Best. Christmas. Ever.

Who decided this guy should get all the credit, I would like to know? I prepared for months for Christmas and the best compliment I've gotten so far is, "Santa's elves sure did a good job".

I even had to lift my ban on baking long enough to make sugar cookies for Santa. We made an army of snowmen along with their much-less-time-consuming cousins, the sprinkle guys.
We had a fun time with a family in our ward making gingerbread houses. Thanks, Rutz family!
We got to deck the halls with our very own boughs of holly from the holly tree in our back yard!
And guess who showed up just as I was finishing Christmas Eve dinner?! Santa's Reindeer!

The kids woke us up at 6:15 (also 3:30 and 5:30). They were so excited to go out and see what Santa had left for them in his usual spot, the living room. They were surprised to see no presents by their stockings, just a note like this one:

They headed downstairs and found their new/old schoolroom. Matt's Mom and I hunted for months for these schooldesks. Most of them were found on Craigslist. All but one have flap tops for their schoool supplies. The kids love them!

I slaved for months making these felt playhouses. I got the idea from an old college roommate here and she got it from here. I had to make a few adjustments since I made Merr and Joel's to fit the built in bunkbeds in the basement. Mine are also quite a bit more simple since I made three. The mailboxes are functional, though, which they love!

Maybe a good chunk of the morning was spent playing the new wii games. (We put the wii away for about a month before Christmas, so the boys were dying to get it back out)
I made these darling dolls for Norah and her cousins, Clayre and Kate. I got the pattern here. I love them and think they're so cute. Unfortunately, Norah loves the plastic cheerleader doll Merrody got her better. She won't touch these little cuties!
Norah's big present was a sweet garage sale find--a wooden kitchen! She loves it (so does EVERYONE).

I also made Norah (and her new best friend, Clayre) dress-up clothes. These tutus are sparkly. Norah had pretty much the same experience every woman does while trying to learn to wear high heels. It put her in a bad mood.

And after a magical morning, we got in the car and headed over the meadow and through the woods to Grandmother Malone's house! It was a fantastic Christmas! We are so grateful for the many blessings in our lives! Hope you had a great Christmas too!

Treat Plates? What?

Dear Neighbors, Family, and Friends,

I am sorry to announce that I cancelled holiday baking this year. I wish I could say it had to do with self control or a diet or something. Mostly, I'm just not into it this year. I made too many homemade gifts. I'm over homemade right now. Also, if you haven't received my Christmas card, just assume that there was one with your name on it that needed an updated address and I never got around to getting it. Yep, that's right. Half of my Christmas cards are still at my house. I may sound grinchy, but we have plenty of Christmas spirit. Really, we do! Well, maybe not Norah.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

your slacker friends

The Malones

The Greenbrier

This is the Greenbrier. It is a fancy and amazing resort in southern West Virginia where the Malone family spent last weekend. It was so fun and fulfilling.

Norah finally warmed up to Clayre.

As you can tell, the cousins had a very good time.
I think Mom and Dad enjoyed it, too.
Molly was so good with the little kids.
Carey and I squeezed in a little time for our annual heart-to-heart. :)
Mom got to be with her kids and grandkids--her favorite thing!
Ben grew a mustache.
Noel got a lot of unsolicited advice about college.
And Norah clung to her mama.
Our kids went ice skating for the first time. They also swam and Matt played a little tennis.

Thanks, Hyrum, for taking Jack under your wing!
Merrody and Holden were good friends for sure.

Thanks, Mom and Dad! It was so great!

Thanksgiving

This year I am Thankful that this brother and his wife and kids drove 16 hours (each way) to come visit us!

...and this sister came 5 hours each way to visit as well.

...I am Thankful that our dinner was delicious and happy...

...And that my husband was nice enough to repair 10 of my brother's teeth!

I am Thankful for fun games (have you ever played Acquire?), good food, lots of help and a little babysitting from Aunt Whitney!

I am Thankful for a productive trip to Gabes.

...And I am SO Thankful for cousins who LOVE each other!

Oh, and one more thing: I am Thankful Matt had someone to help him chase his dream of making and eating a "Triple McRib". That was a bad idea from the start and I'm glad I didn't have to be a part of it. Yuck.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!