Christmas Cookies and Lights

We finally got around to frosting Christmas cookies this evening. Always an adventure letting kids loose with frosting, sprinkles, and cookies.



We had our own very unique version of Christmas lights this evening. Anna thought it would be a good idea to put her metal chained necklace in a wall outlet and poof instant light (or fire) Kevin and I were in the kitchen when we heard a pop and a flash of flame.

The flame instantly went out, but Anna was pretty shook up. She received a small blister on a finger, but mostly she was scared. With tear streaming down her cheeks she says, "I will never never ever do that again!"

Hopefully a lesson was learned and we wont have a repeat. Jared was so worried about Anna and her melted necklace. After we got Anna settled down he started telling her made up princess stories to make her feel better. It was so sweet.

Well, anyway it has been an eventful evening. We are looking forward to tomorrow having everyone home from school and spending the day playing together and getting ready for Christmas Eve and morning. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Your Guess is as Good as Mine

I was cooking dinner and Kevin was upstairs. The T.V. was off and Christmas music was playing in the background. When I looked up from dinner preparations I found this.

I have no idea what they were playing, but what ever it was kept them entertained for a good 30-45 minutes. Kept them busy in a good way. The kind of play that doesn't involve whining, crying, fighting, and parent refereeing. I just have to say that I love this kind of play! It doesn't happen all the time in our home. Anna has a knack of finding Jared's buttons and a desire to push them (maybe that is a female thing) and Jared is easily provoked and first to take offence (hmmm...a male thing?). So I'll take these moments when ever I can even if it means couch cushions, blankets, and toys all over the house!

Temple Christmas Lights

We love living so close to the temple. It only takes us 45 minutes to get there! We can drive to the temple, complete a session, and drive back in less time than it use to take us to drive one way from Buena Vista. Friday we loaded up the kids after school and went to the temple to look at the Christmas lights and listen to a hand bell choir preforming at the visitor center. The kids really enjoyed the lights and music.




We can't wait to do this every year.

We had our Ward Christmas party last night and the kids had fun eating yummy food, seeing Santa, and being Mary and Joseph in the Christmas play. Kevin was the donkey!

Old Friends

10 Years ago from now Kevin and I were students at Southern Virginia College. I had finished up my soccer season and was now helping Coach Dryden and Coach Harmon with the Women's Basketball team and Kevin was in the middle of his first Basketball season at SVC. We had a lot of really great friends, but for me there were two that had a really great impact on my experience at school. One was Kerianne Wall.

She was the first person I ever met at SVC. I remember coming down the steps of Main and being greeted by a bubbly blond wearing a yellow shirt tucked into her jeans with a brown belt. (crazy the things we remember) She would soon join the Women's soccer team and become something of a legend. Katie Terry was another one of the first people I met at SVU.

Mostly I remember meeting her because she got to move into the room with its own bathroom. She would also be another soccer teammate if mine and later my roommate. The three of us and a few others soon became inseparable and had a lot of fun over the next few years.
Katie lives in Utah now and had planned to make a trip out East to visit with some friends and the college so I met up with her and Kerianne (who lives in BV at the moment) It is funny how with some friendships time and space make no difference. I haven't seen Katie in about 8 years and yet nothing has changed between the two of us. Kerianne is the same as ever as well. Katie flew into Baltimore and Kerianne was suppose to pick her up, but got stuck in traffic, so I zipped down to pick up Katie and we got to visit for a few hours while we waited for Kerianne. The next day we met up at the D.C. temple and visited as well.

It was so fun to see my friends again. If we could have predicted where we would have been in 10 years when we first met I'm sure we never would have imagined the lives we were living now. Life has handed us each many twist and turns some great and some we have had to make great, but it is nice to know that no matter where we are or how great or disappointed we might feel there are those few old friends that love us no matter what!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Early this afternoon while we were putting together Christmas packages we looked out the window and noticed SNOW! The kids wanted to go outside right away, but I assured them that there would be more to play with if they let it pile up first. After a few hours they went outside and played. It is a good thing we have this little balcony because I could observe their playing from within my warm home sipping hot chocolate. I am not a cold person at all! Kevin and Jared are both Alaska boys through and through (note Jared's shorts and crocs and Kevin's bare feet) Anna might as well be an Alaska girl; playing outside in the snow wearing a dress (Brrrr!) Jared built a snow man, well two actually, the first one "accidentally" got pushed over the ledge. He needed Kevin to help him arrange the mouth so bare feet and all Kevin stepped out to help them.

Christmas Getting to Know You

My sister in law Lacey emailed this to me and so I thought I'd play along and answer the questionnaire.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Paper. I love to come up with different ways to add accents with bows, flowers, and ribbons.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
I grew up with a real tree and Kevin grew up with artificial. We had a real tree when we were first married, but couldn't pass up the after Christmas sales and buy an artificial tree. It has payed itself back two or three times now. Some day when we have a big house I would like to have two trees. One artificial and one real. I really love the smell of a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?
As soon as Thanksgiving is over. Kevin and the kids get it all set up (it is one of Kevin's favorite traditions) and I put on the lights.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Sometime in the first week of January
5. Do you like eggnog?
Ew! There is just something really wrong with that drink!
6.Favorite gift received as a child?
Our dog Smokey. That was the year I began to believe in Santa again.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Kevin and Jared as he gets older.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. One nice one and the two cloth ones the kids get to play with.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I mail them each year or hand deliver them.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
All Christmas gifts are given out of love and that makes each and every one special no matter what they look like or how much they cost.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Holiday Inn, White Christmas, and Polar Express
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
October-November.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
All Christmas sweets!

16. Lights on the tree?
We've gone back and forth through the years between color and white. This year color.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
All of them. I have Christmas music playing from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. If I had to narrow down to one it would be "A Long Time Ago." It was a song my mom heard on a tape one day and my sister, mom, and I sat down and wrote it out on paper and since have performed it over the years.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I would much rather be home for Christmas Eve and Day, but then travel after. This year we will be home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Of course, Dasher, Dancer,Prancer,Vixen, Comet, Cupid Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
A star.


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Always one present Christmas Eve... new PJ's.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Fighting all the crazies at the store.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love traditional green garland with red accents. I also love my tree which is covered with handmade ornaments made by my grandmother for every year since Jared, Anna, and myself have been born as well as one for Kevin for every year since we have been married.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Kevin's family tradition of finger foods for Christmas Eve and Ham for Christmas Day.
26. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Our house sold two weeks ago so we are set!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Saying Goodbye (finally)

Kevin took my Dad and Jared down to BV the other day to sign away our house on 2027 Maple Ave. My dad took some pictures of the area and they looked really nice so I thought I'd post them. There is a picture of my good friend Kerianne as well. She has been apart of our lives in BV since the first day we walked through the doors of Main Hall in 1998. Ah, good times!

Buena Vista

Thanksgiving Day

Baby # 3 is a........

GIRL! Kevin was right and I was wrong. I really thought we were having another boy and he was sure it was a girl. Anna is ecstatic! Jared doesn't know yet but we will tell him as soon as he gets back from school. He really wanted a little brother since he has already done the little sister bit, but I'm sure he will be happy anyway.
Sonograms have come a long way since I first had one with Jared. They were able to count all finger and toes and everything in between. They could even do some kind of infrared thing and track the blood in the umbilical cord! This little one was a bit shy and they had to have me get up and walk around to try to get the baby to move toward the end of it so they could get a better picture of the heart and gender. She was quite the lady with her legs crossed at the knees. It was only after some poking and prodding on the technicians part were they able to give a thumbs up sign confirming it is a girl. Well, we are excited to have another healthy little girl. Any suggestions on names?

Jared's 1st Grade Picture

This picture capture a funny expression of Jared's I think, but he still looks handsome.

Congrats Blake and Sara

Blake and Sara had their first child early this morning. Jacob Aden Dunn came into the world at 2:23 am this morning 9lbs 0oz 21inches. Congrats to the tired parents and welcome to the world sweet Jacob!

Primary Program

The Primary had their Sacrament program today. Jared and Anna both had a speaking part. Anna said, "I am thankful for my brother." and then sang Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam with the rest of her primary class. Jared said, "I can serve Heavenly Father by serving others. I help my sister when she has trouble with her chores." He also sang the second verse to Call to Serve all by himself! They both did really good. I love the Primary program and the spirit that the chldren bring.

My Attempt at Photography

After voting (make sure my parents know we did vote) I took the kids out to a park about 10-15 minutes away to take some fall pictures. I haven't tweaked any of them yet, but thought I would post some recent pictures of the kids for family and old friends.




Jared and Anna did great and were very patient with me. After a while though smiles were turning into grimaces. Here are some individual shots.

Happy Halloween

This year our kids decided to be Disney Characters. They were inspired by the hats they picked out last Christmas when we all went down to Disneyland. Jared chose to be Max. Now I know his hat looks like Goofy, but to Jared it is not a Goofy hat because you see Goofy wears a green hat and this head doesn't have a green hat so it must be Goffy's son Max! I can't tell you how many times I have heard this explanation no matter how many times I tried to tell him, "Don't be disappointed if everyone thinks your are Goofy."
After our church's Halloween party and everyone thinking he was Goofy we decided to write MAX on his shirt in hopes everyone would get it right. Of course everyone called him Goofy while trick-or-treating but he didn't seem to mind seeing as how everyone was giving him candy.
Anna decided she wanted to be Minnie Mouse. Her hat from Disneyland was pink and of coarse she wanted a pink Minnie dress to match. this costume I'm am proud to say I sewed myself. However it is fair to say I spent an entire day completing it all the while not so nice words floating around my head as I bent over the darn thing with my seam ripper again and again and again. In the end it got finished though and looked all right.
In the end they had a great time and came home with a ridiculous amount of candy. Hope everyone else had a great Halloween!