Christmas cooking

This year three of the kids had to take cookies to class before Christmas break. So Mike pulled out his moms recipe and started making dough. We had to do this two times because the first time cookies were made they all went to school. We made some on Christmas Eve and everyone got to decorate and actually eat some cookies.




























As we were coming to an end of the cookie mess Mike decided to give the kids a little competition. WHO CAN DECORATE THE BEST COOKIE? Knowing all of our kids this was a challenge. They are all competitive (wonder where they get that from) and did some creative decorating.










The cookies turned out great, we didn't save any for friends and neighbors but still working on that. We are hoping to make something yummy for New Years Eve.

This is a picture of me making the traditional Christmas Eve dinner of cannelloni, although the family claims I only make it once a year. Good news is I didn't forget to add the water this time. Mike decided to take a picture. NOT my favorite thing and it is amazing that it even made it to the computer let a lone the blog. But figured even though I was in charming attire with no make up on, someday this may be my good picture. :-(

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Our house is finally getting decorated for the holiday. We have attended a Creche display at our church. There were over 200 different Nativity scenes on display. They also had some beautiful music throughout the open house. We were able to get there during the hand bells. It was beautiful and really great to hear, that still didn't get us in the mood to decorate though.


This weekend we had a Christmas program and dinner at church. Someone went into amazing detail with the menu and was able to feed a lot of families. Reid was Joseph, Laura an Angel and Haley one of the stable animals in the Nativity scene. The primary children sang along with other musical numbers from members in the ward. I was excited to be there until they asked me to say the closing prayer. Mike graciously answered for me and said I would love to! Yes, he is still alive.


After we left the church Mike said he had an idea. He drove to walmart where I was sure he was buying more peppermint ice cream since the kids finished it all in less then 24 hours. But whatever he got was put in the back of the suburban. He just kept driving. We drove all the way downtown then got back on the freeway as if we were coming home. Then he quickly stopped on the ramp to the freeway. We were all puzzled; then as he was getting out of the car he said David give me a hand. They both jumped out of the car opened the back of the truck and started walking into the bushes. So being me I jumped out shut the back doors (in case we had to drive off fast) and watched as they walked into the darkness with some boxes in their arms. When they got back into the truck we found out they had delivered some food, water and candy canes to a homeless camp that is near the downtown area. This started a huge discussion that eventually brought us to the true meaning of Christmas. It also helped bring the holiday spirit into our home. We had piddled around with some decorations but finally everyone was ready to really decorate.

My birthday

For my birthday Mike did a wonderful thing. He took all of us to dinner at PF Changs. He was sure it would cause us to have to take a second mortgage on the house but it really wasn't that bad. We went to this same PF Changs five years ago on my birthday and the kids have never let us forget they didn't get to go. So this time the kids and dad got to go with us. Dad coming with us was a huge deal to me because my dad doesn't usually go out to eat at restaurants.

When we got home there was a mint chocolate cake and peppermint icecream. The icecream comes out this time of year and my mom use to tell me that it came out for my birthday. Not sure why I believed that as a child but it was a good story.

The kids all made me presents and had great notes with the gifts. The best gift was having them all go to dinner and the looks on their faces when I opened what they so carefully wrapped either in Christmas paper or construction paper. We recently got a king size bed so my big present was a new comforter set. If anyone knows me matching is HUGE for me. Plus I've had my eye on this set for a while. It looks great in our room and adds the right colors to the mocha walls. This has got to be one of the best birthdays ever. Thanks to all the friends that remembered and to my family for making it such a special day!

Do we get a punch card?

We had quite a Thursday last week. Reid and Laura had their very first band concert on Thursday and things were all set for everyone to go and watch Reid with his clarinet and Laura with the french horn. Dinner was a frozen lasagna that the kids popped in the oven when they got home from school. I pulled up in enough time to pick up Reid and Laura and get them dropped off at the school. As I pulled into the garage I ran back to the suburban started it so it could warm up. Yelled into the house, "LETS GO". About that time David said you need to go help dad. I said WHY? I had only been gone about 4 minutes and he wasn't home yet when I was their earlier. Then he said, look at the kitchen floor. When I did there was blood all over. I saw a knife and a loaf of french bread. Sure that was the culprit. As I got upstairs, Mike was in the kids bathroom running cold water and trying to bandage his finger. There was blood all over. He was bleeding through the bandage. He kept saying that he was going to be fine, we needed to get to the concert. With all that blood we were going to the emergency room. David, Krystal and Haley got the camera and were told to be nice and take good pictures. Of course Reid and Laura had no idea why we weren't there. But the other kids smiled (as instructed) and took pictures. We will buy the DVD.

When we got to the ER it was the same nurse that helped us with Haley earlier in the year. It is our families third visit to the ER this year not including my moms visit in November. Mike asked if we could get a punch card or frequent flier miles? They asked where the tip of his finger was. We figured that the dog may have eaten it??? They couldn't stitch his finger but they bandaged it really well and told him not to get it wet for 24-28 hours. Mike was walking around with his #1 all weekend. It is amazing how quick they take you back to see a DR when you have blood coming through a towel! The culprit wasn't the knife and loaf of bread. Mike was putting a bowl back in the cabinet and hit the edge. He was worried I'd be upset that one of the bowls broke and didn't realize he was hurt for a few seconds.

Reid and Laura didn't believe the kids when they said that Dad was in the ER. So when the kids sent a text message that the concert was over Mike stayed in the ER while I went to pick the kids up. Our normal tradition is to go and get ice cream after school performances. So David, Krystal and Haley got dropped off at home and Reid and Laura got to go back to the ER. We ended up stopping at the grocery store getting some drumsticks home for everyone and calling it a day!

We are grateful that my sister Jill could come and sit with mom while we were in chaos mode. The kids also all stepped up and did a great job without us around. That was a wonderful surprise. ( if you read the blog back in September they had a lot of fine while Mike and I were in California).