A Wild Turkey Week

Our pre-Thanksgiving week has been busy but fun. The highlights:

Preschool Thanksgiving Feast

Although Nick did receive a reminder call to take the camera to this event, it did not happen so imagine 50 preschool children and their parents eating Thanksgiving dinner and singing songs. Here is Emma's Thanksgiving turkey. She was thankful for the world, turkeys, and houses!

Temple Square Bell Choir Concert
On Friday, Nick and I got tickets to the Bell Choir concert at the Tabernacle. Cultural events are not Nick's favorite thing, but I usually talk him into one around Christmas. It was really good and interesting to watch all the different bells they used to make the music. I love Christmas music!

The Polar Express!
This year I really wanted to ride the Polar Express at the Heber Valley Railroad (especially since we wouldn't have to buy a ticket for Brielle). It was so fun. Prior to going, we had read the book and watched the movie. It is fairly expensive and probably not something we can do every year, but definately worth doing at least once! They served hot chocolate and cookies, read the Polar Express book, sang Christmas carols, and received a Christmas bell from Santa! Emma was in heaven! Afterwards, we ate at Dairy Keen in Heber that had a train table outside, train set inside to play with, and two trains running along the ceiling. Very distracting to the kids as they tried to eat, but a really cute place.

in front of our box car

waiting to board the train

the anticipation begins

reading the Polar Express

watching for Santa as we arrived at the North Pole

the first bell of Christmas!

Emma and Jill ringing their bells

my neice Isabelle wondering where Santa went

conducting the train at Dairy Keen

a fun picnic train table...too bad it was too cold to eat outside

Thanksgiving

A nice relaxing day spent with family and fabulous food. Here are the girls and I reading a story (not the Black Friday ads!)

The Countdown

As a child, my mom made an advent calendar from a dark maroon terry towel where she placed 24 numerical Velcro steps that took Mary and Joseph up to the top where there was a empty manger. Each year one of us kids would get to hide the baby Jesus until Christmas morning when the rest of us would get to search for Him and add Him to the nativity. Although this calendar was not fancy, I loved it! This memory is why I love advent calendars! I am always on the lookout for a cute calendar even though I already have quite a few! (My other love is nativity scenes--I have at least 10 different nativities--also related to a childhood memory). This year, when I put out my Thanksgiving decorations Emma kept asking where the thing was that has stars you put on nails. I couldn't figure out what she was talking about! Finally, it clicked that she was thinking about my nativity scene that is an advent calendar (double bonus)! You put numerical stars in the sky above the manger scene until you reach 25 which has the biggest star that goes on the point of the stable. I was amazed that she remembered it since she hasn't seen it for 11 months and I don't remember her liking it that much. So when I saw this Countdown to Christmas widget, I had to put on my blog because it reminded me of all my advent calendars!

Another Creative Friend

One of my coworkers makes the most delicious, unique sugar cookies you have ever seen! They are always too cute to eat, but now she is selling them along with her homemade toffee and other sweet treats in creative gift boxes for friends, neighbors, whoever. Check out her blog http://www.jillybcreations.blogspot.com

Twilight Quiz

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

In honor of the Twilight movie coming out this weekend, I thought I would post my character quiz. I actually have tickets to the movie this weekend (at a theater that reserves seats--there was no way I was going to wait in line). I was unsure if I even wanted to see the movie because I loved the book, but after watching the previews, it got me excited to relive the book again through the movie. I will be interested to see what all the reviews say and hope that the movie is worth seeing!

Children's Museum Fieldtrip Nov 2008

looks like the girls had their own gas attendant!

working the cash register--a favorite at home as well

a waterpark they could control?

I understand this horse was a big favorite!

Brielle holding a fish?

a crane to lift up blocks

Brielle teaching her class

I have fond memories of going to the Children's Museum in Salt Lake when I was a kid, so I was really sad when I realized that Emma's fieldtrip this month would be to the new and improved Children's Museum at the Gateway. Nick said they had a great time. I found a coupon though, so we might be able to go back!

Whew!

Emma took great care to spread out her dress for the picture!

Nick asked Brielle to put her arm around Emma....

Do sisters have cooties or something? Why can't they touch?

Well, Sunday was our Primary Program. Our Primary kids did an awesome job! I was sitting behind the pulpit (to help some kids with their parts). That put me right next to the piano, so I couldn't hear how the children were singing, but everyone said they sounded really good. I could tell from the smiles and the eye direction of audience members that we had some children really singing their hearts out and doing some funny actions (Emma was one of those)! Even though it didn't take a huge amount of time once the parts were passed out, it has been occupying my mind the past 6 weeks. Other projects I was working on or trying to start I would put off "until the Primary program was over". Now, it feels like I can get some other projects done. I have several things I want to make/do over the holiday season and I am excited to turn my energy towards them. However, the main reason for this post is to show my cute Sunbeam's excitement for the Primary program. She had just received a fancy dress from her Grandma Becky that we saved for this special Sunday. Right before Nick brought her to church, she asked to have her picture taken......what a girl! Two beautiful girls, I think!

Tagged!

For some reason, this "tag" took me a couple weeks to do. It was hard to come up with random things about myself. I don't think I am that unique, I guess!

7 Random Things About Me

1. I have to fall asleep on my right side. If I try laying on my back or left side, I can't fall asleep! It is weird!

2. I wear (or am supposed to wear) ONE contact (in my right eye). That eye is far-sighted, but my left eye has compensated for so long that I don't usually remember to put it in since I can still see normally. (Funny fact--Nick needs to wear one contact, too....in his left eye).

3. I receive 6 magazine subscriptions (2 of which I pay for). I try to read as much as I can, but I also like to read books from book club, so I get really behind on the magazines. Currently, I am reading July issues--I cannot skip articles (unless they are about pets) and I have to read them in chronological order. Does that qualify as OCD?

4. I use an eyelash conditioner that makes my eyelashes longer.

5. I hate to write with blue pens. It has to be black (probably too many years in the health field).

6. I collect magnets from different places I have traveled (or friends/family that have traveled bring me home a souvenir magnet). My fridge looks cluttered, but it is one souvenir that has a purpose since there are always a lot of pictures/artwork/schedules to display.

7. I LOVE book orders. I remember spending lots of time in elementary deciding which book I wanted and I love the days that Emma brings home a book order. I could spend hours looking over it. I give myself a limit each month so I don't get out of control, but I love children's books. (I started buying some classic's before I even had kids!)

Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
passing out candy

making silly faces with Jill

I loved that Halloween this year was so warm! It makes it such a better holiday! My mom and brother came trick-or-treating at our house before we headed to South Weber for a Trunk-or-Treat. We had to bribe Brielle to get in her Care Bear costume, but she loved walking around holding her bucket. Emma walked around with her cousins and then joined me in passing out the rest of our candy. We ended the night with the good 'ol jack-o-lantern pizza from Papa Murphy's. I like Halloween now that I have children, but it is nice for it to be over with so we can celebrate the more meaningful holidays.

Preschool Carnival 2008

making play dough pumpkins
pausing for a picture

Emma and the Witch who makes "Witches Brew"

singing some songs

our beautiful Cinderella

Last week, Emma had her preschool carnival. First, they did a costume parade. Next, they sang about 5 Halloween songs (which Brielle learned as well with all the practicing at home). Then, a "Mean, Old Witch" arrived to make "Witches Brew"! Finally, the kids were let loose to play games at different booths and receive a treat from each booth. Emma came home with a bucket-full of candy (which we recycled for trunk-or-treating the next day). Another fun Halloween activity!