New Years Eve

Had an unplanned party with my brother and his family!   I got to do a German theme which I have been wanting to do for awhile!  We had potato pancakes - with applesauce, red cabbage out of a jar, german chocolate, chips with Marcie's dip and fresh cut pinapple!  Okay - so not all of it was Geman food - and what was wasn't the best stuff ever - but they were polite and tried it (I didn't fry the pancakes long enough! - I didn't realize it till they were all "under" cooked already - SORRY GUYS!  But thanks for being so polite.)  Next time I'll try to have the menu done in advance.  But I was REALLY thankful they came by and stayed!!!  Really glad!!!

Click here to see the kids Happy New Year Parade!

I can't believe the year is over - went by fast!  But they say don't look back!  I really like this clip . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZij9MSTRI&sns=fb

Faith in Jesus Christ gives us strength to leave the past behind and look ahead to a brighter future.  Don't be like Lot's wife . . . realize what the Lord has in store for us is better than what we have in mind for ourselves. 

December wrap up

 Few things I left out this month (I may find more . . . ) 

But Ak got a new Primary teacher and she invited the class over to make and decorate sugar cookies!  She had a great time in the making  . . . she isn't much for the partaking of sugar cookies - but that's okay with me!!!    Then one day while I was sewing with B - I tried to use this activity to distract Ak I had seen online - a Printable Nativity   http://www.tipjunkie.com/activities-for-kids-christmas/   She did it faster than I expected or had hoped so it's not as crisp and neat - but she enjoyed it.

Z asked for a buz hair cut - not by the grim reaper as it appears in the picture.  Sorry G-ma I know it's not your favorite winter cut . . . but I gave him a new hat that day - so he has hats to keep it covered!

 Here's B with the fabric she used to make Z's pillow/gift.  And here she is modeling D's new hat and a shirt I gave her for Christmas that I didn't think she would wear since she tends to be a BLUE U.K. fan.   (:  But I thought you never know when you need a shirt to cheer with Dad - so she has an option.  (:

My visiting teaching companion made a plate of  covered apples for each or our ladies we visit - beautiful, huh?  Points for her presentation!   And tasty too.  (:

A walk in the park.

After ice skating - we stopped at a park nearby that had lights.  You can walk around - it was a fun change to the normal driving around and looking that we are used to.

At the very end, B fell and skinned up her knee pretty good.   Amazingly it didn't rip her pants - it was an inch and half diameter of red raw skin.   One that will warrent a week of band-aids, then scabbing, and about 3 weeks to take the last of the scabbing to go to pink fresh skin.  Strong Dad carried her back to the van.  (: It was still a nice walk through the park.  At the end , Christmas music started to play - which would have been a nice addition through out the whole walk . . .    (: 

Ice Skating!

We went to "Winterwonder Land" on their last free Monday to ice skate - there were a lot of people there!  Tempting to not come on a free day since maybe there would be less people?  (:  But the kids still had fun.

Everyone warmed up once we got moving. 

  After this picture with me - Ak decided she'd go inside with Dad . . . can you see them in the window?

  Inside we brought snacks to eat!  We bought hot chocolate!  Notice the ice skates on their shirts?!  (:  Thank you Gpa Paul and Gma Debbie.   They could still see the big movie screen through the big window. . . . they were watching it at times while eating. 

click here to see Z and Ak on the rink

click here to see B ice skate   (she's getting better and better!)

click here to watch Z  (he liked to plop himselft down leaning on the crates) 

click here to see B ice skate - tad dizzy - sorry!

We had a good time!  Fun activity!

Christmas @ Mammaw's!

We walk in and the kids JUMP on Uncle Matt!  They love playing around with him.  B is no small child anymore - but here she is hanging off him and he was acting like she only weighed 10 lbs.  Strong Uncle! 

 We ate dinner and then opened some presents. 
AJ and Mammaw liked the hot pads that B sewed for them!  They loved the tags that said "Made by B" on them!  (Thanks Aunt Em!)  And AJ like her bracelets the kids made for her - note the BLUE one; Z made that for her "because she likes the blue team!"  Go U.K.   :) 

In the middle - Pappaw showed us this head light he used to wear when he worked in a mine.  He showed us the back of the lamp and explained what made it light up . . . I don't remember what it was - but I thought to myself . . . "I'm not sure that is the safest thing - right next to your head!"  But it was cool to see . . . I think that must have been 60 years ago! 

 B got nice things which included these cool slippers and a digital camera!!!! 

 I love how she got excited to get underwear!  She loved ALL her presents because they were "all girl" - although I think AJ is going to have help this glove be a success . . . the fact that it is pink didn't seem to help.  (:   I couldn't resist taking a picture of that face.  She didn't know how to react and still be truthful about her feelings - so she said and did nothing.  FUNNY! 

Z liked all his presents too . . but as he peeked into this bag as he was opening it . . . he was like "oh, I'm going to like this.  I know I will like this.  I will definately like this."  (:   Cute!  It was a drum set!!!

 Uncle Matt gave us a family gift:  A telescope!  He said he has good memories of one at his house growing up - so hope we do too!  Our neighbors have some land - so we should be able to find a spot without too many lights!   Z likes space - so that's a plus too!

 Merry Christmas everyone!!!   Ours was good - hope yours was too!   Hope next year to see some of my side of the family too!!!!