1st Place!

I can't believe it soccer is over. Brooke's team did awesome they ended the season undefeated (14-0). It was very fun to watch as her teams confidence grew with every game. Spencer's team had a tough season, but that's usually how it goes for the first season that a team plays together. I am sure next year will be better, and hopefully both Brooke and Spencer's teams will do well.

Now we actually have a couple of free Saturdays coming up. That will end soon since they both have soccer tournaments coming up next month, and basketball practice starts next week. There are times that I think life would be so much easier if we stopped all sports. Then I stop and think how much we all LOVE sports and it's all worth it.

Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? bags

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real

3. When do you put up the tree? First week of December

4. When do you take the tree down? Christmas night or the day after. When its over its over!
.
5. Do you like eggnog? NO!!!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? $100 in a pickle jar and of course my tercel.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Father in Law

8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes and I love it. Its made out olive wood and Mike brought it home from Jerusalem.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Bathrobe! It was my first Christmas present after I got married from Mike. He has been making up for it ever since.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation and Elf

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October and as of right now I only have 3 more gifts to buy :)

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, what else are you supposed to do when you are poor and its your first Christmas...Sorry Scott and Tera.....

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint Bark from Williams Sonoma

16, Lights on the tree? yes!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Both

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star or whatever new creation my kids have made in school that year.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? 1 present Christmas Eve and then Santa comes for Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crowded malls and parking lots.

23. What theme or color are you using? Lime green and red

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Every Christmas Eve we go to Chart House (YUMMY)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want to watch the excitement on the kids faces as they open their presents.

Now I tag who ever is in the Christmas spirit.

California Stop

Well today was one of the many days that I am rushing around trying to get everything done. This afternoon on my way to set up for a church function I kinda rolled through the stop sign. I am sorry to say it was not the first time, however it was the first time I got caught. As soon as it happened I saw the police car and I knew I was about to get pulled over. This officer was possibly the slowest ever. It took him 20 minutes to write up the ticket. So I guess it goes to show you that faster is not always better.
I am just trying to keep up with Mike. This year he has already had 3 tickets one for his cell phone and two for speeding. He tries to justify it to me that he drives 10 times more than I do and that its just the cost of driving when your on the road as much as he is. Well I guess we are going to a fun date at traffic school together.

Little Disney

We took the two younger boys Tyler and Jake to Disneyland this week. We thought it would be fun to be able to just completely devote all of our attention to them instead of splitting time with the older kids who don't really want to go on all of the slower rides. Well Tyler is tall enough for most of the fast rides and loves them all, but we still thought he would have fun on the rides he has never been on. It was actually a nice and relaxing day there were not any lines and the boys were having a great time.

I was so excited that Tyler finally got chosen for the Jedi training. He has tried every time that we have gone that would be 5 times and has not been chosen. So I took matters into my own hands this time and I took Tyler to the front row and held him up as high as I could. The Jedi Master that was choosing the boys finally called on him he said that he wanted that kid in blue that was levitating. I know I totally embarrassed Mike, but hey what won't a Mom do for her kids. That made his day and I think that memory will stay with him a long time. I was surprised that one of the older flying rockets ride was the favorite of the day for both Jake and Tyler. Our next trip to the happiest place on earth will be in the beginning of December with just the two older kids this time Brooke and Spencer, and that will be the end of our season passes.

Soccer Party

Tyler had his first soccer party this week. He was so completely excited to finally get his first trophy. He was so proud when he got his trophy he now felt like he joined the ranks of Brooke and Spencer. Tyler really surprised Mike and I this season. we really didn't know what to expect and let me tell you Tyler far exceeded our expectations. He was aggressive and competitive. If you ever needed to know what the score was he had a running total in his head of every point scored and who scored it. We had a great talk on sportsmanship this year and how its fun when every one wins even if its not you. They had a good team and only ended up losing a game or 2. Tyler on average scored about 3 goals a game and then he would run back and make sure that the goal was guarded so the other team couldn't score. He was so much fun to watch, but it will be nice to have part of our Saturday's back.

This is the best picture of Tyler and his best friend Aiden. They were able to be on the same soccer team and had a blast together. Close to the end of the season it was fun to see how much they had learned.

Family Pictures

The kids school every year has a family photo night fundraiser. This is the fifth year we have done it and we are happy with how they turn out every time. The photographer has such a talent for getting all the kids know matter what age to smile and be happy. Now that is a true gift . Especially in his line of work.

























I usually end up using these pictures every year for my Christmas cards. So here is your preview. I can't believe how fast my little family is growing up. Well I guess we are not such a little family anymore.

Yummy Carmel

We had a very fun activity at young womens last night. We were trying to give the girls some fun creative inexpensive gift ideas for their friends for Christmas. Some of the examples we brought to show them were carmel apples, carmel popcorn, peppermint bark, and I was in charge of carmel chocolate covered pretzels. We also had many non edible items to show the girls. Everyone decorated a composition book with scrapbook paper, stickers, and stamps. Then they used mod podge to seal it. A lot of them also made really cute frames. We used wood frames and painted them. After they had dried the girls decorated them with
buttons and ribbon. Over all it was a very fun night and the girls left with tons of cute ideas.

I have found the BEST easy carmel recipe. Mellisa is the carmel expert and has many recipies some taking many hours, but the majority of us have all agreed this one is the best.

Microwave Carmel

Melt 2 cubes butter in bowl
- Add - 1c white sugar
- 1c brown sugar
- 1c karo syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
Mix well until creamy
Put in the microwave on high for 13 minutes. Stir every 4 minutes. When it is done stir for another 1-2 minutes. Pour carmel into a buttered pan or wax paper to cool.

ENJOY!

We Did It

Trick or Treat

I feel like the last week or so has gone a hundred miles an hour. It has been a rush of fun and exciting things. From going to see Wicked then to Disneyland throw in a couple of Halloween parties and then trick or treating and we are done. I feel like going into hibernation for a while if only that could really happen. This is only the beginning we still have lots of birthdays, an anniversary, and a couple more holidays to enjoy before the end of the year.

It seems like all of the decisions on what everyone is going to be for Halloween usually stresses me out a little, because I hate spending a lot of money on something that is only worn once or twice. Not this year everything came together almost too easily. My friend Jenny came up with the cute idea for Brooke being a chef it suits her perfectly. I was looking through old costumes and Jake was all over Tyler's old costume of the buff Mr. Incredible. I just fell into the perfect deal at the Disney Store for Tyler's Pirates of the Caribbean costume I got it for the bargain price of $9. That brings us to Spencer he is so easy going. He had made a very cool tool box this summer at scout camp and that led to him being a construction worker.
Grandma Sue, Papa Dennis, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Esther all came to enjoy the festivities. Papa scared poor Jake to death with his mask, but isn't that what Halloween is all about well that and of course the gobs of candy. Papa stayed at the house and handed out candy while the rest of us took to the streets and started the sugar fest. Tyler was done after about 10 houses or so he said he already had too much candy and didn't want to get a stomach ache. Now who's the parent? You got to love Tyler as he tells the people at the houses no thank you because he doesn't like chocolate. At least he has some manners so we told him to take what he is given be grateful and then give the chocolate to the adults. As Tyler ran out of steam Aunt Esther carried him from house to house he is lucky to have such a great aunt. Poor Spencer's tool box got heavy very quickly so Uncle Ben helped out carrying all the loot. Jake took the lead and ran to every house the entire time. There was no slowing him down. Of course Brookie was walking with Grandma she loves being with her as much as possible.
Over all yesterday was a great success everyone was happy and having fun.
What more can a mother ask.....