We all went up to the church and played different Christmas Minute to Win it Games. Everyone had a partner to compete in the games with. I enjoyed watching the various pairs working together.
I only took a few pictures of the games. Aunt Janna then started up a fun marshmallow fight. They ARE softer than snowballs and a lot of fun for everyone.
We have been enjoying all of Stephen’s side of the family that came for the holidays (24 people to be exact). Lots of laughs, lots of food, lots of people, and lots of fun.
Today the last of the family flew out. I can’t believe how fast the week went by. We had a fun holiday with the house FULL of family. My kids sure didn’t lack for attention, and I ALWAYS had someone to visit with.
Thanks for coming Thompson’s!
We are getting ready for Christmas. We have a lot of family coming into town, which has meant lots of cleaning and last minute projects. The kids keep asking when everyone will get here so that they can stop cleaning. ;)
The weekend was filled with basketball and indoor soccer games. I ran into my friend Petra at one of them and she wanted me to share the link to the Luca Strong website – www.lucastrong.com It has so much information, that can protect your family. Check it out.
Anyway, I’m off to clean…..
Years ago, my good friend Kim and I decided that instead of buying for each other, we would take the money and buy something for a family or person in need. 
First off, what a relief to not have to figure out what to give someone that already has everything!
We usually plan who we are doing and what we should give. One year we went to lunch and then shopped together for the family we chose. Another year Kim put all of the gifts in a big Santa sack, and as I watched her sneaking up to the house with the pack over her back I just couldn’t quit smiling. One year we did it with other friends and were actually able to put the presents under the Christmas tree of the family in need.
Giving with a friend, to someone who is “really” in need is indeed the spirit of Christmas! Now instead of gifts from Kim each Christmas, I have a lot of wonderful memories.
These mini snack containers are awesome!
I buy big boxes of crackers, cookies, trail mix, jerky, M&M’s… and then divide them in these perfect portion containers. The kids can grab them quickly for lunches, afterschool or sports snacks. I can then wash and reuse the containers.
Jerrica has helped me fill them this year. It’s “her” job. I think she enjoys doing it because she can steal a few treats. :) We then toss them in the snack bin in the pantry along with other fruit snacks and prepackaged treats. It’s just nice that the kids can grab them quick.
You can even set jello in them, add pudding or applesauce. It is so much cheaper, AND the containers are reuseable.
We made cut out cookies.
We made paper count down chains.
We listened to the Middle School Christmas concert.
We laughed and giggled as we “elfed ourselves”. I can’t believe how that is turning into a tradition we do every year.
We played basketball and indoor soccer games.
We went to Stake Conference sessions and were so uplifted by the talks. Elder Richard G Scott came and inspired me with so many of his thoughts. I LOVE conferences because they fill me with renewed energy.
We drove around singing Christmas songs and looking at Christmas lights Sunday evening.
We are ready for a new week!
There are so many fun Christmas projects I want to share, but I don’t want “certain” eyes to see the projects before Christmas. I’m still deep cleaning this house. I love washing curtains and scrubbing light fixtures because it makes the house feel so clean. Yet, at the end of the day you can’t really tell what I did all day. Anyway, little Miss Jerrica always needs attention in the afternoon. I get her going on a project and then I can keep going on my projects.
This shaving cream snowman was perfect. She spent an HOUR making them. I drew big circles on paper and she proceeded to fill them in with “snow”. The texture and aroma just make it a fun project. You mix equal quantities of glue and shaving cream together. It dries hard and thick.
I cut out a few things for her to glue on her finished snow painting, and THAT kept her busy for another HOUR. Here is “one” of her masterpieces.
She loved sharing them with everyone. BUT of course all the girls thought they needed to make their own, which brought out tears from Jerrica because the “snow paint” is only for mommy’s school and THEY don’t go to mommy’s school!
Anyway, I pinned the project in Pinterest. You can find it HERE on the Oopsey Daisey blog.
Just a few random things all wrapped in one post.
We finished our Thanksgiving puzzle. It was 1,000 pieces, and I believe it was a miracle that not one single piece was missing. Grandma Jackie would always have a puzzle out because people sit down to work on it and get pulled in. I sure enjoy any chance I get visiting with my family! Puzzles are my secret trap during the holidays.
It was all Disney characters. You can find it HERE. I’m excited to try a Wasgij for our Christmas puzzle.
I had a hard time taking down our Thankful poster. Jerrica’s random letters and Ashley’s words and spelling make me smile. It was good to see what we are thankful for.
I ran into the dollar store today and saw a shelf of Nutcrackers. I grabbed one. I put it on Rebecca’s pillow along with a note in her Mom and Me journal about her performance. When she got home from school and found her prize, you would have thought that I had bought her the moon. BUT no, it was only a dollar. The joy in her face was priceless though.
I’m also LOVING our Christmas tree. It’s gold with white, and filled with 15 different pictures of Christ. Christ is the real meaning of Christmas, so why not have a Christ tree.
Jerrica did ask if Santa will put presents under a Christ tree. I think Ashley keeps Jerrica’s head filled with all kinds of things to worry about.
I took the kids to a Creche Exhibit last Friday night. There were soooo many different types. I loved the sweet, peaceful feeling as we walked around all of the tables. I came home grateful for all of my different sets that I have acquired over the years. One of my favorites is a miniature silver one that mom gave me last year. LOVE this poem that I have framed by it…
“It may seem like a small and simple nativity, but it symbolizes the greatest event in the Earth’s history- Jesus Christ’s birth. The light that once shone on a manger, still brightens the world from afar. And listening hearts still hear angels, and wise men still follow a star” Ellis Rowsey
Rebecca was a mouse for the battle scene and also a Russian dancer. She told me that she LOVES the lights and all of the people that come to watch.
I HATE mice, but sure think my Rebecca mouse is cute!
Of course getting to put on make-up and help friends with their make-up is an added bonus.
As Rebecca was prancing around the stage, Kaylee was in Denver with friends playing in a basketball tournament. She played FOUR basketball games on Saturday!
These girls are just soooo different!
Flew over the Rocky Mountains…
Played against some really big girls…
(Kaylee ROCKED! A man came up to me after a game. He plays college soccer there in California. He told me that he had come to watch his niece play. He went on to say that his niece should have been his favorite person to watch, but instead it was my little red headed daughter. He couldn’t get over how small she was, but how feisty and aggressive she was.)
Anyway, we bonded with teammates…
Loved the beach…. (we saw a pod of dolphins soooo close to the shore, a seal, a surfing contest, and a wedding on the beach.)
Learned new things at Sea World… (Our favorite parts were the starfish, the Clyde & Seamore show, and the rides.) 
Walked around the San Diego temple Sunday evening…
Ate delicious Greek food down by the harbor and saw the huge ships,
Loved every minute with my Kaylee Girl!
Rebecca had a dress rehearsal for the Nutcracker tonight. I sat there thinking of how different each of my kids are. Rebecca loved being there in the mix of girls, putting on make-up, running around in their little skimpy dance costumes, twirling, and spraying hairspray on hair over and over again.
I thought of Kaylee last weekend at her soccer tournament- running around in sweats and a hoodie, with her hair pulled loosely in a messy bun. She was busy kicking soccer balls down the hall with friends, and juggling the ball in the hotel room. These two older girls are sooo different. I love them each in different ways, and am so grateful that they are different. How boring it would be if they all did the same thing!
Sure love you Bec! I had so much fun watching you tonight, both on and off the stage! You carry yourself with such a confidence.
Kaylee and I got back late Monday night. She headed off to school the next day with half open eyes and big yawns. I couldn’t resist running to Kohls to get a dolphin as a reminder of our trip. We saw dolphins when we were at the beach, and Kaylee fed one when we were at Sea World.
I wanted to write a letter highlighting our trip and the memories that stood out to me. I wanted to share my thoughts, advice, and praise her for what an incredible girl she is.
I could tell that she LOVED her “littler after trip gift” because of her smile and tears. So many times we have thoughts that we never express to those we love, AND those we love NEED to hear them!
