Let it SNOW!

December 27, 2011

Christmas Day

December 25, 2011

Although we are missing family and friends in Utah, we had a great Christmas out here in Illinois. It was definitely a change of pace not bustling around from house to house and it was definitely a lot quieter. We did spend a large part of the day on Skype with our family which was nice. The kids loved their toys. Van's favorite being the Dinosaur set, and Charlee's being her Disney Princess Blue Doll and Rapunzel Doll.

Playing Chutes and Ladders with Dad

Sharing Charlee's Popcorn.

Playing XBOX Kinect

Chocolate on my face! Chocolate in my pants!

December 16, 2011

Tonight we made the BEST Oreo Truffles EVER.

Oreo Truffles

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) package Cream Cheese, softened
• 8 oz dipping chocolate

Directions

1. Crush 7-9 oreo cookies in a food processor or place them in a resealable ziplock bag and finely crush them using a kitchen hammer. Set aside.
2. Crush the remaining oreo cookies in the same manner. Combine the crushed oreo cookies and the cream cheese and mix well using an electric mixer until well mixed and smooth.
3. Roll mixture into small balls, about 40-45 (or less if you decide to make bigger sizes balls). Place them on parchment paper.
4. Dip the balls in melted dipping chocolate (to melt the dipping chocolate, microwave them in a bowl about 30 seconds at a time, stirring well, about three times)
5. Roll the dipped truffles in oreo crumbs that were set aside earlier or sprinkle the top of oreo truffles with oreo crumbs. Set aside until hardened, about 1 hour.

Santa Drives a White Car?!

December 15, 2011

So, we've been doing a lot of talking about good 'ole Kris Kringle this year, in part because we know that Charlee is actually getting it. Last year, she didn't quite grasp the concept of Santa Claus. This year we've been singing, "Santa Claus is coming to town" and "Jingle Bells" just about every day.

Today as we were leaving school we happened to be talking about Santa as we passed the local Allerton Library. We were stopped at a four way stop when we noticed Santa Claus walking out the front doors! We took our time moving as we watched him walk out the front doors, around the corner on the side walk as he got into his white Ford Escort. It was then when Charlee exclaimed, "Santa doesn't drive a white car! That's silly!" She continued to tell me about how Santa's reindeer couldn't pull a car, that they could only pull the sleigh. As we drove off we continued to talk about how Santa was in town to watch her and that she had to be good. I told her that he knows when she is sleeping, and he knows when she is awake. She was just fascinated. Well, as we pulled into the driveway once we got home, I happened to notice a white car driving by. So I hurried and got her out of her seat and said, "Look, look! There's a white car, maybe it's Santa watching you!" So she runs to the end of the driveway while the car passes us, and sure enough, it's Santa. White beard, hat and all. Driving by our house. She then turned to me and said, "I'm going to go to bed mom! I'm going to be good. I'm going to sleep ALL day."

I just had to write this down for memories sake. Too good to forget.

Monticello Christmas Parade

December 10, 2011

Charlee has been able to do quite a few things with her preschool, Kairo's School. Her teacher Mrs. Winterbottom has been great. She has been SO lucky to have such a small class of only 5 kids. She attends Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00- 11:30. Going to school is something she looks forward to every day. I feel bad when she wakes up in the morning, gets her clothes on, her shoes and backpack on and tells me she's ready to go to school when it's a Monday. I think next year I will get her in a 3 day/week class if not a 4 day/week class.

She was able to ride on the Kairo's Christmas float this year and hand out books to the kids that the kids personally wrapped themselves. She sat right next to her teacher Mrs. Winterbottom on the float. When she passed us on the float she had a GIANT ear to ear grin on her face and looked so excited to see her family waving her on.

Cocoa and Cookies with Santa

December 2, 2011

Charlee and her BF Leah Schultz, got cozy in their jammies to attend an event at the Decatur Children's Museum- Cocoa and Cookies with Santa. They were both SO excited to meet Santa and to let him know what they wanted for Christmas. Charlee was very uneasy about sitting on Santa's lap. I don't know if you can really tell by the pictures, but she was blushing and could hardly talk to tell him what she wanted. When she did finally whisper her request it was for a "blue princess dolly". I am assuming she means Snow White. She has said several times since then that she wants a blue princess dolly "because she has blond hair like Charlee."

They got to decorate their own sugar cookies and sip on hot cocoa with marshmallows. They also got to spend some time in the bubble room, which was a HUGE hit.

Thanksgiving

November 24, 2011

Our first Thanksgiving alone. Without any extended family with us. Of course we had Skype which was pretty sweet. Joel did the Turkey using his Grandma Langley's recipe of course. And I managed to do the sweet potatoes...

Considering it was just the four of us, by looking at our table you would have thought we were feeding an army.

This year I am thankful for my family. For my amazing husband who has worked so hard to get through school and now support his family. For awesome family back home who we miss and think about every day. I am grateful for our health and prosperity. I am especially grateful for the church that seems to be a stable foundation among so many changing obstacles in life and throughout the world.

Christmas Cards

December 1, 2011

I am fairly certain, when it comes to Christmas Cards and getting them out to our friends and family on time I am slightly neurotic. It's just so nice to get them done and out of the way. In years past we've been very lucky to have my sister Carly take our pictures. Can't say she's always willing, but it's one of those things we make her do for us :) This year we had to improvise. By that I mean we had to use the self timer. Here are a few that didn't make the Christmas Card:

These are the ones we sent out:

Festival of the Lights in Chicago

November 19, 2011

This weekend we decided to head up to Chicago for the Festival of the Lights festivities. Throughout the day they had various activities going on down Michigan Avenue. Our favorite happened to be listening to the Neverland Pirates Band, (they play for kids show Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney channel). Charlee and Van both knew right away who they were. The minute the started playing they perked right up. Van was saying "Hook!" While Charlee was acting shy. Dad was holding her while she'd look at the band and then turn her head into his chest with a huge smile. It was really cute.

We spent two nights at the Best Western just off of Michigan Avenue. HUGE perk was the free parking and swimming pool. Just sayin. HUGE downer- no strollers. Let's just say "WE" forgot to load up the strollers on the way out. Joel and I definitely got a workout walking all over town with the kids on our shoulders. And actually, it wasn't as bad as i had thought it would be.

Saturday night we watched the Disney Parade down Michigan Avenue as they lit the lights down the street as they went. I can honestly say we were probably amidst the largest crowd of people I have ever been with.

P.S. Word to the wise- NEVER, I repeat NEVER trust a gas station hot dog. Especially when you are on the road. This picture was taken on the way home on the freeway. Poor Van! What you can't see is Joel dry heaving and gagging, with watery eyes in the front seat with the windows down. Good times. Good times.

Cupcakes with Grandma!

October 31, 2011

Sweet cupcakes for a sweet girl. A girl who follows all directions from her Mom and Dad. A girl who ALWAYS finishes her dinner without being asked to. A girl who NEVER hurts her brother, NEVER throws fits, and ALWAYS stays out of trouble.

Pumpkin Carving Time!

October 30, 2o11

Carving pumpkins. This is my personal favorite part about Halloween. I hate to brag, but I've created some pretty awesome jack-o-lanterns in the past. This year was no exception. Charlee and Van were a HUGE help. They really got after cleaning the insides of the pumpkin out- NOT. They were actually not amused by the slimy, cold insides. Van and Charlee kept saying "Ewww! Sick!" Joel and I teased them that we were eating the insides of the pumpkin. They'd just look at us with this disgusted look on their faces like their parents were crazy (which they are).

Preschool Halloween Party

October 27, 2011

Kairos Preschool Halloween Party.

Mahomet Ward Trunk or Treat

October 25, 2011

Sugar high! I am pretty sure that after this event our children went into a sugar coma. I don't know what it is about keeping any child calm in a church building- whether it be during Sunday service or a party like tonight. Watching Van run in circles while screaming with candy running down his face was tiring just to watch. The kid can NOT sit still. Give him candy and watch the insanity.

I was talking with another Sister who has five kids under 11. We'd start a conversation, run after one child, continue on, run after another child, until eventually the conversation was completely abandoned. We ended up laughing about how we both end up running away for our children mid sentence because our kids are in the wrong bathroom or they're running on the stage, playing in the water fountain, etc. It' s crazy.

The church set up a mini carnival, where the kids could play games for various prizes. Joel and his young men were in charge of a glow in the dark mini golf that was pretty impressive. The relief society helped with a chili-cook off contest. Followed by trunk or treating around the parking lot. All in all we had a great time.

Curtis Pumpkin Patch

October 8, 2011

Eighty-two degrees Farenheit! What a great day to join the other half of central Illinois at Curtis Pumpkin Patch for pumpkin picking! We were actually quite shocked to experience such a warm October day. It didn't feel very Fall-ish, but we still had a great time. I can't believe how packed the place was. By the time we left, the kids were exhausted. Dad carried Charlee to the car over his shoulder and Van got a shoulder ride from Mom. We couldn't leave without purchasing the much talked about Apple Doughnuts and Apple Cider. Pretty sure Joel and I ate a half dozen doughnuts by ourselves on the way home. Mmmm... The kids got to ride horses, feed goats, jump on the blow up toys, and of course pick pumpkins.

Wagon Wheel Pumpkin Farm

October 6, 2011

First preschool field trip! Yea! Today Charlee and her preschool class went to Wagon Wheel Pumpkin Farm today in Farmer City, IL. This cute little family owned farm had a chicken coup, corn boxes (instead of sand boxes), and of course a pumpkin patch! Charlee had a great time with her friends. She especially liked the hay ride around the pumpkin patch where she was able to point out the biggest and best pumpkins she could see. We had a great time!