15TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

On the 15th day I ventured to.......THE MALL!  Shocking for me since I rarely go shopping.  Mall shopping is even rarer still, but I had a store to visit and it was here.  I had my shopping buddy with me, Mister Kyler Man....doesn't he look happy?!?  As we were leaving the mall he said he couldn't wait until he was rich and he could live here...in the food court.  Go, Kyler!

 After our 3rd Day of Secret Santa Kyler asked me what the song said for the 4th day.  I'm sure he wanted to venture a guess on what the next's day gift would be.  Well, I told him 4 calling birds and then said "Calling birds.....I think they're going to give us a cell phone!!!!!!"  (big joke since we don't have a cell phone and no one can understand this concept)  Kyler said...."they'll give us FOUR!  I call one!!!"  I quickly let him know I was kidding and we would not be receiving cell phones as a Secret Santa gift.  Evening came and so did the ring of the doorbell.  What could it be?!?

 A gorgeous bird calendar!

I LOVE IT!!!!

(and claimed it for my scrap room)

 Here's a quick look at the years pictures.

 Tony and I put together our first snowman today.  It will be Tony's holiday decoration for his desk.

We call it Desert Snowman!

Do you see his hat, carrot nose, coal eyes and buttons floating around? (Well, we think we're funny!)

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!

14TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

First, Tony and I finally took our elf responsibilities seriously yesterday.  Santa would be proud of the progress that was made in one short day!  To top it all off, the girls at the ward were offering free babysitting last night.  SCORE!  We happily dropped Kyler off for two hours, dropped Colton and Asher at Scouts and then...FREEDOM!  Kyler was happy to be at the church, just a little bit worried that he'd miss our Secret Santa.  I love all the yummy things our Secret Santa has brought to us - like the third day - three loaves of french bread!  Asher enjoyed cocoa and bread last night before bed.

Mita would have been proud!

Thank you Secret Santa!

and in the words of Kyler....

Happy Friday Eve!!!!

12TH & 13TH DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 2011

The 12th day was all about friends!  We spent our afternoon and part of our evening enjoying the company of friends.  After we were home for a little bit the doorbell rang.  This is what we found.  We have no idea who our Secret Santa is....isn't this fun!

 The 13th day was full of anticipation.....would our Secret Santa appear again?!?  The doorbell rang, the dog went crazy and we found a wrapped gift at the door.  Turtles for two turtle doves......YUM!

Thanks Secret Santa!!!!!

10TH & 11TH DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 2011

I love weekends!  When I think of weekends, I think TIME.....I don't know why though.  Time flies by too fast.  I can spend more time driving kids all over on Saturday then on a school day.  Then Sunday night rolls around and I can't wait for everyone to go back to work/school and I can have some TIME!  This weekend was all about the Christmas decorations.  Sure we put the outdoor lights up and had the nativities set up, but nothing else.  Kyler was very concerned about this.  After church he asked if we could put up our tree and when I said yes, he jumped up and down with pure joy.  I love that boy and his joy!!!  This year I put Kyler in charge of the tree.  He was so happy and went right to work bossing everyone around.  His favorite ornaments are the ones from 2004 to now.  He only likes the ones he's represented in, like this one.  This ornament was our family ornament from 2004 with our new baby Kyler.  (my favorite family ornament is with our whole family as polar bears....and one of us is decapitated...Kyler must have been a toddler, I always have decapitated decorations when my kids are toddlers!)

 Here's Kyler's tree!

I wish my kids would like to be in charge of others things....like laundry!

Merry 10th & 11th Days of Christmas!

9TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

On the 9th Day of Christmas we went to a White Elephant gift exchange....and look what I brought home - A MITA TREE......or a Charlie Brown tree.  I love it!!!!

8TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

This is where the boys have been doing service lately....

but last night they served Mamita in her home (not "home" as in nursing home....well, not yet...heehee)  They took her washer (the same washer that flooded her house) and dryer out of the home and the two shelves that were above them.  I love that my family is happy to serve others!  

7TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

My Nativity Collection!

I finally made some time to pull them out of the garage and set them up. In case you were wondering....this isn't the bulk of my collection....

 THIS IS!

I think I counted 42 versions on this table.

 I really should photograph all of them one day.  I love all of them, but I'll just share a few tonight.  Here are the bears - front and center.  I bought this set at Bear Country in South Dakota, Summer 2008.

 I found this set in a little boutique in Utah - October 2004.

 This was one from my home as a little girl.  

 This year I've already been tempted and bought 2 new nativities.  First, a glittery Holy Family...

 and a clay nativity.

It always feels more like Christmas when I put up the nativities.  Merry 7th Day of Christmas!