Merry Christmas

We had a really wonderful Christmas this year. I have been so worried about money and whether or not that will affect our Christmas experience, and I think in a way it made it better.
We carefully chose a few things for our kids, we made gifts for others, and we just took a more laid back approach to everything.

I made the girls Christmas skirts this year! They love them...and they turned out really cute! We had a wonderful evening at my parents house on the 22nd. We had a fantastic meal and a fun kids gift exchange. My mom and dad talked with the kids about the Christmas story and the kids filled in the parts as we went along. hands down , my favorite part of the evening was when Annie said the wise men brought "gold, freakin sense and myrrh"...too funny! I just love all these kids...and I love that they love each other. They played hard all night long. The boys wrestled with Spenser and Gideon, and the girls played barbies and made jewelry. Mom and dad gave us wonderful gifts...a case of mandarin oranges(LOVE Them), and two 100hour candles. They also gave each child a Christmas tree ornament. They are all so cute and fit the kids personality so well. They love to see their ornaments on the tree. Mom made me the cutest apron and Dad handed out lottery tickets...which was so much fun!!! He figures he isn't gambling by giving a gift and we didn't buy them so its not gambling at all really....right? Well it was fun and funny...Erinn won 2 whole dollars!!! Amazingly everyone seemed to like my recycled t-shirt grocery bags...(I was extremely nervous about those, Erinn said no one would like them, but I was pretty sure he was wrong.:) Anyway we had a fabulous time!

For Christmas Eve we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa Fish's house for our traditional Swedish Smorgasbord! It was wonderful. The food was amazing as usual, and we danced around the house about three times because grampa kept finding new songs for us to dance to! It was great! Bailey did tricks, the kids played, the adults talked..we just had a lovely evening together as a family!
Merry Christmas and God Jul ...

We usually let our kiddos open one present on Christmas eve...They get so excited!...Slippers for all!

Holy Smile Batman!!! I guess that means she likes it!

All the kids anxiously await their presents from grampa Dan...We drove to Lee's Summit on Christmas morning to spend a good part of the day with Erinn's dad and brothers. The kids are super excited to see what grampa has for them...me too! He is a good Santa and always fills stockings for each of us as well. Its really fun...As you can see, recession or not...we had a GREAT CHRISTMAS !!! And we hope all of you did as well.

Sledding

On Christmas Eve morning we woke up to a good little bit of snow...so we decided to take advantage of the fresh snow and we took our kids to the sledding hill. It's actually steeper than it looks in the pics. It was a ton of fun.

Sam was a good big brother and took Jenna for a ride....
It didn't work out to well for him!!! and Jenna was pretty much done after that!




























Hannah let me ride with her!











Isaac's sled ran away from him!!!


Isaac and Noah built this amazing snow/ice fort! They did a great job! We have lots of fun together! and we love winter!!!

A cute craft...

These are the cute little magnets that we made for the kids teachers. I used a circle punch to cut the paper into circles then glued them to the backs of the glass, when that dried we glued the magnets on...I did some with super glue(which was messy) and some with hot glue(I am not sure how well this will hold up) but, they turned out cute! and the kids had a great time making them. Merry Christmas

He's a Lego Maniac

Isaac loves to build ships out of his Lego's! These are some of his latest! Good job buddy!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

• Snow-It helps me feel the Christmas spirit and gave me and excuse to sit and bind my quilt! Yes, its done!!
• Holiday Parties-kids holiday performances, art shows, and yes even the ward party...they all help with that whole Christmas spirit thing too.
• My kids-they are my life, when am I not thankful for them??? They are loving and forgiving, they are helpful, and man are they ever funny!
• My husband- he is a hard worker and he loves us.
• My Christmas Decorations-I love to sit and look at everything. I especially love the tree this year, the kids did a great job. I also love to look at the nativity scenes that we have...almost every time I pass one..it is rearranged! Which means that my kids are enjoying them too.
• And finally, Christmas specials on TV-I love that my kids sit and watch the same cartoons that I watched...and..they love them just as much as I did. Last night we watched the Nutcracker Ballet on PBS, they loved it. Especially the girls, I think we will start a tradition when they are both around 10, of going to see it in person. That would be fun.
  

Letter to Santa...

Mom sent this email to me and I thought it was pretty great!

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my own doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out -- over several Christmases. Since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles; and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years, so now...Here are my Christmas wishes **** I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big-ticket items this year, I'd like finger-print resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes,Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you
could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family. Well, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing, and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his red crayon back. Have a safe trip Santa, and remember to leave your wet boots by the door, and come in and dry off, so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours always with love and appreciation, A Mom

As I sat thinking about all the things I really want...that would be a maid, a personal chef, a person who would help me be healthy without being annoying...basically I want someone to do all the things I am supposed to do that I don't want to do....Cook, Clean, Eat Right....It ends up sounding pretty selfish and pathetic. Well, I guess I'll settle for slippers.:) Maybe you could throw in some motivation just for good measure. and a smile or two for those days when I can't find mine! Thanks, Natalie

My first Quilt!!!

Well, here it is! Mom called and said today would be a good day to machine quilt my quilt top, so we did!!! Can you believe it??? I think it is so beautiful. Now I just have to hand stitch the binding and it will be completely done! I LOVE IT!!! The pictures really don't do it justice. We used a free swirls pattern for the edge to edge quilting. It looks so cool. And I really enjoyed using the machine! So much fun!!!

You too could have an amazing quilt like this...just come on down to Hamilton to the Missouri Star Quilt Co. and we'll happily teach you! :):):):):) Its easier than you think and it is so much fun. This is one thing that doesn't get undone five minutes after you finish (unlike laundry, dishes, dinner, etc.) and for a mom those are gifts that are hard to come by. I love quilting!!! Thanks mom, you are amazing!!!

I'm Thankful...

I am thankful for...

• eBay
  
• free shipping
• hot chocolate
• stretchy pants
• electric blankets
• slippers
• my kids
• cookies
• Chinese food
• stretchy pants...ha ha ha

Christmas Tags

I thought this tag looked like fun so here goes....


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I will do either...I am not picky but I LOVE a well wrapped gift...they are so pretty.

2. Real tree or artificial?We started out with a real one...I love the smell and the feel of a real tree. We always had a real tree growing up and I wanted that experience for my kids but, we live in Missouri where real trees cost as much as the fake ones. So, we went fake to save money but, its been about 11 years now and we are beginning to think about change...I have gotten used to the fake one though...Its nice to put it up quickly and I do think our tree is beautiful.

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? The weekend after New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but, in moderation. One tiny cup a year is good for me. I once laughed suddenly and shot eggnog out of my nose...I haven't been much of a fan ever since.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? There are so many...I can't narrow it down to just one!

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Six or seven...I love them...my favorites are the Jim Shore and the Willow Tree. I also LOVE the one I have from Grandma Doan, it is really meaningful to me to have and care for something that someone else once loved and cared for.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Erinn's brothers.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My kids. They tell me all the time what they want and love!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Its hard to tell...lets just say I once went to three stores trying to return something I got, not knowing where it was from!

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail! I think E-cards are cheesy

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I still love Charlie Brown and Rudolph. But, the Muppet's Christmas Carol is right up there. A Christmas Story and Elf crack me up too. I also enjoy the Tim Allen Santa Claus movies...Can't I name them all? I love Christmas movies!!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I can't remember ever doing that...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? red cabbage, Swedish meatballs, cheese dip... I LOVE our Swedish smorgasbord.

16 Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings by Sarah McLachlan and Barenaked Ladies, I also enjoy O Holy Night by Josh Groban, and Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella by Peter Breinholt. Oh yes, I also love I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, and Feliz Navidad. (All those years of signing feliz navidad in grade school cemented that one!)
Oh and I am a sucker for classical stuff...Mannheim Steamroller, Trans Siberian Orchestra, etc. Is that too much? Sorry:)

18 Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home, though we have talked about travelling...sounds like fun to me!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen {and Rudolph?}

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. All the way.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We let the kids open one on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? It all goes by so dang fast.

23. Favorite Christmas tradition? The Advent Calendar, Santa Lucia Day, Dancing around the tree, and the massive smorgasbord of food!

24. Up early or sleeping in? We are up WAY early!

25. Who hands out the gifts? Me or Erinn if he wants to.

26. Does Santa wrap your gifts? Usually Santa's name is on at least one of our gifts...but, our kids all know that Santa is just a fun story. They figured it out on their own...we didn't try to ruin it for them, I swear! But, when they asked us pointed questions we didn't lie to them.

27. Do you tell the Christmas story? Yes, all season long, as often as possible.

28. Do you leave cookies for Santa? YUP... and they are always bitten by morning...Santa would get a tummy ache if he ate the whole cookie at every house!

Well, that was fun, entertaining and educational...Now, its your turn! Tag...your it! Enjoy!!

Noah

So, this Sunday I was teaching the children about the ancient prophets who had predicted the coming and birth of Jesus Christ...Well, one of those prophets was Noah. After we finished talking about what he had prophesied, my Noah leans back in his chair and sighs, then says, "Yeah, I'm retired now!"
Even the adults were laughing...



It reminds me of Jared's baptism...His dad was getting up to talk about baptism, and mentioned that Jared had him doing double duty today...Jared yells out BOOYA! We couldn't help it the whole room was laughing!

Where did we get these funny kids???

Hannah Loses her First Tooth!

Late Sunday evening she asked me to wiggle her loose tooth...So, being obedient and all, I did. Her tooth popped right out! She was thrilled and amazed!

Sam is pretty sure the tooth fairy brought him $38.00 for his first tooth...(I wonder where he lived then??? because no tooth fairy in this house has ever given out that much money...:) ha ha ha

She was super excited and went to bed with a big toothless grin on her face!



















(sorry about the bad picture quality but, her expression..the joy...is so cute!)

Jenna just wanted to say....

I love my kitty purse and tap shoes!!!

And Doughnuts!!!

...and I LOVE to indulge this three year old! She is just so dang sweet!

Thanksgiving Wrap-up

Okay, I know I am way behind here but,
we had a great Thanksgiving holiday and I wanted to share...
First, we were thrilled and excited to be invited to Hillary and Alex's house in Arkansas for thanksgiving! They just moved into their new house and we haven't been out for a visit yet so this was exciting! (By the way, they just added a new member to their family!!! A new baby boy...Jackson Alexander Sperry! Welcome to the world baby Jack...I can hardly wait to meet you!)

Gas Prices were super low...$1.45! I filled my car for $34.00. I couldn't believe it! Anyhow, we loaded on up and headed on out!!! We arrived a bit tired, four hours later....It was Premiere night for Twilight so...of course, we went to the show. (I felt a bit old and out of place among the throngs of teens and tweens who were quoting the movie...and making all kinds of other noises...they were really quite entertaining!) Overall I liked the show, I do think it would be hard to understand if you hadn't read the book. I liked all of the characters except for Rosalie (did you want some fries with that shake?) oops! I also think they did the house wrong...It was supposed to be a big restored farmhouse...that was Esmes passion right?! other than that I think the movie was well done and visually as accurate as it could be...and I can't wait to see the next one. I would also love to see Host done into a movie....maybe with a bigger budget. :) That would be great!


We had a great visit with the Sperry's and the rest of the family that was there. (Alex, Hillary, Allyson, Olivia, Alayna, and Phoebe Sperry. Doe and Nathan Sperry. Jenny and Ron Doan. Jake, Misty, Gideon, and Ashelyn Doan. Seth, Sarah, Annie, Jared, Katelyn, Ella, and Jason Galbraith, and us! It was nice to be together again. The food was fabulous, the kids were entertaining, our hosts were perfect. We really had a great time. Thanks Hillary and Alex for having us!!!


Well we went back to school and normal life for a few days...(I painted a couple of signs...) then for Thanksgiving day we drove down to see Erinns dad and brothers. John couldn't make it because his mom is sick, so we had Dan, Sherman, and Steven Earnheart. Sara T. (Dan's girlfriend). Steven's girlfriend and her kids Selena and Santana. Steven brought his new baby boy Kamryn Lewis Earnheart, so that was fun. The boys enjoyed playing old school Nintendo in the basement. Dans girlfriend Sara made the food. It was wonderful. It's nice for me to just show up and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. We went for a nice long drive afterward and Erinn told stories of growing up in Kansas City. It was really great.

Friday, we decided against going shopping...too many people and not enough $ saved = not worth it!!! So, we got out our Christmas decorations and had everything up before dinner! I was amazed at how quickly we got the job done! The house looks beautiful! I think I am finally starting to feel it...Christmas spirit??? is that you??? If nothing else, I feel the urgency of the very quickly approaching date on the calendar...I am excited about all the fun gifts to buy, make and wrap...the parties, the snow, Hannahs Christmas concert, Santa Lucia Day, quilt shop classes, birthdays, vacation days, and last but not least....the upcoming new year. Cause we all need a fresh start (at least once a year!:)

Speaking of fresh starts...we were thrilled to attend Jared's baptism on Sunday!! Yay Jared! We were happy to get to share one more day of family fun and food. Sunday afternoon we enjoyed dinner and dessert for Jared, Spenser, and Grandpa Fish(although he and grandma stayed home due to the snow that fell Saturday) We missed you both! It was a lovely day. at the end of which I enjoyed a little Americas Funniest Videos and The Amazing Race!! I finally signed up for the DTV box so maybe we'll be able to see the fuzzy things on TV soon! :) (Thanks Misty for suggesting that!)

Anyway, that's about it...I have to teach sharing time tomorrow, and attend ward council mtg at 7am so I better go get something else done!

Love you all, Natalie