Update 12-14 through 12-20

Since I will NOT be posting on Christmas day, and possibly not again until after our trip, I'll say it now! We will be leaving for Utah Christmas Day evening and staying through Jan 5th. I'm SO excited to see everybody, but I think my kids are even more excited! But ya know what I"m mostly excited for? 2 1/2 weeks with my kids all home with me, and 1 1/2 weeks of my husband by my side! We haven't had much vacay this year so he has plenty to spare and I totally am looking forward to it!

We had a good week. Lots of productivity and lots of fun. We stayed really busy with something going on every night! OUr good friends the Jiraks moved and that was really sad. We had them over lots this week and the kids had a hard time understanding them being gone, but they want to make some trips out to yellow stone and Salt Lake so hopefully we will be able to coordinate trips!
Thursday night (I forgot to bring my camera) was Kyson's preschool Christmas party. All us moms were pretty wiped by then so it wasn't anything super spectacular, but Amy who put it on did a great job coordinating some fun games and ideas. The kids all had a good time, it was short, sweet and perfect for a preschool family party!

Saturday was super fabulous as we didn't have ANYTHING planned! I got to go to the GYM, run some errands, Duck got to run some errands, we got some gifts made, spent some time wtih kiddos, finished wrapping ALL of christmas and got ot spend the evening together. Not to mention Duck got to watch his Cowboys kick butt! It was a good night for him!

Primary today pretty much just drove me. LIke nuts, crazy, up the wall. Actually I'm kidding, it wasn't primary it was just everyrthing. LIke from an early morning, running around, meetings, church, needing to sit in a sunday school (which I loved, but it took me from primary), tithing settlement, meeting about other things, more primary organization, then more church christmas organizing, trying to blog all between all this and then my blessed husband taking care of the kiddos during all this and getting my floors swept mopped and my bathroom done! Whew...what a busy day. Glad it's over! I had been dreading the business of this day all week.

BUT! On a good note....we have some fun planned this week and I look forward to it! Hope you all have a fabulous christmas filled with love, family, and happiness. I sent out a few Christmas cards and will also be sending it via email along with this picture. If you read this blog frequently you already know all about it, but if you would like to be emailed the letter, just let me know!
milkmilkmilk21@hotmail.com
love you all!

Making Christmas

For Family Home Evening this week we were making gifts to go to our neighbors and friends around here. Since the plaques for primary turned out so well I decided to make those! We our friends the Davis' over to join us and it was so fun! Our kids really have fun together, but of course after the business of life, we rarely find time to get together, so this was a great opportunity to hang with them and their darling kids! !e are also getting together on Christmas Eve to deliver some of these to an Elderly Home and to sing carols. The kids are excited about it and I really look forward to it as well.

Positive Notes Recital

This week we had our Fall/Christmas recital and it went very well! It gets me excited to continue after Christmas break. The kids are so much fun, they seem to love it so much, and it's times like a recital that makes any hard moments so worth it! They looked so cute, were so excited and did a great job! I ended up holding it here at my house and that actually worked out really well. I think it just made it easier for everybody.

I have a couple parents who don't want their childs pictures on the blog so I just have this one to show, but just know the kids were cute, they did a good job and imagine 10 more of these darling faces with their mouths open wide holding the lOOOONg note at the end of Candle on the Water. They are great!

Sewing again!

I have been sewing again, a lot this week and here are a few of my creations

I have a friend moving...far away, well they moved yesterday. But we had them over this week, such a sad goodbye! A while back when I had made a top for Maliyah, Angie saw it and loved and wondered if I would ever make it to sell (meaning for her daughter). I said no, not realizing she meant for her daughter. So as a going away gift I finally made her little one an outfit. Angie loved, I loved how it turned out and I just pray it fits valerie perfect!





I loved the design of vals shirt so much, I kinda copied it for Maliyah and SAvannah's. A little different, but the basic idea.







These tops for the girls (long to wear with leggings) were made with fabric that Maliyah picked herself. I usually am not for the super pink and purple....but I wanted Maliyah to make it as it was a Christmas gift. So when we were out shopping this week I totally let her pick them out (of course with me guiding her to the cheaper fabrics). I can't wait to see them in them!

Also this week (well actually in a day) I got following done for Maiyah's dolls: baby crib bumper, burp cloths, blanket, straps for high chair, and crib matress. Then for Kyson we made a fort to go over the folding table. Probably one of the easiest things I have made (okay not as easy as the burp cloths!) and so cool! The kids love making tents and forts, and I hate the mess, so this way we just set up the folding table, throw the fabric over and voila...a tent/fort! I will take pictures Christmas morning when the kids discover their fabulous gifts!

Now I just have to finish the darn stockings!

CED Holiday Party

Friday night was Duck's company party. He of course plans it every year, but I usually help a little. This year he didn't want my help (I guess I get bossy? ). We started out with dinner at Wingers (which I don't think I will EVER eat there again after looking at their nutritional information). Then we went bowling. It was an adult event so we had the kids with a sitter although I did have Savannah with us. Last week we had left the sitter with all four and she did great, but I wanted it to be fun with the kids and for the sitter to be able to focus on playing with them instead of worrying about a baby, so along came savs!

We had a wait a little while for bowling (leagues) so we played in the arcade. I officially suck at air hockey, but still love it. Then bowling. Well I already knew I sucked at bowling, but Duck had some ideas to make it a little more fun. First game was couples. WE WON TOO! Not because of me of course...duck is pretty good. So being the winners we got to be first to pick from a box of gifts....then down the score each person go to pick a gift or take another. That was fun! Then we did boys vs. girls. Yeah we got spanked. But that was to be expected. Duck's employee (and my sunbeam teacher!) did better than Rachel and I, but either way....we did awful!



Savannah has been finding interest in toys lately and it's so fun to watch her with them!



My, well Kyson's Sunbeam teachers. Kristina is Duck's office girl.





Ducks other employee is Jeremy and this is their newest! Elaina (probably spelled wrong). She is just about 2 1/2 months younger than savannah although they are close to the same size! She is such a cutie!







Danny and Kristina

Christmas Dress

The Sunday before Christmas is always when I dress up the kids in their Holiday outfits. I didn't really go all out with lots of planning, but most of their clothes I got last year so luckily didn't have to pay much for them! Jade was the only one that I had a hard time with because Kyson's old sweater (3t) that I was going to use was worn through and looked awful, so I duck some more and found Ky's shirt from last year? Maybe it was two years ago, (4T) and it fit! My Jade is getting so big! Anyway they looked cute and I can't wait until they are in them in Utah so my mom can take some REAL pictures!

This is Maliayh DAncing with Daddy before taking pictures









Oh, I love this kid!



I swear my kids get the worst red eye! (and right now I'm WAY too lazy to do anything about it)









Yeah....we beat our kids. Okay no, but a gash? and ya know what? I have NO idea when in the heck he even got it!