So Frustrated

I am so frustrated. I've been trying to load up pictures to photobucket so I could make a slide show of our pictures to the cabin. I will have to keep trying and hopefully get it on tomorrow.

Tonight for our little new years eve party we stayed home and had a fun evening with our kids. Justin and Brooke went out and bought the game Settlers of Catan with Christmas money that Paul's brother and wife sent the kids. It was a fun game to play with the older kids. While we were playing that Jared and Kamryn were playing games on the computer.

I learned a new skill

While we were at the cabin i learned to crochet.
My cousin Amanda was visiting and came up to the cabin with her family. She brought her crochet supplies with her and I asked her if she might be able to teach me how.
When I was a Merrie Miss (in Primary as a 10 or 11 year old), my teacher tried to teach me how to crochet but since I was left handed I could never get past the chain stitch.
So Amanda taught me and my 10 year old niece. It was very addicting.
I made this hat that Brooke is modeling for me. Now I really want to perfect the skill and get better and make perfect hats and scarfs.

would you rather?

one of the things we've been doing at the cabin is reading the cards from the game "would you rather"
some of our favorite questions have been:
would you rather:
marry a whiner or a bully
run a 1/2 marathon in wooden shoes or ride 200 miles on a bike without a seat
grow gills that are not noticeable or have wings that work but are ugly and conspicous
be given 1 million dollars today or ten million dollars in ten years

What would you rather?

Cabin

We're heading to the cabin for some snow fun. Look for pictures to follow.

1st talk in Primary

Jared and Kamryn were asked to help in Primary closing exercises today.

Kamryn said the scripture and did a nice job.

"I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25)


Jared gave his 1st talk in Primary and did a wonderful job. I used pictures for each sentence so that he could just look at the picture and give his talk.

"There are many ways my family can remember Jesus.
We go to church (picture of primary class)
We take the sacrament.
We remember when Jesus was born (picture of the nativity)
We read the scriptures.
We talk about Jesus (picture of family home evening)
We say our prayers
I know that Jesus loves us and we love him."

Twas the day after Christmas

Its the day after Christmas and that is one of my favorite days of the year. We can really enjoy being home together. Especially this year with Christmas on Friday, now Paul is home with us too. We're watching The Wizard of Oz which Jared and Kamryn got from their grandma. And last night we watched Harry Potter 6. I've read that book but didn't really remember any of it and was so confused watching the movie.
While we were watching the movie I thought I'd add some pictures from Christmas morning.

Christmas morning

waiting for Justin to join us

so we can eat breakfast and then

go see what Santa brought

Kamryn and Jared in front of the 'wrapped' door

and the note santa left our family

Anxiously waiting for dad to be ready to take pictures

Paul's parents were able to join us for Christmas morning
Jared broke through the paper with a stick
and was checking out the presents
Santa delivered

Jared with the WebKinz that Santa
left in the top of his stocking

Kamryn in her new super warm

and soft jacket

Kamryn with her WebKinz that Santa brought

Justin and Brooke enjoying that

Jared locked up Taylor

with his new handcuffs

Kamryn with her new Barbie Mermaid

that she had asked Santa to bring

Justin got the ultimate nerdy gift -

a graphing calculator for

physics and calculus

Merry Christmas

Its been a wonderful Christmas day. Its so late (after midnight by a couple of hours but technically still Friday to me) so this will be a short post and I'll do more on Saturday.
We love that our kids sleep in on Christmas - we didn't even start opening presents until 10. We even had breakfast before going in to see what Santa had brought.
The kids all got spoiled and it was fun to watch them open their presents. More details to come.

Christmas Eve Traditions

This Christmas Eve has probably been one of my favorites.
We don't have too many expectations for the day. We just like to spend time together as a family. For several years we used to go to the mall in the afternoon just to look around and hang out together. When Justin was little we would go to the mall and it would be empty. That changed a lot in the last couple of years and we would go and it would be so crazy and packed and it wasn't as much fun.
So the last 2 years we went sledding on the hill behind our house and that was a lot of fun. This year the weather didn't really cooperate - there was snow but not a lot and by the afternoon the hill was pretty beat up.
Justin suggested that our tradition should be to do something different every year. Paul said our tradition should be to do whatever we want to do.
This afternoon we frosted sugar cookies and built a gingerbread house from a kit. Everyone got in on the fun.

Best buddies

What a cute little elf.

Our neighbor gave Jared and Kamryn their cute little elf hats.

Kamryn working hard on decorating her cookie.

Justin had the job of decorating the ginger-people.

Brooke and Taylor working on the house.

The cutest elves you ever did see!

Kamryn - my pretty little elf.

All of our kids with my dad and his mother on our couch ready to watch

Mr Krueger's Christmas.

For several years we have been having dinner at our house on Christmas Eve.
I copied a tradition from my friend Cynthia to have pizza and keep things simple. It is the greatest idea. My parents usually join us and for the last couple of years they have brought my grandma too. Its great to have them with us. Paul's parents usually are with us too but this year they were not feeling good enough to come up.

After dinner we like to do something to help us remember the real reason for this season. This year we all watched Mr Krueger's Christmas. Paul and I both really love that show but the kids have a hard time because it seems so old to them. Its classic to us. My parents and grandma hadn't seen it for a long time and really enjoyed it.

After the show it was time for presents.

My parents go visit each of their children and give out their presents at their house. Since we live right by them, they join us on Christmas Eve and then go to the rest of my siblings' homes on Christmas Day.

Justin, Taylor and Brooke ready to open the traditional Christmas Eve present.

This year the jammie presents were half and half -

Jared and Kamryn and Justin all liked theirs.

Taylor didn't like his and put on last years pair of pants.

Brooke's didn't fit. Then I had her open the pair of jammie pants I made and they didn't fit either. Big bummer. She was a good sport about it.

To end the night we watched the Nativity video and Jared and Kamryn put out cookies for Santa.

It's Beginning to look like christmas

It's really seeming like Christmas now.
Paul and I took the twins to visit his parents this morning. Then we checked Justin out of school early (Brooke had to stay the whole day because she had a test in her last class) so he could stay with the twins while Paul and I went shopping. It was Paul's start to his Christmas shopping. We made some real progress the first half of our shopping, then stopped for lunch at Subway and then we seemed to be really stumped in our 2nd half of shopping. The best part of the shopping was finding the perfect thing my sister had been looking for.
This evening we had our annual Shingleton Family talent show. (I, of course, forgot my camera again!) Brooke represented the adams family by playing a duet with Grand-dad - Brooke on the piano and my dad played the bass. They did a great job. The most fun part of the evening was watching all of the cousins run around and play together and then watching all the "boys" play the tornado basketball game.
Now we're off to my parents to watch a tape of the Utah bowl game. GO UTES!

The Road Home

I have to admit that I am usually pretty cold hearted when it comes to people standing on the road asking for money. But this year has been different, very different. Its actually hard to explain exactly how i've felt but its been a good thing. I guess Heavenly Father is trying to soften my heart.
Early in the holiday season there was an older man standing on the median somewhere by sam's club. I just felt like I needed to give him some money so I did and he was very grateful. Usually I wonder what they are going to do with the money but not this year. I've felt very prompted that it doesn't matter what they do, this is my lesson to learn. To not judge. To not condemn.
Jared and Kamryn were with me when I gave that man some money and they were very curious. I explained to them what it means to be homeless. They asked me if he would be able to get a house now since I gave him some money.
So, we've been talking about the homeless all season. I've given money out a couple of different times and they have always been with me. Sometimes I can hardly talk to them I'm so overcome with emotion.
This morning my first task was to clean up the family room downstairs. Its been a mess for quite awhile with way too many toys taking over the room. By the time the twins woke up and came down, the room was clean and i had a big black garbage bag full of toys to donate somewhere. Jared looked in the bag and was devastated to see a dumptruck of his in there. He hardly plays with it and its in good shape. He started bawling about having to give it up. I talked with him and explaing about so many kids not having a home or any toys and that we should share. I let him think about it for awhile and then told him he could take it out if he wanted but wouldn't it be nice to share. He ended up leaving it in there.
While I was out on errands after I heard on FM 100 about their big effort at The Road Home today. Right then I knew I had to take the kids down there today. So we gathered some coats, a blanket and these toys and drove down there in the storm. On the freeway the kids asked why it was taking so long to get there. They also wondered if these homeless people lived on the freeway.
When we got there, the Brighton HS football team was all there volunteering and taking in the donations. That was cool. They noticed by Bengal paw on the van and were excited that a fellow Bengal was down there. I wish I could have taken Jared and Kamryn in the shelter but it wasn't the right time for that. On the way home FM 100 was talking again about the shelter and saying how many people were in the shelter just last night - 95 families with over 150 children, hundreds of women and men. The needs are so great and we just did a little but it was something.

4 year old photographers

The other night when I was taking pictures of Lily, Jared and Kamryn wanted to take some pictures too all by themselves. Thank goodness for digital cameras.
I think they did a pretty good job.

jared as a ghost

super cute one of lily

cute of Kamryn, just a little blury

another ghost shot of Jared

close up of Lily

They're getting better.

Jared did a great job on this one.

Kamryn's turn

Real close up this time.

Scripture Study

For several years we have been somewhat regular in reading the scriptures together as a family at night before we have family prayer. Everyone takes a turn reading either a column or so many verses each so that we can read a chapter a night. Jared and Kamryn even "read" a verse each (with mom and dad helping them).
Right now we are reading the Book of Mormon and are in Alma and just read the chapter tonight about Korihor. A couple of months ago Paul started a new thing where at the end of our reading each of us takes a turn to say what they got from that chapter, so that we get more out of our scripture study and everyone really reads and follows along.
Tonight we had a really good discussion about this chapter. We got into a discussion about how their is so much evidence in nature that there is a God. Justin had a really great analogy about how God organized this earth versus the whole worldly view of "the big bang" theory.
He said the world's view is like if you had a puzzle in a box and you shook it all up and then opened the box and the puzzle was all put together perfectly. "I don't think so."
I thought this was a very profound thought and great way to put it. We asked him if that was his thought or he'd heard it somewhere and he wasn't sure if it was his or something he'd just "regurgitated" from his seminary teacher.

A good day

It's been a really good day.

Lily playing with Jared's toys.

She was a little jumpy with the flash.

It started out with sleeping in - yea!

Then Paul and I went out and delivered some gift baskets to people in the ward from the bishopric. Its always fun to give.

In the afternoon I got together with my best friends from high school for our annual Christmas party. We had lunch at a cute little Italian cafe in Sandy and then went to Charri's new house afterwards to do a cookie exchange and open presents. It was so great to relax and visit together.

Tonight we are having fun tending my cousin's cute little baby girl, Lily. Its been fun to watch Jared and Kamryn with the baby. They've brought her toys and helped find her diaper and jammies and binky. This is the best way to have a baby around.

Preschool Program Pictures

Kamryn and Jared with their most AWESOME preschool teacher, Carol Wilkinson.

Lisa with Jared and Kamryn after they did an awesome job on their Christmas program

at their preschool.

Jared really got into doing the actions with the songs.

Kamryn was a little shy during the program.

Jenny found out how hard it is to try and get a good picture of these two.

For more cute pictures of the program, check out this post on Jenny's blog.

Thank you, thank you to my friend Jenny for these pictures.

Ups and Downs

Today was an up and down day emotionally. I don't really want to go into it but I will just say that thank goodness it was book club tonight! It definitely ended my day on an up note and just lifted my spirits. And tonight's book club was especially entertaining and those that weren't there really missed out.

I'm a Lame Mom

Wednesdays are pretty crazy. We get up early and try to leave the house before 9:00 to go out to my sister's to hang out for a bit before Kamryn goes to dance lessons. Then its hurry right from dance in West Jordan and drive to Sandy for preschool. I have to remember in the morning everything we need for the whole day - dance stuff, backpacks for school and coats, stuff I seem to always be taking to my sister's.
Today I was supposed to bring the cameras because Jared and Kamryn had a cute little Christmas preschool program at the end of class today. Well, of course, I forgot the cameras and didn't have time at all to go back and get them. And, of course, they did a great job in the program and sang their songs so cute and did the actions to the santa story so cute. And I had no camera. It was sad and I felt so lame! I was also lame because I forgot to tell Justin about the program and he could have come.

Lunch

I went to lunch with my cousin today. We went to the Blue Lemon Cafe in Highland. It was so good! I love their butternut squash soup - I could eat it every day.
It was fun to visit and catch up. Thanks Denise.

PS I finally found what I was looking for at the Draper location of JoAnn's for Kamryn. Yea!!

Manic Monday

What a busy and full day.

1. Laundry as usual
2. Worked on the Christmas letters - went to the post office to get stamps (35 minutes), then to Costco to pick up the pictures (15 minutes), stopped at Walmart to get labels (10 minutes), put all the pictures in the envelopes and put on return address labels, went to my friend's house to learn how to do a mail merge using Excel and Word, printed the labels. Now just need to put on the labels, seal up the envelopes and get them all to the post office.
3. Made jammies pants for Brooke for Christmas
4. Made a baby blanket for Paul for someone he is working with on his Idaho job.
5. Made dinner
6. Delivered cards and treats to friends and home teaching families - that was our FHE.
7. Went to Reams twice!

And now its finally time for bed at 11:40. Good night !

Sunday of music

Today was filled with music.
This morning Paul and I were very lucky to have tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert (thanks to a very nice friend). We invited our neighbors who are from England to come with us and it was so nice to visit with them on the ride downtown. We all enjoyed the concert very much. It was neat to be a part of the Music and the Spoken Word broadcast and to watch President Monson enter the conference center and feel the reverence in such a big building with so many people there. I am anxious to see the whole concert when it comes out on DVD next year.
This evening our stake put on a christmas music program. They did a nice variety of music that was very beautiful. My favorite song was Suo gan which featured a solo by our lady in our ward that was just so amazing.

Bubbles

Saturday night is bubble bath night!!

Kamryn's Dance Recital

Tonight was Kamryn's Christmas Dance Recital. Her dance was to a version of Jingle Bells. Her teacher makes a DVD for her to practice with and she practiced her dance 5 times this morning and it really showed.
Kamryn did a great job and smiled and looked so happy up there. I was so proud of her!!
All of the dances were so cute, especially the little 3 year olds.
Thanks to Liz, Kamryn's teacher, for all her hard work to put on such a great recital.

500 !!

Wow! This is my 500th post on Blogger. I started back in 2006, I think. I used to print up my entries and put them in a binder so it could be a journal of sorts. I'm way behind on that. I've looked into printing my posts in a book but haven't gotten too far on that. I guess I better get busy.
Tonight we went to the Layton Christmas party. Its always a great evening and we never miss it. This year it was somewhere different - the show bard at Thanksgiving Point. It was very nice and homey. We had a wonderful dinner and the funniest entertainment ever! Paul almost had a heart attack he was laughing so hard. Check out this guy.
And we even won a prize in the raffle. It was a great night.

Happy birthday to my Dad

Today is my dad's birthday.

He is a great man and a great Grand-dad.

He calls extended family members on their birthdays to tell them happy birthday.

He writes birthday letters to each of his children, their spouses and grandchildren. These are very detailed letters taken from his journal writings of times he spent with that person over the last year.

He loves to watch movies and keeps track and rates all of the movies he's seen.

He likes to hike and belongs to a hiking group.

He exercises faithfully.

He loves his family and all he wants is for them to be together and be happy.

Happy birthday dad and we love you!

Holiday Meme

Close up of Santa's beard - covered with buttons.

My best friend in Tucson gave me this one Christmas.

My mom made this and gave it to me when Justin was 2 and Brooke was a baby
and we had just moved to Tucson.


My mom also made this and gave it to us when Justin and Brooke were little.
It is very similar to the one she had for our family when I was little.

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

• a 1 TB external hard drive
• a smoothie making blender
• help figuring out what to give my kids for Christmas
• for the downstairs project to get finished
• new living room - carpet, paint and furniture (it says "wish")

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

See the pictures above - I can't get them to cut and paste so you'll just have to deal with it.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

There are a couple of wall hanging kits with a Christmas theme that I have but haven't had time or the courage to start on my own. One is a paper pieced nativity kit and the other is a cute snowman kit. I also have a log cabin christmas quilt started and also just bought another patchwork christmas quilt kit to do.

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

The one I remember the most was my Barbie Townhouse. It was SO COOL! It was 3 stories tall and had an elevator. I wish I still had it for Kamryn to play with.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

• Justin wants a "Max Hall hates me" t-shirt
• Brooke wants the piano music to the score from "The Boy in Striped Pajamas"
• Taylor wants a lego set that is on backorder and can't be delivered until mid-February
• Jared wants every boy thing he sees in commercials, catalogs, and in the stores.
• Kamryn wants every girl thing she sees in commercials, catalogs and in the stores.

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

I love Delectible Chocolate Almond Balls (recipe found in my notes on my facebook page). As a kid we didn't like them because they had nuts in them but they are my favorite now. So yummy!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

I have big plans and I hope I can get everything done: 2 new blankets for Jared and Kamryn, pjs for Brooke (found some cute volleyball flannel), some paper crafts for friends.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

"It's a Wonderful Life" for sure

9. Favorite holiday song?

Too hard to pick - I love "The Forgotten Carols", a lot of music that you don't hear on the cheesy Christmas radio stations - Points of Grace's Christmas album, SheDaisy's Christmas album, a couple of songs by Trisha Yearwood.

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

Staying home on Christmas Eve and having pizza and opening the one present - jammies.

Some years we do "The Forgotten Carols" at home - read the book and listen to the music.

Please feel free to copy and post and enter too.