School Music Program

Today at 1pm Kallie and Jaron had their school Christmas music program. They did a really good job. Jaron's class went first, singing "O Tannenbaum" and "I Have a Little Snowman" (that one had hand movements-it was cute). Then grades 1-3 went and then came Kallie class. They did four numbers. "Deck the Halls", Jolly Old Saint Nicholas", a recorder solo, and "Hip Hop Reindeer". This is a short video of the end of the program when all the kids came back on and sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". Notice the little head moving to the left -that is Jaron. Kallie is in the third row on the right side in a red polo. Enjoy.

Ward Christmas Party with a Special Guest

Tonight we had our ward Christmas party. We had a musical program and then a nice dinner and then a special visitor came for a visit. Kyle had the opportunity to be the special visitor ( Santa). He was so excited to do it. I was excited for him, but I felt so bad because as he went out to the car to get his things, he slipped on the ice, fell and scrape up his arm really bad. But he had a lot of fun being Santa. The kids at first didn't know it was him until he spoke. Kelsie she knew it was him because his gave him away.

The kids with Santa

(and he really does know if they have been bad or good)

This is Kelsie eating the Christmas dinner. She is enjoying her BUTTER & roll.
(notice how much Kelsie has put on her roll she did it all by herself)

They Said That It Would Come and It Came

"There are Angels among us"

"Watch out, duck!"

" I finally got to wear my snow boots"

"I wonder if this is full of snow I will find out"

The weather man said it was going snow, and it did. The kids were so excited they got dressed as fast as they could. And finally able to wear there snow boots, which they have been begging to wear since they got them. But we always told them to wait because it would look kind of weird. The kids had fun in the snow and then came back in about ten minutes later, it takes them longer to get ready, then the amount of time that they spend outside.

There Here

I looked out my kitchen window yesterday afternoon, and saw the aliens invading our house. It turns out that they are invading every house in Klamath Falls- the dish network.

Every house has two or more dishes on top of them.

Make New Friends

This is my fudge that I made- the presenation wasn't that good

but it tasted so good

These are the beatiful cookies that everybody else made,

(someone even made chocolate covered bacon)

On Thursday night I was invited to a cookie exchange that some of the women in the ward were doing. I was so excited to go and get to know and hopefully make a friend. So I wanted to bring a great Christmas treat and one that I look forward to every Christmas. I made my moms Fudge. I made it that morning thinking that it would be ready. Well my mom usually uses a mixer (like a kitchen aid mixer) when making it. I did it by hand ( I would not recommend doing that). Then I poured it in a pan and stuck it in the fridge. Then right before it was time to go I cut into pieces, Kyle told make them small but I made them the size of brownies-I should of listen to Kyle. What I should of done is got little baking cups and had them divided up easier to get and a better presentation - but I didn't. So as the cookies and fudge sat on the table in a warm house, the fudge kind of melted and didn't look that good and wasn't easy to get off the pan, so not that many people took the fudge. Which was sad because it tasted awesome!! I guess I should of made cookies. I had fun and met a lot of nice women. If you want to try this AWESOME fudge the recipe is below.

Christmas Fudge

4 lbs. of powder sugar
1 cup of coca
1 lb velveeta cheese
1 lb butter
1 tsp vanilla
walnuts (optional)

Melt butter and cheese in a bowl in the microwave, stir with a whisk every 30 seconds. Powder sugar and coca in the bottom of a large bowl, then pour the cheese mixture on top, stir until smooth. Then stir in nuts if you want them in there. Pour into a pan. Then refrigerate to make firm.

Sharing

This something that I like to see, when the kids are playing nicely together.

A Mouse about the House

Our mouse about our house, isn't she a cute one

She is happy to be out and about, we have now learn to close doors.

When we stayed at my parents over Thanksgiving, Karlee was able to be free. Before when we were at our house in Klamath Falls we kept her in her pak n play. Because she was learning to sit up- she would fall over a lot and when she would hit on the hardwood floors (which is all our house has) it sounded like it hurt. So you can say that she didn't get out much. Well at my parents that is all they had was carpet and so she was able to roam. And she did. She learn to crawl all over the place. When we got home, she now likes to crawl all over the place. She is a like a mouse about about the house. She will quietly go about happy as can be. Another new thing she has started doing is pulling herself up to a standing position against the couch. She is only seven months old, I was hoping that she would stay a baby longer since she is my last. But it seems that she wants to be right up with her brother and sisters.

Karlee Learning to sit up

This is video of Karlee learning to sit up on her own. It is Nov. 2nd 2008. When she was learning to sit up she would keep her arms out for balance, and she looked like a little airplane in flight. She has little wrist rattles on her arms, (to indicate which side was going down-just kidding).

Our Trip Home

Our drive into Klamath Falls, this is Upper Klamath Lake as we drove past

This is a picture of the kids being good on the way home
"Happy Are We"



After a fun week with family we headed home. We left early in the morning (11am), so we wouldn't get stuck in the holiday traffic heading home after Thanksgiving. (Kyle got stuck in it on his way to Portland - he was not a happy camper during that.) We left the same time that Alycia and Cody left except they went East on I-84, and we went South on I-5. Alycia and I called each other all through the trip to see where each of were. It made the trip go a little faster. We had to make a emergency stop in Eugene when we realized that we had my mom's purse in our car. From Gladstone/Oregon City to Klamath Falls it takes about 4 1/2 hours to drive on a good day. The kids do really good on the drive.

Visit to Santa Land Now and Then

"For over fifty Christmas Seasons, the Louden Supertrack monorail gave thousand of delighted children a sleigh's eye view of Santaland.

Built in Fairfield, Iowa, this monorail is thought to be the only one existing from the 26 originals.

The monorail's final journey was December 24, 2005"

Two cars from the monorail the flew over Santaland

Alycia, Angie, Serena, Karlee, Kelsie, Kallie, and Jaron

getting one more picture in the monorail.

(you could not be any taller then Kallie, to ride it when it flew through the air)

Ever since I was little we have gone to the Meier & Frank department store in downtown Portland to go see Santa. My father worked in downtown Portland at the World Trade Center for PGE. So after school in the month of December my mom would drive all of us kids into Dad's work and the we would meet dad and then walk about seven blocks over to Meier & Frank. We would then go up to Santaland and visit with Santa and get our picture taken. They had a monorail that would fly over Santaland it was Awesome!!! In 2005 Meier & Frank was turned into Macy's and they did away with Santaland. No more monorail. I was heartbroken that my children wouldn't get to have this fun memory. After the remolded was done they did make a Santaland, but it doesn't have the monorail just a shrine to it. I had always wanted to carry the tradition over to my kids of seeing Santa in Portland and riding the monorail. But they will only get the part of seeing Santa.

Visit with Santa

The kids with Santa

Kallie looking at one of the trees in Santaland

Kallie, Jaron, and Kelsie looking at the reindeer at Santaland


Karlee all bundled up for snow in the snow man.

This is what you would pass through to get on the monorail so they would know your height if you couldn't fit through you couldn't go on the ride.

While we were in Portland area for Thanksgiving we took the kids to see Santa. And I could get a picture to use for a Christmas card. We decided to go on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We thought the line would be long but it wasn't. We walk right up and saw him, we barley had enough time to change Karlee into her Christmas dress. We didn't want to put her into it before we got there in case she spit up on it, which she did when we put the dress on her there (never fails with her). We never got a picture where all four kids were looking at the camera. This was the best of mine and the photographer, I am glad that his didn't turn out because they are getting darn expensive $15.99 for just one 5x7. I wasn't supposed to take a picture with my camera but I did anyway. :0). The kids were excited to see Santa Jaron asked for a car that he could drive, and a vaccum that plug in and works. Kelsie just kind of sat frozen on his lap, staring straight ahead not saying much. Karlee sat really good on his lap, I like how she is looking up at him-it would of been cute if he was looking back at her. Kallie asked for a globe. My mom made the girls dresses she did such a great job, Thank you mom. I love Christmas time.

Guptill Christmas Tree Hunt/ Pre-Christmas

Jaron pretending that he is a tree and Cody cutting him down.

Jaron wanted to use the saw to cut down the tree, any tree.

Jaron and Kelsie standing with the tree that they picked out.

Notice the plastic bags on Kelsie feet.

Jaron got really cool boots from Pa2 he is so excited about them. Thank you Pa2.

This is the Guptill clan that went on the hunt for the tree.


The Kenner's
Angie, Karlee, Kyle, Jaron, Kelsie, and Kallie


The tree is decorated!!

The Christmas tree came super early to the Guptill's in Gladstone. My parents usually don't get their Christmas tree until a week before Christmas or even a day before Christmas Eve. But this year they got it the day after Thanksgiving. My sister Alycia and her husband Cody won't be able to be in Gladstone for Christmas, and Alycia didn't want to miss doing the Christmas tree this year and wanted her husband to be part of the tradition. Friday morning after doing our early morning shopping we went to get the tree. We have gone to the same tree farm for the past four years. We caravan down to the farm and put plastic bags over our shoes and all head out to find the perfect tree. As weave our way through the trees we leave a person by the trees that we think we will consider. Once everyone has been gather all back up and we have found the "chosen one" for the year. We gather around the tree hold hand and circle the tree and sing the Guptill's version of "Oh Christmas Tree". In the song we tell the tree how pretty it is, how grateful we are for it and how we are going cut it down and take it home with us to spend Christmas with us. Everyone one that wants to saw at it, can. After it is cut down back up the hill for hot cider and candy canes.

We took it home and decorated the tree. Then had a small version of Christmas Eve read Christmas stories, sang songs, and got our pj pants. Went to bed and then the next morning we got up and did small version of Christmas where we exchanged family gifts. And then had a breakfast brunch. My kids were so confused thinking that Santa was to come. Jaron kept getting up to check the tree to see if he had been there. It was cute. The reason that we did a small Christmas was to be able to share it with Alycia and Cody. It was a lot of fun. Thank you mom and Alycia for putting it together.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Jaron painted this turkey on turkey day

Happy Thanksgiving!! For Thanksgiving we were able to spend it with both of our families. We first went and had dinner with Kyle's family- very yummy. Then we went to my parents house for dinner- another very yummy dinner. We had three hours between each dinner. You can say that we were stuffed just like the turkey. But we still had room for leftovers the next day. :0)

Fun in Fall

Jaron in his pile of leaves

Jaron, Alycia, Cody, and Karlee playing in the leaves

Being in Klamath Falls you see a lot of leaves changing colors and falling all around. Jaron has been asking to rake the leaves and play in them. I just never got around to getting him a rake. While we were at Ma2 and Pa2's Jaron got his wish and it came true. He got to play in the leaves and my parents got their leaves raked into a pile for a day. Jaron raked them in a pile and then hid in them. Then Cody, Alycia, and Karlee went outside had a leaf fight. Fun Times, it is always fun to jump into leaves, it brings the kid out of you. :0)

Train Ride to Portland

To be able to be there for the Bazaar I rode the train up on Friday. Jaron, Kelsie and Karlee came with me. I was nervous about the whole thought of going on the train with just me and the kids. I have never rode on a train before so I didn't know what to expect. The train ride was long but fun. It was an eight hour ride, so I had to keep the kids entrained for the whole time. We stayed in our seats for the whole trip because I didn't want to lose the kids somewhere on the train. Jaron was really excited to be on the train. He loves trains. Kelsie loved it too. Karlee was perfect the only time that she cried was when we were getting off the train and Kelsie took away her pacifier and it was time to eat. I had both of the kids carrying there own backpacks, I wish that I had a picture of them with it on. Kelsie backpack was so heavy that one time she fell over and was like a turtle stuck on her back and could not get back up, (it was funny) after I stop laughing I help her up.:0)

Bilquist Bazaar

Last Saturday I was able to do the Bilquist Bazaar again. It was my fifth year doing it with Heidi Ard. I love doing it, because it gives me an excuse to hang out with friends for a whole day with out kids. This year Melissa Karl and Lisa Newby did it with us. It was a lot of fun. We saw a lot old friends and the day went faster then in the past. I made tutu's with flower petals in them, chalkboard placemats, and placemat bags. Can't wait for next year and figure out the new thing to make and sell, need to get my thinking cap on. And make the things sooner then a week before the bazaar.
:0)

Klamath Falls Is Where We Are Now

Kyle in his scrubs ready for school

The kids and I in our matching shirts

A fun sign we found at Wal-Mart



We just moved to Klamath Falls. So Kyle can go to school full time and finish it up. I wanted to start a blog so that you guys could keep up on our happenings and since we left Oregon City. We have been in Klamath Falls for a month now. The kids seem to be adjusting in school well. Kallie is in a 3rd/4th blended class, she loves her teacher. Jaron is in all day kindergarten he is having a hard time getting use to it. When we lived in Oregon City he only went to half day. Little by little he is getting better, he loves having hot lunch at school-to be able to get a blue or green tray. Kyle is loving school and getting to the meat of nuc med. Kelsie, Karlee, and I hang out at home, but try to get out once a day to explore Klamath Falls and find something new in the big city. We seem to always find our way to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart and Fred Meyers are really the only big stores that have everything and so much to look at. ;0)