Polar Express Party!

Last night we had our annual Polar Express Party.

My husband wore his Polar Express conductor hat (with foil decal by my sister) and read the book to us. This year everyone was assigned a sound to make when Jeremy pointed at them, from a train whistle "woo woo" to "Oh no" when the hole was found in the pocket. Lucky even got out his harmonica to make sounds. It was a blast.

Afterward we watched the movie and drank hot chocolate. 
I fell asleep, of course, as is my tradition. They paused the movie so we could do our Countdown to Christmas scripture study before I went back to my room. I was so tired that when Jet brought me my mint M&M somehow I didn't put it in my mouth and later they found it sitting on the couch. Jeremy put it in a bag for me to eat later.

This is a fun tradition to do as a family every year (though not necessarily the falling asleep part). 

P.S. We also had Chex Mix to munch on during the movie. Mmmm. My favorite holiday treat. It doesn't last long when we make it because everybody else in the family also likes it. 

P.P.S. Another thing I think is cute. Jet saw that Daddy's Polar Express cup was out on its saucer (so I could get that picture). I got Christmas mugs out of our Christmas crate to use for this event. Jet grabbed one of the mugs and a tiny plate and set out the mug on the plate, just like Daddy's cup and saucer. I love my children so much.

 

We Did What We Said We Would

Monday, December 1, was Antarctica Day. It was cold. I also wore a shirt that had snow flakes and a Wintery scene on it.

It was also Eat a Red Apple Day. We ate a red apple with dinner.

Tuesday, December 2, as you know was Giving Tuesday. Sometimes I don't think about those simple acts of service as service. Jeremy reminded me on his way out the door that morning that I serve him every morning when I make his lunch and breakfast. I didn't think of it like that. It's just what I do because I love him. He appreciates it. But it's also an act of service? Oh yeah, I guess it is. But it's just what I do.

I agreed to give a ride to one of Lucky's friends after play rehearsal yesterday since his parents needed me to. I didn't think of it as actively doing service. It was just a nice thing to do. I was happy to. But it was service. Sometimes service doesn't take extra effort but it still makes a difference. I was already picking Lucky up and that family lives in our neighborhood. It was easy for me but the parents appreciated it.

Sometimes service does take a little extra effort. I took the other kids with me to pick up the boys from rehearsal and we let Lucky's friend know since it was "Giving" Tuesday we were "giving" him a ride. Then when we got to his house, Lucky grabbed a plate of cookies we brought with us and let him know we were also "giving" his family cookies.

After that we delivered cookies to a couple other people.

A few days before, the kids helped me make the cookies. Also service.

Oh, and while I was delivering taquitos and something he left at our house to Jr., a couple of my children cleaned the living room (as per my request). Service.

I gave Jr. a ride somewhere earlier in the day. 

It's amazing how sometimes we don't even realize we're doing service or we don't think to label it because it's just a kindness that we show. I think that's great. And like I said, sometimes it takes a bit more effort.

I'm not saying this to toot my own horn. I'm saying this because sometimes we don't realize that we are making a difference in the little things we're doing. 

That night a few of us sat down to watch a movie together. 

Sometimes service comes in the form of spending time with someone... or listening. Instead of turning on a show to watch or an audiobook to listen to while I made dinner, I listened to one of my sons share what he had come up with about different fantasy creatures and fantasy realms. He has such creativity and a great imagination.

Thanks for doing me service and reading all my rambling. I'll probably share some more of the service that goes on this month but there are those times when service is done quietly and doesn't need to be shared publicly so I won't share everything.

Giving Tuesday

It is Giving Tuesday, a perfect day to look outside ourselves and think about others. There are lots of ways to serve and remember that "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)

It is now the Christmas season. We have what we have because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate His birth this season. You know I like to find ways to Light the World each December. Here is something we did as a family the day before Thanksgiving (and shared it on Instagram and Facebook):

I am thankful that we are teaching our children that even simple acts of service make a difference.

We visited the Giving Machine as a family. We let each child pick something to go to someone in need from warm socks to 150 lunches. We won't meet the people our donations go to but we do know they will bless people's lives.

There were missionaries there and one elder offered to take a picture of our family. That simple act of service meant we got a family picture with all of us looking at the camera. That doesn't often happen so when it does, it's a blessing. 

You don't always know the impact a simple act of service can make but it's worth it. It really is. 

 

This year for Light The World, there are suggestions of how you can share that light (give that service) while participating in your normal Christmas traditions. 

  

So tell me, how are you serving others this Giving Tuesday? If you need an idea, Giving Machines are available in numerous places throughout the world. 

 

Now we have plans to deliver cookies for Giving Tuesday tonight. That's another idea.

It's Christmastime!

It is December so it is time for our Countdown to Christmas Scripture Study. Like last year, this year we shared our tradition with another family in our neighborhood, giving them their own jar of flags and mint M&Ms.

I'm grateful to share this tradition we have of every day focusing our family scripture study on what Christmas is really about: our Savior Jesus Christ, His birth, and what He means to us. That's why our last scripture study in this advent calendar encourages us to share our testimonies of Him. Because of Him we have what we have and we are who we are.

Thanksgivings

We had a little Charlie Brown Thanksgiving this year to celebrate Charles Schulz' Birthday on November 26 like we did a couple years ago. Besides toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and jelly beans, we had peppermint patties and lemonade.

The day after, November 27, was Thanksgiving. Wednesday and Thursday we had several helpers helping Jeremy and me make food for our big Thanksgiving dinner. A while before, Jeremy and I had a discussion about how you can buy butter shaped like turkeys for your Thanksgiving table. We talked about how you could do it cheaper with your own mold. We don't have a turkey mold but you know what kind of molds we do have? Frogs. That's right. We have frog molds to make chocolate frogs. Man, now I want to make chocolate frogs. We decided because we're awesome that we would make butter frogs to go on our Thanksgiving table. We did. Jet and Nichole helped fill the molds and I was happy with how they turned out.

Kids also helped with rolls and deviled eggs and setting the table and it was just a nice dinner.

Jeremy and I did the turkey. Jet decided to name it "Gobbler." I love this family.

We had pumpkin pie and apple pie. 

We have so much to be thankful for and I'm glad I've tried to focus on that this month.

My Blog is Family History, Funny Family History

I am thankful for my blog where my children can look back at things they've said and done in the past and get a big kick out of them.  

 

The KAT's Meow

Mom: I'm tired. I want to get my pajamas on, snuggle up with my sweetheart, and go to sleep.

Jet: You want to snuggle up with me?

Mom: Awwwww.

 

 

 

 

 

Mom: Lying is unethical in my opinion.

Dad: That's why I sit up.

 

 

 

 

 

Mom: May I have my phone? It's going to die if you keep playing with it.

Jet: Don't worry, Mom. It's electric. It won't die. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mom (to Jet): You're so adorable.

Lucky (to Jet): You're so lucky.

Jet: I'm so musical.

(proceeds to play with a toy guitar) 

 

 

 

 

 

Jet taught me a new song.

"Turkey run away

Or you'll be eaten for Thanksgiving Day." 

We're Thankful For... Jet

"When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way From your first bassinet to your last dying day."

 

As often happens, Jeremy was out of town on Jet's birthday this year.

Hey, at least he skipped out on his out of town convention the year Jet was born.

Jet didn't complain because he got two birthday celebrations again... sort of.

He had the same dinner both times but only did cake and ice cream with blowing out birthday candles the first time. It just didn't work out the second time. He opened cards on his actual birthday and when Dad came home from his trip, Jet opened presents. Then he was so happy with his presents, there wasn't a lot of thought for more cake and ice cream and singing happy birthday and blowing out candles.

He "read" his own cards.

"Dear Jet. I hope you have good luck.

Awww."

I just love that he responded to what he was making up. 

He got a remote controlled gecko which can crawl on the wall but Jet is more interested in it crawling on the floor (which it can also do).

"Its name is Megogecko."

He loves that thing. He's had us do races with it and try to "catch" it. When Jr. Jr. brought home a mousetrap car he made at school, Jet insisted they race "Mouse Car and Megogecko!" 

Jet got to bring balloon animals to school for his birthday for the first time. It's tradition. Since Jeremy was out of town, Lucky and I made the balloons for him to take (with a little "help" from Jet). 

He got a birthday hat at school and loved it so much, he wore it for the rest of the day. Such a cutie.

Jet, you are so much fun. We are so thankful you are a part of our family.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Walking by the Lake

I'm thankful for morning walks along the lake. It's been a while but I got the chance yesterday so I took it.

Wolfenoot!

Wolfenoot is one of those random holidays that we came across years ago and have enjoyed celebrating since. So for Wolfenoot on November 23 this year, we ate meat. Jr. made us chocolate chip pancakes that looked like moons (my moon was waning, it wasn't full).

We made sure to tell each other to be kind to animals.

It was a simple Wolfenoot this year but we did make sure to celebrate. 

Gingerbread!

I am thankful for finding reasons to celebrate. 

November 21 we had fun celebrating National Gingerbread Cookie Day.

Jet and I were telling each other the story of "The Gingerbread Man" before school. He was even running around calling out, "You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man!"

We made gingerbread men after dinner. Jet devoured them.

That night my husband ready Jet a bedtime book of "The Gingerbread Man" that I checked out from the library for them.

 

Also before school, my other elementary schooler got to be a greeter and said, "Hello," to a lot of people for World Hello Day. 

For dinner we had bruschetta bake to celebrate National Stuffing Day. I couldn't help myself from telling the kids, "I'm putting bruschetta togetta."

I love finding reasons to celebrate.

Bonding Time is Great!

I'm thankful for bonding time with my husband. Things have been so busy with trips and with life that we haven't been able to take much time for just the two of us. So one day my husband made us omelettes, I made us hot chocolate, and we sat down and watched a whole movie together.

I'm thankful for working and chatting in the kitchen together, too. 

There were olives in the fridge and I asked if we should have them in our omelettes. Jeremy said we should. "How many?" I asked. "All of 'em," he replied. So he put "half of 'M'" in my omellete and "the rest of 'M'" in his. He's adorable. 

It was International Men's Day that day on November 19. It was also Have a Bad Day Day. Jeremy, my man, did not have a bad day that day. It's like when I don't feel like screaming on International Moment of Frustration Scream Day. Heh Heh.

 

The next day, November 20 was Universal Children's Day and Absurdity Day. I took my child, Nichole, to a Relief Society dinner with me. I did not get any pictures at the activity. Can you believe it? How absurd.

Bread and Butter and Cider, Oh My

I'm still thankful I know how to bake and cook.

November 17 was Homemade Bread Day as well as National Butter Day. I made homemade wheat bread which we ate with butter (not homemade). I used the recipe I always use for wheat bread from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. "Darcy's Whole Wheat Bread."

I also made homemade alfredo sauce to go with spaghetti. I used the recipe I always use for alfredo sauce from Our Best Bites. "Guiltless Alfredo Sauce." 

A few people had toast for breakfast on homemade bread (Pantry Secrets White Bread recipe).

 

November 18 was Apple Cider Day. Several people had apple cider.

Bonding Time Is Great!

I'm thankful for the "Daily Fun with Your Little One!" calendar I get from the children's section of Orem Public Library.

One day my little one and I sang "Five Little Turkeys" while counting down on our fingers and practicing rhyming.

I'm thankful for bonding time. Bonding time is great! 

Playing in the Leaves

I'm thankful for working and playing together.

"Canyonball!"

 

After picking kids up from school one day, instead of hurrying inside, we raked and played in the leaves for a while. 

Yes, I was finding leaves in my pockets for a few days after and I had to vacuum and sweep after we came inside, but it was worth it.

P.S. Jet shouts, "Canyonball!" when jumping into the leaves because he heard us say, "Cannonball." When my older kids were younger they used to say "canyon" instead of "cannon." That was many many years before Jet was born. I just think it's fun that he does it now without learning it from his older siblings.