Graham crackers and alligators

Today Harrison had a friend over. He was so excited to show him the Nutcrackers on the mantel. He said, "See those graham crackers, I saw some big ones like that in the alligator." He had seen nutcrackers in a store that we rode in the elevator. Gotta love the things that kids say!

"Christmas Edition" of getting to know me

My Sister-in-law sent me this in an email. I thought I would share my answers here since I haven't posted in awhile. I've been busy with making jammies and other Christmas stuff. As I'm sure all of us are busy doing.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? PAPER

2. Real tree or artificial? REAL!! We DO live in Oregon where Christmas tree farms are everywhere

3. When do you put up the tree? We usually try and get it Thanksgiving week-end...but we were a little late this year

4. When do you take the tree down? Day after Christmas

5. Do you like eggnog? Not so much

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Cami doll. Growing up we couldn't afford the real cabbage patch dolls. So my mom found some less expensive doll with blond hair and brown eyes just like me. When I was younger I had blond hair. Now not so much.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes

8. Hardest person to buy for? My mom and her husband

9. Easiest person to buy for? the kids...love a Christmas list!

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? can't recall one

11. Mail or email Christmas card? I don't think I've ever done a Christmas card. I've always wanted to but haven't gotten around to doing it.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? old school animated

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? throughout the year

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no

1 5. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? boxes of chocolate, and English toffee

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? There are so many to chose from, anything Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, the Carpenters, Jackson 5...Too many great songs and artists.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Staying at home

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? only if I'm singing

20. Do you have an Angel on top or a star? star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning presents.. One present from Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve, the jammies spoken of above, and the present their siblings got them when they drew names.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? It goes by way to fast.

Merry Christmas!!

Nine months!

How time flies. I found Graham with the pear just loving it. I wonder who gave it to him? I think Harrison is the culprit. Graham is really showing his personality.

What a Weekend!

Now that I have dug myself out of the pile of laundry that should have been done on Saturday but we were gone, I now have time to blog. The weekend started with a visit to the Community Creche at the Stake Center. It was so beautiful as usual. I love to start the holiday season seeing all of the nativities displayed. The kids really enjoy seeing all of the different types of nativities.

Afterwards we headed to get our Christmas tree. It didn't take long. The first tree we looked at we loved. Thank goodness too because it was 'feezing' as Harrison would say. We headed home and put the tree in the garage to let all the things living in it come out in the garage and not in the house.

Saturday it was off to Seattle for an engagement party for Aaron's youngest brother Justin. He is marrying Ashley and they are going to be married next year after Justin returns from Iraq. Before leaving town I wanted to stop at Old Navy and Target to get the kids some winter coats. For some reason I didn't get any at the end of the season last year. That done we headed out of town. We thought there was supposed to be snow from Salem to Olympia. Wrong it was from about Olympia to Everett. It actually went further north but Everett was as far as we went.
The plan was to meet the Coles and Tokarski at the Coles' hotel room to watch the Civil War game. We toke a wrong turn and ended up right under the Space Needle. The kids were thrilled to see it. It's to bad we didn't have time to get out and ride to the top, maybe another trip.

We finally made it to the hotel and the kids could hardly wait to get out of the van and get their hands on the fresh snow. Once we got to the hotel room the satellite TV was out. We waited a bit and it finally came back. We got to see the Beavs win in double overtime. What a great game. Then slid to Ashley's parents home for the party. We were a bit late because of the game and the weather.

This is a view from the hotel room.

We had a great time meeting Ashley and her family. The evening seemed to go by very quickly. The kids had so much fun playing the Nintendo Wii. Now our kids want one. Soon it was time to head home. The kids had to play in the snow once more and also taste it. Gavin wanted to put some in a baggy to bring home. He really enjoyed it.

Other family members offered for us to stay with them and not drive home. But we felt like we needed to get home. We had thought about staying when we first heard about the party. but decided not to, to save the money and make it a day trip. Thank goodness for the DVD player in our van. It was a white knuckle trip home for Aaron and I. It was still snowing in places then there was heavy ran and strong winds. We did make it home at 1:30 am. Glad to be in our own beds and safe.

We got a call the next morning from a member of the Stake Presidency at 7 am. Telling us he was coming to meet with us in an hour. He came and Aaron is now in the Bishopric. The whole day Aaron looks like a deer in headlights. Okay maybe not that bad. He was and is still in shock. The poor guy didn't get home until 4:30 pm on Sunday because of tithing settlement. Needless to say he was exhausted.

This is a weekend that won't be forgotten. What an adventure!