Magnetic Sisters and a White Out

OK, so we had our sister's day again!! Yay, it is now official that we will be getting together as sister's once a month. My sister, Kirsten, wasn't able to be there because of school, but we had 4 out of the 5 of us. Chelsea was in charge of the craft and we made magnets--they all turned out so cute and it was fun to see everyones creations. Jessie's were my favorite because she drew pictures of her kids so that they had a magnet for their refrigerator art! So cute!

We did sister's day at Tynelle's again so when Daniel got home he made us some pina coladas!

Then I started home... it was snowing a little and I was thinking, well, it's just a light snow I'll still stop by the grocery store and get what I need. But after the grocery store it was a white out. I had to take the back roads home with my lights off so that I could see! Crazy!! What the heck, why is it whenever we have sister's day the snow goes crazy! Oh, well, I made it home safe and sound and it made for an adventure!

Here are the pics from Sister's Day!

magnets

Jessie creating

Chelsea gluing on magnets

The Piná Coladas

Mmm mmm!

Aloha!

Missionary Training Center

Bryan went into the MTC today! I set up a blogsite for his mission so you can check that out throughout his mission the next two years.

The pictures from today are posted here.

I also have a link for him on the right side so you can check when I have updated his letters and/or pictures.

Twist and Shout Performance

Many of you were not able to make it to our Twist and Shout performance on December 20th. I am finally posting some short clips of my favorite parts. Watch, and enjoy–sorry you missed it–it really was fun!

Winter Snow

I mostly had to post this because it was scary seeing my face pop up every time I brought up my blog! Tee Hee!

Our back yard, the chairs are almost covered!

Our "barn"

just pretty snow...

This has been a beautiful winter so far. So much snow. I love snow! Really, I am not kidding. I hate driving in it, but, I love playing in it, and building snow sculptures. I love the fact that it makes you want to stay inside and cuddle in a warm blanket and watch a good old movie. I watched the old "Sabrina," with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, over the holiday and started "Roman Holiday" also starring her with Gregory Peck. Man, I LOVE old movies. There is just something about the simplicity of them that I enjoy. Movies now try so hard to make everything so "real," dreary and hard to face--maybe, I just want to get away from "real" and just enjoy a few hours feeling blissful. Maybe that is why I enjoy cartoons like "Horton Hears a Who" or "Kung Fu Panda." Just happy, with a little lesson to be learned and we laugh and enjoy it.

I also want to mention that my dad's side of the family Christmas party was SO MUCH FUN!!!!! It was such a blast. I don't have any pictures and I wish I did, I forgot my camera, but, it was full of balloon popping, gloved present opening, duct tape, movie's famous lines, basketball, soup and ice cream. But, most important family! Thank you all for being so wonderful... I love you all very much and I am so proud to call you family. I am so blessed.

Last night I had a get together with my immediate family. I love them dearly. They are one in a billion. I am so blessed.

My nephew, Bryan leaves on a mission to Chile on Wednesday. I had the opportunity to teach him, and raise him for a time. I am so blessed.

Updates, Instructions and Santa's Special visit

Before (taken in September on my computer)

After (taken today from my computer)

OK, so everyone has been asking me about my "Candida Diet." (You can see it a lot in my face-hence, the pics) So here it is. I lost 3 pounds in the first 18 hours I started it, in the first 3 days I lost 7 pounds and I had lost 10 pounds in 10 days and have continued to keep that 10 pounds off even during the holidays. NOw, everyone freaks out when I told them I lost 10 pounds in 10 days thinking that I starved myself--I wasn't starving--I ate a lot--really I did. I ate all day long, I ate a lot of celery, avacadoes and nuts to curb my cravings for chocolate, candy, sweets or breads. As far as my strict first 2 weeks, I had NO sugar--that meant no milk (lactose), wheat (gluten), or fruit--but, I thought restricting fruit was rediculous so I still had fruit but I cut out fruit juice completely. I have now been working my way back into regular food again. So far so good, I have gotten a little sick to my stomach when I eat sweets or pasta, but, sometimes it is worth--right?

Then, I have had many ask how we made our Christmas ornaments on Sister's Day. Here is the best I can explain it on the blog:
-You buy the wedding favor tins (we got them at Walmart)--they are about 1 inch deep and 2 inches round.
-You take the lid off of the tin
-trace a circle over the picture you want to use
-cut out the picture and place in the lid of the tin so that picture faces outward
-with a tack poke a hole in the deeper part of the tin on the top side
-poke wire through and bend it to keep it in place
-put double stick tape on the rim of the deep part of the tin and place lid back on to keep in place.
-bend wire into a cute curly shape to hang easily on tree
-you can decorate at you want, ribbon tied on wire, double stick tape around edge



Also, I was so busy I never posted these awesome pics of our special Santa Visit! Thanks Kris Kringle--my kids were so excited to see you.

Finally Christmas pics

Here are some Christmas pics of our awesome Christmas! They are in random order--sorry no time to blog lately...





















For my brothers and sisters: I have copies of a Christmas Eve DVD I put together for all of you, so come get your copy, otherwise I'll wait till I see you on New Year's Day at the family party.

While I was blogging...

OK, so while I was blogging and talking to my sister on the phone apparently 3 was busy making more art! What is with the face painting?! This is with crayola markers! Yay! Why did I think it was OK that she was quiet?? Will I ever learn? See how proud she is!

Oh, well, makes fun for the blogging world!

Merry Christmas!