Cooking up a frenzy...

If my calender next week is any indication of how busy things are going to be then I need to be organized... so I talked Kayla into helping me cook up a bunch of meals for the freezer.  I've done this in the past and it is loads of work... but today I discovered that it is much, much easier (and funner!) with two people.

We made 2 lasagna, 2 spaghetti pie, rolls, breakfast burritos, twice-baked potatoes, taco meat, meatballs and shredded chicken.  Yes... I'm tired!!

My Christmas Present

I gave Robert a not-so-subtle hint on this post about this jewelry that is made in Haiti out of cereal boxes.  And I LOVE THEM!!  Kayla gave me the sweater and they are a perfect match.  Lucky me!

Poor baby...

Andrew called us earlier this evening to tell us he got in a crash.  No one was hurt but he's pretty sure his car is totalled.  Pretty depressing for him.  Luckily though, he has this to always remember it by....



Lexus and her sister Leslie were in the car and Leslie was taping them singing.  I told Andrew that the most disturbing part for Robert was that his son was singing country music.  We all have to get disappointed some time.

lotsa, lotsa Christmas pictures!!

Our family tradition is to celebrate big on Christmas Eve... thus the large amount of pictures from last night and very few from today.  It might also be because we are still in our pj's at 6 pm and I never even bothered to comb my hair.   Just maybe.

two redheads
and one happy mama

my beautiful babies

we miss Andrew!!

Knowles Family
We always have friends over for dinner and to play games

Elder Baker and Elder King

Adams Family
Piper is the cutest thing.... I think I need to adopt her.

The present game

Kayla not winning
(shea ended up winning)



Singing Christmas carols



The boys.

Christmas morning!!!!



Hello World!



Shea and Braden with their Zhu Zhu pets
this was the first year that my kids didn't want any toys.
That just wasn't right so I got them all fake rodents.
made sense in my tiny brain.

We spent today playing Funglish, Settlers of Catan (I only lost by ONE point to the evil professor!!) and trying out the pogo stick.  Eating leftovers and hot chocolate and having a fabulous family time.

Christmas Lights!!

Everyone came.... didn't you know that
smelly dogs LOVE Christmas lights



Nichols Hills is absolutely beautiful with all the homes lit up.
my camera doesn't really show the lights very well....
but we were amazed!



My family!!!
and yes... it was COLD!

makes me wonder what their electric bill is for December

so beautiful!
the lights and the girl

Chesapeake Energy has the MOST AMAZING
lights around their business complex.

So handsome.
the hubby.
not little Satan.

This was right before Braden jumped back into the car.
only problem was that it wasn't our car.
Pretty sure he scared Christmas right out of that little old lady in the front seat.

animals, gingerbread houses and my new watch

Kayla brought a few hand-me-downs from Charlie, my friends Dachsund

So of course Shea played dress up with all the animals....



Shea and our neighbor Joey




My beautiful Christmas present from Tammy.
LOVE IT!!



Fat dog in a little coat

Sasha the Evil Chihuahua got her Christmas present today.

One more nativity to share

My kids have always loved to play with Legos.  Especially on Sundays....  Here is what they created today:

Love my creative kids!

I love the starry night

The Three Wismen
and their gifts

Andrew made the star & manger
Shea designed everything else

Beautiful Nativities

There was a Nativity Event at our Stake Center this weekend... I LOVE seeing the beautiful Nativities from around the world.  Makes me want to start collecting.  Hmmm... a new hobby?  Something new to obsess about?  Of course!