Taking a sick week and visitors

This week has been unusual. Tyler had to leave town Sunday night to go to Detroit until Wednesday; Ashley and Luke and Jake have all been fighting fever and coughs and have been home from school; The weather was so cold, rainy and windy and the beginning of the week; and now we have house guests! My brother Drew lives with us now and my mom has come to watch the kids' Christmas concert. Its been a busy, yet chill week all in one.



Oh yeah, and Ty's brother Zach and our good old friend Jake are in town this week too for work and came by last night. These three grew up together in Washington.

Cute Candy Craft

I made these with my cubscouts this week - candy trains - and thought I'd offer up the idea for my mom friends. It was super cool to find a mix bag of the exact chocolates we needed - Hershey Kisses, Peanut Butter Cups and Rolos - what are the chances (must be living right...)? We tied a string to the top of some of the trains to make them into ornaments. Half the boys ate them before getting home, but that's the best part. I love fun, easy Christmas crafts for kids of all ages. HoHO HO.

Christmas is in the air

We put the Christmas tree up a few weekends ago; The kids have already done their shopping at The Dollar Store and have their presents wrapped under the tree (Luke wrapped his by himself this year, priceless); We are excitedly counting down to Christmas with our chocolate calendars (which are opened every morning in the first two minutes of being awake); and packages are arriving constantly from Amazon.com. and other places, which is just delighful for me (first year of doing most my shopping online). Yes, Christmas is in the air! And for the kids, 21 long days left and counting...



(this is Jacob posing for our picture)

Preparing for her big night!

Luke and Ash are part of the East Valley Mormon Choral Organization (EVMCO) and have been practicing for their Christmas concert since October. I have been impressed with the quality of instruction given to them by the Stewart Brothers and can see improvement in their voices and most of all their singing confidence which is wonderful! We are looking forward to the big night next Thursday, December 10th and invited any and all of our friends to purchase tickets, if interested, on their website: www.evmco.org. It is going to be a festive night of Christmas music at the Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater! You can also see a video there of previous concerts done by this organization or join the program for January (they will be preparing for an Easter concert in March). Watch the video, I think it is so moving and awesome to see the little children along with the adults and orchestra members performing, I am looking forward to seeing it for myself!

Plus, I love to hear Ashley sing, she sounds like an angel. She is so precious.

Thanksgiving 2009

Everyone helped out with meal preparations; the little girls broke up the bread for the stuffing the night before and all the little kids helped me make rolls. They used cookie cutters to make their rolls more festive and yummy!





We had a great meal!



After enjoying a delicious dinner (our first made without any of our mothers in the house!) and a discussion about the things each of us are most thankful for this year, we invited the kids out front for a pie eating contest. It was the grand finale to a fabulous week, as Brett and the boys had to pull out that evening to head home, and the kids had a ball with it! The boys were completely white by the time we hosed them off.

Cousins have come to town!

We are so thankful to be spending this Thanksgiving week with our fabulous Finklea cousins who drove and flew down from Utah. My kids are elated to have them here! And we, the moms and dads are having a great time, too!

Jake(3), Carter(9), Luke(7), Blake(7), Ashley (6), Brooklyn (4)


Baby Julia (7 mths) and Heidi
And can it be?... the Men are watching Twilight?... and with no women in the room?! (they liked it).


They've been here just over 24 hours and we've been having a very good time! This will be a memorable week for all of us.
Phase 10 and whipped cream late and night.







Other fun from Makutus Island, Golfland, Organstop Pizza, and being at home.