Happy Birthday to Kanien and Jason! We celebrated their birthday's together today! We all gathered into the tv room and decided we need a bigger room to fit everyone - Jon mentioned knocking out the wall again to make one great big room and we might just have to do that if we stay in this house much longer. The above pictures speak for themselves - Jason and Kanien opening presents and the rest of us watching! Marcella put on her hawaiian outfit to show her mom and dad - she didn't sleep in it if you read previous posts!

Jason playing with Claire. It's fun to see Jason interact with Marcella, Claire and William. His soft side and caring side shows through when I watch him with them. He was having fun with Claire this morning and then Chester(the dog) became jealous and wanted to jump up on the couch and get in on the action. Chester seems to be jealous of Claire and curious.

We had the privilege of watching Marcella and Claire overnight while Kanien and Jon celebrated Kanien's birthday. Dann brought gifts back from Hawaii for everyone and gave Marcella's to her that night. She was so appreciative of everything he gave to her. He gave her some seashells and she hugged the big one and said "Oh grandpa I love this so much thank you". She had to put on the dress he bought her and the skirt, coconuts and necklace then she did a little hula dance.
Claire is such a cutie and we had fun having her here with us too. She loves to watch her hands and will stare at her thumb and then try to get it in her mouth - sometimes she does and other times she will hit herself in the face. She seems to like to sit up. I would lay her down and she would try to sit up so we sat her up on the couch for awhile. She slept all night long which she does for Kanien and Jon but I wasn't sure she would for me since for some reason I can't seem to get her wrapped up as good as they do. She did sleep though all night without a sound from 8:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.

On Sunday December 14th the family was all together (minus Dann who was in Hawaii working) got together and decorated gingerbread houses. David and Rose , Nathan and Amy, Jason and Ashley, Marcella and I, and Kanien each made one. I helped Marcella with her Graham cracker house which was pretty easy - she was pleased with the sprinkles and didn't want to think about putting much else on but sprinkles. I talked her into a few other things. Jon chose baby duty and I helped out with that after I was done helping Marcella. I don't know that he actually chose it but that is what he was doing some of the night. We didn't have enough frosting and ran out of powdered sugar. Nathan tried making powder sugar in the blender with regular sugar - said he learned it on his mission and it was turning to powder but the blender started smelling like it was going to burn so he stopped. Jason and Ashley, David and Rose gave up when the frosting ran
out. Kanien ran next door to borrow and came back with pre-made frosting so she was able to finish.

We decorated our Christmas tree tonight - Dad and Nathan put on the lights which I didn't get pictures of. Nathan and Jason put the ornaments on the tree! Then they gave the tree a hug they liked it so much. The other pictures are from the sunset tonight. I thought the sunset was pretty and I tried taking pictures of it with my digital camera and didn't do it justice.

This past summer I left my car unlocked one night and was prompted to go and lock it before going to bed. Thinking no this is a safe neighborhood and nothing ever happens here I didn't listen to that prompting. Needless to say the next morning someone had been in our car and they took all of my CD's and Jason's CD's. I wasn't too upset until this morning when Marcella and I wanted to listen to Christmas music and I realized that my Christmas CD's were in the case that was stolen. If anyone has access to the following CD's and would like to part with them, download them for me or sell them to me it would be greatly appreciated!
These are the Christmas CD's I am looking for: Martina Mcbride, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Raffi and Amy Grant's home for Christmas CD.

Halloween night just before Marcella went trick or treating. Kanien and Jon dressed up to go with her. David and Rose dressed up too! They went to a Halloween party at church wed. night and received a lot of comments on their costumes and their little hot dog!

Marcella did not want to put her hand in the pumpkin and clean it out!

I spent a few days visiting with Kanien, Jon, Marcella, Claire, David, Rose and William - thanks for having me! I enjoyed being there and spending time with all of you. Marcella and I had fun playing in her bedroom with her kitchen set and her legos, reading books and playing a game. David asked her if she was voting for Obama or McCain for president and with a loud emphatic NO to David she said I'm voting for President Monson. It was pretty funny!

Marcella enjoyed playing this game while she was at our house. I gave up after awhile I couldn't get any bugs in the frogs mouth but she was successful several times.

Nanette requested when she was here around conference time that I post a qoute a day. As you can see it's now Nov. and I have not done that. She actually said when I get a qoute or something that I think is inspiring and she would like to post it on the blog so she can write it down. I read this one on someone else's blog today and thought I would pass it on.

It is from Marjorie Hinckley

"We each do the best we can. My best may not be as good as your best, but it's my best. The fact is we know when we are doing our best and when we are not. If we are not doing our best, it leaves us with a gnawing hunger and frustration. But when we do our level best, we experience a peace."

One more by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - "Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world. Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. . . . Men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. . . Their will is swallowed up in His will. They do always those things that please the Lord. Not only would they die for the Lord, but more important they want to LIVE for Him."

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!! I can't believe you spent all that time on this dress and you are just giving it away. That is quite the sacrafice. Terry Dougal

Marcella found the paints and really wanted to paint. She was so excited when I told her she could. Nathan has told Marcella to ride Chester like a horse so now she will try to get on him and r ide him. He usually just sits down or walks away.
Marcella, Lily and I decided to comb Jason's hair. We tried to give him an afro but it didn't work too well. Marcella had fun sitting on his back . This was like deja vu when he was walking towards me and the camera - I did this afro thing with Nathan and Sam several years ago and he looked like Nathan when he was coming towards me and it reminded me of the time I gave Nathan (or tried to) an afro.
Marcella and Lily - they like swinging together but it doesn't usually last long.
My mom, Marcella and Claire. Mom and Ralph came to visit for a couple weeks. We enjoyed having them here.