December 25, 2011 - Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was nice and peaceful around here.Everyone was sound asleep.It wasn't long before we heard some shuffling in the Living Room.Look at what Santa brought us!Candy.Abbie figured it was like every morning, when she sits in her swing. Except everyone was louder than normal.Daddy helped James find some goodies.A tea set from Santa. You can guess what she wanted to do right away.Santa brought Daddy some tools. Lucky for daddy, he doesn't have to use his really nice tools on crappy jobs. He can use these crappy tools instead.James loved his remote car from Santa.A Glow Worm for Abbie-just what she always wanted!A Fancy Nancy game for Clara, which happens to be her new love.A "replacement" waffle iron for mommy.
I can finally throw out the broken one and we can make waffles again! Yay!More cars for James.A Pink Giraffe from Grandma Bonnie for Abbie."Don't shoot your eye out" - just shoot the tree. I hope the scope is accurate. Despite James' facial expression, he was really excited to get more presents at Memee's house.Clara LOVED the Sleeping Beauty bubble night light Grandpa Choo-Choo got her.

December 22, 2011 - Clean House + Happy Kids = Happy Momma

I have been busy! Okay, WE have been busy! We painted our Living Room this past summer. We also put in new carpet. I love the color!I painted my lamps a bronze color to match the decor. I love it!
Dale bought me the small end table and the desk that sit on either side of the couch. I LOVE them!And the pillows, I can't forget the pillows. He bought me those too. They all came from our local Antique store here in Derby. I am just a bit addicted to that place.So, while I was taking pictures of my uncluttered Living Room, the kids were playing quietly in their room. I love it!James and his trains.Clara and her dolls.Happy kids! Happy Mommy!
(Abbie was sleeping in her bed!)

December 21, 2011 - Oh, Christmas Tree!

Lights on!Lights off!
(Oh the beauty of LED lighting!)
I made these stockings to match my brother Daniel's childhood stocking. Since my Great Aunt Dorothy passed away, I will be making these for the rest of my siblings families. 10 stockings in 12 months. I think I can try and do it!

December 17, 2011 - Trip to Kansas City

So, long story short, we went up to Kansas City to see some historical church sites. These gravestones were located at the new 8 Witnesses Monument.They are obviously really old.

If you can read any of it, you are pretty good. What's amazing to me is that someone carved these with their own hands and tools. The writing is absolutely lovely.

Here is part of the Eight Witnesses monument.

This is such a sight to see!

Here are the grounds with the gravestones.Such a sacred and beautiful place.Then, it was off to another site: the new temple site.Loved this! For all those who worked on the temple, there is a code of conduct. It is kind of funny, but also amazing that there is still a reverence maintained when the Lord's temples are built upon this Earth.Heaven on Earth!Isn't this amazing?!We can't wait until the open house!What is a trip to Kansas City without going to Union Station. During this holiday season, they had their special train outside, all decorated in holiday lights.Inside the Station was a HUGE layout. Clara and James couldn't get enough. Ballerina girl and Santa Fe boys! James was in "hog-heaven"!Off to Jack Stack's for BBQ. The only way we could get James to eat his french fries was to pretend it was a train. He loved that.We also went to the American Girl store and a few other places. We forgot how much fun Kansas City is, especially during Christmastime.