Countdown Day 24

Today Santa's elves come and make sure the "magic" key works and they leave behind some Christmas PJ's.

We will be doing some sneaky dealings ourselves!!!

Reading the Christmas Story in Luke and going over our Christmas gifts we gave to Jesus(these subsequently also become our New Year's resolutions).

Before bedtime as tradition(from David's dad) David reads The Night Before Christmas and all the children sleep together!!! I love Christmas time and I have loved the advent calendar and doing things together everyday. In matter of fact we have loved it so much(the kids have emntioned we should do all year) we are figuring out a way to have an advent calendar for every month!!!!

Countdown Day 23

Today was the cookie and fudge making! Fun was had by all and then we ended the night by sleeping under the Christmas tree!!!

A Few Ideas....

REINDEER FOOD


In a small bag add oatmeal and glitter, that is it for the reindeer food. Add the tag to the bag that reads:

Sprinkle on your lawn Christmas Eve night,
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home!!!

"MAGIC SLEEP"



Add Hot Chocolate, a few marshmallows, and hershey kiss into a small bag and attach a small candy cane and this cute little poem:

It's Christmas Eve, time fo rbed
But not an eye will close.
Too much excitement in the air,
To let you even close.

So make a magic potion,
To help you fall asleep.
Then Santa and his helpers,
Can down the chimney creep.

Pour this cocoa in a mug,
And with the hot water mix.
Then drop in the magic kiss,
And stir with the candy stick.

Add a few marshmallows,
And sip it slowly down.
Crawl into bed and snuggle in,
The "magic sleep" will come.

HOT CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM CONE



Add hot cocoa to a triangle shaped bag and seal off with a clear hair elastic. Insert that bag into another triangle shaped bag and top with chocolate chips, marshmallows and a red gum drop, tie off top with ribbon and add the following directions:

Dump toppings in bowl. Open hot cocoa bag and scoop out 2 TBS into cup, add water and stir. Add toppings as wanted.

Countdown Day 22

Cookies, Cookies, and more Cookies!!!!! Decorating cookies at Grandma nd Granpa K's house is a yearly must!!!







And this year we stayed and watched a movie too!!!! Popcorn anyone?!?

Countdown day 21

We love Pizza Sam's!!!! Sitting around visiting and watching them make pizza, it is probably one of our most favorite family traditions that was actually started by my parents. So again tonight we went there for dinner and came home and read The Christmas Story in Luke 2.

So shocked!!!

With weeks before school starting I was getting anxious because all of my children would be in school for 2 half days a week. I know most moms would welcome the child free time but I was on the verge of tears thinking about it. I decided then I would keep myself busy and had a list of things I was going to do. I accomplished many and 1 I just didn't get to in time, but there is alwasy next year for that one.

One of the first things on my list was to start freelancing. I have never been much of a writer believe it or not, but I have been told on numerous occasions I need to write a book. I am not in a place in my life right now to write a book but I thought if I spent 2 hours a month writing and submitting I did have time for that. I started off really good..ideas were flowing and then came the swine flu.... since then I have not done much with it. However before the swine flu arrived in our home I had submitted one article and I just recieved the acceptance letter and the check for it. Can I say I am SHOCKED!!!! Truly shocked!!! I never would have thought I would ever do anything like this and I love it!!!!

Countdown Day 20

I have been sick since Friday night all of a sudden I was sick with no voice(not good!!!) but I was given a respite for the party and by the time I returned home I collapsed on the couch until someone kindly brought us dinner tonight...Thank you Thank you!!!!

Tonights fun was delegated to dad and I had some things up my sleeve for just these occasions. They made "gingerbread" houses but not and old gingerbread house rice krispie gingerbread houses and the kids were thrilled!!!

Countdown Day 19

Obviously I couldn't put in our countdown on day 18 that Santa was going to bring his key so what was in the box was a sleepover with Grandma K which began with a trip to Pizza Hut. Which left my hubby and myself open for a date. Yummy food, great movies, and a craft project make a great night!!!

Day 19 was my Grandma's Christmas party. There were roughly 27 people missing but look at everyone that were there:




Dinner, visiting, singing Christmas songs, listening to the CHRISTmas story, and opening presents was enjoyed by all and we miss those that weren't there!!!!

Nativities??????

Our church recently had a Naativity open house with hundreds of Nativities. My children loved seeing all the different ones but none of them got my sons wheels spinning like the bionicle one that was there. Here are his versions:






Our church recently had a Naativity open house with hundreds of Nativities. My children loved seeing all the different ones but none of them got my sons wheels spinning like the bionicle one that was there. Here are his versions:

Countdown Day 18

Today Santa is going to make a visit and leave the ever prized "magic" key!!! We have no chimney so the kids receive a key before Christmas and a letter from Santa praising them for how good they have been this year and giving them some things they could work on to be extra good this time of year. Then on Christmas Eve along with leaving out cookies and reindeer food the key is hung on the door so Santa can open the door and leave their gifts under the tree(it only works for Santa that is the magic part)!!!

Countdown Day 17

Today while David was working we wrapped his presents and read a Christmas book!!! Not so exciting the last few days but time together is time together...but the kids have been so excited everyday just to be able to do something special big or small!!!!

Countdown Day 16

While I was taking a bubble bath David was teaching them the song Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.

I have been teaching them the song Picture A Christmas since Day 1 of the countdown which was supposed to be pulled early in the countdown but it was decided we were going to work on it everyday until they all knew it by heart and that mission has been accomplished!!!!

Countdown to Christmas Day 15

Tonight is YM's and so it is a busy night around here and we are without David and Christian. SO after school we made these:

Elder Peterson Cookies



These cookies got the names from The Joker. The Elder that taught and baptized me loved these cookies I made and so the name has stuck through all these years Elder Peterson Cookies!



1 12 oz chips
¼ butter
1 can sweetend condensed milk
2 C flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 bags Hershey Hugs

Melt butter add milk and chips until chips are melted add vanilla. In a large bowl add chip mixture to flour; mix until flour is mixed in. Unwrap Hugs and wrap them in a 1 inch ball of your chocolate mixture. Bake at 350 for 6 minutes. DO NOT over cook. They will look shiny and look not done but believe they are. Let cool on pan for 5 minutes and let finish cooling on wire racks.

And after they leave for YM's we will watch the following:

Create

Create

I love this talk from President Uchtdorf and this video is amazing!!!

Countdown Day 14

First we went and ate at new little restaurant in our town. It was fun! There were games at every table and the kids had a blast!!!

Then kids are going shopping with dad tonight and I will be getting done all that needs to get ready for the kids class parties!!!!