I am going to skip the excuses regarding why I have not posted on this blog for so long. To state the obvious, I am a mom of SEVEN children, it is a HUGE blessing, and also one that takes most of my time and energy. Blogging just has to wait sometimes!
That being said, this will be a super long trying-to-get-updated post!
December: Night in Bethlehem church Christmas party was awesome! Family's were encouraged to dress in the time period style (as it worked out, I had 5 minutes to throw fabric & scarves on my kids and get them in the car...sigh...which is why baby sis has different colored socks on with silver sandals...lovely!)
Each family was asked to bring canned food to donate to the food bank. That was our "tax" when we arrived. We were then given a bag of "gold coins" with which to go to different stalls and "buy" our food. They served bread and pitas with shredded chicken, feta cheese and tazatziki sauce (yum!). There were also fruits, vegetables, desserts, and a booth for kids to make something with clay.
We forgot a blanket to sit on so just grabbed the small one from my car--which really ended up being like a table cloth we sat around. Some people (more prepared than I) brought big blankets and even pillows to sit on.
After we ate, we watched "Joseph & Mary" walk through the gym and go onto a stage with a manger on it. We heard a beautiful musical number and then all of the children sang.
Later that night, Big Sis came home from college, so we had a great night!
We had a nice Christmas together! The week before showed our weather would be in the 40s and 50s all week. Imagine our surprise when we woke up to snow on Christmas Eve Morning! (Little Sis had been praying for snow, so she was very happy!)
Thanks to my talented sister, Kelley, I had some fun "pillow shields" to give the kids! She also made a purse for Middle Sis and some baby doll clothes and accessories for Baby Sis! Yay for talented and giving siblings!! Thanks Kelley!!
Sometime before this, I also was blessed to have another birthday!
The kids made sure to take care of me! They made me stay in bed while they decorated--which included making 41 "41" signs to hang all over (a tradition we have been doing where you have to find all of them)!
My homeschool mom heart was touched that they included Japanese numbers on a few of these (since we have been taking an online Japanese course together)!
Big Bro got me a delicious Cold Stone ice cream cake, which was amazing! Super glad I had so many people around to help me eat it!
Before December: We spent time raking and playing in leaves, homeschooling, hanging out, going to church activities, making sure the house looks lived in, and the dirty laundry and dishes never run out!
Halloween happened: Super Boy, a Wolf, a Graduating Santa, and a Ballerina. We had a great time trick or treating with our neighbors!
At the beginning of October, Little Sis decided to borrow a white graduation outfit from our neighbors to wear. Then, on our way to our church's "trunk or treat", she decided to add Middle Sis's white beard to the outfit. She told people she was Santa Claus and had to go back to school because she never had time to finish....(this is my 7-year old, people....cracking me up and causing me to wonder where they come up with these things!)
Also in the fall: Big Bro joined a homeschool flag football team and after two short weeks, got an injury that took him out for 4 of the remaining 6 weeks of the season! So much for that sport--maybe next year! We are very glad he wasn't more seriously injured!
We traveled by way of Utah and were able to go to Salt Lake City to visit Temple Square.
Yummy donuts on our way to campus!!
(I'm missing the fabulous milk shakes to be found out west!!!)
......AND, Lastly, I got to go with my DH to Las Vegas...for a whole week....with no kids! My awesome sister was so kind to let my kiddos stay with her during that time! (I'm sure it is not easy to take in SIX more children for a week!! Love you Sis! You are the best!!!)
My DH and I attended an industry trade-show called Interbike. There were people there from all over the world. We had a great time hanging out at interbike and just spending time together.
It was quite amazing to see the Las Vegas Strip--but up close, I was not too impressed. It is just too much...too over-the-top for my personal taste. When we did venture on a walk up the strip, it was so crowded and smelled so much of tobacco smoke, that I couldn't wait to get off the strip!
Pictured below: Dana got the autograph of a former Tour De France winner. We got to spend a morning at the LasVegas Temple. Found out we still like In and Out Burger. Got dessert at Carlo's Bakery. Splurged on a dinner at the Paris resort--sitting on the patio across the street from the Bellagio fountains! It was pretty sweet!
1 comment:
It was worth the wait! Loved seeing the pics along with the news.
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