whatever

a season of giving-

A few months back we called each of our children to let them know what we wanted for Christmas. We asked that each of them  preform some act of service.  To take pictures of what they did and write down what they learned. Wrap it up send it to us and that is what we would open as their gift to us on Christmas morning. 

 

 What wonderful gifts we received we couldn't of asked for anything better-  They each did wonderful acts of service and then very creatively put their words on paper.

Service given-

• a mason jar filled with pennies{they had been saving all year} was taken to the bank- in their own words- "Conner was our spokesman and handed the jar to the bank teller and told her we wanted to give this money to the family who had a fire at their house.  We waited while she dumped the coins into the coin counter....$59.74   a small amount, but a big lesson in giving for the kids. upon leaving they all agreed that doing this made them feel good."  
• Scouting for Food- 
• Singing at the local nursing home
• Christmas lights put up on the house of a family from church. The Father/husband  is away serving in Iraq.
• several yards of red fleece purchased and during Christmas break the kids are going to help make scarves to donate.
• Toys were purchased for a little boys Christmas
• Cleaning up the local park. {they found several dollars which went in their Penny's Christmas Jar.}
• money from the Penny's Christmas jar went to buy a gift for someone who wasn't going to have a gift for Christmas.
• Care package for a solider in Iraq & letter of appreciation. 
• and a few acts of Anonymous  service.  

"The Savior taught His disciples, "For whosoever will save his life shall lost it: but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

"I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives.  Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish...and in effect save their lives." - Thomas S. Monson.

What the adults said-

• Thanks for encouraging us to give and serve this Christmas-
• We learned how much fun it can be to do service for others. 
• The gifts brought joy to our hearts, and we talked about how fun it would be to see this boys face as he opened them on Christmas morning.

• We really did have a good time getting all the stuff for them, especially since they deserve it. We're sure that to them, these little acts of kindness make their day, as it did ours.

  Thanks for having the idea for us to do this, we really did have a good experience with it!

  
  

  What the kids said-

  {when given the choice between basketball and a service project, he chose service project without any hesitation.}

  his two reasons: 1}- giving food to poor people is better than just playing basketball, and 2) the snacks there {hot chocolate and dough-nuts} are better than the snacks at basketball.

  Carlee now wants to pick up every piece of trash that she sees.  and loves to find and save pennies to put in the penny jar.

   

  
   

  
   
  
  
  Have a wonderful new year-  
    

BB guns & a horse = fun

 

  

 No eyes shot out.....yet.

 

 Our neighbor was so sweet, she came over and asked if the kids wanted to ride.  Preston was all over it right at first....took Carlee a little time to warm up to the idea.  They were so cute.

 

  

  

 The kids are having a blast together...we are babysitting while their parents are off on a date. {all rules out the door =)

 

 There's nothing like a baby hug.

Happy Day

It's a Nicholas Christmas....and a missionary phone call.

 

Christmas Eve-

 

 

  

 silly girls-

Christmas Morning-

 

 
Making his mark on the wall-

 

 
The end. 

(P.S Mason is doing well and sounds wonderful, what a blessing to talk to him. It was so good to hear his voice, he is learning so much.  He says 'hi' to everyone. Thanks Lori for taking care of him. He has gained 15 pounds! He now weights in at a whopping 120. Happy Day!} 

 

Christmas Eve...

 

 We are making preparations for Christmas Eve dinner....The table is set and the cooking has begun.

Each place setting will have a photo place card along with a surprise gift. On the Menu tonight-

• prime rib
• salad
• mash potatoes
• veg.
• rolls
• peppermint shakes.

 

 Becca and I spent yesterday making treats and ornaments. {Danny thought we dipped the silver ornaments in chocolate....just brown spray paint.}

 

 Hope you have a wonderful Christmas- 

Let the fun begin-

The kids arrived yesterday! Happy Day....I hate how they make you wait to hug your kids. =) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a beautiful day yesterday in Oakland. Clear blue sky and  crisp weather.  We thought about Jake and his family while we were walking around the temple- we got there too late to go to a sessions with them.  Jakes first time, but we did run into Brittney and her Grandfather- fun to see them.  I'm sure it was a sweet blessed day  for their family.

Today the guys headed out to do some shopping- Becca and I are playing with Nicholas and making Christmas treats-

Sweet Happy Day.

Casting Crowns-

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the lyrics during American Civil War- I love what this group has done with it.

Love Dinner Plate chargers-

Usually I put a dinner plate on top of these chargers, but they are more than that.  They Make great serving platters- and are perfect for gift giving...just add a little lace square- fill with cookies and you have a wonderful little gift. These are from Crate and Barrel- for $4.95- but you can get a box of very pretty chargers at walmart or Target for $5 for 4.

They can also be used as a base for a centerpiece- add a little fake snow and an arrangement of pillar candles and there you have quick and simple centerpiece.

Just keeping it simple- thanks Ruth.

I'm linking this post to...

Lots of fun ideas. 

 

What Shall we give?

Meeting Emma-

 

 We drove down to Sam and Heidi's last weekend to drop off Christmas gifts and to let the kids meet Emma.  The kids had a blast with her. So cute. It was hard to get a good picture- if Emma is moving at all she just looks like a blur.  =) I don't think I've ever heard Carlee laugh so hard and long as she did while playing with Emma- 

" No symphony orchestra ever played music like a two-year-old girl laughing with a puppy."

Bern Williams

 

Heidi and Sam had dinner ready for us when we arrived- yummy Chicken and the best ever twice baked potatoes.  Yum!

 

Every puppy should have a boy. 

 "Every boy should have two things: a dog, and a mother willing to let him have one." Anonymous

 

 My friendship with Mitzi was like the friendship that many children have with their pets. My mother and father thought it was "good for me" to have a dog for a companion. Well it was good for me, but it was only many years after she died that I began to understand how good it was, and why.

Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers}

 

So are you sick of all the "Emma" pictures yet...sorry, she is just too cute to not take a picture of her. I will try to keep it down in the future.  =)

 

 Today is Denver and Bree's last day with us- they are heading to school tomorrow. I'm excited for them and their new adventure. But will miss having them around. Such is life ever changing.  {Emma's going to miss them too- she gets so excited when they walk in the room} 

Just life....ever changing.