I'm loving these hats/mittens!

I have seen these at the mall for quite a while now...but I never stopped to check them out!
Then Brady decided to explore the stand...and he fell in love...then Annika fell in love...so I bought 2 of them!

We are having so much fun with them...that Luke and Chelsea now want one!

There worth it....in my opinion!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Our baby is growing up......
What should we do?????

Why not have another one!!!! ;)
#6 is on it's way...we don't know if it's a girl or a boy...

We do know it will probably have a bit of each of us....the kids each drew a different body part...and this is what our new angel will look like...or close to it!

We know we aren't complete without the new baby!

If it's up to Luke...we may have a few more! ;)
I love the little one on Dad's head!

Got Cardboard!!!

Make a mural!
I know it's Thanksgiving...we...like you...are ready to move on to Christmas!
But it turned out too cute not to post!
My older girls had this idea from the start of the Giant Tree!
But the younger 3 finished it...with a little help!

Black Friday Line Survival!

Black Friday is not my thing....I am not a crowd fighter!
Last year my girls asked to go for the first time...and so at midnight we hit our local Walmart!
Yes, it was crowded...but we all got right in....and there was enough for everyone!

This year....my girls asked again. I figured it would just become part of the Thanksgiving memories!
So we headed out...we don't go early...because the idea is to just have a good time!
Well, the BIG city is a whole new story.
The line was over a half mile long...and we weren't dressed for the dropping temperatures!
SOOOOOOOOO....What do we do?
My rules are: We can go if it is fun...as soon as it's not fun....we come home!

The kids all wanted to stay...so now my sister and I have 2 8 yr. olds...and 2 11yr. olds to entertain for what we hoped would be a short wait!

After a few gymnastic stunts....

We played the alphabet game...make a pose for each letter of the alphabet.
Here's a few...
E for Enormous!

J for JUMP

O for Octopus

P for Peeing (Like a dog)

W for WOW!

Z for ZZZZzzzzz!

That worked like a charm...they all had fun!
Even My sister and I...jumped in on the fun...and forgot we were older...and just had a grand time being silly with our kids!

But...it only gave us an hour...
So...we played telephone...which was another hit...and gave us another 30 min.
The temps were dropping and the wind was picking up...so we knew we had to get the kids moving again!

After a few rounds of HOKEY POKEY...the girls just went out in the center of the LONG line and BOOGIED!!
It warmed them right up...and we finally made it into the store....after standing outside for 2 1/2 hours!
We all survived another Black Friday!
The girls are already planning on next year...so I'll meet you all out there!

Thanksgiving !!!

I don't think character pancakes will ever get old for me or the kiddos...if you add a bit of color...everything is FUN!!!

We all woke up to a new tradition...designed and started by Chelsea...
The turkey left everyone a special Thanksgiving note...and some candy!
No one knows who the Turkey is...but me...and she informed me that she plans to come every year.
I figure if Easter can have a bunny....why not let Thanksgiving have a turkey...especially if that turkey isn't me! :)

Brooke has worked hard on the kids table details...she even set the stage with an indoor...outdoor teepee set!

While studying the Thanksgiving History...the kids have been enjoying Indians...so we set up a camp out style Thanksgiving dinner!

All their kids had an Indian journal...

Marker holding turkey...that doubled as a place setting!

The centerpiece was a real glowing campfire...

Even though the 3 older girls sat with the grown ups...at our typical table...

They still joined in on the Indian fun!!!!

Run Before the FEAST!!!

I am one happy mom!
Growing up..the Turkey Trot was my favorite Thanksgiving Tradition.
I was thrilled to find one...right here in our town!
YIPPEE!

Check out Chelsea's adorable hat...she wears a funky hat in each race!
I love her individuality!
It stayed on the entire time!!!

All 7 of us paid...and all 7 of us have shirts and bid numbers...but it was too cold to get a good Turkey Trot picture!
Brooke agreed to stay with Luke...since he would be faster than me!

I walked with the wee ones...it gave me a whole new perspective....
Here are few of my favorites...during the run!
8000+ people giving glory to our great country!

Annika's own sense of fashion!

These awesome homemade turkey hats...we will be making these next year...they keep your ears warm..and they are adorable!

My all time favorite...SON PUSHING MOM!!!!!

Of course my cheering squad...who thought I would never finish!!!

8000+ runners....and 2000 dogs!
We gave this dog the BEST DRESSED!

Plus he made for one happy girl...who wanted to pet all 2000 dogs during the race!
(I don't really know how many dogs...but there was a ton!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Family Pictures!

I am proud of myself....
I have my family pictures done..and I have my Christmas cards ordered....
I don't mean to brag...but for me this is months early...
I am always ordering Christmas cards as Happy New Year...to avoid procrastination evidence!

My favorite part of family pictures is the "behind the scenes"....
trust me...there are 100's of special and funny moments...
here are just a few!

Thankful for Freedom of Religion!

This week we have been studying the history of Thanksgiving....and the struggles of the Pilgrims!
As we have read stories upon stories of the hardships they endured...all for the sake of RELIGION!
We can't help but feel GREAT GRATITUDE TO ALL who have given up their lives for RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!

As I was rushing around trying to get all the kiddos dressed for church, I heard one of my kids say...."Aren't we lucky to have the freedom to CHOOSE which church to go to?"

This THANKSGIVING remember that the Pilgrims left England so that they could worship as they wanted!

I am so thankful for my belief in THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS!
I am equally thankful for all of my friends...who come from a full range of religious beliefs...I love that we can share stories, talk, encourage, and lift one another. I love that we can RESPECT each other! My hope is that all religion...righteousness..will pull together...work as a team...and be THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE DIFFERENT!

FHE..Family Night..Helping the Needy!

We have just moved to a "BIG" city from a small city.
All my kids were raised in Iowa, in a town of 10,000 + people!
We didn't have people standing on the side of the road with signs asking for money!
When we drove into Des Moines...we would occasionally see it.
Now it seems that every time we get on the freeway, there is at least one person asking for help!

I grew up in Phoenix, Az and have become accustom to seeing this.
Unfortunately, I just look ahead and drive past.
My kids started to ask me questions about why they were hungry and why wasn't I helping them.
I thought about it...and thought about what Jesus would do.
I couldn't think of one scripture were it tells us to look away from the needy...or to judge.
I decided I was setting the wrong example for my kids...and I wasn't spreading goodness to the cars around me. Charity spreads.
I know that they are not all sincere...and the ones who are, may be there for their own choices...but WE ARE NOT THE JUDGE!
We are only asked to help the needy!

We had a family night on HELPING THE NEEDY!
We started with a scripture search of what does the Bible tell us to do?
Of course...the kids came to the conclusion that we were to help, and not judge!

We compiled a list of things that the kids thought would be good to have if you were hungry!
Then I took them to Walmart and we purchased enough for 5 boxes of goodies.
We also got a bunch of $1 to keep in the car...so I NO longer have the excuse...
"I don't have change!"

The kids all arranged their own boxes of food...some made nice little piles..and others crammed the goodies in the box.

No matter how the box was packed...it was packed with lots of enthusiasm and love!

The older girls helped the little ones wrap their boxes!

The kids even made their own tags!

We ended with a THANKFUL TURKEY snack!

Family Night is seriously my kids favorite time of the week!
They look forward to it...and if missed...they are on edge...waiting for the FAMILY NIGHT!

As you can see from our snack....we don't stress about the details.
We try and pick a good character or spiritual subject...and then we plan an activity...song...scripture...and snack to go with it!
Sometimes it goes smoothly...but usually their is at least one kid tumbling around or jumping on our backs.
Those little distractions are never remembered..just the loving spirit that comes with everyone being together.
I try not to notice distractions...because the mom's attitude sets the whole night. If I am relaxed and happy...ready to go with the flow...then the whole thing is fun!