Crafts or Bust!

I don't know what it is lately, but the kids have wanted me to do sewing and other crafty activities a lot with them. I am guessing it is because they are cooped up in side, but at any rate I always think I am going to be fun and all is going to go well. Each time we do it, I want to pull out my hair. Why do I do this to myself? Maybe because the alternative is to listen to them wine about wanting to do it. Ashtyn and Haylee sewed their very own stockings......or did Mom really get to sew them both and thread the needls 20 times before they were done?Here we are attempting to make home made snow globes from baby food jars. I could not find my glue gun so we resorted to glue dots which do not hold well under water. Eventually our penquins and trees were floating in the jars instead of being snowed on. Notice Brigham's green tummy. He leaned across the table to get something. We had bathtime after this project! Foam Gingerbread houses seemed much better than doing the real thing. They should just come right together and you wouldn't have to mess with sticky frosting and too much candy....if you ever attempt these, make sure you have all the supplies. Sticky dots are the only way to go. We figured this halfway through the project as I was desparate to find a way to keep the items stuck to the house. I finally found those darn sticky dots that I knew I had I just couldn't locate them for awhile. Awwwwww! They did turn out cute however and the kids were pleased with them.

Elfed

This is way too funny! Check us out as elves. Sadly, only four of us could do the dance so Scott opted out... http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1133871713

Teton Spectrum Raceway

We have started a tradition at work that every year around Christmas we rent the Teton Spectrum Raceway for the night, bring in pizza, lock the doors and let the kids run wild. The adults fight it out on the go carts and whoever gets the best time wins a trophy to display on their desk all year. The following year they have to give it up to the next winner. This years winner was Derek Tingey. Way to go Derek! There was some pretty stiff competition among all the diesel driven fast paced men. (I am so competitive I think I got 8th place out of maybe 9 or 10 that competed in my bracket) Thank you to Flashlube for sponsering the night.

My camera had a hard time focusing, but this is Brigham going down a tall slide. He had a really fun time and pretty much bounced for three hours straight. I thought for sure he would crash on the way home but he did not go to sleep until 11:30. He was pretty wound up. Ashtyn and Haylee making their way down the slide. Steve and McCall taking a break from bouncing. Brigham driving a car game. He like the car and the gun games.

Here is where it gets brutal. This year was safer than last because we all got a "warning" email. There were no teeth lost or whip lash occurances this year thankfully. Last year a few people got a little out of control and suffered some minor injuries.

My House on Tuesdays

I work from home on Tuesdays and every once in awhile my babysitter has something come up so the kids stay home with me. Trying to work and be a good Mom at the same time is nearly impossible. I practically do anything to keep them occupied so that I can try to get stuff done. It never fails that as soon as I get on the phone they break into a fight, cry or bang pots and pans together (ok so I am exaggerating a little). When Scott gets home he looks at me like I have gone insane to let the house get to the state of chaos that it is in. In the end my work gets done and the kids have had a fun day so I guess that is all that matters. Notice Brigham's yellow Snow White skirt...Haylee helped him with this one I am not guilty.

Ohhhh, you gotta love him.

This is just one of the moments when you realize how much you love your kids (I usually only have these Ohhhh moment when they are asleep). I had to interrupt this nap so that I could get Ashtyn to the dentist for a cleaning. Seven cavities, a frenulectomy and $300.00 are the outcome of that appointment. Grrrr! What is a fenulectomy you say? Apparently she gets to have the piece of tissue snipped that connectes your gums to your lip. Hers is too short so it has caused a gap between her two front teeth. Ashtyn would prefer the gap over having this snipped but I think she will thank us for it someday. They charge $182 for this procedure alone. Any prayers you would like to offer in her behalf would be greatly appreciated. I do not look forward to those appointments at all...she is not going down without a fight.

Jack and Jill

We finally gave in and adopted some cats for the kids. We named them Jack and Jill because we got a boy and a girl...spayed and neutered I must add. They have had a lot of fun with them so I guess it has been worth it. Kliss I tried to talk them into waiting until after Thanksgiving so that you weren't freaked out by this all but of course I got outvoted. They do live in the garage and aren't allowed in the house anymore (the first day we did let them in a little) so you should be safe.

TRICK OR TREAT

Haylee, Whitney, Ashtyn, Brigham and Michelle at the Halloween carnival. Haylee, Brigham and Ashtyn ready for the carnival. Brigham, Ashtyn and Haylee all set to Trick or Treat