Build and Grow

12.17

Today's project is to build the engine to go with the coal car that Beck built last Saturday and it seemed to go a lot quicker. I discovered the engine didn't have as many nails as the coal car so it was a lot easier to build. And, just like the coal car, we were given two sets of stickers but Beck likes his train without any stickers. I'd like to get out the paint someday and let Beck paint them.

Once again, Kinsey was a trooper and hung out while Beck and Brent worked on building the engine for his train. She sat and watched for a little bit then grabbed the hammers and started banging them together. I was afraid she was going to bang me at one point.

I'm sure you've noticed the camo jacket...Beck loves this jacket and he especially loves wearing the hoodie! I try to tell him that he can't wear the hoodie inside the store but he insists on wearing it. This time Beck asked Happy T. Clown to make him a hat with horns...I love it!

Surprisingly, Lowe's has a selection of children's books that I'd like to get and Kinsey sure enjoyed looking at them.

On the way out to the truck, one of the horns on Beck's hat popped after touching the parking lot. I'm not sure what caused it to pop but Beck learned a lessen that morning. He played with his one-horned hat on the way to lunch and it didn't take long for the other horn to deflate. Beck was pretty bummed but maybe we'll get something that will last longer next time.

Kinsey had a full belly and fell asleep right before we got to Kiki and Pop's house. While Kinsey napped, Brent and I went back to Longview to see Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows which was really entertaining.

Well, the next class is on January 14 and the kids will build a castle which sounds neat...I hope we can make it!

Christmas Dinner at Church

There were so many people at the Christmas dinner tonight! Senior citizens went through the line first then families with kids under the age of ten which seemed like the entire ward. I made two pounds of macaroni and cheese (mom's recipe) and it was almost gone by the time we got to it! Luckily, there was just enough for Beck and Kinsey. All of the food was delicious! Below are a few pictures of Beck making many faces while standing in line.

When we ate desserts, Beck tried to eat his cookie with a spoon...he was actually just eating the icing. Oh my goodness, this kid is a hoot!

It was a fun family evening! In fact, there were a variety of acts/entertainment such as reading Christmas stories, playing hangman and listening to the DeGala's sing and the primary kids sing. I loved it! Mrs. Dodd read a Christmas story from a book her dad gave her when she was a little girl. How special is that!

Merry Christmas!

Santa at the Library

12.15

I love that the ladies at the library put so much effort into decorating for each holiday. It's always so festive there and Beck loves going to the library! The librarian told us last week to be sure and bring our camera because a special guest would make an appearance today...I wonder who it is?

The craft today was very cute and really simple/easy which is nice since the craft we made last week was very complicated but I'm not complaining. It was Santa's face made of a paper plate with white streamers used for the beard along with a hat and wiggly eyes. It was very, very cute! Wendy got to join in on making one too (last week and this week)! This week the kids put stickers on a stocking and Beck loved it!

The surprise guest has arrived...it's Santa! Kinsey's best friend! Ha! I was very proud of Beck because he told Santa what he wanted for Christmas...a Transformer!

Lydia and Kinzie did a great job sitting on Santa's lap...

We took Aunt Wendy to the workshop then we spent the afternoon getting ready for the Christmas party at church.

From Playing with Leaves to Playing with Toys

I got my hair cut and colored while the kids took a nap which made Wendy's baby-sitting job super easy. I've got a hair style in mind that I want to do this summer and Neena thinks I will hate which I probably will since she knows me best but I've got to at least try it....right? Anyway, Jenny McCarthy had this style a while back and I just saw Katy Perry with this style on Saturday Night Live and couldn't take my eyes off of her. It'll take that long to get this look so here's to the ugly growing out phase over the next several months.

Yes, the kids are wearing pj's because Beck loves to wear them when he takes a nap which I don't blame him. I like to be comfy when I sleep. So, I put pj's on Kinsey too! I know this is a bad habit that I'm enabling but there will be a day when they don't take naps so I don't mind doing this one little thing.

Frosty was in the front yard but Beck insisted on moving him to the back patio so he could see him all of the time. This was our very first blow-up and I'm not sure if Frosty will be around next year because he's worn out from Beck "playing" with him. A few days after I took these pictures, a big storm blew in and Beck didn't want Frosty to get wet so he moved him into his room which I thought was sweet. What I didn't realize would happen is that Frosty is in Beck's room permanently and he stays blown up in Beck's room even when he takes a nap! But, it's really sweet to see him place Frosty in the right spot (very close to his bed) and he tells Frosty that he loves him. Beck is such a sweet boy!

Beck and Kinsey really enjoy this roller coaster ride and they enjoy riding their cars around in the driveway...

Wendy loves for me to take pictures of her and the kids and I love it when she takes pictures of me and the kids! It's a win win situation!

The Leaves Have Fallen

12.14

We did a lot yesterday so I decided to take it easy on the kids today and enjoy a warm front that just moved in. In fact, it's been chilly for a while now but today the high is 71 degrees which is perfect for playing in the leaves. Yesterday, I knew the warm front was coming in so I told Beck that I would rake up a big pile of leaves for him and Kinsey to play in. I explained that he could run through the leaves or throw them up in the sky. He thought that sounded good so that's what we did...

They also enjoyed playing on the slide and in the kitchen...

This is the biggest tree in Nanny's yard and I love, love, love it!!!

This is a picture of me before getting my hair cut and colored and Beck's funny faces...

Beck especially enjoyed throwing leaves on us but he thought it was really funny to throw them on Aunt Wendy...

Then, she got him back by dumping a big handful of leaves on him...

This is what you would find if you looked up two peas in a pod...

Relief Society Dinner

12.13

We picked up Wendy from the workshop this morning then ran a couple of errands. Afterwards, we met our Aunt Vickie for lunch at Pappacita's and it was oh-so-yummy. Not only did she treat us to lunch but she also bought the kids Christmas gifts! I bet you can't guess what Beck picked out??? Yep, it was the Iron Hide Transformer. He's so predictable!

I was invited to attend the Relief Society dinner and I took Wendy with me because I knew she would enjoy it. The gym was decorated so beautifully and the food was delicious! I made strawberry cupcakes with sprinkles and Brent wrapped a diaper box with Christmas paper to use as a cupcake stand since mine was in storage.

Trish read an interactive story and every time she said, "Santa" our table had to say, "Ho Ho Ho". It was fun!

After dinner, we participated in an ornament gift exchange. Each lady brought a gift and we all received a number before/during dinner. We each picked a gift from under the Christmas tree as our number was called. Wendy got a really nice ceramic ornament with the nativity scene on it and I got a pretty red ball with gold glitter and rhinestones on it which looks great on my tree. Actually, I need balls for my tree and plan on getting some when they go on sale after Christmas.

Beck and Kinsey always attack me when I get home from being gone so we had fun taking pictures...

This was a very nice evening with the ladies at church!

Build and Grow

After leaving church, we headed to Lowe's for a Build and Grow class. Lowe's offers these classes twice each month and they are free which is awesome! However, this month Lowe's is offering a three-part class and we missed the first one but this class is about building a coal car and next Saturday the kids will build the Train Engine. The class we missed last Saturday was building the caboose.

Beck really enjoyed hammering...

Kinsey enjoyed doing her own thing...

After the coal train was built, then Beck added stickers to it and they had two sets of stickers...one was for a traditional coal train and the other set had Christmas decorations on it. Beck started with the traditional set but then changed his mind and added the Christmas stickers.

I love how Kinsey is leaning on Daddy then in true Kinsey fashion she started opening cabinet doors to see what she could get her sticky fingers on...

She's already working the girly poses...

After each kid finishes his/her project, Happy Clown makes a balloon and Beck, of course, said he wanted a Transformer balloon.

Beck now has a Lowe's apron which came with a certificate of completion for the class and a patch that I need to sew on his apron. We can't wait to build the engine at the next class!