My Reasons for the Season

There are many reasons I love this time of year. What's not to love? I love the music, the excitement, the shopping, the food fixing, the gift giving, etc. I especially love all the reasons that remind me of my childhood and what Christmas was like at my house. I love the traditions that the holidays bring.

Gingerbread house making Sugar cookie baking...my personal favorite! (especially with lots of sprinkles)

eating the sugar cookies is especially fun!

Special Christmas ornaments....My boys love adding their own personal touches to our tree. It reminds me that despite them growing older...they are still young enough to create a disproportionate tree! I LOVE it!

I love the personalized ornaments that come from school. Yes...we still have them all and I pack them away neatly so they are still there for next year!

Christmas Singing

One of my favorite things about the holidays is the music. Listening to my children sing Christmas songs is like heaven on earth! Logan's 2nd grade class sang "Friendly Beasts" in his all-school Christmas sing.

Christmas singing followed by a teddy bear hug project! The kids all work to donate a teddy bear. Then after they sing they form lines and pass the bears and give them all hugs. The bears are then donated to a children's hospital in Ogden.

I especially love this kids bear hugs!!

Nathan performed in a lovely rendition of "Must be Santa!" The kindergarten sing was quick and to the point. No need for introductions either...just line up...sing...and we're outta there!! Blink and you'll miss it!

Advanced Skills

We were called in last week to meet with Logan's teacher and the principal. I was so stunned by the phone call that I didn't even think to ask what it was about! I started to panic and sent Logan's teacher an email. Her response?....."you never need to worry about this sweet angel child. The meeting is to discuss some of his advanced skills. I have a few ideas." If I'm being truthful I wasn't that suprised! I was, once again, a proud mama!

The meeting was fantastic. We discussed areas in which he excels. We discussed how his learning threshhold is not being met in those areas. We discussed how grateful we were his teacher would pay attention to him, and suggest we do some things differently. We discussed how his school allows for students to work at their own pace in several areas, particularly math, language, and reading. We discussed how his reading books are not working for him, and were able to choose different books for him. We discussed how much he loves school, and what a blessing it is for him to be where he is!

For math we are going to teach him the concepts at home, and he will then take the worksheets to work on during class time at school. His teacher will administer the assessments, but everything else will be done by us. This way...we will go at his own pace. The idea is to get him all the way through so that when he starts 3rd grade next year he will be starting in the 4th grade math class.

And for language?...his class is currently reading Heidi. His teacher is having him underline any words he has never seen before or doesn't know their meaning. And then she is going to have him find those words in the dictionary. He will write their meaning, their root words, etc. He is going to eat it up!

I am continually grateful he can attend such a wonderful school. The spirit accompanies his learning, and they build upon what we are trying to instill in him at home. What a blessing!

Swiss Christmas

Today Logan's class had a Swiss Christmas celebration and Talent Show. This is Logan...wearing his Spirit shirt for Spirit Day....singing all 3 verses of Deck the Halls! He did great! Thanks to his teacher for the impromptu piano playing!!

Stuffed

Nathan wanted to make a special Christmas present for Lucky(his stuffed pet dog). He decided a family portrait would be appropriate! So..here it is...Lucky's family portrait!!

(Lucky is the little stuffed dog on top..with the red nose. I gave him to Nathan nearly 3 years ago on Valentine's Day. He was $1.50. He has been mended so many times and has lost most of his stuffing. He still manages to be the favorite, and Nathan can't sleep without him!)

Christmas in the Rotunda

So proud of Logan for entering the Christmas art show.....he didn't win a "special" ribbon, but his drawing was special to me!
You can view all the art work in the American Fork Library!

What's in a Name?

While in Idaho last weekend we were able to stop and see where my granparents are buried. It is literally off the beaten path just out side of Rexburg. It was freezing cold, so we didn't even get the boys out of the car. It is called the Little Butte Cemetary.

My grandfather's parents are buried there also....

And his parents....

I learned some interesting history after talking to my father about the cemetary and a little about Rexburg. My Great-Grandfather Joseph Wendell Stucki was the one who purchased the land that the Rexburg Temple now sits on. He ran his dairy farm on it. It was originally a small airport. When it came for sale he went to the president of Rick's College (where he was a professor), and told them they needed to buy the property. After several attempts, he decided to buy it himself and turn it in to his dairy farm. He then went to the Church and told them if they purchased it from him he would lease it back from them to run his dairy...not costing the Church anything.

And now...there is a Temple there!

It's Beginning to Look.....

A couple weekends ago we were looking for a fun family outing. We heard there was a toy store in the Riverwoods that was like Santa's workshop. Since Thanksgiving was officially over we figured we could start Christmas festivities. We were lucky enough to go the night they were doing all their lighting festivities. We even got free cookies!
Did you know there was a beach in Provo? Well..not the sandy kind exactly, but Provo Beach Resort. It is like a huge arcade. It also has mini golf, bowling, lazer tag, and a wave runner-type pool. We did not come prepared to play video games, but we did get to walk around, and even met an awesome balloon artist!

The night ended with us deciding NOT to wait for Santa. And, we were disappointed we didn't have our letter's ready, cause there was a special mail box just for Santa!

It takes a village

Some say it takes a village to raise a child......

....but I say it takes a child to make a village!

A Christmas Village that is! We were lucky enough to get 3 gingerbread houses this year. Thanks Grandma-Great! We started them after Thanksgiving dinner...and finished our village a few days later! ps...they were from Costco...and they were awesome. They are made out of real gingerbread...and already put together. Just frost and decorate!!

The Thanksgiving Tree

A new tradition we started this year is the Thanksgiving Tree. We made leaves and wrote all the things we are thankful for! It was fun, and great to see what the boys are thankful for. I was so impressed with their answers....The temple, my family, my brother, etc. It was a great FHE activity!

There's always time to be a little silly! What cute little "tree huggers"

I, Moses,.......

One of my favorite parts about Logan's school is their awesome devotionals. Instead of doing a program, each grade does a devotional, complete with costumes, props, and back-drops. Logan played the part of Moses. Each devotional is of course based on gospel principles, and they sing primary songs and hymns. Logan's favorite song this year is "For the Strength of the Hills!"

This is Logan with his best buddie James!

If you build it.....

My husband tells the boys every day as he drops them off at school that they can do anything! I always knew that he could do anything too!

Yep...he built this for me!

I didn't get a picture of the bench before we painted it, and I haven't gotten the cute baskets yet, but it serves it's purpose great! Thanks babe...you really are handy to have around!

Who Knew?

We've made lots of trips to grandma's house, but have never bothered stopping at the petting zoo in Scipio. Yep...Scipio. Best part?...it's free...only donations are encouraged. But...beware...it is closed Monday's and Tuesday's so the animals can rest. The government requires all petting zoo's to close two days a week to let the animals rest! What more is there is say about that?



I was quite freaked out being chased by goats, but the boys had fun chasing the rabbits!

Pony's were cute!

Zeebra didn't do much!

We never actually caught a rabbit, and the sheep all tried to escape. All in all it was a fun time...we might even stop there again next time we stop to use the restroom on the way to grandma's!

Meatotomy

We made a special visit to Primary Children's RTU (Rapid Treatment Unit)

Nathan was so brave. I got to sit with him while he fell asleep. These people really know how to cater to children. There were Nemo scenes all over the ceiling, and the nurse blew bubbles while he was going to sleep. He had a few tears, but was a real trooper. I will let you look up what a Meatotomy is..it's kind of personal. Let's just say Nathan is now a straight shooter!!

Nothing helps you feel better from a "procedure" like a little chocolate ice cream!

Halloween Havoc

We couldn't pass up a chance to dress up for our ward party! The boys had a blast playing games and eating candy! (They still think Adam and I were Salt and Pepper from Blue's Clues!)

Nathan with his cute cousins all ready for the party!

Pumpkin carving

Kindergarten Parade

Nathan was a "natural" in the parade!

Logan's school doesn't do Halloween parties...they do "Harvest" parties. Passing an orange from chin to chin proved to be quite difficult for some 2nd graders!

My little "Spooks" all ready to get some candy!

Peachy

I'm not sure why, but I always get a little giddy when I look in our fruit room! It was a busy season in our kitchen to say the least, but we are happy with the "fruits of our labors!"

Applesauce

Peaches

Salsa




Pickles

Beets

Tomatoe Juice

Apple Pie filling (my new favorite thing to bottle)

S'more FHE

One great thing about living in the basement of someone with a nice back yard is we get to build campfires! I'm not sure it's completely legal...but the s'mores were delicious!!