Candlelight Breakfast

So when I came down stairs this morning Kaitlyn had poured herself and Hyrum a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk and put this candle in between. After Hyrum came down and they started to eat I heard this conversation and I thought it was funny.

Kait: "Hyrum, look at what I have done for you. You just don't appreciate me."

Hyrum: "I do apprecialate you."

Kait: "UM what does apprecialate mean?"

Hyrum: "Uh...Kait, I love you."

This isn't really a conversation I think they learned from Rob and I but it was so classic boy and girl that it was funny.

Caleb "Jimmer" Adams--fireplace update for Cathy

Ok, we have been planing on Caleb playing NFL for our retirement security, he's simply too chubby for basketball, or so we thought. But his middle name is James and after seeing this picture of Freddette as a Deacon we are willing to be flexible.






I need to figure out how to decorate it cute....the fireplace mantel, not Caleb.


Like I said, football is our first choice.

Please let the projects be finished around here.

Our latest project has been putting in a hearth for a wood burning stove. (We just finished the basement but I need to have the kids clean up a bit before I take pictures.) The hearth is done now we just need to do the mantel. And by "we" I mostly mean my brother David. Anyway, I'm excited to get it all cleaned up, sealed, and the stove put on it. We wondered if the kids would get a lot of battle wounds from a rock hearth.

Duh...of course.

I want to talk to the produce manager!

Ok, I know it is a bit of a splurge to buy baby carrots when they cost much more than regular carrots, but I like to do it anyway. But when they slip a huge momma carrot into the middle of the bag just to take up space I start to take issue.

3 years old is the best age for Christmas

My oldest sister, with 7 boys, once told me that 3 years old is the perfect age for Christmas. At that age they really want one particular thing, like a train, and they are thrilled when they get it. After this Christmas with my 3 year old I think I may agree with her.

My kids really wanted to go and buy gifts for each other for Christmas. So for FHE we said let's get in the car and head to Walmart and you can each choose out something for the other child. "NO! NO! we want to go to the dollar store where all the toys are." (Raise a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it). So I relented and we headed to ALL A DOLLAR.
Hyrum found a fishing rod with 3 magnetic toys at the dollar store that he was sure either Kaitlyn or Caleb would love, just so long as they shared. But I wouldn't let him get it because he had already picked out his gifts and I was trying to teach him that he was buying for others not him. (Yes, he screamed the entire way out of the store when I made him put it back). But, that is alllllll he wanted for Christmas. That is what he told Santa on his knee, and that is what he told everyone he saw. And, hurray, Santa brought it for him. He was sooo thrilled with every gift he opened. I wrapped one gift in a milk box from Costco. When he opened it he loudly declared, "yeah, I love milk. I drink it all of the time." Anyway, 3 years old is a fun age.

Kait was at that, "Is Santa you Mom?" stage. She would say stuff like. If Santa wraps our gifts in this wrapping paper then I am going to know it is from you Mom. It too was fun.

And Caleb was blissfully ignorant. And Hyrum mostly opened the few gifts he did get. Sooo....maybe 1 is a great age too. Here are a few pictures.









Yes, that is only rented and not purchased.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

James Christmas party 2010

Sorry that the pictures are sooo small. Mom, if you double click on them it will make it bigger. ;) We all had a blast, even the snow storm was fun. Thank-you Darren and Carolyn for the hotel and planning. Congratulations Michael and Haley, (by the way if anyone has stuff they want to donate for there apartment, since they lost everything in the accident, let me know, ;) We missed all who couldn't come.

Thanks Giving on the James Side

Well, they asked me to try to stay away from the cooking as much as possible and focus my attention on pictures and the family blog.

We started with crafts for the girls. (Thanks Erin). They made these cute hair ribbons that you see Kait and Jeremiah sporting.




We finally broke down and used a church this year. The boys had their turkey bowl in the gym and then shot hoops.


Appetizers

Everyone pitched in with the cooking and food. There is something about everyone bringing their part of the meal and their strengths and personalities that make a meal and a family great.



Hyrum was starving and when we finally sat down to the beautifully decorated tables, thanks Tracey, he started in on the center pieces. He told me this IS the best meal of the year.


We allow all family members to come despite.....well back to that personality thing.

Back to David and Erin's house for pies.

Lots of Pies


Lets do this again!!!!!

I am soo thankful for my family. We missed you Laura, Carolyn, and families.