FHE 12/6/10

Yesterday, we had fun decorating the tree- Raice and Cierra helped out start to finish. I feel like its all for them anyway, so that is why the decorations are very simple and kid friendly.

Today, for our family home evening we made sugar cookies. It turned out to be an all day event. Cierra enjoyed making the cookie dough with me- probably a more accurate statement would be eating the dough while I wasn't looking. I once turned around to see grab a big chunk and then make a break for it. After letting the dough chill the kids cut out their cookies.

 After baking they frosted them...

Autumn kept herself entertained by eating cheerios. The other day I let her suck on a Ritz cracker and before I could pull it away she bit off nearly half of it. I tried to fish it out of her mouth with my finger, but if you know her personality she was determined to swallow it, as much as I was determined to get it out. I could see I was loosing as her little tongue had thrust it towards the very back of her throat, in my last desperate attempt I tipped her upside down and forward... Nope it was gone. Great, here goes the Heimlich wait, wait she is still breathing... whew! So I figured if she could swallow half of a Ritz cracker in one gulp, with out choking, then she could handle a few cheerios!
The final product...

The big ginger bread man was for "daddy." Raice and Cierra were so proud and excited to give it to him. Poor Tyler hates frosting and doesn't really like sugar cookies, but he ate it with a smile.

Here is a little clip of dinner time. Enjoy!

Christmas just around the corner...

This past weekend was pretty busy. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap. Raice asked for a sling shot, Cierra was along for whatever, and Autumn only wanted to pull his beard (after all, through a baby's eyes, what else would beards be for). After Santa we ate a "free" hot breakfast, for a non-perishable food donation. So far so good -everyone was happy.

Next, we went to our wards annual Creche show. The Creche show has become a community event, where Nativities from all over the world are put on display. This last year there were over 600 people who attended. After seeing Santa, we asked Raice why he thought we celebrated Christmas he responded by saying, "to get presents." So we headed over to show our kids the "true" meaning of Christmas.

There is a "hand on" room for the kids where they can play and color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some of our favorite Creches...

From Jerusalem

From Haiti

From USA

Then just as Tyler and I were about to sit down and enjoy some yummy treats, Cierra began throwing a huge fit over the fact that she no longer had her binkie, and almost simultaneously a mother told me that Raice had pushed down her daughter. After making Raice apologize, we joined Tyler and Cierra in the truck. I think the only person not yelling was Autumn (surprisingly). So much for teaching the true meaning at least its only the 4th.

Holloween 2010

Halloween 2010

This year the kids got to go trick or treating three nights in a row. The first night was "Downtown Trick or Treating" where businesses from around Los Alamos set up booths and pass out candy.We hit the banks first as some of them pass out whole candy bars, and give lots of chocolate! Saturday night was our ward's "Trunk or Treat." We had a potluck chilli and cornbread followed by a costume parade, and then "Trunk or Treating." Afterwards, we went to the community's Pumpkin Glow (put on by the Arts Council), where participants carve, sometimes eloborate, pumpkins and put them on display. Then on Sunday evening, we went out to some of the nicer neighborhoods in Los Alamos with several other families. The kids had a great time, and were worn out each night. Cierra even fell asleep while riding on Tyler's shoulders! 

 

McCall's Pumpkin Patch

We went to McCall's Pumpkin Patch in Moriarty, NM. The kids had a blast participating in all of the activities. Autumn spent all of her time sleeping in the Ergo. We went on a hay ride to the pumpkin patch where they got to see all the different pumpkins. We had to keep Raice from throwing rocks at them-such a little boy thing to do!

The kids wanted to climb on top of a high stack. It was fun for them, but I couldn't help but wondering if Tyler was bored with it, or if it felt like home.

They also had a little petting zoo. Cierra particularly loved this part as she always wants to play with the animals.

This was a miniature town set up for the rabbits

A ride behind a tractor pulling these barrels.... I think the ride was a little slow for Raice though, he's used to being on a motorcycle.