I Need to Praise

I need to praise every little thing to make them BIG things!

I took Kaylee up to a soccer camp in Monument last night.  As we were driving home she says, "Mom, I didn't know I was awesome at dribbling?!?" 

I was like "of course you are why do you say that?" 

"Well, no one has ever told me that.  Everyone always says how awesome I am at defense and how fast I am, but no one has ever told me that I am awesome at dribbling.  AND tonight Coach Shawn told me how awesome my dribbling skills are and then he told me AGAIN after our scrimmage with the big girls.  I just never knew that I was an awesome dribbler.... (and she continued rambling on in full Kaylee style)

Her skills weren't any different from the time she went IN to the clinic.  BUT her confidence and mindset were TOTALLY changed.  She came away with a new talent that she had all along, but hadn't been acknowledged by anyone.

Isn't it funny how we view ourselves different when someone compliments us on something.  Our self esteem is built up in that area .

As we drove home and Kaylee kept yakking my ear off, I was thinking of all the little things that I need to praise others on.  And how much others need to hear it, especially my kiddos!

My Boy in the Tutu

"Mom are coming to our Christmas program?"  "Mom are you going to record the program?"  "Mom make sure you bring your camera."

This was all coming from Nathan, who NEVER even cares about the music program.  The music teacher at Classical Academy is phenomenal.  She has props for each grade, like sunglasses for a Frosty Snowman rap.

Well, the sixth grade comes out without Nathan.  They proceed to sing a Jingle Bell medley to classical tunes.  Then on the last tune eight boys come running out awkwardly trying to do a little ballet dance.  And yes, one was MY Nathan....

And they ran off just as quick as they ran on.  Jerrica asked him where his tutu was when he came home from school that afternoon.  I think that will probably be his first and last time in a tutu!

12 Days of Christmas

It's that time of year again.  I am thrilled that the family we chose this year live soooo close to us.  Quite a few have asked for my list so I thought I would just post it.  If you have problems I can email it to you.

It IS a practical list from bird seed to eggs to milk...

So go grab a big can of pears and have fun with the 12 days!!!!

Reindeer Cupcakes

Someone had brought reindeer cupcakes into Ashley's preschool and Jerrica saw them.  So for DAYS now she has begged to make these cupcakes.  I finally relented this afternoon, AND Jerrica was SOOOO excited!  She placed all the cupcake papers in the pan, poured in the ingredients, licked the spoon, and bossed her older siblings on how to make their reindeer.

I know with all the chocolate faces, it may appear that people were sneaking licks of frosting, BUT I assure you that NO ONE was doing that because Jerrica was not allowing that :)

Anyway, Family Fun had some similar (I dare say cuter) reindeer cupcakes if you want to try making them.  Thanks for the fun family activity Jerrica!!!

Tree Ornaments

I'm trying to teach my girls to sew.  AND when I saw these cute Christmas tree ornaments that have long stretches of ribbon to sew, I couldn't resist letting the girls go at it.  Kaylee did really well by herself.  Becca needed a little supervision, but she is getting there. 

The trees are filled with a plastic bag to make them nice and fat.  You can see the tutorial HERE. 

We need to paint and glue the trunks tomorrow night.  I will post our finished products when we get there. 

I know it was pretty much straight lines to sew, BUT I am soooo excited that my girls can just sit down and sewwww! 

Random Travel Questions

How do you play Krazy Kickball?  Aunt Lael taught everyone how to play when I wasn't in there BUT Stephen says that these rules HERE look similar to how they were playing.  Picture how you would normally run bases, then run them in this order - 3rd, 1st, 2nd, and then home.  Also, if you are running with a group of people on a base you must hold hands as you run together.  When someone comes home, the next person in line just takes off to 3rd base without kicking.  If two people come home at the same time then two people take off to the 3rd base.  If I have missed something here, chime in Lael.

What is a favorite toy for your long road trips?  One of the LEAST messy toys that all the kids doodled on was this


It is awesome!You fill the pen with water and let them draw and play tic tac toe to their hearts content.  You can check it out here - Aquadoodle Travel Doodle.  Little crafts and Lego kits are fun to bring out and pass time. 

What kind of games do you play as you travel?  A favorite is family trivia.  The kids earn points and then can pick a treat based on points at the next gas station.  Questions are middle names of grandparents, favorite cereal of family members, birthdates, favorite movie or best friend of different family members... you get the picture.  The kids LOVE to play this and learn about the family at the same time.  I also like to bring the Scene It cards from the game and ask Disney trivia.  We also play A thru Z.  We start with A and yell out movies, food... whatever theme you decide and then when we have found one with A we move on to Z.  Some letters are hard, but we manage to find something for each one.  Starter stories is another fun game.  Although it always seems like the boys kill off the characters when it's their turn to add to the story.

Anyway, hope that helps with the questions and trips coming up.  Driving does take FOREVER, BUT you do save money AND it can be fun bonding time!!!!! 

Weekend Update

I can't believe how fast time flies.  We started the weekend by going up to Woodland Park to cut down a Christmas tree Friday afternoon, AND we won't mention the Christmas tree anymore!

We went to a live nativity and church FILLED with nativities.  Each of us had a different favorite.  Jerrica LOVES nativities and my favorite part of the night was when she was sitting on my lap watching the live nativity and turned around and said, "I LOVE this night.  Can we go again?"

The boys headed to a sleep over at the Wright's that night.  It's such a different dynamic when the boys are gone and we just have the girls.  Saturday was filled with cleaning, basketball games, play dates and a little Christmas gift making. 

On Sunday, we made our graham cracker gingerbread houses.  We do use a little Halloween candy that I stash away so that we have plenty to work with.

 

The boys had a massive one that they worked on together.  I wish that I would've caught them laughing 'in focus', but I still love this one anyway...

Those two sat there forever unwrapping candy, decorating, and laughing.  I should get up and take a picture of their finished product BUT I am too tired!

On we go to a new week....

Music

We LOVE music in our home.  I either have the stereo on or the kids are going strong practicing the piano.  This week we did a FHE with the Madsen family and had a little recital.  It was fun to hear the kids perform for each other.  (Becki, how did we not get a picture of any of it?!?!)

My four oldest are now going strong on piano Christmas songs.  I keep slipping into the piano room to play Christmas songs as well.

Jacob also had his Christmas middle school band concert.  I was so proud of him.  I sat there amazed at the conductor.  Can you imagine teaching a huge group of kids different instruments all at the same time?  He is doing an amazing job because the band sounded awesome. 

Anyway, loved hearing you on the piano AND trumpet this week Jacob!  You sure are a sweet boy!

Recipe Book

Today I started to make bread and couldn't find my favorite recipe anywhere.  I freaked out, organizing my drawer and still couldn't find it.  Then I remembered my Grandma Jackie cookbook AND as I looked through it I thought that it would be fun to share on my blog.

My sister Alesha put it together.  I took all the cookbooks down to have them bound.  When I went to pick them up the lady told me, "I have done A LOT of cookbooks over the years, but THIS is by far one of the best I have seen"  It's true, the book gives you a glimpse into the life of this great lady and cook.

Alesha and I went down to Grandma Jackie's house the day of the funeral.  We took Lee's camera and photographed Grandma's kitchen and other things that just reminded us of Grandma.  Then when Alesha put the cookbook together she used those pictures of Grandma's actual kitchen for the dividers.  The cover is her kitchen and the title comes from the fact that she kept all her recipes in a drawer.

Just looking at that picture brings back so many memories.  The owl salt and pepper shakers on the stove.  The little broiler oven that I burned my fingers on I don't know how many times.  Even that big window that Alesha put the title in.  That's the window that her cats would come sit in and peek into the house from the outside.  Oh how I miss my Grandma Jackie!

Besides the fun dividers, Alesha put in little stories of Grandma and her baking based off of family's memories.  The majority of the recipes are in Grandma's handwriting.  She ended the cookbook with a picture of Grandma and some advice that Grandma had written in her own handwriting.

   

One little part of it says, "Life is so short, enjoy every minute of it".  So true because Grandma is gone now.

Anyway, just wanted to share this fun cookbook.  Maybe someone will be inspired to take pictures of a kitchen of someone they love!  What a treasure this recipe book is, and not just for the recipes. 

Thanks again Lee!!!

Nativities

Jerrica and Ashley have been playing non-stop with the two sets of plastic nativities.  The nativities are different from each other but the same size, and when you combine them -  Baby Jesus has a twin brother, he has a mother Mary AND an Aunt Mary, SIX wisemen come to visit....  (The girls may have problems with the story as they get older)

Jerrica sits on one side of the fireplace and Ash on the corner (the left of this picture) and they play for hours. Maybe I need to leave it up year round!!!!

Thanksgiving

We went to Arizona for Thanksgiving this year.  We were ALSO able to see Alesha and her family.  We hung out with cousins playing games and listening to their tunes....

We had a pie making class from Grandma Brenda on Thanksgiving morning with the older girls.  Rebecca was dying to make pies with her, but I think that I was the one that walked away having learned all of the pie tips.

Aunt Lael taught us how to play crazy kick ball.  You don't have to run to the next base if you don't want to and players can pile up on bases holding hands and running like crazy when they could....

Every day the kids swam in Aunt Lael's pool...

I like this one of Hannah with Grandma Brenda.  They were playing Sharks and Minnows and Hannah was making sure that Grandma was NOT going to make a peep.

 

We ate A LOT of food from our Thanksgiving feast to grilled steak at the park and plenty of appetizers in between...

 

Did a little photo shoot of Aunt Racquel and Paul....

The guys stayed up late EVERY night playing Settlers of Cattan, they also managed to fit in Tennis one morning AND a movie at the Dollar Theater.  The girls all went out to a Mexican restaurant ONE night.  We also went to see the Mesa Temple Christmas lights, BlackFriday sales, Tangled at the drive-in, Santa at Outdoor World, played in Uncle Paul's tree house, and  mini golfing....

 

  When we first thought about going to Arizona, I thought "Oh that's going to take a lot of money that I could buy this or that with".  BUT there is really NOTHING that I could buy that would replace the memories and the relationships that were strengthened.  Thanks for the fun holiday Thompson's AND thank you Aunt Lael for letting us stay with you!!!