It's been a busy week

First off, I took Tanner, Taz and Cynjyn into Krispy Kreme one night earlier in the week because you got a free donut for every A on your report card. Between the three of them we came home with 16 original glazed donuts! (No pictures though:() In our primary presidency meeting, we made 96 ornaments for the kids for Christmas.

This is a close up of the finished product.

We also made 30 teacher gifts. A pair of gloves stuffed with candy and a fun short story about a man who gives a poor woman his gloves.

Close-up of finished product.

Attended Cynjyn's awards assembly where she got A-B honor rolls (All A's except a B in math!)

Then, Cynjyn wanted a haircut for her bday, so I took her Friday after school for that.

Friday was also our ward Christmas party. Tanner danced a group dance with other teens in the ward. They did a swing to Rockin around the Christmas Tree. (I'll post a video blog eventually!!) Here he is with his partner, Cora Hopkins.

Cynjyn also got her bday dress from Grandma on Friday...She LOVED it!!

Today, we took 5 of her friends to the Adventuredome for her bday party. We got there by 10:00 am, left at 2:00, stopped at Wendy's for late lunch and had everyone home by 4. These are pictures of the event.

Now, Garry and I are off to his company Christmas dinner. What a week.

My baby turns 9!

Before you label me a bad mother, I didn't post yesterday because our monitor was broken!! We had to drag the super old one out of the garage and so I couldn't see anything until Garry did that and it was late at night when that happened.

Anyway, yesterday was Cynjyn's birthday. She had a little gift bag delivered to her at school, but reminded me that she was at the "older" school now and didn't need me to bring in treats. After school, she opened her presents. The stash before the opening began.

During.

She got this big makeup kit from Taz. Tanner drew her name for Christmas and got her a combined bday/Cmas present because it was kind of spendy, so Cynjyn is opting to open it at Chrismtas instead of her bday.

She got 4 outfits from us and so she promptly wanted to model them for all to see.

After opening presents, we went to Olive Garden for her birthday dinner. We came home and had cake. I'd gotten her an ice cream cake and we all enjoyed our own personal ice cream cone from the top which is about all we could eat because we were so full from dinner. She got phone calls from her grandma, cousin and aunts and so she deemed it a great birthday day!!

Christmas Recital

I had my Christmas recital last night. I have a great bunch of students. It was hard on them because it was the Monday after a long Thanksgiving break. Plus I had originally scheduled it for the 14th of December, but had to move it up two weeks. They almost all came through and practiced and polished and sounded so good!! Love that Christmas music. I was trying to download the videos for my mom and sisters, but they were taking too long, so I gave up. I'll work on that later! I'm off to breakfast at Sunrise Cafe with a few friends!

Day 26 November Gratitudes

I am grateful today is Thanksgiving. I love the relaxation of it and the tradition of basically doing the same things every year. The boys were up and at the football field for the ward's turkey bowl by 9:00am.

Talon ordered himself new cleats and gloves just for the event.

Talon, Tiffany, Garry and I played Zooloreto and Ticket to Ride.

Cynjyn jumped rope.

Tanner practiced.

Taz brought down a lot of Lego's and played all afternoon.

Cynjyn set the table with the good china.




The kids gobbled the skin!!

And we all posed for our annual picture around the dinner table. I am grateful for tradition and good food and good fun. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Day 25 November Gratitudes

Today I am grateful for Taz. I was typing up a poem he'd written last night for English. I'll let his poem be it today. Here are some pictures of him taken from spirit week a few weeks ago. He really got into dressing up and had a good time. School spirit day.

Jersey Day.

Crazy Hat Day.

Crazy Sock Day. We didn't get a picture of Pajama Day, but let's just say he was comfy that day. Now, here's the poem:

I am thankful for many importatnt things in my life.

For any type of meat, not vegetables, but fruits.

For my Grandma's cabin at Wallowa Lake.

For being able to watch football and play football.

For my first grade teacher who inspired me to like Sponge Bob.

For the computer to play Balloon Tower Defense Four and Facebook.

For my Grandpa who helped me live like I was in the olden days.

For playing any athletic sport (If I'm on a good team).

For being able to play the piano and swim.

For my kitty Mowgli or Mr. Momo.

This is what I'll be giving thanks for this Thanksgiving.

Well said Taz. I love you!!

Day 24 November Gratitudes

Today I am grateful for scouting. Having three boys, it has been a major part of our lives for many years now. I am grateful for all the hard work that goes into it. I am grateful that the cub scouting part of my life is now over. I am grateful that I have one son who is an Eagle scout and another who is in the midst of his Eagle project. I am grateful that his project is almost over. I am grateful that I only have one more project to get through!! I am grateful for a husband who has been scout master for at least 10 of the 15 years we've lived here!! I am grateful that when it's all said and done, I get a Mother's pin for all MY hard work!! I am grateful for the values scouting enhances in my boys. I am grateful that it helps them become upstanding men.

Day 23 November Gratitudes

Today I must be thankful for my sweet husband. I haven't been feeling too good for over a month now and he has just jumped right in and hasn't complained once. He's done most of the laundry, dishes and general cleaning. Saturday after New Moon, we went to dinner with the Thatchers after the movie. I started feeling sick during dinner. By the time we got home, I went straight to bed. Sunday I still wasn't feeling good, but got up and got ready for church and went. I had sharing time that day. Soon after Sac. Meeting started, I felt even worse. Of course I was upset and crying and Garry said he'd take me home and do sharing time for me!! Luckily, I had thrown my ideas around at him, so he had some sort of idea what I was doing. He brought me home and I told him everything I'd had planned and he prepped and went back and did both sharing times with ease of course!!

He is a keeper! I love him and I'm thankful he puts up with me!!

Day 21 November Gratitudes

I am grateful for sprinklings of summer amid fall/winter. I am grateful that I bought a ton of raspberries when they were on sale this summer at Von's. I am grateful that I froze them individually. I am grateful that I put them in quart sized ziplock bags for the future. I am grateful for tangy, tasty raspberries in my oatmeal on cold fall mornings!

Day 22 November Gratitudes

I am grateful for all the vampires I've known and loved throughout the years. I say New Moon yesterday and it reminded me of all the characters I've loved from books and shows and movies.

I first fell in love with vampires when I read the book Interview with a Vampire. I loved Louis and Lestat and really was happy when they made a movie out of it! I never finished all of Anne Rice's books in the series because they got a little annoying after awhile, but I loved the first two. Then came my beloved Buffy series. Truly loved that show. Angel was the tortured vampire with a soul and Buffy's first love. I even watched and loved his series once he jumped ship and got his own show. Then I fell in love with Spike. Who ever thought Angel could be replaced in Buffy's heart, but Spike managed to do that!

I must say I discovered the Twilight craze before it became a full fledged phenomenon. My friend Heather had just moved to Utah and recommended a book she'd just read. I picked it up at the library and the rest is history. I fell in love with Edward and will always and forever be on his team!! I do not particularly like Robert Pattinson as his portrayer, but the Edward character in the book is just the ultimate for me. Although the movies don't compare to the written word, at least I can still expect more Twilight vampire fixes for the next few years.

Then I thought I'd give these guys a try. Vampire Diaries is o.k. I'm not enamoured with either Stefan or Damon, but they'll do until I discover another true vampire that I can fall in love with.

Day 20 November Gratitude

I am grateful that it is November 20 and I still haven't turned on my heat yet. There are some perks to living in Las Vegas! Now, granted it is getting cold. As I type it is 41 degrees outside, but the days really warm up and are beautiful. We have put extra blankets on our beds and we curl up on the couch at night under a blanket. I have been wearing my shawls too. I know that withing a few more days, that heat will go on, but in the meantime, I will be loving our lower electric and gas bill until then:)

Day 19 November Gratitude

Today is easy and obvious!! I am grateful for my wonderful sister. It is her birthday today and I hope she has a happy one. She is so talented and creative and likes to do things big and with a bang. She has been the best aunt to my kids and has always been very supporting of my family even though we live far away. Now she has her own kids and she's a wonderful mom and I just love her to death!!

Day 18 November Gratitude

I am grateful for chocolate. Truly, I could eat something chocolate all day every day. I am not a fan of chocolate cake and real chocolaty desserts, but I am a fan of chocolate candy. 100 Grands, Almond M & M's, Milky Ways, Peppermint patty's...I could go on and on... I don't eat a lot of it now and this is a Snickers the kids gave me from Halloween, and I wanted more, but I resisited. I love chocolate!!