Christmas Parties, Baking, Movies and Caramel Corn

December 14th - December 20th, 2015:

This was a busy week for us since it was the last week before Winter Break.  The kiddos were excited to have all the Christmas Parties with church and school.  I'm glad to have the business of parties and activities over, but now I get to keep them busy for two weeks.

 On Monday, we had our family picture taken.  It was the only day this week that it snowed, and it really dumped on us.  However, it was also the prettiest day to have them taken in the snow.  The kiddos had a great time playing while waiting between pictures.  Here are some random out-takes Ryan and the kiddos took on my phone.

Gracie and Rachel

Emily and Morgan

Morgan

Joshua and Morgan

Rachel and Gracie

Morgan and Jaxen.  This picture is an Ode to Lili, their cousin on Ryan's side.

Gracie

Rachel

Miss Gracie's model pose.

Jaxen being a goof.

Ryan and Morgan

Jaxen, Joshua and Gracie

On Friday, the kiddos had their Christmas Parties at school.  All the classes have their parties at the same time at Rose Springs, so it is really hard for me to split my time between them.  This year I have 5 different classrooms.  Luckily, the boys left early with Ryan to see the new Star Wars movie.  Since I had been to Morgan's Halloween party, and I volunteer once a week in Gracie's class, I spent my time in Rachel's classroom.

Rachel dressing up as a snowman.

Snowman Rachel

Rachel playing build a snowman

On Saturday, Ryan and the boys were watching the BYU vs Utah football game, so Gracie and I decided to bake cookies.  I'm not a baker, but we had a good time making treats to share.

Sunday, Ryan and Morgan decided to make Caramel Popcorn, and watch the Sound of Music Sing-a-long on TV.  Dafunny and I cuddled in the chair, and the kiddos thought it would be fun to take some pictures. The Caramel Corn was yumm, and we had a great time as a family.  The kiddos weren't sure they wanted to watch such an old movie, but by the end they were converted.

Cards, Dafunny, Christmas Parties, and Cookies

December 7 - December 13th, 2015

 On Tuesday, at the Gym, I found a Christmas card on the windshield of my van.  When I opened it, someone had written their testimony of the Savior, and had given it to me to brighten my day.  I was truly touched. I forget how important it is to share our testimonies, and how uplifting it can be.  I have carried it around to remind me how important Jesus Christ is in our lives.  I know he lives, and loves us.  I am so grateful for loving parents who taught me the gospel, and to love our Savior Jesus Christ.

Otherwise, this week has been busy with getting ready for Christmas and after school activities.   Here is a picture of Dafunny watching out the window for the kiddos to get home.  I don't know how she knows it's time, but she does.

We had two Christmas Parties this week.  The Christmas party for our church was on Thursday night.  They had a variety of desserts and a short nativity show with caroling.  Sorry, no pictures.  As I was about to take some, Gracie spilled milk all over the floor and in our attempts to clean up, pictures were forgotten.

The Christmas Party for the Biggs Family (my side of the family), was on Saturday.  We had a great time visiting with family and playing with cousins.  We also stuffed our faces with good food.

Here are the kiddos with some of there cousins posing with the hats Grandma Jean Ann made them.

Holland, Brinton, Gracie, Joshua, Rachel, Ryder, and Owen

Grandma Jean Ann and Grandpa Chris

Riley, Janelle posing with little Kasen. He is the newest member of the Biggs Family.

Baby Kasen showing off his winter had made by Grandma Jean Ann.

While Christmas shopping on Thursday, I bought some cookie cutters, thinking this would be a fun activity for next week when school is out for Winter Break.  However, the kids had other ideas.  They decided we should break them in today.  So, this afternoon we made Sugar Cookies from Aunt Mariah's recipe.  They turned out great.  Unfortunately, I didn't have enough butter, so they will have to wait until tomorrow to be frosted.

Gracie, Morgan, and Rachel

MacPherson's In All Their Randomness.

November 8th - December 5th:

It's been four weeks since our last post and quite a bit has happened.  We just haven't been good at getting pictures of it.  I don't know why, but sometimes I take a lot of pictures, and other times I don't pull out the camera until it's over, and we are on our way home.  Shame on us.  Here are some random things that have happened the last few weeks.  

Morgan likes to steal our phones and take random pictures of herself, her siblings and our dog.  Here is a picture of her taking a selfie.  All she wants for Christmas is her own phone or iPod.

Here is Morgan with her Dafunny on the weekend when we don't have to get dressed up.

The weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov 20-21),  AL Carraway was signing her book at Desseret Book by Temple Square.  She is such an outgoing and kind person.  She has a light about her.  I loved reading her book.  It's so wonderful to read something that is uplifting and has a positive message.  I also was able to go to Time Out For Women with my mom that weekend (sorry no pics).  We had a great time listening to the uplifting stories and buying stuff.  The kiddos were also excited to have Grandma stay with us for the weekend.

The kiddos love taking pictures of Dafunny, and since she likes to lie in Random places it is even more fun.  Here she is lying on Joshua's blanket that is in a garbage bag ready to go to school for reading day.  I wouldn't think that it is very comfortable, but it apparently was.

We spent Thanksgiving with Grandma Jean Ann and Grandpa Chris.  Unfortunately, the only pictures I took where of the night before when Morgan was helping me make all the desserts.  We had a great time.  We had lots of wonderful food (that I usually only make for Thanksgiving), had a great time visiting, and even did a little bit of Christmas shopping.

Here is another picture that Morgan took of Dafunny.  She loves to lay in the laundry basket when there are clean clothes or clean sheets ready to be folded.  

Saturday after Thanksgiving, we got out all the Christmas decorations.  The kiddos had a great time setting it all up.  Ryan even put some outside lights up for this Christmas season.  Here are Gracie and Rachel decorating the tree for the third or fourth time since we put it up.

Walking the Dog

November 1st-November 7th:

This week has been pretty uneventful.  Daylight savings has been kicking my . . . .  For some reason, we all want to be awake early and feel like it is time for bed at 6pm.  It's exhausting.  Also, our furnace was broken all week and 60 degrees in November does not feel the same as 60 degrees in April.  Therefore, we have been pretty cozy sitting around the fireplace.  This has made for some good times.  The kiddos have been plugging along in school and we are still working on getting homework done in a timely manner and reading as much as our teachers think is necessary.  Dafunny has been loving going for walks in the cooler weather and as soon as the kiddos leave for school, this seems like the best time to go.  Here is a video of Dafunny telling me it's time to go, and she does this EVERY day.  We love her anyway.

Halloween Night

October 31, 2015:

Finally, the big day has arrived.  The kiddos have been counting down to Halloween all month.  We spent the morning and afternoon cleaning, organizing and getting ready to go out begging for candy.  Once all the costumes were on and make-up and hair done, the kiddos were ready to go.  Ryan took them to three different neighborhoods and to the local fire station for hot cocoa.  He then offered them $20 for their bag of candy minus 5-6 pieces.  Four of the Five took him up on the offer.  I now have my stash of bribes ready to go for the next year.

Rachel snuggling with Dafunny because she loves her blankets.

Morgan -Zombie Nerd

Joshua- Zombie Dutch Dancer

Gracie- Old Fashioned Zombie

Rachel- Witch

Jaxen- BYU Football Player

Morgan, Gracie, Jaxen, Joshua, and Rachel  This year, I decided I wasn't buying new costumes.    They could go to Deseret Industries and buy accessories, but they had to go with a costume we already had or put together one of their own.

Dafunny -  Ballerina

The kiddos trick or treating

Rachel, Jaxen Joshua sitting in the Fire Truck after getting hot chocolate