Sledding in the front yard

We have had snow on and off for quite a while and since the front of our house faces opposite of the sun, our yard stays snowy! A bonus to this is that our yard is slightly sloped and the girls can sled down it!!!

Christmas in the NW

We traveled home to the NW for Christmas this year. The first time in 4 years that we have been with our families for the holiday. We started off the busy week with Candy Trains and Gingerbread Men/Women. Both of these things are traditions in my family and I remember doing them with my friends growing up.


( Gramma Pam made the kids special keepsake boxes with their pictures on them)

Christmas Eve at Grandma Pam and Grandpa Ian's. My battery died this night so I don't have as many pictures as I would have liked. Everyone was there this year and it was so much fun. The girls got some great gifts.


Christmas Eve morning at Uncle Shawn's with Grandma Janie, Aunt Courtney and family.
All the Grandkids and Aunt Courtney


Hopefully I will get some pictures of the Kirk family Christmas from my sister and then I will post those later. We got together at Jamie's and enjoyed a nice dinner and hanging out with everyone. We even called Gramma and Grampa Kirk on the computer!!

We were thankful to be able to spend the holidays with most of our family and appreciate all the hospitality and gifts!!

Reflection Questions for 2009

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
I would say it was when we bought our house and finally moved in after a long process!
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Derek's dad passing.
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Skype with mom and dad
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Our old van breaking down and buying a new car
5. Pick three words to describe 2009.
work in progress
6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).
work in progress!!!

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking).
grateful for job.
8. What were the best books you read this year?
The Hunger Games, New Moon (again), A thousand splendid suns
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My husband and girls, my mom and dad
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
Letting go of my attachment to "home" and being content wherever the 5 of us are together
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I actually am more emotional but the right answer would be the one above
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
still working on this one but it would be to rely on my Savior for strength and comfort instead of trying to fix everything myself
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
My stomach grew out a few more inches and my double chin hangs down longer!!!
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I am able to understand my dad a little better and Derek and I are always getting stronger with each year of our marriage.
15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
Decorating
16. What was your most challenging area of home management?
keeping the stainless steel appliances clean and finger print free
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Definatley the computer; Facebook and blogs
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Helping out at the girls school

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
To appreciate the place I'm in and grow from it
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.
Find joy in the journey-Thomas S. Monson


Happy New Year to all our friends and family!

Marshmallow Snowmen

I found this cute treat at a blog I frequent: http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/2008/12/marshmallow-s-1.htm

They turned out really cute.
Instead of using m&m's for eyes we used black gel frosting.
**note: if you use the black frosting they aren't as easy to put in bags unless you wait for the frosting to dry.** We weren't giving them away we were just eating ours so it was okay.

Piano Recital

Bryanna had her first Piano recital tonight. She has been taking piano for 2 months now and is doing really well. She loves to go each week and is really good at practicing without me having to bug her about it. My friend Emily is giving the lessons and she is awesome( plus she lives a few blocks away and that's awesome too)!
Tonight Bryanna played Jolly Old St. Nicholas and Go Tell it on the Mountain. She did wonderful and we are so happy she is learning piano. I hope she will always love music!

SNOW DAY

We woke up to over a foot of snow and our school district was the only one staying open ofr school! Ready for school in 14 in. snow
Trying to walk through the snow to the bus stop then my neighbor kindly informed me the buses would be and hour late!
We're not going to school today this is crazy!Mommy calls it a no school day today

Abby trying to walk up the driveway
Almost there mom!!
Where's Bryanna? In the snow!Gracie was having fun in the snow. They enjoyed it for about 10 minutes until Bryanna got snow in her panties and wanted to come in! I can't find my snow shovel so there will be no shoveling today but we will try to go back out and make a snow man. Right now it's popcorn and The Polar Express!!

Christmas Symbols: Wreath

The girls with the finished wreath.
Daddy was making them laugh for this picture!!

For Family Home Evening these next few weeks we are going to focus on the Christmas Symbols and what they mean. I had found these online last year and then one of my favorite FHE blogs- http://nataliesfhespot.blogspot.com/, had a lesson all planned out with treats and an activity. We followed that lesson and the girls had fun making a wreath (i purchased all the supplies at the dollar store), and it makes me feel good that we're teaching them the true meaning of this season.
I made the candy wreaths since it was a little messy and they put their own "berries" on. I love having family home evening and what a blessing it is for our family.

Thanksgiving Catch Up

We started out the month with a Family Night on being Thankful and we made a Thankful Wall/Door. Everyone wrote something they were thankful for and we posted it on the door with a quote.

The day before turkey day Gracie's kindergarten class had a Thanksgiving feast. Her class was the Indians and the other class were the Pilgrims. They had stuffing, turkey, pumpkin pie and popcorn(to represent corn I believe).


Thanksgiving Day we made our traditional candy turkeys which is a tradition started by my Grandma Rushton. I also introduced a new treat, Pilgrim Hats which I found online. Abby was very sick this day so I didn't get any pictures but the name place turkeys above represent that we were all there together. This was my 2nd time cooking a whole turkey and it turned out great!!
We are so grateful for our family and good friends, for Derek's job and for our Faith which is why we are who we are today!

A night with the Princesses

We had a special group of Princesses visiting Reno and I had run into a good deal on tickets so we made it a special family date to go see them. It was magical!! It was like being at Disneyland again. I loved watching the girls faces as each new princess came out. Mickey and Minnie were there too! It was a great night.
The pictures aren't as great as I would like; it's hard taking pictures of ice skaters!

Gratitude Wall

I saw this great idea to express our thanks this holiday season. I can't wait to get it started. Here is the link if you want to check it out too!

http://5ericksonsplay.blogspot.com/2008/11/gratitude-wall.html

Happy Halloween October 31st

Our Halloween dinner: mummy hot dogs, monster carrot eyeballs, and tomato soup with pumpkin cheese cutouts.
Bryanna is Hermoine from Harry Potter, Gracie and Abby are witches (obviously)
As we were walking to meet our friends 2 of our neighbors yelled out for us to come to their house. That was different, but as we started out into the neighborhood there weren't a lot of people handing out candy this year so those first 2 houses were the best of the night!
The full moon following us as we trick or treated. This picture is kind of Twilight-ish!!
Our girls with 2 of their friends, Superman and Tinkerbell. We enjoyed our night but were disappointed at the lack of celebration our neighborhood showed on Halloween. We only had 3 trick or treaters come to our house. After a short trick or treating, we came back to our house with our friends the Christensens and had homemade apple cider, pumpkin muffins and banana bread.
Next year we will go to a different neck of the woods.
Day 3 of major sugar consumption.
Now it's up to me to limit the candy intake for the rest of the year. I can see a big bag going to work with daddy tomorrow!

Trunk-or-Treat

Our ward had their annual trunk or treat on Friday. We had soup salad and bread, played bingo and then the kids headed out to trunk-or-treat. It was nice weather and the girls had fun with their friends. Day 2 of major sugar consumption!

Halloween parties at School part 2

Bryanna's party was in the afternoon. Again there were lots of goodies and fun games. Her class included Abby and Gracie too. I came to just stay a minute but stayed until school got out. I like to be able to help the teachers out and since the girls were behaving so well it worked out ok.