BUSY BUSY!

December was by far the busiest month I've had in a long time!  Since we got the kids bunk beds I decided it was time the kid's bedding matched.  I didn't want them to match perfect though because I still think hers should be girly, and his boy-y (what?!)  I could not find ANYTHING, so I decided to make them quilts.  I found one I loved online for Kenna and just kind of drew up my own pattern and changed the colors a little.  Jace's will be most of the same colors minus the pink, and squares instead of diamonds.  Let me just say, I love how it turned out!  It is fun getting everything you want, and also being able to have a special quilt she can always keep.  Sorry these pictures are terrible... it's hard to take good pics of a quilt!

We also refinished this awesome table we got off craigslist.  I love how it turned out!  Now I have to paint my old chairs to match..  It looks tiny in this picture but it's actually quite a bit bigger than our old table (with a leaf-not pictured.)

I was also able to read the Book of Mormon during the month of December.  That was such a great experience for me!  I really feel I understand the Book of Mormon so well now because I was able to follow the storyline so well.  Reading so often (over an hour a day) really invited the spirit to be with me always, and now that I know what it's like to have the spirit so strong in my life I want to always have that!  Reading scriptures really can make such a big difference, and I'm glad I was able to learn that lesson.  Most of all I was able to gain a testimony for myself that the Book of Mormon is true!

The last thing that kept us really busy in December is that my sister's best friend moved in with us!  That makes 6 people in our little house!  It has been really great to have her though, and it has been fun to see my sister so happy!  They are moving out in a couple weeks and, it might sound funny to say this, but I will miss both of them!  We might need to find a replacement... ok jk!

Anywho, so I was thinking about all the stuff I did last month and I couldn't believe it was all in one month's time!  It made me realize I can get a lot more done than I think I can!

Projects that are in the works:

Finish Jace's quilt

Finish curtains for kid's room

Finish decorating room

Paint kitchen chairs

Make new pillows for couches

Maybe by next month I will finish all of them!  uh huh

Christmas Eve/ Christmas

Christmas Eve we spent with the Burns eating yummy food, playing games, and doing the nativity.  I love how the kids are SOOO excited. 

 Mary

See what I mean? 

 then we headed on home to get the kids to bed.

 after Santa came

 after Santa came w/out flash (I think our tree looks prettier this way!)

 

 one of Jace's favorite toys from grandpa Sheffield

checkin out her new Rapunzel tower

new scooter

new Ariel doll from Aunt Stacy.  That makes 4 Ariel dolls.  This one is 1 1/2 feet tall though...

Present Highlights:

Scott- Blu-ray player/movies

Kristie- Wheat grinder/ watch

Makenna- Rapunzel tower/ bunk bed

Jace- nerf gun/ train stuff/ bunk bed

New Mexico Bowl

We went to the New Mexico Bowl this year with BYU playing against UTEP.  I made the mistake of asking Scott, "So where in the heck is UTEP?" at the beginning of the game only to have the lady in front of me whirl around and give me a lecture on why UTEP is the best ever.  Well lady... they're not... haha.  We about slaughtered them.  I almost felt bad for them because it was such a lopsided game!

not my fave but whatevs

 haha, this guy sitting in a sea of UTEP fans was brave... (see flag!)

Fellow fans- Scott, Jeff (brother in law), Kobe (nephew), Jeff's friend

Christmas stuff

I tried to make Christmas really fun for my kids this year.  My hope was to do something fun every day in December before christmas... didn't happen.

This is the first year since we've been married that we didn't chop down a tree... sad...  The month was crazy for us.  So instead we headed over to galloping grace to pick one out, which ended up being really fun!  They had this cute gingerbread house for the kids to play in...

 This one's blurry, but you get the picture!

 Riding the train

 cute sister

I am so lame I didn't get a picture of the tree... stay tuned for christmas day and you'll see it.  It was pretty much PERFECT!  The perks of buying a tree.

We also went to River of Lights this year for the first time...  It was really pretty.

 penguins

 Jace pushed around Camden for half the time.  The kid never got tired of it

 Jace's favorite 

The girls' favorite

These two have become best friends.  Kyla is Makenna's cousin that is about 3 1/2 years older, but they get along so well.  It's really sweet to see.

Well so by the 12th I decided to get my junk together and started a little 12 days of Christmas for the kids: 

Day one- christmas craft

Day two- gingerbread men

Day 3-christmas movie

Day 4- build a snowman/ hot chocolate (this was spontaneous!)

Day 5- Temple nativity scene

Day 6- Christmas sleepover w/ cousins

Day 7- Open  new Christmas book and read

Day 8- Make goodies for friends

Day 9- Deliver goodies

Day 10- Gingerbread houses

 with cousins (love Briggy)

 best part- eating!

Makenna's

(Jace's)

Day 11- Christmas nativity

Day 12- Christmas!

Nothing much but gave the kids something fun to look forward to every day!

Dance Recital

Makenna had a little dance recital (like a month ago!)  This is her dance group that is taught by a 14 year old named Cassie.  Makenna loves this class, and was a cute little performer up there on stage.  I wish I had a video to show ya- she was such a crack up!

They performed different Disney songs which the girls love!

Performing "Cruella Deville" 

and this is when my camera ran out of battery...

enter crappy camera 

 a friend took way cuter pictures of the girls, I will update this when I get them!

Pure JOY!

It snowed- FOR REALS!

  I am thankful for snow because it brings out so much joy in my children!  

One of my fave pics ever!

Santa Claus

Makenna said she would like a barbie

Jace was not shy at all with Santa (for the first time).  Love how he's holding his hands in this pic

He told Santa he would like a baseball

Side note- Scott told the kids he is tight with Santa and calls him all the time on his cell phone.  He also calls him "Sant" cause they are tight like that.  Well the other day, he let the kids call Santa on his phone (Richie), and they thought it was the coolest thing ever!!!  I love using the Santa leverage to get the kids to do stuff... wahhahahaahahaaaa.