St Nickolaus - Dec 6th 2008

One of my favorite Christmas traditions in St Nickolaus. We adopted this one from our missions to Germany. On December 6th the children put their shoes by the door and in the morning the shoes are filled with candy or coins or presents. I had to laugh this year when the kids put out their snow books in hopes of getting more surprises!

We started doing this when Dylan was small and it was just candy. One year the kids placed there shoes by the door an were excited to see brand new shoes in their place the next morning. Another year the kids shoes were replaced with snow boots.

The tradition has really evolved. A few years ago we also added Christmas Church clothes to the St Nickolaus surprises. This way we can enjoy our Christmas clothes all throughout December. And then we added concert tickets. Every year we pick some event to attend as a family all dressed up in our Christmas finery. We've seen the Forgotten Carols and the Tabernacle choir to name a few. This year we got tickets to attend the First Presidency Devotional at the Conference center. It was really incredible but Jenna wasn't able to attend as it was only for 8 and up. So, we had to add another event. Next week will wee see VOICE MALE in concert. They are one of our favorite a capella groups.

I love to get everyone dressed up and go downtown to see the lights and have dinner. We always seem to end up eating at PF Changs! Yum! I'm so glad the kids like it! While it's not easy doing these activities with 3 children. I hope they will enjoy these "cultural events" and learn good manners by going to fancy places all dressed up.

December 6, 2008 - Wild Day

Saturday, December 6th, 2008 was one of the busiest days I have ever experienced!

We Started the day with Tithing settlement at 8:30 am.

Left for the Festival of trees at 9:30 am.

Alesha danced at the Festival at 10:30 am

We walked around and Looked at the trees with Grandma & Grandpa Bailey

Left the F O T at 12:30,

Ate at Costa Vita YUM!

Went home to change Jenna into her dance stuff.

Took Jenna to the grocery store for her dance performance at 3:00

The guys went to Dylan's Basketball Game at 3:00

Met at home to Change for Piano Recital

Arrived at Piano Recital 5:00pm

6:3opm Made Salad for Christmas Party

7:00 pm Went to Christmas party. WAY FUN!

9:30 Pm Worked on Primary stuff

12:00 AM Opened the door for St Nickolaus. Wink Wink!

12:30 AM Fell into my bed!!!!

All I can say is that I lived to tell about it!

100 Things - Dec 12 2008

I saw this on Brooke's blog and thought I'd copy it.
Thanks Brooke!
My Answers are in Purple.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris – Only the Airport
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea – Does Lake Powell Count?
14. Taught your self an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning – I hate Subway
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (as close as you can get after 9-11)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping - don't read this mom!
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse (sun & moon)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David –At Caesars!
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant –
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted – by those cartoonists
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie –Only of my own Creation (and these are the Rolls)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car -2004 GMC Yukon - Love it!
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Book of Mormon or Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - does fish count
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day – More times than I can count!

Fire Station Field Trip - 24 Nov 08

Jenna and I belong to a great co-op preschool with 5 other kids and moms. We take turns teaching and making field trips.

On Wednesday, November 24th we visited our neighborhood fire station. The fire fighters were really cute with the kids and the kids had a great time climbing on the engines.

I love to watch Jenna with her little Friends. They are all great kids and live close by. I wonder if they will be together when they graduate from high school like I was with my preschool friends. We will celebrate our 20 year class reunion in June. It's amazing to me to have the friendships for more than 30 years.