my yard! They showed a movie on the white screen behind it with scenes from the Polar Express while the kids sang the Believe song. Later in the program they sang it again while they did sign language. It was so beautiful!

Last night was our ward party and Santa came for a little Christmas visit to see what the kids wanted!


Aidan didn't want to sit on Santa's Lap. Instead, he kept sneaking up behind Santa and raiding the boxes of treats .

The start of Holiday Fun!

We had a great Thanksgiving. The kids and I were actually able to leave the weekend before with my cousin Jordan and it worked out perfectly! We got to my parents house late Friday night and the girls missed two days of school, but it was worth it! While I was there, I got some Christmas projects out of the way. With a LOT of help from my mom, I made 5 pairs of pajama pants and two pairs of doll pj's. (There will be plenty of pics of these items on my Christmas post I am sure....)

My mom found this gingerbread village and my girls were so excited to decorate their own little house. It was quite the project, but it did turn out awfully cute and was kind of fun...Grandma and Grandpa are keeping it forever I'm pretty sure. (Hee hee...)

Cambree went to school with my dad on Monday and Tuesday last week with the 4th graders. She ate lunch there and on Tuesday they had a Mountain Man Rendevous party that she was part of. She did some fun things and loved every minute of it. She wrote a note for the kids on the board before she left that said: "You kids better be nice to my grandpa and do what he says. Love, Cambree" It was hilarious. She is getting so big and even though she is in 2nd grade she held her own in the 4th!
My mom and dad got a new little kitten and Cambree loved it SO much. Brin was very jumpy around it and Aidan...well, let's just say that I am sure the kitty was extremely happy when Aidan went home.
My dad makes these hats EVERY year for the kids in his class. (He teaches 4th grade.) He made these up for my kids while we were there and they have worn them to school everyday since. Notice Aidan with his rifle. He is really into the Nerf guns lately.
Random pic of Aidan trying to take the cat from Cambree. This is actually the nicest way he held him all week.
Aidan has this new thing of putting his hands behind his head while he gets a diaper change and when he goes to sleep. It is times like these that I just can't get enough of the little fella...Then he wakes up and I need this picture to remember how precious he really can be!
Another favorite thing for him is to put his hands in pockets. The pockets in his pants, the pockets on his coat. Pretty much every pocket. I can't wait until he figures out he can store a bunch of stuff in those pockets.

Pretty much every year since we have been married, Mike and I have helped put up the Christmas tree for his grandma. The kids are much better helpers and they had fun doing it this year. I think we might not be the best help, but she doesn't seem to mind and it is a great chance to get together with Grandma Ila. She is such an amazing lady who is spunky and fun and who LOVES Christmas. It is an inspiration to be with her at Christmastime and feel her happy holiday spirit and it is a fun tradition to do with our kids.

Our baby is now a BIG boy...

I have always hated when our babies cross that line between babyhood into childhood. It usually puts me into a sad mourning period... Well, it has now happened with A-Dawg. He has been climbing in and out of his crib for quite some time now and finally I decided to breakdown (not mentally) and get the toddler bed out. My mom got this toddler bed at a yard sale and it has been through all of my kids. It is the cutest little bed and it has always made moving from the crib to a bed so much easier. Anyway, he slept in his bed last night after climbing, jumping on and off and laying all over the ENTIRE thing (before bedtime!) He was pretty excited and so was I after he slept the whole night through without getting up once. So, it is official. Our baby is a little boy....

I asked Mike and the girls to please do a little yard clean up last Monday after Halloween. A minute later, I heard the kids and Mike laughing and he was taking these pictures. I just can't understand how he convinces these kids to participate in such unusual activities. :)

Happy Halloween!!

We like all of you celebrated Halloween in style this year. We did the traditional carving of pumpkins, attended the school carnival and went trick or treating. My kids loved it and what else is better than a happy child high on sugar? :)

This is the box of crayons I made for Cambree this year. She is such a good sport and loves to wear boxes for Halloween. It was a huge success with the kids in her class. They were pretty impressed!

Brinlee was a red crayon that I made out of felt and we sprayed color in both the girls hair. Cambree's came right out, but Brin still has little pink stripes in hers. Oops.

I did not make Aidan's costume...He loves Elmo right now so we borrowed it from Michelle and he loved it! He actually really does love the costume. He is wearing it right now in fact. But, he does not love having his picture taken and really, really doesn't like to be in the same picture as his sisters...Too bad we couldn't borrow an Oscar the Grouch costume. :)

Yes, everyone got involved in pumpkin carving this year. The girls each made their own faces on the pumpkins and Aidan played with guts and sawed on this piece of pumpkin the whole time. It was actually a good time....

We did Aidan's pumpkin with lite brites...we got the idea from Bonnie's blog. :) It was pretty fun to do and looked pretty cool!

I made these eyeball cookies for Mike to take to pack meeting. They were a big success!

Two oversights...

First of all, I understand that an apology is in order. (When posting the baptism day, I may have over looked a few people on my blog...)

The following are some more pics of Cambree's baptism day...


With her sister Brinlee...


And with my AMAZING sister, Emily, who is such a great friend and the best aunt in the whole world!!! She bought Cambree a coat and snowpants this year that are darling and we really appreciate it!



And FINALLY, this is my brother Andy and his new wifey Kristin or as he calls her "Kiki". They made such a HUGE sacrifice to come up for the big day and we really, really appreciate it. We wouldn't have been able to cope if they hadn't made a showing. WE LOVE YOU GUYS! (There, I did a blogging shout out for you Andy..:))

Mike worked in the Spuds this year driving truck for my BFF Michelle's husband Joel. (Did you get all that?) Anyway, he really seemed to enjoy it and they finished last Thursday. If you can believe it, I never remembered my camera to take pictures. The girls and I were able to ride with him one evening and Aidan actually got to ride down a road with him for a minute and we all enjoyed the experience. It is quite the process and fun to be a part of! Luckily, my friend Colette took a picture for me and was kind enough to email it. So, I do have this to remember the "good times"!

The Big Baptism Day!

Cambree has been counting down the days until her baptism day for about 8 years! The big day finally came and she was the happiest little person on the planet. We had such a good day and so much support from family and friends. Here is the rundown of the day:

Here is a picture of most of those in attendance. There were some late comers...You know who you are... :)

Sadie is Cambree's very best friend and she was so glad that Sadie came. Here are the 5 girlies that are the best of friends!

Grandma Judy and Grandpa Gene!
Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Lori!

My mom made Cambree's dress and it turned out beautiful. She was so thrilled with it and asked my mom to take her up to the temple for pictures. It was such a frigid day, but Cambree didn't mind. She wanted pretty pictures at the temple...

This dress was such a special labor of love. One the front of the sash, are three butterflies that came from Cambree's great grandma "Eriskin" (Erickson) (my Grandma). She had them in some of her sewing things and my mom came across them and asked if she could put them on the dress. They were perfect and now it is just that much more special!!I just thought I would put this picture in. It is every parents desire to see their children love each other and I love that they are walking toward the temple.
My mom bought new pj's for my kids so I am putting this pic in too. They are made of the softest microfleece material and are such cute prints. Just a shout out to Grandma L. Thanks for ALL the new stuff!!!