Christmas Eve

Ever since I knew that my Mom wouldn't live a long life, I started to dread Christmas time and other holidays.  She always made them so special and I just wasn't sure how it would be without her.  As Christmas Eve started to draw near I got very sad.  We didn't have any family to be around and we kind of felt lost as to what we should do that day.  I tired to go and see my Grandparents but it just didn't work out, becuase they kind of suck! and so we were on our own.  I really wanted to see my Mom, and so the best we could do was the cemetery.  The kids made her some cute little things, and Makenna had come up and brought her something with Travis.  It was so sad being without Kenna for that day.  After the cemetery we went to the temple to see the lights.  It was fun, and something different.  We found the best hot chocolate there, so that helped with the extreme cold.

When we got home some of the neighbors had lined the streets with candles, it looked so cool.  My camera sucks so I couldn't capture it, but it was so nice and really helped me feel happy!  Hopefully next year will be better.  I am grateful for the family that I have, and that I was able to be with, it just felt empty!

Service

This year I wanted the kids to have a chance to serve others.  We are pretty spoiled people.  We came accross a great oppurtunity, and the kids were able to assemble 100 gift bags for kids in need.  It was like a stocking stuffer.  I had them do it 100% on their own and they amazed me.  They never complained and they got a great little system down for filling the bags.  It seemed like it really helped to get them into the Christmas spirit, and teach them about just how lucky they really are.  I hope that we can do things like this more often for those in need. 

THIRTEEN

If you would have EVER told me that I was going to have a 13 year old, I would have laughed.  Even just a few years ago.  I can't even handle it.  How did my cute little baby girl get so big.  It happened in the blink of an eye.  Luckily, she has turned out to be just AMAZING!  She is beautiful, too funny for her own good, smart, talented, sweet, mature, caring, and holds such a special place in my heart.  Speaking of hearts hers is so special.  She has so much good in her.  I am just so proud to be her Mom.  Happy birthday Kenna.  Please quit getting older, I can't take it!  I love you!!

Lillt Cooker!

I feel like every day he is making something new, and all on his own.  I hope he keeps it up, I love it!  This time it was muffins, and as usually they were great.  He is so funny!

Steves cake.

So we decided to make Steve a mtn. dew cake for his birthday.  These cakes are time consumers, so I started the night before to save some time.  I made his mtn. dew flavored cake and got it all shaped and ready to decorate.  Before he got home from work I hid it in the over so that I could decorate it after work the next day.  I didn't think anything of it.  Well the next day at work Coren calls me crying SO SO SO hard that I can't even understand him.  I finally got Makenna on the phone who was crying as well.  Once she calmed down I found out that Coren had decided to make some brownies, and pre-heated the over like the directions said to do.  Once he opened the oven, he saw the cake totally melted and laying in a pile.  He felt terrible.  I told him it was okay and that we could probably fix it.  When I got home and saw it I learned that they was NO fixing that cake.

I hurried and made a boxed cake and did my best to make a can of mtn. dew before Steve could get home from work.  It is sad looking, but a funny story!  happy Birthday STEVE!

Halloween Party

I always look forward to the annual Halloween Party.  However after this year I decided that next year we need to do something to spice the party up.  Like some games or something.  I don't know, it is fun, but I like a wilder party myself.  Maybe it is time to spike the punch!  :)  This year we went as Charlie Sheen, his Godesses, and Ashton Kutcher who replaced Charlie on his TV show.  It was okay.  Steve was into it, and me and Emily were VERY happy not to have to paint ourselves.  Tim was a lillt uncomfortable as a naked Man!  Next year is "People of WalMart" or basically white trash!  Oh wait, I shop at WalMart... I guess I can go as my trashy self!  We will have to see!