Bragging

I am not a creative mom--at all!! But my girls are obsessed with tutorials on YouTube. After watching this tutorial I figured I could pull this off. And we did:

The kids put together a Mermaid Party and invited Jane's friend Ashlee. They decorated with all of their Little Mermaid memorabilia and even wrote out an agenda for the party (she's her mother's daughter).

At the end of the party she said, "Well I think that was a success!!"

Too cute!!

But that is not all --after much work and studying this week on some very hard spelling words...

...the kids both got 100% on their spelling tests!!!!

I am one proud mama:)

December 2011

Sadly I have no pictures of Christmas this year. I took a lot of video but no pictures...oops!! We had a great December. The weather was warm. Really!! it was super warm. We did our advent activities which we look forward to every year. And we spent a lot of time together as a family. We've been super lazy over the holiday break and I've loved every minute of it. We've stayed in jammies til late afternoon (and sometimes all day:), we've watched lots of movies, and eaten lots of treats. We've finished 3 puzzles, made lots of bread with my new bread maker, and taken oodles of naps. I've enjoyed having my family all home for over a week but I think it's time to get back to routine.

Here is a recap of the month in pictures:

We went to the mall to see Santa (they don't let us take our own pictures..ugh!!) but we still managed to take a few of the night and of course of Justin Bieber!!!

This is Jane's friend Ashlee

The Children's Museum with the Kennett's and Boothe's

We are all a little girl heavy in our families so the boys stuck together.

These 2 were a little scared to see Santa. They are trying to talk each other into sitting on his lap.

Aly was trying to be brave.

The whole gang!!

We had our 2nd annual Dutch Present Party!! We invited the Kennett's, the Boothe's, the Alcorn's, the Page's, and the Newell's. We decorated cookies, played games and of course opened the Dutch Present. It was super fun!!

Christmas Eve we always spend at the movies and out to dinner. We went to see "Arthur Christmas" and then ate dinner at Olive Garden. I love this tradition because I don't have to cook and the movie eats up a lot of the day.

After dinner we open the present we have bought for each other. We draw names and open them on Christmas Eve so they are special and don't get mixed in with the loot Santa brings. I absolutely love this tradition. The kids get so excited to buy things for each other.

Jane bought Dad bop-it and a puzzle.

Aly bought Mom a necklace and new running clothes.

Dad bought Aly a "grown up" outfit and a pearl necklace.

Tobe bought Jane a new Barbie.

And Mom bought Tobe a "boy" barbie so he doesn't have to rely on the girls sharing with him.

Everyone loved their gifts!!!

2000 piece puzzle!!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. We did!! Lazy and wonderful!!

Jane's Baptism - November 19, 2011

Jane was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on November 19, 2011. We had so many family and friends attend this special day. Many of them traveled far, from Colorado, Utah, and Washington DC. It was so fun to have so many people there.

Our good friends Doug and Lyndee Kennett took these pictures of Jane in her baptism dress.

Erica, Spencer, Grandma Jeanne, Grandpa Randy

Grandma and Grandpa

The 2 witnesses: Grandpa Earl and Grandpa Randy

This is all our wonderful family. How loved and special we feel.

We had a picture taken of everyone looking at Jane because she kept saying, "All these people came just for me:)"

Cousins!!!

Jane was baptized in the same dress that I was baptized in. My mother made it for me and saved it so my girls could wear it.

Brother Rock--our dear home teacher gave the talk on Baptism.

My good friend and Jane's piano teacher Jaime Page played the piano for the baptism. She also helped Jane play the prelude music.

We had many of our dear Indiana friends there too. It was such a special day for Jane and for her proud parents. The spirit was so strong and I felt there were heavenly angels present as well. My mother wouldn't have missed it for anything and Jane and I both felt her near.

Many thank yous to all who attended!!

Halloween 2011

Again, Tobe hates to dress up. After much stress and contemplation, he agreed to wear the Thomas Costume just to get candy. It came off the minute he got home. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with that boy.

The girls and I were witches!!

All our loot!! Our neighbors all get together at the end of the street to hand out their candy. They put signs on their doors to come to the end of the court. We were passed up by many trick-or-treaters because they didn't think we were home. We had lots of candy left over!!!