A Day in the Life...

Copper woke up at 6:30 on Christmas morning and asked, "Is it morning time yet?" I smiled and said sure.  We waited about ten minutes and woke up the twins.  Past their morning wake up time anyway.  The one day they wanted to sleep in, the stinkers.  Grandma and Grandpa came over and watched the girls open their Santa gift and gifts from us.  All three loved their remote control cars (and Micah's train) and Copper especially loved the box of craft stuff.  Delighted, actually.  Hey look! A toothbrush that goes by itself!  "White paper just like I asked for!"  And a train and race car that goes by themselves...  Micah was estatic about the box of Play-Doh and asked to do it immediately!  Helping Grandma and Grandpa open their presents.  Time is 7:07 a.m.  Haha.  I asked the girls to pose in front of the tree.  Micah said no and decided to pose by the closet door. Our first snowstorm of ...

Christmas Eve (morning) was spent cleaning the house!  Walls, baseboards, cupboards, everything.  The kids were not fans.  Helped me relax a little though!  We went to my mom's for a bit in the name of keeping our own house clean.  Haha.  The kids made gingerbread cookies in the shape of ninjas and wore the aprons my aunt Penny made my mom (one for each of the grandkids). When Tim got home from work we started our first annual family tradition of reading a new Christmas story, the birth of Jesus in the Bible, and toasting the reason for the season.  I've always wanted to do this on Christmas Eve, but it's usually so late when we get home that the kids go right to bed.  So (bright idea I should have thought of years ago) we did it right before going to Oma's and Opa's.  We also left cookies and a note for Santa!  (Our cookies turned out horribly.  Thank goodness Santa doesn't care) Off to Oma and Opa's we go! Copper...

Every year we have a baking day at my aunt Penny's house.  Sometimes we make chocolates, gourmet popcorn, hard candy, etc., and often as gifts to give to neighbors.  This year we did simple... cookie and pancake mixes.  So much easier.  In this picture is my sister and mom (on the left), and my grandma, Penny, and Kathy (my grandma's friend).  My mom's side of the family rarely gets together, maybe every few years, even though most of us live closeby.  This year my grandma threw a Christmas party.  A bigger turnout than expected, and all siblings were there save my aunt Jennifer.  Below is a picture (starting at the left), my uncle Shannon, aunt Penny, my mom, uncle Dennis, my grandma, uncle Jeff, and uncle Kevin.  They are all wildly different from each other but fun. The only other picture I got at the party...  Copper making rolls.  She rolled the life out of them, cut them into pieces, and rolled and molded som...

#14: Secret cookies to a neighbor.  I admit, I gave away cookies that someone had given to us.  Share the love, right? #15: Make Santa cookies and a card.  I hope he likes cookies that will have been frozen 10 days... #16: Make a gift for a friend.  This is sweet.  Copper picked two small toys she wanted to give to someone, wrote a note that says "Thanks for being my friend, Merry Christmas, from Copper" and gave it to her friend next door.  So sweet.  Not homemade but close enough! #17; Nativity show with our puppets for an audience.  The girls love this story!

(While driving to preschool) Dakota: (groaning) M o m . . . really your turning makes me crazy. (later on in the day) Copper: I don't know how this happened, but Dakota and Micah are still on Santa's good list.

The last few weeks I've had lots of late nights.  It gives Copper and Tim some great time together, as she loves to talk about life and love.  It's pretty cute.  Last night it went like this: (after spilling the beans about school and friends and projects) Copper: Dad, do I look beautiful? (turning around in a twirly dress) Tim:  You sure do. Copper: Well is it because of this pretty dress? Tim: Nope it's because you're just beautiful. Copper:  Well I'm helpful too.  I help mom and dad. Tim: Yes, you so.  You're very helpful. Copper: I'm a good sister.  I help Dakota and Micah too. Tim: Yes you are! Copper: So does this mean I get more presents in my stocking? And this afternoon she had a play date (picnic and project) with her carpool/kindergarten friends.  My friend Kelly (the orchestrator) texted me and said, "Copper is quite adorable.  During lunch she told me Micah and Dakota were still on Santa's good list even though...

We try to do a service every day!  Sometimes we end up doing two in one day.  The crazy busy days of life.  We're having fun! #8: Read the Nativity as a family and pledge what we can do this coming year to serve and be like Christ #9: Make a thank you note to Abby #10: Put on a Nativity puppet show for others #11: Shovel snow off someone's sidewalk (I really figured we'd have snow by now... guess we'll hang onto this one! #12: Take secret cookies to a neighbor #13: Take a gift and note to our Home Teachers I've been a slacker at taking pictures.  Seems like a lot of work sometimes!

(Dakota crying) Micah: Mom, Kota's a pain in the bum.  Right, mom?  Right, mom?"

Yesterday we braved the 60 degree weather and headed across town to Evan's Family Farm.  We love this place!  Great place for the kids to run, picture perfect set ups, cookies and hot chocolate, and of course Christmas trees!  It didn't take too long for Tim to find the right tree and we were off to decorate.  I tried something new this year on her tree and it turned out great!  We love the green tree with green lights and red decor.  The kids get their own tree to decorate, which has been up for a few weeks.  Leave this one to me!!

What we've been up to lately: 1. Staring contests with Copper.  Miss Beautiful Eyes. 2.  Micah sneaking butter crackers and marshmallows... "Please mom?" 3. December picnics... 60 degrees and no snow... 4.  These girls.  Get out of mom's bed!  They sleep MUCH better when next to someone.  Micah begs Dakota to sleep in the same bed each night and Dakota non-politely refuses by screaming and pushing Micah away.  Somehow by 3 a.m. this is where they both usually are... 5.  New windows!  A much needed face lift...

"Dear Santa, I am being good.  I help my sisters to clean up.  I want a tooth brush that goes by itself.  Love Copper.  From Copper."  Christmas crafts thanks go grandma and Taryn!  An early family gift thanks to a sneaky elf who left it on our doorstep... And a classic... I love this.  Copper's homework was to draw and label a holiday picture.  All on her own she drew the Nativity.  I'm humbled this was her thought of the holidays, as the world makes it so commercialized.  I was also in great awe of the giant bee invading sweet baby Jesus...

Per tradition, we feasted at Red Robin and went tree hunting the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  The tree was hung.  Nothing was broken.  The girls were happy.  Micah found chocolate cookies.  Nobody was sick.  The weather was great.  A perfect day! And, the only picture I took on Thanksgiving.  My monkeys and a perfect pie.

We too must give! (One of) this year's Christmas countdown activities is a countdown service chain.  So far the girls have excitedly given away and made things to show our appreciation for those around us.  I didn't think to take pictures of the first few service projects, but here's a few! (Micah not pictured- her contribution was a few scribbles and a cute smile) One year our own little family was really struggling, in more ways than one.  On a hectic night in December there was a knock at the door.  We were surprised and (I was) brought to tears by the sight on our front porch.  Food for a feast and gifts galore.  It was amazing.  No "from ..." tag, just a Merry Christmas note and a reminder of the Savior.  It really was incredible.  I love the Christmas Spirit and wished it stayed year round.  I want these young girls of mine to grow up knowing that service, kindness, and love are the best gifts of all!  Our service chai...