We are winterized!

Now I have given our blog a winter theme, it better snow soon! I want to have some winter with snow so my kids can try out their saucers! I want to make snowmen! I want to watch my kids have fun while freezing in the snow!

I WANT SNOW BABY! (I just don't want to drive in it)

#2, Sledding with family

Friday night, we had a family party and then went out to finish our shopping. When we got home, there was a fun surprise waiting on the porch:

Also, Mary was there.. I really enjoyed getting each piece of this nativity! It has been fun.

#1, Playing games with Family

The last night came on Christmas Eve. It was both sad and good. We knew that we would be getting the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve just as he had been born that night, but we also knew that was the end of the surprises.. and guessing what else there could be!

Crafty times....

Like I have said before, making a gift is so much more fun than buying it. This is the apron that I made for my niece as a Christmas gift. It took me like 10 minutes, but it was SOOO fun! I am getting more crafty everyday.

#3, Candy Canes

Tonight we got candy canes and what I think has to be Joseph for our Nativity. I have been thinking a lot of Joseph today and thought of this song:

When Joseph went to Bethlehem

When Joseph went to Bethlehem I think he took great care

to place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there. 

He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back

And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.

I think there ar the busy inn that he was meek and mild

And awed to be the guardian of Mary's sacred child. 

Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smootherd the swaddling bands

And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph's gentle hands

And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern's light

And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.

#4, Stockings filled with goodies

Tonight's special gift was 2 little stockings so cute and full of the perfect treats for our kiddos! Also, we got our third wise man! Friend, you have made our family's Christmas season so special. The kids love waiting for you to come, then going through the gifts. I am having so much fun taking pictures to remember these days forever. It has been so sweet.

#5, Hot Cocoa

 Today was a box of hot cocoa, these CUTE snowman mugs, and a second wise man for the stable. I am so excited!! Whomever this is, thank you for being so kind. It is making Christmas sooo fun for us!

Day #6, Wrapping paper and bows

Last night we received some cute wrapping paper and bows from our "Christmas Phantom" as Caity is now calling it. We also got a Wise Man for the stable. I can't wait to see what comes tonight!!

Day #7, Christmas stories

The Christmas giver wanted to share Christmas stories with us tonight. The story that they gave us was Christmas Oranges. If you haven't read this book, it is a good one. As you can see, there is 2 copies, a nice big one, and a cardboard child book. The story was accompanied by 4 oranges and a Shepard for our stable!

Day #8, Christmas Music

Saturday night's gift was a Christmas CD and a sheep for our stable.. this is so fun not knowing what to expect. I know that we are going to have fun listening to this CD!

I am not sure why, but it usually seems that each year you get gifts that you don't want or need, but feel obligated to keep. This year I was bound and determined to let people know exactly what we needed or wanted.. and what sizes the kids would need, books they would like to read, things like that. Well, the first gift we have needed for a while. I know that we had a microwave, but the one that we had wasn't the best. It is so small that popcorn bags get stuck. Sometimes is is too hot, sometimes not hot enough, all around a little frustrating all though for free, who could complain? I was even hesitant to ask for one because we had one, even though it didn't work perfect. Why be wasteful? Well, we needed it and Trevor made sure that when I was talking to my mom that I told her that, yes, we did need it. This is what we ended up with:

Andruw gave it the "maiden voyage" last night, warming up his taco soup for dinner.

Then, who doesn't need paper right? Well, Bekah got me paper made from recycled horse poop. Yep, I said horse poop. Don't worry. It doesn't stink or feel weird. It is a yellowish green. Anyway, it was a great gift.. I was baffled for a second, that doesn't happen!

Lastly, the traditional gift from Grandpa and Grandma Thompson! Pajamas!! Here is a picture of Caity and Andruw pulling funny faces for me. This possibly is the best way to get what you want out of them for a picture because otherwise you will get a funny face and want a regular face.. haha, love my kids.

Sometimes making the presents is MORE fun!!

I have been really into crafting lately.. if you didn't know, know you do! I have had so much fun making fancy things for Christmas to use the things that I have in the house already and maybe purchasing one little part to add.. in this first picture, I made the bow around the candle, and glued on the glitter that is on the candle. The only item I had to purchase for the gift was the candle itself.. it was inexpensive and quite cute in the end.. although the glitter is probably going to come off a while.. sorry dad!!

Sorry about my messy table in the background, but this was the best picture of the bows that I made for my sister Ryann. I tried to make things that she would really be able to wear because I didn't want her to think that I thought her nearly 16 year old body was still a kid.. I ended up making these out of my ribbon scraps I had left from some orders so it was a perfect plan. Also, I came up with 3 perfect color schemes for her! Love you Ryann!!

I also had the kids make my parents some cards. I am sorry I didn't remember to get photos of them because they were "interesting". Caity gave Rudolph "boobs" on his face. I think that will be the highlight of this Christmas season for me, teaching my 5 year old that Rudolph is a boy so A, he doesn't have boobs and B, if he did, they wouldn't be on his face. Merry Christmas to all!!

Day #9, Christmas Movies

Friday night our special friend left us a movie to watch as a family. The kids were so excited! Also, we got a donkey for our stable! Thank you again awesome!

Christmas from Andruw

I think that some of the best parts of Christmas are the gifts that the kids bring home from school. On Friday, Andruw brought home this nutcracker. He has been telling me about it for a while now, so I was excited.


It is made on a Lays Stax container.. from construction paper. I am so excited to have this displayed in my house!!

The 10 Days of Christmas

Last night, while preparing for bed I heard a knock at the door. Who was at our house at 9?? Well, it was someone leaving gifts of course!! It was a welcomed surprise. I even got the kids out of bed to see what was there and let them hang ornaments on the tree. What a cute idea, the 10 days of Christmas, rather than 12.. I love this! The spirit of giving is such a good thing, I know that we can all learn something fun from this.

Here is what was in our package last night...

The First card says:

"The twelve days of
Christmas
Is rather cliche.
So we thought we'd do this
Our own special way.
Ten things we have thought of That brings us some cheer.
With hopes that your
Christmas
Will also be dear."

The second says:

"#10

Decorating the Christmas
tree!

(You will understand the
reason for the empty stable
as the days go by.)"

Our family is really excited for this special gift that someone is giving us. I am sure that it will be the highlight of our season. If the family that is doing this kind deed for us is reading.. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Decorating for Christmas

Decorating for Christmas is important to me. This year we spent a little time and really did up the living room... or at least that is what we want you to think!

It started with the tree. We love our prelit, easy to put together tree. We don't have to think too much about it and it is beautiful. With daycare kids here it has probably been redecorated 30 times in the last 2 weeks. Also, we have had 10 ornaments or so get broken. Luckily I have a hot glue gun and could fix most of them.

Next I decided to decorate the entertainment center with some bows and ribbon that we had from when we lived at my mom's that we put on the stairs. It looks really nice where it is at though, and adds a touch of festivity to the house.

Well, we had some left over strands of light that are not the same color as what we used outside.. so Trevor decided he would hang them in the window and see how long I would leave them like that... I am still going strong!! Would you leave it?About a week later, my creative juices were a working away in my mind, a way to use the old ball ornaments that Trevor doesn't like too much.. well, there is that shadow box.. and fishing line.. and I need to hang the stockings somewhere anyway right?? Well here is what I came up with...

And finally, after the shadow box with the balls, I remembered that I had some more little cubes that I could hang on the walls to decorate with.. and just leave up after Christmas.. so here they are with some fun little ornaments from Trevor's childhood and a decoration that I like too much to leave where kids can get it...


We are all ready for Santa to come to our house to help us celebrate Christ's birthday. Next year I would like to find a Nativity scene for a small amount of money and put that in my shadow box instead of the balls.... goals for the future ;)

Update on us.. it has been tooooo long

I know that I posted pictures of my house the other day on here, but I never did update the blog back in March when we moved from my mom's to this cute house on the corner. We stayed in the same school and ward. It was a decision that we made for both us and Andruw.

Since we moved in, Caity started Kindergarten. She is as naughty as ever with her little tricks. She loves to "bury" her testimony and often makes grandpa take her to do so.

Andruw has started 3rd grade. He is doing very well. It seems that we are finally seeing the product of all of the work we have done with him. This month he got his Wolf in scouts along with a gold and 3 silver arrows. He and his dad have been working hard together. He loves going to scouts and really just wants to ride his bike there.

I have quit my job in Salt Lake in order to stay home and do daycare. Most days it was a good choice. I am working at Farm Bureau again, this time studying to become an agent. I should soon take the test, then I will be doing that rather than daycare.

Trevor is still working at Autoliv. He does wish that he was framing again, but the economy makes that a poor choice. It is good because we have the good benefits that come with his job. I can't express enough how grateful I am for them!

We are getting geared up for Christmas. I will post some pictures of our decorations tomorrow. :)

Messy Jenn and Clean Jenn are feuding... who will win???

Today I cleaned my house. Like every day. Just like every other Monday morning.. it was like a bomb went off before I started. So many people have told me lately that they don't believe that my house can get that messy.. I am here to show you before and after pics today. We will start in the living room:

From looking at these you would think that picking up after yourself is discouraged in our household??? Well, I spent 15 minutes working my little tail off and this is what you get:


Well, now someone needs to clean that kitchen... the garbage has overflowed all over!!! WTH?? Somone needs to get a handle on their laziness??!!! I'll say!
Oi, this is going to take forever... that is the only thought I could muster. Well, after 15 minutes, lets see how it looked....

Well, at least you made some progress self.. lets try to get this looking spic and span... 30 minutes later......

AHHH that is more like it!! Now what, you ask.. my bedroom. Oi! Somone should have probably made my bed one day this weekend.. it looks like crap. And the fact that the hamper is running all over the floor.. no worries, right?
well 15 minutes later....



Uh oh.. we seem to have forgotten one very important room. If someone gets that stomach bug that is spreading around town, they are going to want the bathroom to be clean, but this is what it actually looked like...

Well, 5 minutes later and we are looking more like this.....


I know that you are noticing the absence of Caity and Andruw's room, that is because I am not cleaning it today.. sorry!!! LOL