O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree

Saturday was Tree hunting day! Nate had to work til 4 in the morning so we didn't get going til around 11. We got to my parents and were ready to go when I remembered I had left the tree tag at home! I felt so dumb. I had taken ours home and made a big deal about it with my dad saying I didn't want it lost or forgotten and then I forgot! Goodness. So... around 1 is when we got to the mouth of the canyon.The kids ready for some snow!

We have gone to the same place for the last few years. This year there was a lot less snow but there was still some so we weren't to disappointed. We did stop fairly soon and before we knew it we had found the trees. Mom and Dad's had a birds nest in it. I'm not sure how my dad knows which ones will have them, but he has cut down one with a nest in it almost every year. It is suppose to mean good luck in the coming year if you get a tree with a nest in it.

The kids had a blast finally being able to play in some snow. Norma has been talking about a snow fight for months. But she enjoyed eating it much more no matter how much her mother told her not too. Thadd forgot his gloves and hat but that didn't stop him for long. Tucker had a blast "trying" not to hit everyone with snow. His laugh is so wonderful! Wall-E had so much fun running around and you have to admit, he is darn cute in his coat!

I was so excited to cut down a big tree this year. With our vaulted ceiling I wanted to be able to put up a tall one. This one I was worried it was to small around, I like FULL trees. When we got it home we ended up cutting 3 more feet off it and with a little tender love and care it turned out great!We love decorating the tree every year. It is such a fun tradition for us as a family. We always put in the Silent Night DVD of the choir and as we hang all the ornaments we get to listen and look for Grandma Powell.They were coming back for more to hang on the tree so fast that most of the pictures turned out blurry.

I love this time of year. We have so much to be grateful for and so much love is shared and spread over all the earth. I love my family and I'm so glad we can be together and enjoy each other as much as we do.

The Elf on the Shelf

We started this tradition 2 years ago and it was the best thing ever! Around Thanksgiving I think all kids get the "naughties", but that is when Frisbee comes to our house. This little elf comes and goes every night. He goes back to Santa and tells them whether the kids have been good that day or not. They can't touch him but they can talk to him and tell him everything they want for Christmas.
My children love this elf! So much that on the first morning after he came to our house they were up before Eric even got here in the morning! (That is 6:30!) But he really helps with the good behavior in the house and they listen much better once this little guy has come. The dog even went crazy when we all found him the first day. Kept jumping up the wall to try to get to him and sat and whined under him forever! I was a little late getting a picture of it though.
I really recommend this tradition to everyone with little kids. I got mine at Hallmark when I was working there for the Christmas season. It comes with the cutest little book and of course, your very own elf!

Weekend

Now I have some time I can post about this weekend. I'm sure you have all seen Heather's blog and that she got to surprise Zac for his birthday with a weekend away. So her kids were here. First I'd just like to say what a wonderful baby Jennifer is!!!

I had gotten out these baby toys for Jennifer and all the kids had so much fun with them. It was fun because they all played together so well.
Eric had had a solider sign his hand at school on Friday when they came to talk to the kids. I told him he couldn't go all weekend without washing his hands and that I would take a picture of it for him.Then Jennifer saw I had the camera out and had to come over for me to take her picture too!
I am so not ready for a baby! These girls were wide awake at 6 a.m.!!! Not use to that! I'm use to Tucker getting breakfast for the kids on Saturday mornings so I can stay in bed til 9. But 6?
We put the girls that were up in our bed to watch cartoons so they wouldn't wake everyone else. (Norma's not the happiest when she gets woke up.) I wanted to take a picture of Nate curled up at the bottom of the bed with them but he wouldn't let me. :)We ended up having some of my friends over on Saturday too so there were a total of 9 kids in the house and only 2 adults for about 3 hours. It was crazy but all the kids played together so well! They even played quietly down stairs while Jennifer took her second nap! It was amazing! I also made chicken noodle soup that they all ate. It was a good weekend and I was so glad I could help out Heather so her and Zac could have this time!

Christmas Tree Permits

One of my favorite memories of the holidays from when I was a child was going to cut our own Christmas tree. We would try to go on Thanksgiving day. Bundling up, driving for who knows how long, un-bundling to find a bathroom and then walking up to the perfect tree. But to get to this point you have to go stand in the cold for hours, in a line over a hundred people long to get a little green tag that you put on that perfect tree once you find it.

My dad and I did just that this morning. I got to counting and it has been three years since we have gone to cut our own trees. I was pregnant with Norma. It must be my emotions that make me insist on cutting our own tree. But my reasoning this year is we have a vaulted ceiling and we really should make the most of it with a tree this year.

Now that I have this little green tag I want to break out the Christmas lights, the Christmas music and the egg nog in the holly shot glasses. Christmas is coming and I can't wait!!!

Trick or Treat!

I feel a little bad. My kids have never gone "real" trick or treating. Every year, we go to my parents ward. They do "Trunk or Treating" but they do it in the gym. So we don't have to be outside in the cold, we get to see all the candy they are getting and Winni takes them around! :)

I made Norma's Dorthy costume and I will say I will NEVER make a costume like this again! It was the most involved pattern I have ever made! Very cute, but I think the 30 bucks to buy one would have been worth it.
The boys wanted to be Bugs Bunny. Random, I know. They have a Wii game with the Acme charters and that's where they got it from. I tried for two weeks to talk them into being the Scarecrow and the Tinman. I thought it would be so cool! Not to a 7 and 6 year old though. So, Mario and Luigi they were again. I loved that they picked these costumes last year. It was so origanal! Not so much this year. Thadd was the only Luigi but there were at least 6 other Mario's when we went to the school parade. But it was good.
The kids had a great day! I got chili and they got to play with friends that they haven't seen since last year. They made some really good friends when we lived with my mom and dad, (so did I for that matter) and they had a blast. Norma got scared of someone right as we were getting ready to set up for trick or treating. She wouldn't let us put her down, she would scream when ever we tried and the death grip she had on our necks, you wouldn't think a 3 year old could hold on that tight! We never found out what she was scared of but once the candy came out she was better. :)

I asked Norma what her favorite costume that she saw was and she told us a Knight. Not until I was editting the pictures to put on here did I see him...

She is so cute! Well, I hope everyone had as much fun as we did! We love Halloween and we love that we are loaded down with candy and on our way home after only a half hour of trick or treating!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!