It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I set up the tree over the weekend and wish I could say it went without a hitch. For the first time in years I actually had a problem with the lights! Two strings of lights I had half burned out. Rather than try to find the one that's burned out, I went and got new lights. Then come to find out that the plug on one of them is faulty. Of course it's 12:30 on Saturday night when I discover this so rather than go all weekend without lights on the tree, I made do. The kids love helping to decorate the tree. Kenny G's Miracles, Faith and Jim Brickman's The Gift was playing in the background while we drank hot chocolate and watched the twinkling lights. The magic of Christmas filling the air with each ornament we put on the tree.
One of the things I have on the tree is the little baby Jesus (a little plastic baby wrapped in "swaddling clothes" laying in a walnut shell). It was so sweet to see Jared's face when he discovered this. I purposely put it on the tree at his eye level so that he would see it. Of course it hasn't stayed on the tree much. He carries it around with him every where he goes and is always telling us about the baby Jesus.
Throughout this season as we go about our busy lives, don't forget the reason we celebrate this special season: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving at our house

I know Thanksgiving was last week and most everyone I know already posted their pictures. So I'm a little late but who cares!

Yumm!! Seeing all this food makes me want to go eat dinner! All the food was so declicious! I didn't get pics of everyone there. Just those who were cooperative for the camera!

Pictures from Kaitlyn's party

I promised pictures from Kaitlyn's party so here they are! Everyone thought I was crazy to have 8 girls over here. I didn't mind it at all! Sure it was a little noisy but as long as everyone was having fun, I didn't care!

After all the girls arrived, they ate cake and ice cream. Then went on to open presents. After that, they watched the movie Ratatouille and ate caramel popcorn. About half way through, some of the girls were bored with the movie (they had seen it already) and wanted to dance. watching a bunch of 9 year olds dance is pretty entertaining! Sorry- I didn't get a picture of that.

Woodbadge

I know it's been a long time since I have made a post. Let me explain why. First of all I've been working more hours to help out with the finances. Secondly, I've been trying to finish a goal I set while at Woodbadge during the summer of 2006.

Woodbadge is a leadership training course put on by the Boy Scouts of America. The course teaches leadership skills and communication/listening skills through games, skits, lectures, campfire ceremonies, flag raisings, etc. It is not just for scouting people. They encourage anyone who wants to become a better leader to attend it. Of course it helps if you have scouting background because they refer to it a lot. When I attended, the course director was a judge from the juvenile court system here in Pocatello. Since he was the director, he assigned a lot of people who work in the juvenile system to attend the course. About 1/3 of the attendees were there because of their affilation with the Judge (most had no scouting experience). Anyway, one of the things you do at Woodbadge is set 5 tickets (goals) to work on and complete over the course of the next 18 months. They have to be fulfilled within that time in order for you to receive "beads" and a neckerchief. I have completed 4 of my 5 tickets and the last one is still in progress. That goal was to read the Book of Mormon. I am so close to being done. So, between work and reading the BOM, family, and church calling, my evenings have been pretty full.

I had a blast at Woodbadge! While I was there, they organized everyone into patrols. There are 5-6 people in a patrol and each patrol has a troop guide to teach us things that make us better leaders. I was assigned to the Bobwhite Patrol. Our patrol had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed our time at Woodbadge. Here is a picture of us.


My patrol still communicates with each other often and we are working on our goal of having our beading ceremony together.

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!

So, yesterday was Kaitlyn's 9th birthday. She's been talking about it for like 4 months. Not a day went by where we didn't hear how many days away her birthday was! She is so excited to have a party! We decided on a "late night" party for her and her friends. It's like a slumber party except the girls don't sleep here! Which is great because then I don't have to feed them breakfast and deal with all the picky eaters! Providing popcorn for the movie and cake/ice cream for dessert is something all the girls will like! Last night we worked on the invitations for her party. Kaitlyn just can't wait until Friday! I'll be sure to take some pictures of the party to share with you all!

Happy Halloween!

Last night we carved some pumpkins to put on display by the front door, courtesy of ISU. Yesterday evening, I was at ISU picking up copies and I noticed there was a carnival going on in the gym area. So I went in there (the kids were not with me) and saw they had pumpkins already gutted and ready to carve. So I took a couple home with me for the kids to carve. The kids had fun working on the pumpkins. They turned out fantastic!

Today we went to a trunk or treat for our ward. Kaitlyn dressed as Hannah Montana and Jared was a Jack O' Lantern (pumpkin). I did something clever. See if you can figure it out! The answer will be after the slideshow.

I have to credit my costume to my old friend, Michelle W. I saw her today with a cardboard sign hanging around her neck. There was an "I" painted on it. I asked her what the "I" was for and she answered with a question- "What color is the 'I'?" The "I" was pink, so it's Pink Eye! It's gross and funny at the same time! Since I didn't have a costume on, I decided to borrow her idea. Everyone asked me "What's up with the I? So I asked them the same question my friend asked me. So many people thought it was so funny! I put pink lipstick/blush around my eyes, but people didn't really notice that until they figured out the sign!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A few cards I've been working on

I subscribe to a monthly scrapbooking kit. The kit comes with stuff to make cards- envelopes, paper, and all sorts of embellishments. When I got this month's kit, for some reason I just sat down and actually started making cards! I've been getting the kits for 4 months now and this is the first one where I sat down and used it! And I don't send Halloween cards! I guess I'll be giving these to the sisters I visit teach- along with a little treat.

Super Saturday

Today was my ward's Super Saturday. One of the things I learned was to make cards and envelopes using freezer paper and tissue paper! I would never have thought that the two would go together! First we traced a template for the envelope and the card onto the freezer paper (the non-shiny side). Then you iron the tissue paper onto the shiny, slick side. It works like fusible web or whatever it's called. For the envelope you fold the flaps, glue and ta-dah! You've got an envelope! The card is the same except you just fold in half. This is the perfect way to use the tissue paper you get at parties- besides reusing them in other gifts! In some cases, the more crinkly the paper, the better!