Soulja Girls

When Kara was here for Thanksgiving she was appalled that we didn't know the "Soulja Boy dance/song - she said knew the dance months ago! So Kara, here you go! Madison, Rylee and their adorable friend Macy.

The Pierce Family

I love these pictures of Sage, Mike and Porter. I had to steal them. Thanks guys! Are they beautiful or what?

Christmas dinner with the Weiss's (& the Elders)

What a mess!

Rosy, the worlds smallest dog! (She's the Weiss's yorkie)

Me and Annie

Madison and Hailey W.

The Elders

Matt waving and Adam and Tyler sitting

We had such a great time and a very yummy meal. Annie is an amazing cook, it's a wonder my family always wants to go over there for Sunday dinner! :) We played some games and the missionaries read some Christmas stories to us. We feel so blessed to have a warm home, presents to open, good food, great friends, missionaries in our home and mostly, our Savior. We missed our family very much this year and hope to be with them soon.

Merry Christmas!

The not so traditional Christmas jammies, but oh so appropriate!


Opening my new camera, a Canon Rebel XTI. I can't wait to start my photography classes!

Madison's cozy new sweat outfit. She is of the opinion that Santa should bring toys, not clothes. I'm sure things will change in the next few years.

We occasionally play this little game with the girls and ask them what their dream day would be like, or where a dream vacation would be etc. Madison has had this dying desire to go to New York City since she was little. I took her to see the play 'Wicked' when it came to Dallas last year, and she hasn't stopped talking about it since. Rylee has always wanted to see Times Square and the Statue of Liberty. Soooooooooo, NYC, here we come! We sent the girls on a scavenger hunt to find out where we were going. I think it may have been a little to early in the morning!

Cammie the Elf

Tradition #2

Cammie's version of Candyland

She left app. 50 magazines throughtout the entire downstairs to resemble the game Candyland! This night wasn't so bad, it forced me to go through my mags and toss the ones dating 2006 and older!

Saying goodbye - never an easy thing to do

For her last night here, Cammie left a note spelled out in dominoes for the girls.  I thought Steve was going to cry.  Until next year our dear elf, until next year.

Decorating her own little Christmas tree

Bowling

One night Cammie got really creative and set up her own bowling lane!  Her reindeer friends joined in and they even had a (very detailed) score sheet!

Looks like Cammie took first place.  I'm thinking it was a set up...

Partying it up with 'Elf' and chocolate

We woke up to find the tv/dvd player on, apparently she enjoyed herself while watching 'Elf'.

Toilet papering the living room

'Cammie' would leave the girls a note each morning, explaining the evening happenings and answering the girls questions that they asked the night before.

Tired after a busy night of toilet papering!

Our 2nd new tradition, or the one I'm not so excited about, is our dear friend Cammie the Elf. Some kid (for whom I have very bad feelings) begged Santa for one of his elfs to come and stay with him for a few weeks before Christmas, and Santa could take him back to the North Pole after he leaves his gifts on Christmas eve.
So, like any normal kid would, Madison and Rylee left crackers and water out each night for 5 nights accompanied by a note pleading with Santa for their own elf. The only problem with this is that at night, when everyone has gone to bed, the elf likes to be very mischeivious and make messes for the kids (parents) to clean up.
It seems elfs only like to visit the Southern United States, maybe to get warm before they head back to the N.P, because we haven't heard of any elf sightings or visits up north. Maybe we should let them know how wonderful the Northwest is so they can 'visit' our family up there!!!!!!
The girls were so excited to wake up each morning to see what Cammie got into, or where she was hiding. Boy did she get creative!
I had all kinds of great ideas on how to journal this, but as we all know, I'm not the greatest or most timely blogger...so in no particular order, here is Cammie in all her glory!
By the way, we DID NOT name her Cammie! She came from the North Pole with that name, no kidding! For all the adults reading this, feel free to ask!

Our 2 new Christmas traditions

We took this picture the night we delivered the pajamas

We started 2 new traditions this year, one of which I love doing and am very excited about and the other, not so much!
Tradition #1
We chose a family from our old ward whom we adore to do the 12 days of Christmas and Secret Santa to. The husband has been unemployed for way too long and the wife teaches piano and does an early morning paper route while being the mom of 5 kids!! She is always positive, happy, hopeful and concerned with everyone else and the best way she can help them. Their oldest daughter is a good friend of Madison's.
Anyway...it was so fun! Our good friends Matt & Annie (and family) helped us - we spent one whole night wrapping! I found a book and stole the ideas, word for word, for the 12 days. The author and her husband chose themes each year for their 6 (or 7) grown kids and their families. The theme I stole was Polar Express.
We 'doorbell ditched' them each night with different gifts like a hot chocolate maker, p.j's for the kids, the Polar Express book & movie, a bell ornament w/bell necklaces for the kids, a woobie (blanket) for each of them, a reindeer craft, etc.
I told the girls I experienced the same rush as my good ole' toilet papering days, only this time there was nothing to clean up and they actually appreciated what we left behind!
The girls agreed to give up a few of their gifts from us (my aim was a lesson about sacrifice - hopefully it worked) and we got gifts for the family.
On the last night, Christmas Eve, they left us the sweetest note with a cute snowman and some treats. The note said "To our Christmas angels, thank you for making our Christmas wonderful".

Classroom Christmas parties

Rylee and her fabulous teacher, Mrs. Lee

Rylee and Taylor

The chocolate fountain looked much better when we started and it was full

Madison, Macy, Taylor, & Madison S.

Oh how I love our school, Heritage Elementary.  I really do.  They allow us "45 minutes" for our "Holiday" party which actually turns into 35 minutes because the kids have to get ready for the buses.  So, like little room mom miracle workers, we jammed a used book exchange to the tune of musical chairs, a game called left/right/center with a bunch of hershey kisses as the jackpot, the gift presentation to the teacher, and a snack bar into our 35 minute time slot.  We thought we should really 'simplify' the party this year, so I brought our seldom used chocolate fountain (used only once last Valentines day) and the other room mom made snowflake ice sculptures.

Rylee's dance recital

She looks so old! :(

My new bedroom!

I realized a few months ago it was time to let go of the log pole bedroom furniture that Steve and I have had since the year we were married. I sold it to a guy who is very excited to bring it to his LOG CABIN ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she belonged all along. It took me a few months to put everything together (I had to wait for some great deals on most of the pieces doesn't that makes it so much prettier?)
I debated on posting this trivial topic, and much to Season and Karen's pleasure, here it is!

TOO FUNNY -Thanks Sea!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1169856695

My sentiments exactly

I prefer Hostess fruit pies to pop-up toaster tarts because they don't require so much cooking.
-Carrie Snow

Our fabulous photographer

Add photography to the list of Sage's talents. Mike & fam bought her a new, amazing camera for her birthday and we thought we would be kind enough to let her practice on us. Even though we were totally unprepared (I clearly need to get some touch ups on the ole highlights and some Botox to boot oh, and none of us match AT ALL!) the pictures made the Christmas card! I love black and white print! Thanks Sage for freezing your hiney off to take these! I am totally inspired and am currently researching photography classes.

Kara

Kara is almost 15! I remember like it was yesterday bringing her to the zoo with us (Steve and I) when we were dating so I could spend some time with her and see how he was with kids! I must have been pretty impressed! Kara is way into fashion and is always dressed to the 9's. We love her so much> :)
Can't you just see the love in her eyes she has for me (when I'm playing stylist)?