Santa Express and Visiting Santa

 We had a tradition in our family to got to Santa Express and let the kids pick out Christmas presents for one another. I love this tradition. Not only does it allow our kids to think about someone other than themselves and giving instead of receiving, it also benefits a local crisis nursery.

Another tradition is to visit Santa when he comes around with the firefighters every year.

 

THIS right here is probably my favorite tradition.....seeing each of our toddlers scream when they get close to the big jolly guy.

Transitioning to a BIG girl bed...

It all started two frightful nights ago.... Jeff was gone, I had just said good night to Shiloh and Kinley, and was in with Mason and Cooper reading scriptures. Shiloh came running in and informed me that Kinley was downstairs! What? How'd she get out of her bed? 

I walked out of the boys' room and saw Kinley making her way back up the stairs. "Hi mom!"

I scooped her up and put her back in her bed. 

That whole night I slept very lightly, listening to see if she got out again. She didn't. The next morning she got out by herself, so I put her back in and shot this video to see just how skilled she was.

Someone is super excited to sleep in a "big girl" bed.

Winter Extravaganza Concert-Night Two

Mason's Winter Extravaganza Concert was last night. He was one tired dude after two nights of performing!

 Cooper was happy to be in the audience cheering his brother on instead of performing.

 Mason with his best friend, Brennen

Winter Extravaganza Concert-Night One

Wednesday night was a busy night in our house. Cooper had his Winter Extravaganza Concert at 7pm at our elementary school. Mason also had an Orchestra Concert that night at 7pm at the high school (See next post) So we split up, Jeff and Kinley went to Cooper's concert and Shiloh, Grandma Borders, and I went to Mason's concert.

Orchestra Concert

Mason had his very first Orchestra concert on Wed. December 10th. He did a great job as did the rest of the beginning orchestra class!

An Early Christmas

 My mom came to visit over Thanksgiving. She was able to stay for two weeks. While she was here, she bought Christmas presents for all the kids and they were able to have an early Christmas celebration while she was here.

 

November Happenings

 On November 9th our ward had their annual Primary program. Mason, Cooper, and Shiloh all participated this year and had a small speaking part. Mason decided this would be a good day to have his tie tied in a trinity knot and Cooper wore his studly pink bow tie.

 

 That same night, we had Family Home Evening. For those of you who may not know what Family Home Evening is, it is a night we set aside to be together as a family. We have a lesson, an activity, a treat, opening and closing prayers, and sing a few songs. Our lessons can vary depending on what we feel our family needs to learn. Sometimes we have lessons on being respectful, responsible, kind, loving, following Jesus, keeping the commandments, etc. This week, our lesson was on Choosing the Right by obeying our parents. Our activity was to color this sheet below and tell one way we were going to obey our parents during the next week. Our kids really go into coloring these papers. I love having time set aside to be together as a family and I know this nights help to build our family unity.

 

 

 

 

 

Shiloh had been asking to go see the temple since we came back from the Odgen Utah  temple open house in August. So, Friday, November 14 we took a trip out to the temple here in Spokane. It was a really cold night, but we had fun walking around the temple, taking pictures. The best part was seeing how excited Shiloh was that we were doing what SHE wanted to do. It warms my heart to know that the one thing she wanted to do most was to go she the Lord's house, even though she is not old enough to go in.

 

 

 

 

 

Shiloh had a Thanksgiving feast at preschool and made cute little hats out of her hand prints.

The other day, Kinley was not happy about something. Don't really know what. I tried to comfort her, snuggle her, etc. Then she said, "I want yo' gasses (glasses), mom". So as a desperate attempt to calm her down, I gave them to her. As soon as I did, she calmed down, put them on, and watched tv with them on for several minutes. Silly girl!

 Last night, we were blessed to go to on of our former young men, Shane Lee's wedding reception. He married our sister-in-law Michelle's little sister Heather. Crazy small world. Shiloh really wanted to dance with her daddy, so he did what any good daddy would do.

 Jeff got a new firefighting helmet, so he HAD to bring it home for everyone to try on. Dang, that thing is HEAVY!