Happy Thanksgiving...and Merry Christmas

I know, Thanksgiving always gets over-looked...Christmas just kinds butts in. However, I am in the Christmas mood...family, friends, shopping, and that good ol' Christmas feeling. I am grateful for this time of year when we get to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the beautiful story of His birth. Often times we get wrapped up in the shopping and gifts, but the greatest gift is the love He has for each of us. For the life He led and the example He set. Let us all soften our hearts...forgive, help, and lift others. It is the life He would have us live. He was sent to us, the greatest gift of all.

Sore finger

I wish that I could post the picture of my sore finger, but they are on Troy's phone. This is very graphic...beware! Last night I was getting ready to make my orange chicken kiev with jullienned carrots and spinach salad...YUMMY!! As I was pulling my meat mallet out of my very chaotic kitchen drawer that contains knives, spatulas, and the now hated lemon zester, the formentioned zester jumped out and attacked me...or my finger. It chopped the whole pad off all but the tiny piece of skin holding it on. I screamed seeing all the blood guhing everywhere hollering for Troy. He thought I was just being obnoxious so proceeded to change Tevan's diaper. When I didn't stop screaming, he came to the kitchen and saw the mess. He grabbed the first aid kit and wrapped it in gauze, frantically calling neighbors to watch the kids. After trying three different neighbors and getting no responses, he got the kids ready to go. I called my super hero sister-in-law Kayla who was headed down to go Christmas shopping. She said she would be right here. In the mean time, I grabbed a couple of neighbor girls who were out riding their bikes to come watched the boys until she sould get here. Troy rushed me to Dr. Baker's office who was luckily open, and they got me right in. An hour and a half later and six stitches, we got home. Poor Kayla, the one night she gets to come down without her girlies, and she was stuck watching my boys! Sorry, Kayla, but I am sooo glad you were here for me!!! Thanks a million!

Trans Siberian Orchestra

For Christmas my parents take us to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert in Boise. We went Monday, the 10th. It was just as amazing as last year!!! They did their Christmas program and then played various music the rest of the night. It was a three hour concert! No one does concerts that long anymore!! I loved it.

My cousin, Katie, watched the kids for us...and did a GREAT job! Thank you soooo much Katie!!! We left Monday afternoon and we didn't get home until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. We had a wonderful get-a-way and got some Chrostmas shopping done too. Our new favorite store is World Trade Markets. We love that store. We also ate at Ramano's Macaroni Grill for the first time and LOVED it, too. We were able to meet up with Harley, Troy's old "boss" from insurance, and his wife and my good friend, Kelly, and their kids Brayden and Kayla for lunch. Then Kelly went to the mall with us and we found the boys' Christmas outfits for church at the Children's Place. I LOVE that store, too. Wow, Boise has so much more shopping than here! We then met up with my Grandma Smith, brother Jaden and the 'rents at the cannery. My mom gave us some food storage to go with our Christmas. Thank you!!!!

In short, we had a great time and we loved every minute of it! A HUGE thank you to my mom and dad for taking us to the concert...a HUGE thank you to Troy for getting his work done super fast so that we could go...a HUGE thank you to Katie for watching our kids...and a HUGE thank you to the Trans Siberian Orchestra for putting on one of the best concerts I have ever been to. We will be back next year!!!!

Days of Christmas

Okay, I know I have promised some pics, but my computer is overloaded, soI cannot put anything else on it until Troy finds the time to go through it and fix it...don't hold your breath!!! JK, babe!

However, I have done the 12 days of Christmas for Troy since our first year together, this being #9. I got this idea from my mom who used to do it to us. I am now doing it for Troy and my children...but I am running out of ideas. HMMMM!! I am hoping someone has some really great ideas to share. This is what I have so far: Oh, I cannot reveal Troy's, because he is a good husband and reads my blog...

Daeson: Tevan:
1. Beach Towel 1. Beach towel
2.Batman slippers 2.Elmo slippers
3. Spiderman cup, plate and bowl set 3. Mickey set
4. sharing: bath crayon/markers
5. 5.
6.Decks of cards...like matching, go fish.. 6.
7. 7.
8. Sharing: Books
9. Lightning McQueen stickers 9. Piece puzzle
10. 10.
11. 11.
12. 12.
So, if anyone can fill in the blanks for me...or share your ideas, please do. We try to keep each day under $10.00 each child, and we try to get them something they can actually use. Play-doh is something I thought about, but Daeson FREAKS out if his hands get dirty...??? I think I am too neurotic!!! It is rubbing off on to my children.

Oh, I am looking for a recipe for chile rellenos...please let me know if any of you have a great one. Thanks!!

Thank you, WalMart!!!

I am not sure how many of you received a toy catalog from WalMart, but we got one yesterday in the mail. I told Daeson last night that he could look at it this morning and that he had to go to bed. This is the first thing he said to me when he woke up, "Mom, can I look at that really super cool toy magazine now? I went to bed and now I am awake. So, can I look at it?" I kid you not, he looked at every page with amazement. It took him two hours to get through that book!!! Over and over he told me how "way awesome" it was. So, thank you Walmart for providing two hours of free entertainment to my three year old!!!