Merry Christmas!

As I prepared our house for Christmas this year, I came across a talk by Elder Holland entitled, Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come from a Store.  He does such a wonderful job telling the story of the birth of our Savior, and it really put me in the Christmas spirit.  We had our annual Christmas Eve dinner with the Bradley's.  The kids acted out the Nativity Story and Debbie shared a wonderful story about Rory's great grandpa Hollis.  The kids then opened presents and got extremely wild!  Christmas day we opened presents then headed over to Orangeville to have breakfast with my family (another tradition we keep every year).  The breakfast was delicious and it was so fun to open presents with everyone.  After all the presents were opened, Jerod and Elise surprised Gary with a basset hound puppy.  It is so cute and the kids were seriously in love.  Mathew and Kinlee were so intrigued and wouldn't leave grandpa or the puppy alone.  We had such a wonderful Christmas and are truly blessed.

Christmas Morning

Curtis kids and papa

Christmas Day

Crazy Connor showing off his presents

Kinlee, Kadee, & Matt hanging on Kadee's new cot

Matthew

A week before Christmas Rory called me and asked how I felt about watching a little boy for awhile while his mom gets her act together.  I agreed and she gave us temporary legal custody and we welcomed Little Matthew into our home.  He is such a happy sweet baby.  We have enjoyed having him so much.  We aren't sure how long he will be with us, but we will enjoy him while we have him, and we were able to give him a good Christmas.  Everyone has been wonderfully supportive.  He came to us with no clothes, toys, or even the basic necessities  and people have really stepped up to help him out.  I am so grateful for the people in our life, they have showed us that there is so much good in this world.  Life has been very different with 4 kids, but I am finally adjusting and getting into the groove.  Rory and the kids are crazy about this little boy and seriously spoil him rotten.  Hope we can give him some peace and happiness for as long as it takes. :)

Electronics family- I came into the living room to this scene

Santa Claus

We had a surprise visitor tonight.  Santa Claus himself!  He stopped by to say hello to the kids and bring them a goody bag.  Connor and Kadence were super excited to see him, but Kinlee wasn't so sure how she felt about him.  She wouldn't sit on his lap and kept saying she was scared, but she did tell him she wants a doll for Christmas.  It's funny that she wouldn't sit on his lap, because after he left it's all she could talk about.  She even had to call Nana and tell her that Santa brought her some candy.  So glad we got this fun visit from Santa!!

Max Powers

This year Santa brought us our very own, unique, Elf on the Shelf.  He came with a movie and a poem about how he works and the kids were so excited.  It took us FOREVER to decide on a name, and I didn't think we would ever agree on one, but the kids finally agreed on Max Powers.  Max Powers has been a lot of fun to have around the house and is sometimes very mischievous. Here are a few of the things he's done since he got here:

Mr. Piano Man

Just "popped" in to say hello!

Mission: Impossible

"Santa, they're on to us!"

Snow Angels

Max Was Here

Be Good!

Egg Nog anyone?

Let's get hitched

Calgon take me away!

Evil Canival

Merry Christmas 2012

Grizzlies

Kadence got invited to go to a grizzlies hockey game with her friend Tawni, I didn't think she would want to go, but she was so excited and couldn't wait.  Tawni's parents picked her up around 3pm on Saturday and she didn't get home until 2am!  They spoiled her rotten.  They took her to dinner at the Olive Garden then went to Hollywood Connection to see Santa and ride all the rides.  She LOVED the hockey game and said her throat hurt from screaming so much, she was so excited the "bears" won and is already begging us to take her to another game. When I asked her what she asked Santa for she said she asked him for something special.   Wendi (Tawni's mom) sent me a picture of Kadence on Santa's lap and it was too cute not to post.  So grateful for my kids friends, love them almost as much as my own kids!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Today we loaded up the kiddos and headed to Joe's Valley to find the perfect Christmas tree.  It is absolutely breath taking up there, the water was so glassy and the views were amazing.  It didn't take long to find the perfect tree, so after cutting it down we hunted for pine cones, took a few pictures and shot Rory's sniper rifle.   Here are a few pictures of our great day:

Beautiful Joe's Valley

Our Perfect Christmas Tree

Family Pictures 2012

This year between Kinlee cutting her hair and all the other crazy things in life, we never got around to getting our family pictures taken.  So, on Thanksgiving I asked Rory's cousin Danae if she would take some pictures of us for our Christmas cards.  She did a fantastic job, and ended up taking pictures of almost everyone there.  I'm so glad we ended up getting some pictures done, I have had family pictures taken almost every year since I was married, it is a fun tradition that I hope to continue for many years.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  There is nothing better than eating a ton of yummy food with the people you love.  We enjoyed the holiday with Rory's family this year and got some adorable family photos.  The kids played basketball and wrote a play on the stage of the stake center.  We adults visited and stuffed our faces.  The kids made some cute Thanksgiving crafts in school that I thought it would be fun to share.

Connor made two place mats.  One is a turkey that breaks down the characteristics of a story they read in class.  The other is a cornucopia that says things he is grateful for.  Here is his list (spelling and grammar has not been changed):

I'm grateful for my mom she's so nice to me.
I'm grateful for my dad he helps me do whats right.
I'm grateful for my sisters they like to play with me.
I'm grateful for my dog because he is so funny.
I'm grateful for my cat she's so cute.
I'm grateful for my family they are so kind to me.
I'm grateful for America because I'm free.
I'm grateful for my bunnies because they are so cute.
I'm grateful for my cousens they are so kind to me.

Kadee made a couple of very cute scarecrows and a cornucopia that has fruits and vegetables.  Written on each fruit/vegetable are the things she is grateful for.  Here is her list:

sister
mom
dad
cusins
bruther

I'm sooooo grateful for my amazing family.  It is always so nice to spend time with them and I am so blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Kinlee dressed herself in this picture, the things around her
  wrists and neck belong to Connor's Build A Bear

It's so hard to do her hair cute with her bangs cut SO short.
She is ready for Thanksgiving in her favorite Minnie Mouse Shirt

Disney on Ice

A couple months ago the kids and I counted all the change we had saved in a jar that sits on our dryer and had enough to buy tickets to Disney on Ice.  I would have just bought the tickets for the kids, but I thought it was a good way to teach them to save and about the value of a dollar.  They were so surprised at what it costs to go to something as simple as a show.  Kadee said she thought the debit card was free money! 

So today we were finally able to use our hard earned tickets.  Last night was PTA movie night at the school, so we weren't able to head up to Salt Lake until this morning.  We got up bright and early and were just out of the canyon when Kinlee threw up all over her clothes, carseat, blanket, etc...  We stopped at a Kmart and Rory ran in to buy her a change of clothes while I got her cleaned up.  After that little detour we were running behind and I was worried we weren't going to make it in time, but we did with time to spare.  The kids loved the show, even Kinlee.  She doesn't EVER sit through ANYTHING and she was mesmerized.  She loved Mickey Mouse and was constantly clapping and trying to sing along.  

Waiting for the show to start at Energy Solutions Arena

Mickey ears!

After the show we decided to eat at one of my favorite place, The Olive Garden.  As we were walking in Kinlee got sick again, but managed to miss her clothes completely.  I thought she was just car sick so we went in and got lunch and headed home.  By the time we were home Kinlee had a high fever and diarrhea, I felt so bad for taking her out when she was so sick.  Hopefully she will be feeling better soon, tomorrow is the Primary Program in our ward and I will be so sad if we have to miss it.  

Thankfuls...

I have so much to be Thankful for.  In honor of Thanksgiving here's a list of my top blessings (because there are too many to name):

1.  My Heavenly Father.  So grateful for my testimony of him and the way he blesses me every single day.
2.  My Hubby.  He is an a.m.a.z.i.n.g. man.  He works so hard for our family and always finds little ways to show me he loves me.  Not to mention he is a great daddy.
3.  Connor.  That kid is so cool.  He is the most giving and easy to please kid I have ever met.  He is so loving and still gives me lots of hugs and kisses.
4.  Kadee Jo.  Love this girl.  She is so sweet and truly loves life.  She writes me little notes and draws me pictures all the time, she is very thoughtful.
5.  Kinlee.  This little girl makes me laugh every. single. day.  She is going to go so far in life because she is stubborn and won't take no for an answer.  She completes our family.
6.  My extended family...  They support and love me no matter what... This includes all of Rory's family too, from day one they welcomed me with open arms.
7.  My wonderful friends...  They are always there for me and are so thoughtful.  When I grow up I want to be just like them. :)
8.  My calling and the young women in our ward.  Those girls have helped my testimony so much and are great examples to their peers.
9.  My home... I definitely take for granted the modern day technologies we have been blessed with.  I am so grateful for a beautiful home and have realized it's not the size of a home, but the love that fills it (cheesy I know).
10.  My Job and Rory's Job-  So many people are out of work and we have been blessed to have jobs we love and enjoy going to everyday.
11.  Wellington Elementary-  the teacher's at our school rock.  They really want our kids to succeed.   Being PTA President I have spent a lot of time at the school and it's made me realize what a great school we have.
12. My mommy.  I know I already said extended family, but I had to add her again.  We have been through a lot together and she is one of my best friends.
13.  The dad he didn't have to be.  Wally and Gary are both amazing men.  Although they didn't have to, both men have treated me like a daughter and have given me healthy relationships that my real dad never did.  It just goes to show any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.
14.  Last but not least... the church, the prophet, and temples.  Because of these 3 things I have a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and am blessed with an eternal family.

Life is good....

Hair...

My little angel is a little nightmare!  She is such a mischievous little girl who is very busy and is ALWAYS getting into something.  A few days ago it happened to be the scissors, and she decided to give herself a haircut.   I was busy getting the other 2 kids ready for school and as soon as they walked out the door I knew she was getting into something, but I figured it was my makeup.  I walked into my bathroom and she was SO proud of herself, "Look mom, me cut my hair...how cute!"  Needless to say I was so sad!  I called my friend Brittnee and begged her to let me bring Kinlee in to fix her hair.  When we got there she fixed it as best she could, but Kin will be wearing lots of head bands, flowers, and bows for several months.  I had a long talk with her and when I was done I said, "Are you going to cut your hair again?"  She said, "Yes, and yours too!"  That little girl keeps me on my toes, but I sure do love her!!

Just one of the many chunks of hair she cut

Not how I imagined Kinlee's first haircut

Britt adding layers to try and blend the pieces Kinlee cut

All done with our first haircut, how cute!