Light the World

I'll be honest.  Last December wasn't my best Christmas season.  We try to focus on the Savior with our Countdown to Christmas scripture study every December.  It just didn't do it for me last year.  I got wrapped up in, "Oh no.  We're just going to be bringing more stuff into our home.  Our place is a mess already.  The kids have too much stuff as it is and sorting through things to get rid of some has always been hard for me."  I was not happy about Christmas last year.  I couldn't focus on the true meaning of Christmas when I was so stressed about "stuff."
This year I found something that I hope will change my attitude.  It's called LIGHTtheWORLD and it is a focus on 25 days of December not just thinking about Jesus but being like Jesus.  You can find more information on mormon.org
It starts off with a worldwide day of service on December 1 (Jesus Lifted Others' Burdens and So Can You) and each of the rest of the days until Christmas there are suggestions for what Jesus did and how we can be like Him.
I plan to blog and make some YouTube videos throughout the month as well as posting on Facebook some of the things we're doing so keep coming back to see and let me know what you're doing to LIGHTtheWORLD.

Because of this we might not be celebrating a lot of the other holidays in December but as my husband told me, "We like finding reasons to celebrate and some reasons are more important than others."
I really hope this can help me have a better attitude toward Christmas this year.  I hope I can focus less on how stressful things are for me and really think more about what I can do for others as the Savior would.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Catch of the Day

For all those times you open a container and feel there is more air than actual product, this makes up for them.
This was after I had already scooped out some to use.

Shoulder Angel

We like Studio C.  It's fun, it's clean, it's great for the whole family.  They also have fun characters.  One is a full grown man wearing an angel costume who climbs on others' shoulders to advise them not to make bad choices- Shoulder Angel.
Lucky and Nichole came up to me one day and told me Lucky was Shoulder Angel.  Adorable.

I took several pictures and the last one I took made us all laugh so much.

Jr. Jr. decided to sneak into the picture.  The reason it made us laugh so much was because Studio C also has a sketch called "Photobombing 101."  So we ended up with two Studio C references in that one picture.  Tee Hee.

Pumpkin Pie

Let me tell you about our Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.
Wednesday evening I was originally planning to make the pumpkin pie so the only thing to use the oven for on Thanksgiving Day was the turkey.  However, there was a storm Wednesday evening.  Wind, lightning, thunder.  Then it snowed.  The power went out.  It was kind of exciting.  Luckily, Jeremy had already finished heating up the brine for the turkey and the dishwasher had already finished washing and was on the drying setting.
We had some fun with the lights out finding flashlights and candles.  We all went to bed somewhat early before the power came back on.
I got up early Thursday and decided to get the pie done so there wouldn't be anything in the way of the turkey.  Lucky woke up and helped me.  I thought I was smart and put aluminum foil down on the oven rack before setting the frozen pie crusts down.  Then I used a measuring cup to pour pie filling into the crusts.  I thought I could fill them more full that way.  Only a little bit of pie filling spilled onto the foil.  I was thrilled. 
Then I tried to push the oven rack back into the oven.  Ha Ha Ha Ha.  Splash splash splash.  Drip drip drip.  Ugh.  I turned off the oven, very carefully lifted the pies onto a cookie sheet on the stovetop, and mostly cleaned up the drips on the bottom of the oven.  I put new foil on the rack and very carefully put the pies back down and very carefully pushed the rack back in.  Sigh.
When the pies were done, I realized that because of all the dripping, the pie pans were stuck to the foil.  I was able to get one out but as I was getting the other one out, well... I tipped it a little too much. 

But you know what?  Eh, it's just pie.  Jr. Jr. walked into the room while I was getting the camera to take a picture.  He commented about us still being able to eat it, maybe about how it will still taste the same.  That's the right attitude.  I had the same attitude.  It's not like it was ruined.  I don't care that much about look, more about taste.  It tasted good, by the way.

So those were our Thanksgiving adventures.  The turkey turned out well.  Really yummy.  All the other food was good.  And a great family to share it with.  So much to be thankful for.

November 24 was also Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day.  A talent we had was saving two wishbones about a year to finally break them on Thanksgiving Day this year.  Wow, we're talented.

Hello, World

Monday, November 21, was World Hello Day.  I was in charge of Family Home Evening activity, so I thought we'd visit some world travelers who have the opportunity to say Hello to different parts of the world- birds.  We drove up to Farmington Bay in the rain, had a little break (it was sprinkling more than heavy raining) while driving around, got a few pictures before it got too dark, and drove home in the rain and rush hour traffic. 

I think we got mostly pictures of birds who stay year round in Utah, though.  Oh well.
The kids were happy to watch a movie in the van on the way home.  They did get excited about the ring-necked pheasant who was on the road in front of us but didn't want to go off into the bushes.  They were able to get a good look at it that way.

Tuesday morning, I got out and took a drive around the lake and did see some birds who travel to different parts of the world.  I saw a lot of different types of birds, including several bald eagles (who are not permanent residents of Utah).  It was so relaxing.  There was no rain that morning, so I was able to get out a couple times to get a better look at birds.

Later, Jeremy took Lucky out for a drive around the lake because I had also seen some ferruginous hawks which he had never seen before.  Lucky had a nice nap and Jeremy saw a couple new birds including some ferruginous hawks which brought his life list up to 200 different species of birds (most new birds were seen this year- it's a birding year for us).

November 22 was also Start Your Own Country Day, so at dinner the kids kept saying what kind of country they would start and what they would name it.  Apparently, Nichole would start a country of the dinner table and would name it India.  Lucky's country would be "the fridge" and "milk."  That's a 2-year old's mind for you.

Today, November 23 is Doctor Who Day.  We don't have anything major planned for the holiday this year since Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Jeremy and Jr. went out for some bonding time this morning to go birding at Farmington Bay.  If the other children stay asleep, I might be able to watch some Doctor Who in the kitchen while doing dishes and making rolls.  Shhh.  Don't wake them.

From Apples to Absurdity

Friday, the kids made dinner.  They all helped in one way or another.  Since November 18 is William Tell Day, we listened to the William Tell Overture as they made dinner, including apples.

 

Yesterday was Have a Bad Day Day.  We didn't.  However with breakfast, several of the children made mad faces with their food.  I think that's a better way of celebrating the holiday.

Today, November 20, is Absurdity Day.  It is also Universal Children's Day.  Today is the Primary Program in Sacrament Meeting.  How appropriate.  Wish us luck.

Change in Weather

Yesterday, Jeremy, Lucky, Jr. Jr., and I went up to Big Springs for Jr. Jr. to collect some leaves for homework. 

The boys had so much fun looking at different types of leaves and throwing sticks and leaves into water whenever we crossed a bridge.  The boys and I even played Pooh Sticks a few times.  There was one spot where the water was nice and slow moving under a bridge.  That was a great spot for Pooh Sticks. 

I enjoyed going on a beautiful hike.  I love nature.  We turned around when we reached a meadow.  Jr. Jr. thought that was the greatest thing- to hike all the way to a meadow.  So cute.

 
It was a lovely day and lovely weather.
This morning we woke up to snow. 

There was a bit off and on all day, but luckily not enough to make driving to dance class scary.  Jeremy took the littlest boys with him to take Nichole to dance class while Jr. and I went to an awards night at the school.  Nichole won an award of excellence for a dragon she sewed.  That was the school project she had been working on on Reptile Awareness Day.  Jr. accepted the award for her- the certificate, the coupon, the M&Ms, and the trophy.  What a good brother.  He and I also got to bring her dragon home.  Congratulations, Nichole.  On to the next level of competition for this project.

Here's a better picture of her finished dragon.  I didn't have the best lighting tonight.

Oh, and I made homemade bread since November 17 is Homemade Bread Day.  I can't believe I almost forgot to mention that.

What?

Supermoon

Plus

Equals

SUPERMOON!

Super Moon

Tonight and tomorrow morning are supposed to be a Supermoon.
We noticed the moon when we got home tonight since it was dark and the moon was bright.  Jr. mentioned it was a moon that had Jack Skellington's face on it.  That's cool.
When I found out it was going to be a Supermoon, I ran out and took some pictures.

Not that it's any different from any other moon pictures I take.  Heh Heh

Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day 2016

I was going to make pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for National Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day on November 12 but we're still dealing with sickness in our home so I was only able to make two pizzas.

Egg and Breakfast Sausage Pizza

Pepperoni Pizza

That's okay.  I think we made up for it on September 8 when we had Alphabet Pizza for International Literacy Day.

Happy Corduroy Day

11/11 is Corduroy Day.

So wear those pants proudly and have a great day.

Mommy, Look

I'm eating a gem that kissed the sun and I find it's tasting delicious.

Celebrating Meals

Last Saturday, November 5 was Guy Fawkes Day.  It's also known as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night.  What goes well with bonfires or fireworks?  Hot dogs, chips, potato salad, and lemonade.  So that's what we had for dinner.  Well, except for the lemonade.  We didn't realize we were out of lemonade colored flavored sugar water so we had grape colored instead.

I don't think I ate any of it.  Lucky and I weren't feeling very well that day.

Yesterday, November 8, was Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day.  We had spaghetti with garlic bread. 

Since it was also Bram Stoker's birthday, Jeremy took some pictures of bat boxes while he was out birding.

It was election day and it took less time voting than we were expecting.  We got an early start and took turns and still got done before the kids went to school.  I was expecting the whole day to be taken up with voting but I was okay that it wasn't.  So then we took turns birding.
I was still not feeling the best, but it was good to get out in the fresh air and at times just listen to birds.  I did a lot of sitting, but one of the times I was standing taking pictures of black-capped chickadees, one flew right at me and almost landed on me.  Unfortunately I was looking through the camera at the time so the fluttering by my hand and head completely surprised me and I flinched.  I think I surprised the chickadee, too.

I love birds.