Indians, Christmas Trees & Wood

Carter had his Thanksgiving program today, and his class dressed-up like Indians. They sang a couple of songs and recited a little poem! It made me so proud to see his big smile!

Doesn't he make a cute little Indian?

We decorated the Christmas Tree for Family Night. Mike was very against it so he is on the couch in this picture. The kids had a blast though, and actually helped out a lot this year. I love having it up. I wish I could keep it up all year!

We went and got a few loads of wood on Saturday. They actually had smiles on their faces at 7:30 in the morning! We are still waiting on the pipe for the fireplace, but I can't wait until it gets here and we build our first fire!

I was glad that they were all ready to help when we got there, because it is getting hard for me to do stuff like that, but their excitement only lasted for about 15 min. and then they moved onto other things like carving branches and climbing around on the trees. Mike and I got a good workout, and I definately felt it that night and the next day. I think next time he's going to have to do most of the work!

I know it's pretty big!

I went for my check-up today, and I'm only 33 weeks and a few days, but my belly is measuring 35 weeks! It's pretty dang big! I am a little nervous that this baby might take after it's dad when it comes out. Mike weighed almost or just over 10lbs.! I am not quite sure what it was. I do feel pretty blessed that I feel really good still. Melinda and I walk usually about 4 days a week, and I know that it has helped. Her 5 month prego flat belly doesn't do much for my self esteem though. So not much longer and I'm not sure that I am ready for this! Wish me luck!

Mother-Daughter Achievement Day Party

Katlyn and I had our first Mother-Daughter Party last night at Sister Beck's house. I love these things, because I can remember going to them with my mom and being SO excited! We had so much fun! It was all about Native Americans and their culture.
We made this necklace together.

Katlyn got her hair braided by Sister Kelley, and she taught me how. I know it's sad, but I did not know how to french braid. Thats what my sister Misty was for!

We also etched and decorated this candle holder.

Sister Nez also came and told us about her family and the culture traditions for when a girl grows into a young woman, and the things that the clan does for them. It is pretty amazing at some of the similarities of the teachings of the clan and the teachings of the church.

I can't believe that my little girl is old enough for achievement days, but I am so glad that I was able to go and spend that time with her. I dread when the day may come that she doesn't think it's cool to hang out with me.

Things I Do After School By: Katlyn Papa

Here are some sneak peaks of some things I do after school. First of all, I like to do homework. My favorite subject is....MATH! I like a paper I get that has 100 math problems. I really really like handwriting. Homework is absolutely fun.
I will continue, I like to eat snacks after school. I really really like apples with creamy peanut butter spreaded. I also like bullet bars especially banana flavor. I love love love toasted toast with butter and strawberry jam. Just writing about it makes me hungry.
Also, this is the best thing I wrote about. I love to read scripturs. I really like it when my family reads together. I also like it that we read every night. And guess what every child reads one verse. Clearly, I like to do a lot of things after school.

(Katlyn's teacher gave this to me at parent teacher conference and I have been meaning to put it on here for her to read years from now if the paper doesn't make it! She is such an amazing little girl, and so creative and smart! Carter also got quite a good report from his teacher. He loves school and is learning so much. She says he makes her smile every day and is never in a bad mood!)

BOYS, enough said!

I made no bake cookies yesterday and Gage comes in and says "Awww mom, you made dog poop cookies. I hate dog poop cookies. They are dross." Then, Carter comes in and tells him, "No Gage, they aren't dog poop cookies, they are delicious. Here take a bite." Gage takes a bite and says "Oh, ya they aren't dog poop cookes. They are just chocolate cookies."

Carter was in the bathroom taking care of buisiness, and when he came out I asked him if he flushed the toilet and washed his hands. He looked at me totally serious and said, "Mom the Decepticon is going to come and break our door down to get us, and when he does he will smell the poop, and go CRASH!" Gage says, "Carter, that's a great idea!"

Gage and I walked out of the store today, and Gage runs to the truck as fast as he can, and when he gets there he says "Holy nuts that was fast."

EGGNOG
4 egg yolks
1/3 c. sugar plus 1 tbls.
1 pint whole milk
1 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. nutmeg
4 egg whites

In a bowl, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 c. sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Add the milk, cream, and nutmeg and stir to combine.
Place the egg whites in a bowl and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running gradually add the 1 tbls. of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve.

I have no idea what beating until soft and stiff peaks form, so if you do let me know. We just beat them for a while!!!! Mike says the stuff tastes way better than store bought, and we even just used 2% milk and it turned out great! The recepie calls for bourbon too, so if your holidays call for a little jingle in your drink you could add that too!!!!!!

Treats of Choice......

Mike and I both have very different treats of choice. He loves the winter season only for the eggnog! (nasty) However, it is so stinkin' expensive so last night he found a recipe online and decided to try it. He had to get a few things from the store and he has a little habit of bringing the kids and I back a treat EVERY time he goes by himself. The kids got hershey bars and I got Mint Chocolate Premium M&M's! If you have never tried these and you like mint, they are amazing! (Mike hates anything mint.) Mike's eggnog turned out great too. So he says. I myself will never touch the stuff! Now he can make it all winter long. So, homemade eggnog, and Mint Chocolate Premium M&M's have become our treats of choice this year, and neither has to worry about the other swiping their snack!

Cole & Paisley's Big Day!

This weekend we went down to the valley for Paisley & Cole's baby blessings. I was ready to get a break and see everyone because we haven't been down there for about 6 months. It was a lot of fun, but an exhausting few days! We helped John & Debbie move some of their stuff down to their new house, and did not get there until about 11 on Friday night. Mike and I spent all morning Saturday shopping for Christmas, because we won't be going down again before then. Thanks to Misty for watching the kids. Mike spent the afternoon helping to move things into his dads new house, and I went to see Ashley, my friend from Round Valley who just had an adorable little boy. We then spent the night babysitting for my sweet sister Misty while they went to the temple, and our good friend Rachel came to visit with her kids, making the grand total of children in the house that night to 10! It was a lot of fun. So, to bed at about midnight, and up again at 6 to make Cole's 8:00 baby blessing. Breakfast as the Wood's after, a little rest and then it was Paisley's turn to be blessed at 12. By the time they got done passing the sacrament the kids and I were all asleep! We ate luch at the Papa's and had a good visit with everyone, then drove home. We, or I guess I should say the kids and I were so excited to see snow just outside of Payson. Mike hates the snow! I told Carter & Gage we could put up the Christmas tree when it snowed, and so they were sorely disappointed when Mike put a stop to that this morning. (I would have let them put it up!) It was a crazy, busy weekend as it always is when we go down there, but it was a lot of fun to see everyone, and the baby blessings were sweet. Cole and Paisley's dads both did a great job.

WHY Does He Love Me?

I have been meaning to paint our bedroom for the last two years! It was the only room in the house that did not get finished before we moved in. I painted the whole house by myself, and by the time I reached it I was spent. A full week of painting stinks bad! So, this last week I decided to get on the ball and get it done. Mike had to help me tape up on the plant shelves because I did not want to fall off, and he wrote this sweet little message for me.
It just made me think a little bit. Why does he love me? Especially right now, at this point in our lives. He has put up with me for almost 8.5 years, and I'm pretty sure I get a little more hard to put up with as each day goes by. Right now I know that there are times that he would like to throw up his hands and then throw me in the trash! He tells me that I look SEXY, and I tell him to shut-up, because who feels sexy when they are this pregenant? He asks me how my day went and I tell him all the bad things about my day and a lot of times forget to even ask him how his went. He sends me sweet little texts almost every morning, and I will let you guess if I ever do it for him! He writes cute little notes on the wall while helping me paint, and most of the time I don't appreciate it. Don't get me wrong people, he is not perfect! He has an "unhealthy" obsession with his truck that those of you that know him can attest to. Not so much with the way it looks, but how much horsepower it has. EXPENSIVE! I would drive it off of a cliff and not care a lot of the time. And he is kind of a smart ass! That he comes by honestly! (Thank you John!) But what the heck, he can't be perfect. He used to tell me when we met in high school that he could not believe that a girl like me would like a guy like him. I would be willing to bet that his view on that has changed a little bit!!!! I mean lets just be honest, how many men do you know that would take on a wife and a baby at 17 and always provide and never complain? Not many! I love ya babe! I could not ask for anyone better, and wouldn't want them either!