So glad the last week of the 13-19th is over!!!

We had a party to go to every night last week, except for Thursday. We also went to a party on the 11th and I went to one on the 21st. They are tons of fun, just a lot of work getting there. But glad to be with all our friends. My jewelry show went pretty well. The kids finally had there dance recital on the 11th. Yea, no more practices, at least for a couple of weeks. The snow stinks here right now, NONE. No skiing for this family yet. It did snow 2-3 inches last night so we went sledding for about 2 hours today, Spencer loves it. Oh yea, Sunday night, December 19th Eliza started throwing up, then Dallin, then Steve. I thought it was over, but Tuesday morning I woke up to Spencer throwing up, so fun. Throw up and diarea!!!  It's all over just in time for Christmas. Spencer is also cutting 2 molars I think that's about it. I will put pictures up tomorrow. I am going to bed

Week Events & and Other Fun Things



For FHE this week we decorated Gingerbread houses and read the "Elf on the Shelf," book. Happy Elf is the name of our Elf, he has been on the move all week. The kids have a heart attack when Steve acts like he is going to touch him. Eliza is near tears. If you haven't heard about the book, "Elf on the shelf," and you have kids, it's a must buy. A fun new tradition. We got our Christmas tree a little late this year. Steve didn't have a day off until this last Saturday, so it was our first opportunity to go pick one out. The kids wanted to take home this Charlie Brown Christmas tree.



We decided on the tree right behind the kids, as you can see Spencer doesn't like to hold still or made to do anything that is not on his agenda.



The other kids don't care about getting the tree into the house anymore. Spencer was the only one interested in helping Dad. Steve had to show Dallin the saw to get him back outside. Eliza eventually came out to torment Spencer. Here is our tree all decorated, kind of. There are no ornaments on the bottom. Spencer can't keep his hands off.







And this is what I have been working on, I finally finished the dresser about a week ago. I had to sand it 3 time, 3 different grains. Then I filled in the trim with wood putty and hand sanded that. I painted it, sanded it again, then painted the last coat on it. I added new hardware and it turned out so nice. I will also add I did it ALL myself. Steve only helped by carrying it out to the deck and watching the kids so I could work on it.  I am proud of it, I love it. Although now looking at it in the picture I don't think the picture does it justice. I am also getting ready to sell my jewelry at Real Deals soon. Real Deals is like a smaller Tia Pan. It's a cute home decor store. Kind of excited and nervous it's been a while since I have sold jewelry. Luckily i already have a good stock so I don't really have to make anything. I don't know if I mentioned earlier I am also coaching Dallin's basketball team this year. That started 2 weeks ago. We have some great boys on our team, should be a fun season. Eliza just started cheer leading, she is so excited. This last week has been so busy with dance rehearsal. There performance is this Saturday and they have had practice everyday this week. That's about it, I think. Next week is even crazier we have normal schedule plus a Christmas party everyday next week except for Thursday. I don't think i have enough outfits for all these parties, guess I will have to squeeze some time in to shop. :)) One last cutest thing, tonight at dinner Spencer folded his arms during the prayer, seriously it took everything in me to not tell the whole family to look during the prayer.



Christmas Tree

Today Spencer pulled the Christmas tree on top of him. I wasn't home but Eliza and Miss Abby got it ALL picked up. Those babies are so fast!!!!! So his is gross and we don't ever use it. However we make fun of the kids all the time for using the bidet, (it's how the Europeans clean themselves after they use the restroom) all the time. So last night they wanted to see how it works. Steve had to turn the water on from the valve in the back. Well I guess they faucets were turned on high, because they water shot him right in the face. Of course now, Dad is the one who uses the bidet. HAHAHAH!!!

Thanksgiving weekend

This Thanksgiving weekend was Long and Fun. We spent the whole weekend together, minus Dad. Steve had to work all weekend except for Thanksgiving so I will be thankful about that. We went over to our friends the Graham's. Gretchen made the turkey, and the best stuffing ever. It's on the Rachel Ray web site. It's called apple sausage stuffing, minus the sausage. Seriously, so good. The rest of the weekend we spent decorating and setting up the new furniture. In the front room. We wanted to go to the movies, but I dare you to go with Spencer, and all the babysitters were out of town. We did have some fun movie nights at home. Saturday night it started to snow, on Sunday we woke up to a couple of inches on the ground. Spencer hates the snow. He won't even step in it. Even though it wasn't the ideal Thanksgiving weekend. I still had lots of fun with my kids and Steve when he was home. I have a lot to be thankful for for and fell very blessed. I am excited for Christmas and all the fun it brings. This is my favorite piece of art I own, especially during the Christmas season. Just some of my Christmas decorations, this is the village. The kids set it up this year in there room.

Stockings!!!, I need to find Spencer a stocking to match the kids. They say, "I have been very very very good," on one side and on the other they say, "I have been very very very naughty." The elf's will flip then through out the month of December so the kids know were they stand with Santa.

The happy meal toy Christmas tree. I turn some of there favorite happy meal toys into ornaments for them. They love to decorate this tree every year.

I took these pictures of Spencer this morning. I can't believe what a little man he is turning into. He has an anger problem we decided. If he knows you are trying to take something away form he he will try and run from you. if you catch him he will throw whatever it is you are trying to take away. Them he will throw himself onto the ground and fake cry. (I know it's fake because he can turn it right off, if he gets his way.) But look at that face, he sure is cute.

All dressed up and no were to go.

Lucy wants to go play in the snow. We watched the BYU vs. UT game this weekend which didn't help with lightening the mood around here. Such a depressing game.

Eliza went to a cupcake class and made these cute cupcakes. They are thanksgiving dinner.

If you start left center I will tell you what they are, apple pie, corn on the cob, turkey leg, mash potatoes 2x's, peas and carrots. Way to cute. She was so proud when she got home with them.

This is the new furniture I got this weekend. It's the first real piece of furniture, except for the couch and kitchen table, we have ever bought. Don't worry ladies, I told Steve those speakers couldn't stay there. I haven't decided how to decorate them yet, still trying to figure out what to do there. But I love it and am happy that I finally got these.

Your a Mean One Mister Grinch, and Ab Lincoln

Every year we take the kids to see the Nutcracker during the holidays. To be very truthful I didn't want to go AGAIN this year. (We will go again next year) So this year we mixed it up. We took the kids, minus Spencer, to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas, at the Gamage, in Phoenix. Of course it was a lot of fun. It was fun to hang out with the big kids, even though we did miss Spencer.

We followed Tradition, Every year when we go to our Christmas show, we go to the Hallmark store, and pick out our Christmas ornaments. Our family ornament had to do with, "The Grinch." A couple of years ago we got Nutcracker themed ornaments, kind of fun.

ALL I NEED IS A REINDEER

The Grinch needs a reindeer

To Hitch ti his Sleigh

To carry the Whos'

Merry Christmas Away

No reindeer in sight?

That won't stop the Grinch-

His faithful dog Max

Will do fine in a pinch!
I copied the sayings of the box, that goes with each ornaments.

These were or ornaments from last year, Steve with his lights, me with the cookies, Dallin's face in electronics, Eliza a fashionesta, and Spencer is growing up how we predicted, busy.

SPORTS FAN SANTA, ESPN

When the Christmas season is over,

Santa finds his favorite chair

and tunes into ESPN-

he loves the action there!

With games and scores and highlights,

Santa really has a ball,

which shouldn't be surprising-

he's the best sport of them all!

I thought this was appropriate for me. Seeing is how when family prayers are said, all my kids bless me with is..... that I will be able to clean the house and have patients.

LIGHT CYCLE, DISNEY TRON LEGACY

In Disney's 2010 sequel Tron Legacy, tech whiz Sam Flynn gets pulled into a computer world where his father, legendary video game creator Kevin Flynn, has been trapped for over 20 years. Reunited in virtual imprisonment, the pair must survive an even more dangerous digital universe than the one portrayed in the original cult-favorite film. Zipping across cyberspace on sleek and super fast Light Cycles, they match wits with the most sophisticated artificial intelligence ever in an exciting, three-dimensional, life-or-death adventure.

RERRY RISTMAS, SCOOBY-DOO

"Rerry Ristmas to you!"

shouted out Scooby,

looking joyful and merry and bright.

He's going out of is way

to make THIS Christmas Day

a musically "rrooovy" delight!

THE ZOO KEEPER SAYS, SEE'N SAY

In the 1980's, fisher price gave see'n say, a new spin. They took it to the zoo. The replica ornament brings back that playtime feeling with the working pull-string, original sound, and the wild amount of nostalgic fun!

Dallin was Ab in his school play. I thought they casted the perfect boy for the lead :)!!! He did a great job. Funniest story about his hat but I am so tired and need to go to bed. I was really proud of him, he was the BEST AB.

Video's; Spencer, the Coon's and my latest Project

This is my latest project. I have been wanting to redo this dresser forever. I found it by a dumpster in TN. I waited until the painters in the apartment complex came by, they helped me move it to my apartment. Shortly after that we moved to UT and it went into storage. Then when we moved to AZ I was to busy trying to get and stay pregnant. Now that Spencer is a year and life is settling, it's time. I stripped it today, hopefully tomorrow I get to paint. I will show you the finished project when I'm done.Since we were sick during Halloween, we didn't carve pumpkins until Monday night, for FHE. I finally made pumpkin seeds. I have always wanted to, it just seemed like a lot of work. It's not, but I burnt them. Dallin's pumpkin is on the left, Eliza's is on the right.

Spencer blowing kisses. He also says, "I love you," he just wouldn't do it for the camera.


If it's not the Elk screeching, it's these guys coming to steal Lucy's food. Every night around 8 -10pm they show up. If we forget to bring the food in, then in the middle of the night you hear them trying to get into the dog food. There is a family of 5 and Lucy gets so worked up when they come. We say, "You want to go get those coons," while we are standing next to the door, with our hand on the handle. Lucy's tail is wagging and her fur is up. We throw open the door off the raccoons scurry and Lucy goes charging. We give the Coon's a head start because we don't want Lucy to get rabies. She never chases them very far. She always comes back to check on her food.

This is the FUNNIEST video. Spencer loves to carry my phone around. He puts it up to his ear and says, "Hello, Hello." Over and over. Tonight it was so funny Steve gave him my phone and then called him. This video is the second time we did it, still funny, but the first time, the surprise on his face when the phone rang was classic. This video is still funny, just not like the first time.

Veteran's Day Assembly

This week has been so busy. Last night I got home from the Primary activity and collapsed into bed around 9:30. Of course I woke up about 6 times through out the night. The dog food was left out so of course I woke up to the raccoons getting into it. Spencer has got something. I don't know if it's the flu or just this cough, but he woke up the other 10 times. Steve took some turns with him too. On Wednesday, I checked Dallin and Eliza out of school early and headed over to Walnut Canyon. Dallin is doing a report on the Pueblo Indians and since their ruins are about 10 minutes from my house we went over their to do research. Dallin got to ask the ranger's all sorts of questions, then we hiked down the canyon to see their homes.

On Friday it was the Veteran's Day Assembly. They picked 4 kids to read their letter's to a Veteran. Eliza wrote to her Great Grandfather's who both fought in WWII, she was picked to read at the assembly and did a great job. She looks really cute to. The funny thing about this letter is, Steve's grandpa, Grandpa Codner, fought in D Day and has some really great war stories. Steve was telling the kids all about his grandpa, then it was my turn to tell them about my grandpa. Well, my grandpa has fabricated war stories, like being shot down in his plane over enemy territory. I have seen the scars. Also they shot off his middle finger. However the Indian's also shot off his middle finger and in the stomach so I'm not to sure which one is the truth. So after Steve's stories, I told the kids about Grandpa Wardle's. So when Eliza was writing her letter to her Grandpa's I had to carefully word Grandpa Wardle's part. I grew up believing the stories and I think it's important they do to. That's how Grandpa would have wanted it.

Eliza reading her letter at the assembly.

HALLOWEEN

These are my two favorite pictures from Halloween. Sorry Dallin and Eliza, I think you 2 are the cutest, but we both know you guys won't pose for pictures.

Group shot of all of them, finally. I really didn't think we were all going to make it through the weekend. On Thursday night around 11:00 pm I started throwing up. At 4:30 am Eliza ran down to our bedroom and told me she throw up. Eliza and I did not get out of bed at all on Friday. If I just lifted my head to find the remote it would set off a throw up episode. I know TMI. By Saturday I felt so much better. Saturday night Dallin started throwing up. Saturday night was Trunk-or-Treating, Dallin stayed home he was so sad. I let Eliza go she had not thrown up since early early Friday morning, over 24 hrs. However I think she over did it because her spaghetti dinner ended up all over our floor around midnight. Steve started throwing up early Sunday morning. I kept everyone home Sunday, to try and recover a little. Dallin called yesterday around 1 from school not feeling well. I went and picked them both up, had them take a nap, and take it easy the rest of the day. We are hoping to carve pumpkins sometime soon. I think tonight.

FINALLY got a picture of the 3 of them.

Dallin was a Ninja Assassin this year.

Eliza was a Vampire.

Stick-em-Up is what he would say if he could talk. Howdy cutest Cowboy.

Spencer with his trusted horse. I turned the wagon into a horse.

My kids got these at Trunk-or-Treat. I thought they were so cute. Steve wanted to eat it on the way home and I wouldn't let him until I got a picture of it. How easy to make and they are so cute. Little Witch Hats. They used Fudge Stripes Keebler Elf cookies, squirted a little bit of orange frosting (I think I would use purple, but orange is cute) put a Hersey kiss on top. Then frosting tipped a bow. So cute. I am going to make these next year.

Trunk-or-Treat

My girlfriend got this picture of Spencer last night after we were done trunk or treating . Even though he was pulled in his horse wagon the whole night he was obviously pooped. I am going to put up our pictures of the other kids later. Right now it is my turn to take care of all the throw up. That's right we have all had it, and it's gross.

I dream

So really, this is all I can think about lately. I think this bag is beautiful. I look at it and it just makes me happy. I am accepting donations. I'm going to call it the Emily Loui fund. It's around $2,200 so don't be cheep. It's a good cause :).