Christmas 2013

There are so many stories to tell about our fun Christmas during the year of 2013.  

I signed up to share one of our family traditions at Matthias' school on Tuesday the week before Christmas.  I started our segment of class by asking Matthias why we celebrate Christmas and he happily responded that we celebrate Jesus' birth.  We talked about how we make treats to celebrate.  I made butter and gingerbread cookies and had the kids frost them.  They loved it and Matthias was so happy to have me come in.  

I didn't sign up on time to help do cookies at Lizzy's class too, but was able to be there and help another mom when she had signed up to do that.  She had a great time.  Both kids love it when I can come into their classes and just enjoy it with them.  They are great kids and doing great things at school.

Josh and I were also able to go on a fieldtrip with Matthias' class on Friday last week.  His class and one other PreK class had collected toys and clothes to take to a donation center to help people who don't have as much as we do.  It was a great experience and I was really glad that Josh came because he carried a lot of stuff.  

We spent Christmas Eve with our Atlanta family--Goates', Neffs, Mitchells, and others.  It was a wonderful evening.  We spent time frosting cookies, eating dinner, and playing games.  My favorite part of the evening was the kids nativity--Lizzy was the angel and Matthias was Joseph.  It was cute.  After we got home, we quickly got the kids to bed.  Santa couldn't come for a while because Matthias was curious and excited for Christmas.  He was really cute and really good to stay in his room, but Santa waited until he was asleep to come.

Frosting Cookies--or just eating the treats

The delicious spread

Candy bar game.  Lizzy and Matthias were sure lucky while playing!

Best Friends

Josh started a trend in a minute to win it game (getting the jingle bells out of the box).

His kids quickly followed his example.

Matthias was Joseph and Elaine was Mary

Too cool to smile

Lizzy was a beautiful angel.

Wisemen with Joseph and Mary

Our Christmas day was wonderful.  We told the kids that they could go down and look at the presents, but not open them if they woke up before us.  That was Josh's favorite part of Christmas, so we kept that tradition.  I got up "early" (not too bad--7:30am) to get ready before the kids woke up.  Matthias ran out as soon as I left my room and ran after me.  He was so happy to see that Santa had come.  He got everything that he wanted for Christmas and more.  Lizzy soon followed behind us and had a great time seeing everything.  Once Josh got down we opened the stockings.  We had breakfast after opening stockings and before opening all of the other gifts.  Lizzy is still learning this tradition as she opened a small present from Santa while I was cooking some scrambled eggs.  She came in holding up her new LeapPad Minnie game and was so happy and excited.  hahaha.  It was so cute.

All of the presents after Santa stopped by

The kids were so excited about the new powerwheels car

Lizzy said she was "Magic Lizzy, the Princess"

Life is good

Storybooks and dolls

Lots of favorite toys

My two kids are super spoiled.

Josh's Christmas Present 2012

For Josh's Christmas present last year I gave him a year of dates.  Mostly this means that I make a big meal (which he usually helps with) and we spend the evening together.  Each month we have "gone" to a different country for our dates.  Here is a list of our activities and some of the menu!  Sadly, I haven't taken pictures of everything, but I have a few good ones from this year.

January—BYU (aka Cougartown)

Menu: We were supposed to eat creamery ice cream, but sadly they closed by 6pm.  
Activity: BYU basketball game

February—Caribbean Cruise

Dinner: Shrimp appetizer, coconut chicken with sweet chili sauce, fruit, pina colodas, ice cream

Movie: Pirates of the Carribbean

The already eaten meal (I forgot to take a picture before hand!)

Matthias loving the fancy drink.

March—Ireland

Dinner: Corn beef andcabbage, irish potatoes, bread, and Lucky charms for dessert

Movie: Leap Year

April—France

Dinner: Poulet ou white grape juice, Ratatoille, bread, cheese, fruit, sparkling cider. Chocolate fondue for dessert.

Movie: Les Mis 

May—Jamaica

Dinner: Jerk chicken, Jamaican rice, black beans, fried bananas and fruit juice.  

Movie: Cool Runnings

June—England

Dinner: Bangers and mash, scones, fish sticks, carrots

Movie: Sherlock Holmes

July—Italy

Dinner: Shrimp fra diavolo, caprese salad, bruschetta, Tiramisu for dessert

Movie: The Italian Job

My two kids have loved this gift to Josh!

August—China

Dinner: Jiao zi, bok choy chicken, general chaos chicken, Josh's pork (his own recipe that he developed!)  

Movie: Kung fu panda

September—India

Dinner: Butter chicken, Chana Masala, Indian Samosas and Mango Lassi.  Mango Sorbet for dessert

Movie: Bride and Prejudice.

October—Germany

Dinner: Bratwurst with mustard and sauerkraut, red cabbage, potatoes, rootbeer.  Apple pie for dessert
We spent this evening with our good friends the Goates.

November—Greece

Dinner: Chicken kebabs, hummus and pita bread, and baklava.

Movie:  My big fat greek wedding

December—Argentina

Dinner: Ceviche, parrillada (mixed grill), pineapple

Movie: Emperor’s New Groove

My silly kids are ready to eat

Thanksgiving 2013

We spent Thanksgiving this year with our Atlanta Family.  The wonderful Goates Family hosted again this year and Neffs and Mitchells were also in attendance.  We split up the meal so that everyone made different dishes.  This year I made mashed potatoes, a green salad and two pies.  It was a delicious meal and a wonderful time with our friends.  Matthias and Lizzy especially enjoyed playing at their friends' house and eating pie!

Mitchells and friends and Neff family

Goates, more Neff's family, and Garns

The kids' table!

Lizzy knows what she wants

Always the chocolate lovers--Matthias and best friend Joyce

Delicious pie

Halloween Fun

We have had lots of fun for Halloween this year.  It all started at the beginning of this month, when we started to see Halloween decorations going up.  To join in with the festivities, we put up our few decorations and bought a small little skeleton at the dollar store.  It doesn't really matter that we only have a few things, the kids have been super excited about all of it.

Lizzy's class sent home two sugar cookies with a cookie pen (it's food coloring and fruit flavored, which made it great fun for the kids).  Both colored their own and then enjoyed the spoils.

Our ward had a chili cook-off and trunk-or-treat the Saturday before Halloween.  Matthias dressed up as Buzz Lightyear, Lizzy was Jessie, Josh was Woody, and I (Cheryl) was Rex (although most people thought I was an alligator).  The kids loved it and were just so happy to dress up and see a lot of their friends in costume too.

We spent Halloween night with our good friends the Goates.  She made dinner in a pumpkin and a delicious salad.  She had also dyed the milk orange and served orange soda pop.  After dinner, Josh and Scott took the kids trick-or-treating.  Such a fun night.

Joyce the Jellyfish, Matthias as Buzz Lightyear, Elaine the snake trainer, James the bee, and Lizzy as Jesse.

Freezer Meal Exchange

I started doing freezer meals about a year ago in an effort to have nutritious home made meals even when we are all too busy to cook. I've now upgraded my plan--I say upgraded mostly because the meals have been upgraded! Starting over the Summer I invited friends to join me in my effort to make freezer meals. We now have eight women in our group. With this set up we each make one meal eight times. Then we get together to exchange and have a ladies night.

For this last Freezer Meal Exchange, I made manicotti and received seven other great meals in exchange.  It was awesome!

Seven of the eight ladies in our group (Marie is behind the camera)