Nutcracker

I LOVED the nutcracker when I was a little girl. And I think Hannah enjoyed it too! We couldn't take any pictures of the performers, but Hannah was so captivated. It was pretty impressive. It didn't take long for her to ask if the little girl and little boy were "in love". I told her no.....they were just very good friends and maybe they would love each other when they were older. I'm pretty sure that is what kept her attention for so long though. She didn't believe me for a second.

Hannah with some of her best little friends. Hannah, Grace, & Chadley

And me with some of my best friends as well. Sisters Nikki & Susan (not pictured is mom)

And Suzanna too.

Love The Nutcracker. Love my Hannah.

Catching Up

The kids found my camera while I slumbered in bed a little longer. This is what you get when you don't just annie up and get out of bed.

 Cheap entertainment for a few extra minutes of sleep. Well, rest.

The fairies have been so fun in our home. They move around each day and hide in sneaky places. The kids thoroughly enjoy looking for them each day. Sometimes they are really hard to find. But one morning they were quite easy. Even all grouped together. How convenient.

They are working like a charm by the way. I think Santa will be visiting our house on Christmas for sure!
(Don't ask how those fairies are flying perfectly. They are magic!) They left us a letter. So thoughtful.

"Dear Hannah, Nathan, Abby too. Dear Mommy, Daddy, All of you,

We went to see Santa and all of the elves. To tell them we're happy with each of yourselves. We have been watching and writing the things that we see. Most of it's good and made Santa happy. But we have to share all and never lie, that a few things we saw made us cry. So just a reminder that Christmas is near. We make one more trip before Santa is here.  So keep doing good, helping, and kind, and on Christmas morning you are sure to find all of the goodness that YOU have done will be sure to turn into Christmas Day fun."

For Family Home Evening we made paper snow flakes. Can you guess which ones Aaron made? Can you guess which ones I made? or can you not tell mine apart from the kids? (sorry about the poor quality pictures. I really need to take a camera class. Oh how I would LOVE that!)

And that about wraps up our happenings lately. Of course, there's been LOTS of Primary stuff I've been doing. Hannah has seen the doctor yet again for strep throat. (I see an ENT in our near future). There's two more days until Christmas break and I CAN'T WAIT! I haven't started my neighbors gifts yet, not a single present is wrapped, haven't shipped our gifts to family yet (they are wrapped and ready to go though), very little baking has been done, but I feel the spirit of Christmas more than ever!

Thankful Thursdays

This week I'm thankful for:

- Chocolate. It has been my friend. Not so much for my thighs and buttocks area, but I sure have enjoyed it.

- Grateful hearts of children. No matter what gifts they are given, they are always so grateful. Reminds me to show more gratitude.

- Good teachers. I could sob and sob about this one. Nathans preschool teacher is one of the most kind hearted, loving women I know. She sincerely loves my Nathan and tells me often what a smart and good kid he is. Wish more people saw that in him too. Hannah also has a wonderful teacher who challenges her and  caters to her love of learning.

- That there is no snow yet. This is actually bitter sweet. I do love a white Christmas so I hope we get some snow by then, but I'm so grateful not to drive in snow yet, or have to bundle up too much just to go outside, although the temperature sure has been cold enough for bundling. I'm just grateful there's no snow yet.

- My calling. I really love serving in Primary. I love serving with the women I do. They are wonderful examples to me. I love being with my children each Sunday and seeing how they are in Primary. One might be a little better behaved than the other, but I love to see when they actually are listening and ingesting the truths they are learning each week. I cannot believe all three of them will be in Primary come January.

- I'm grateful to be feeling better in my pregnancy. The second trimester is a breeze so far. Well, besides the normal tiredness. I'm feeling good!

- The sound of giggles. So much better than the sound of screaming.

- Money in the bank and food in my cupboards. It may not be much, but boy is this something to be thankful for!

Abigail is 3

She is my Christmas baby. My easiest birth and maybe the scariest as well. She came to us fast and furious and that too would be a perfect way to describe her these days. She has us wrapped around her little finger, and she knows it. She says the funniest, most adorable things, like: "mommy, can I have 'whatever' ? Me: "not right now". Her, "please, I will give you a treat.....I will give you two treats"! Oh she kills me. I have the hardest time saying no to her, staying mad at her, or just plain being unhappy when I'm with her. She is joy at it's finest!

Aaron and I want to make sure her birthday is just as big a deal, just as important, as if she were born in another month that wasn't so crazy busy and already full of gifts. So, we've been celebrating her birthday for a few days. Sadly enough, her daddy couldn't be here with her today on her actual day, so we celebrated with him on Monday night and took her and the kids to see a real life reindeer. I'd like to add that it was a bone chilling night. FREEZING!!!!!

 Frienemies at its finest! These two are hands down each other best friends and worst enemies, at times. I think they will always be close and not just in age.

 There was an amazing ice sculptor there. This is a job I have no desire to ever have, but his work is very impressive for us onlookers. Can you imagine working outside in the freezing cold, with ice? No thank you.

After freezing our tooshies off outside we headed into the warmth for a nice cup of ice cream. You betcha! it's what the kids wanted and we are cheapos and the ice cream is cheap. The kids are troopers in the cold. They must have thick skin like their daddy, because I am a complete wimp!

Today we celebrated all day long. From sun up, to sun down. She woke to her favorite cereal (all the kids really), Lucky Charms! This they inherited all from me. It's my favorite too and Aaron detests it.

Do you see those cute, chubby little fingers holding up 3....she's been working on that for weeks I tell ya, weeks! It's her day and we had no rules as to how she could eat her cereal. Milk, no milk. Spoon, no spoon. Fingers, face, whatev....she got it.

 Notice all the marshmallows are gone. Ya, that is the best part and she knows it.

At this point her siblings were having some slight resentment because she was not so much in the sharing mood this morning (which is so very unlike her really).

We had some of her favorite things throughout the day. Yogurt, which all the kids got to enjoy. Yogurt is a staple in lots of homes, but I cannot keep it stocked long enough in my own. These kids LOVE yogurt.

 Then it was off to school for the older two and some one on one with just the mom. I took her to McDonald's. Yes I did. There. I despise McDonald's for those who don't know. I bought her a children's meal (what are they called people....what are they called?) and watched her eat it and let her play play play on the germ infested playground. Oh how I love this girl and although she can could count on one hand how many times she's been inside one of these places....the memories run thick and she LOVES them. What child doesn't really? She was beaming from ear to ear. And she gobbled up her happy meal. Happy meal. That's it. Happy meal. Anyway, I forgot my camera for this fun part of her day. Darn it! I was there though people. I really was.

After our lunch we picked up some balloons and did some more shopping. She is a fabulous shopping buddy. She received some money from two of her great grandparents so we had some fun buying a few little things this munchkin needs and some things she wanted too....like candy.

Mixed in between the hustle and bustle of our day, she received phone calls from Grandma's and Aunts, and a couple visits. Aunt Suzie came to see her with a gift; a soft lamb and blanket that Abigail has had her eye on for a few months when she saw it at Costco. She still squealed with delight when she saw it was now finally her very own. Grandma and Grandpa Eyre stopped by as well with their gift. Abigail is one grateful little girl. She was so sweet to say thank you before opening any presents and it was so heart felt.

The real anticipation was her cake however. She must have asked me 100 times if she could eat her cake. Poor girl. It was a long time to have to wait with so much celebrating going on. But the time finally came and she was not disappointed.

 

And then more gifts with lots of little helpers. 

Then it was off to eating cake and ice cream and playing with friends and new toys. She was happy. She is a happy little girl. She makes all of us pretty happy too. Even if it's really hard to get a decent picture with her.

Times a Tickin

It's been nothing but parties around here. And there's no end in sight....and we're not complaining! I do love a good party. Aaron's work party was nice and low key. There's a small group so it was kinda cozy. I made a fool of myself on the x-box or wii  or one of those silly games that I have no business playing. But I whooped any challenger in boxing and I do so love to win things. However, 3 days later, I'm still paying for it because I can hardly lift my arms over my head. Still worth the win!

Mom and Dad put together a party each year for their children and spouses. It is a favorite among us all. Nice meal, yummy dessert, games, gifts, talking about the true meaning of Christmas. Oh I love it.

 We all look forward to this each year. This year one of our gifts from my parents is a book my dad wrote. I can hardly wait to read it! So proud of him!

Hannah and I recently joined a mommy/daughter book club. We are reading the American Doll book series, starting with Samantha. So fun. We briefly discuss the book then we made snowflakes out of paper and had ginger snap cookies with hot chocolate. I'm so happy to have this time with just Hannah. This little lady of mine gets lost in the shuffle of our demanding house hold and I know she thrives on attention. Don't we all?

Last night we finished our weekend off with listening to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It was a little heaven on earth in my home last night. The cozy fire was on, Christmas tree was the only light we had while listening to a Prophet of God speak. Once again, the true meaning of what Christmas is all about, was shared. The spirit touched my heart again and again as I cuddled my sweet ones in my arms. My heart was so full of gratitude for these blessings of mine. We are so far from perfect. Our house does not run like clock work, the noise level is usually a few decibels higher than I wish, my temper gets the better of me from time to time, kind words are not always said, but each night we kneel down in prayer as a family and try to do better and I'm so grateful for that. Children really are the most forgiving beings on this earth! So much to learn from them.

Once the kids were tucked in their beds, Aaron and I talked more about the devotional we just heard and then we dreamed about taking our kids to a deserted cabin, tucked way in the back woods each year for Christmas. Go sledding every day, having a small Christmas tree, and a cozy wood burning fire, and escaping from the commercial Christmas our world has turned this time of year into. Wouldn't it be lovely to be together as a family, no phones, no TVs, no distractions, just time with each other? Well, the cabin hunt is already in progress. 

And still there is more fun ahead. My baby is turning 3 this week. More on that later, but I have such mixed feelings. Our ward Christmas party and more family fun as well. Such a blessed time.

Christmas Fairies

We were visited by the Christmas Fairies this morning. They brought a letter too.

Dear Hannah, Nathan, Abby too. Dear Mommy, Daddy, all of you,

The Jolly man has asked we stay until after Christmas Day, to watch and wait and sneak about in the special fairy way. We're Christmas fairies come to your home, Santa's special crew. So December first throughout the month, we everyday will move. You will find us here and there you know, moving quietly all around. Watching, noting, magically floating to tell Santa what we have found. A good little boy and sweet little girls is what we hope to see. Being nice to each other, your parents and friends will spread the Christmas glee. And if you do, you know, YOU KNOW, fun goodies and presents of joy will be found in your stockings and under the tree for each girl and boy. Please don't be naughty, mean or unkind, for this too we must tell and Santa may pass and not stop at your home or ring the Christmas bell. It must be remembered that we are magic and you never must touch our kind. For magic can be lost and forget to fly and never again will you find us moving or dancing or joking about which will sadden the holiday elves. And fly no more we will, so sad, sitting alone on Santa's shelves. So be good helpers and straighten your rooms. Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Clean, Be True, Be Humble, Be Prayerful and Kind and never forget to believe. You will be good and Santa will come to bring smiles to every one for Christmas is here and we will be watching and join in all the fun!

love,
The Christmas Fairies

Nathan wanted to know if their magic would help us fly too. We told him probably not, but he quickly said, "maybe on Christmas day they will share their magic with us and we'll fly too"! Ha! I believe! Oh I believe!