More "24 Days of Christmas" Adventures

Making snowflakes has become a much loved Christmas tradition in our home. The kids love to color them even more than cutting them out ... and are so proud of their work. Didn't they turn out great?!

Krystal was especially proud. She obviously needed some assistance in cutting ... but, managed to make little slits all around the edge of her entire snowflake. It took her a long time! Why didn't I get a picture of that? Oh well.

Hahaha ... Aaron's tongue - so hilarious to me. TOTAL focus and concentration.

Here's Krystal singing the "Snowflake Song" that she just made up. Very cute.

Ta-Da! Snowflake flurry! I have NO idea what Krystal's expression means. :)

Tonight, we watched "The Polar Express" and had minty hot-chocolate with Christmas tree cookies. I love, love, LOVE how excited my sweeties are when they see what we're doing for each day of December. It's the best feeling EVER! We had a lot of fun. Again- no clue what is up with Krystal. I think this may have been the first full length movie she has made it through (well-she made it until the last 15 minutes)! She was very worried about the boy on top of the train. What can I say - my kids are ever cautious. You're welcome, Dad! :)

Here's Aaron enjoying his hot chocolate and green cookie.

We sure have fun together! Happy Holidays everyone!

Tuesday Treats #4

So - last week, we went to Baskin Robbins with Kristy and James -n- fam. YUM! James and Kristy each ordered the Peppermint Brownie Sundae ... very good and very Christmas-y. SOOOO .... last night for FHE/3rd Day of Christmas/Tuesday Treat Tradition ... we made our own version. They were way yummy - and possibly a treat to be considered for an annual appearance. What do you think?

Layer from bottom to top in clear cup: Hot fudge, mint chocolate chip icecream, brownie, hot fudge, peppermint icecream, brownie, whipping cream, crushed candy canes.

Messy - but pretty darn good ... and a heck of a lot cheaper than Baskin Robbins! :)

Ethan enjoyed the icecream - but enjoyed M and Kenj putting an empty cup on his head even more! What a funny, cute boy!

December FIRST!!

On the First Day of Christmas ...

This year marks the third year of our newest family tradition ... the 24 days before Christmas. We hang stockings (gloves, slippers - whatever is needed) on the curtain rod as gifts for the kids ... 24 of them ... and inside is a Christmas-y family activity that we do. Today we made a Christmas treat ... corn quickies! We have enjoyed this tradition SO much. The kids have been counting down to December 1st - and we all enjoy structured family time together.

This morning when I got up (EARLY) and left to teach piano out in Springville ... I had to get off the first exit to turn around and come home. The roads were treacherous. I got a picture of 1200 West - but the freeway looked exactly the same. I was scared ... even at 10 mph. Anywho ... made it home safe ... but didn't teach any lessons. Oh well. The kids really enjoyed the snow. I love the picture of Krystal throwing snow at Aaron as he is still trying to pose for a picture ... his smile is just a teeny droopy! haha.

We dropped by Gma Pat's today to say "hi!" - and Melyndee-loo was over. This is what the kids thought when she said she needed to leave. :D We all love her to pieces. "Don't go, M!! Stay FOREVER!!!!" :)

And - we enjoyed yet another BYU game with the Jensons. Don'tcha just love how Grover is (pretend) cheering for the Cougs - and Jers is looking at him like, "that's my dad!" :D I love it!

These Saturday get togethers have been so so SO fun ... what ever will we do when football ends? Grove - you might have to come up with somethin' :)! Anyway - thanks!

What a spectacular "First Day of Christmas!"

6 More Things to Add ....

I was tagged by my cousin Tiffany to list 6 unknowns about myself. I have done this in the past - the beginning of blogging for me ... so, here is another go. You will all know me so well now - I just hope you'll all still be my friends :)!

• When Tyler started his "diet" awhile back, we started buying only whole wheat/whole grain foods. So - no white bread, rolls, tortillas, white rice, regular pasta .... etc. I didn't mind the change a ton ... and really - I just didn't eat bread anymore, because the texture of wheat bread is too weird for me. But, I gradually started sneaking a loaf of white bread into the house every now and then ... just for me. That's horrible. I might as well eat a jar of sugar. :\ Anyway - I love white bread and tortillas and REGULAR mac-and-cheese (NOT wheat). That's something that will always be a temptation for me.




• I don't like to clean - but, I can't stand for things to NOT be clean. Does that make sense? Hence - I am very intrigued by cleaning products .... especially those that seem to make the job more quick and easy. Here are some of my VERY favorites:
  
  
  I wipe the bathrooms down every day with the Lysol wipes; clean the kitchen and tvs with microfiber + this awesome Windex; mop my floors + dusting with microfiber and Murphy's; and "spray and walk away" with Arm & Hammer's Clean Shower (which means I rarely have to clean the shower). What cleaning products do you recommend?




• I wear sweats ... A LOT. Is it really all that horrible?




• I have been the nursery coordinator/worker for a year now. Although I'm totally wiped out after church on Sundays - this calling has been my favorite (besides choir pianist). :)




• I often times "pretend" shop on-line ... filling my online shopping cart with everything I want ... and then, I can leave NEARLY satisfied without making a single purchase. :) O MAN - please tell me someone can relate to this - Plonnie? Help? haha.




• Well, tiff - 5 will have to do it. I've racked my brain. It IS fun to read about everyone ... and I certainly enjoyed yours. I tag: Heather M. and, let's see, Heidi? Have you done this yet? Twice? :)

Tuesday Treats #3

This treat I am about to share with you is perhaps my most favorite Christmas treat of all time ... and it really isn't a Christmas treat per-say. My Grandma Miller used to make it every December - and we would just gobble it up each Sunday we were at her house in December. So -- it has big Christmas feeling in it ... and we make it without fail EVERY December. I love it!

Corn Quickies

1 box corn chex
1 pound mixed nuts (optional)
1 cup coconut (optional)
Christmas color M-n-Ms (optional)

1 1/2 cups corn syrup
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Bring bottom 4 ingredients to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Pour on dry cereal and optionals - mix carefully. Spread on was paper until set. Eat lots!

Other news: I finally got my copy of "Enna Burning" from the library - and it is pretty dang good! And ... Check out this cute picture of Krystal asleep with her hands in her pockets. She's been insisting on pants with pockets all week. Funny girl.

To Be ... or Not To Be ---> an original post by Tyler

1. Long hair vs. short hair: about a year ago, I decided that since I've never had long hair, I would give it a shot. So, the growing commenced. Then - I had it cut - on a whim. All that work at growth eliminated in 20 minutes. Back to normal. Should I grow it out again?



2. BYU vs. Uof U: Despite the fact that I graduated from the U - and wore the Ute hats diligently ... I am an AVID Cougar fan. You can take the boy out of Cougar town - but you can't take Cougar town out of the boy. And, let's face it - after last night's game ... who isn't a fan?



3. FHE vs. Monday Night Football: "Try to explain that", says my wife. Okay, here goes: I don't typically watch Monday Night Football, but folks --- John Beck is starting for the Miami Dolphins tomorrow. Need I say more?



4. Pumpkin Spice Eggnog vs. Regular Eggnog: that is the question.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Well - I promised Kent and Leisy that we would take many pictures of the spectacular stuffing of ourselves over Thanksgiving ... however, I used Mom's camera all day on Thanksgiving - so we will all await her stupendous post :)! And then, of course - we always have such a blast with the Jenson clan ... that I totally forget to get out the camera. Did you happen to get any pics, Plonns? We loved playing lots of games and having lots of laughs Thanksgiving evening.

Black Friday morning - we all embarked on a shop until you drop extravaganza. As you can tell from the pictures - I was pretty much ready to drop before we had hardly even started ... seeing as we started by freezing our bums off in line at Circuit City for 2 hours. :) haha. We were all amazing troopers - and, even though I just payed full price for most of my purchases (we made it to each store just as the door crashers had sold out) - I DID get a beautiful Christmas tree for 1/2 off - and we drove to Thanksgiving Point for the ModBod sale (way late) - and got some TREMENDOUS deals. So - I would say ... huge success!

We always get together for an after-shopping brunch on Black Friday ... which is so much fun. Marissa decided she needed a little "pre-breakfast snack" by the time we had hit the 5th store ... so, we gave her a little break :)!

And - the reason I love this time of the year the VERY most is that we get to be together SO MUCH! It is seriously the best - we party HARDY! Here we are having a very competitive Monopoly game ... the new electronic version. VERY cool ... and, seeing as Tyler and I kicked ... VERY fun! :) Aaron got to spend the day with his favorite pal and cousin, Kevin ... thanks again Jers and Plonns! And Marissee -roo went to the movies with Anaka and Lori! Do we have the best family, or what?!

Thank you - my awesome families - I sure love and appreciate each and every one of you so much. You make this time of the year the MOST WONDERFUL!

Tuesday Treats #2

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving this week! Tyler's family has lots of yummy tasting traditions over the holidays. One of them is DeAnn's cheese logs ... and they start Thanksgiving weekend. Whoo - hoo ... and yumm -O!! Again - I love easy recipes ... try and get easier than this:

DeAnn's cheese logs:

1 jar each : Kraft Old English cheese and Kraft Roquefort cheese (you know - those little jars that work as small glass drinking cups after washed?)
1 package 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

Mix all together.
Coat in chopped walnuts.

Serve with crackers and veggies.

On the same note ... Mom and Dad - how in the world are we going to survive without the Davies' annual cheese ball once you move? That is DEFINITELY a recipe you need to get and post. I'm pretty sure it's a complicated one - but, oh so heavenly ... and one we need to eat EVERY year! :)

Not on the same note ... my car passed it's safety/emmission test today. HALLLLLLLLELUAH! That is always good news. She just needs to hang on another year or two. :)

That's all folks! Happy Tuesday!

My Favorites

Is it any wonder why M is everyone's favorite? She is pretty much right in there with the kids ... rough housing, winding every one up, playing video games. Isn't she the best? We sure think so.

This pic below is a total winner for me. :D The Jenson tongue in the working! I very rarely get candid pictures of Aaron. He is way into coloring, drawing, and writing right now (hence, the ultimate tongue-al concentration). It is seriously the cutest thing ever. He is so fascinated with words - he'll see a word on a sign at the store - and write it down over and over again the rest of the day. The best one so far was when he wrote "Play All" on everything after helping Krystal with a Dora DVD. I love the kindergarten age - he is so excited about learning ... reading and writing in particular. I love it!

I totally forgot to post a Tuesday Treat last Tuesday ... and now we're only 3 days away. So much for that plan :\! Hopefully I remember this Tuesday, 'cuz another one of my favorites is treats.

Alleleluah!

Thanks to our awesome real estate agent (and long time friend), Lewis, who gave us a gift certificate (after selling our condo, no less) - Tyler and I had the opportunity of eating at Chef's Table this weekend. It is an amazing restaurant - and very fancy. I mean, "server pulling out the chair for me and putting the napkins on our laps" fancy. And good? The food was absolutely delicious! They had a live pianist playing classical music on a grand piano, a spectacular view, and to die for food - PLUS - I got to spend a wonderful night with my sweet hubby. VERY awesome date!


THEN - as if I weren't feeling happy enough - I got to go to choir practice on Sunday (after missing the past two weeks due to our lovely pink-eye craze)! I love, love, LOVE choir practice ... or maybe it's my ward - but, we have an InCrEdIbLe ward choir! Honestly - our ward Christmas program is pretty dang good (all music). AND - from now 'til Christmas - we're having 2 hour practices every week. Have I mentioned that I love Christmas music? Well, I do. I came home from that practice so full of joy and peace. Christmas PLUS music = heaven!

So, all in all - we had a great weekend. Today is the last day we own our condo. How strange is that? We are now renters ... for awhile, anyway.