Gingerbread House

Sunday after breakfast we made our gingerbread house.

We had a cub committee meeting, then church (passed out our goodies), then came home and the boys played with the Playmobile Nativity set that my mom sent the boys. After dinner we went and looked at Christmas lights. Dylan right now is obsessed with Christmas lights. He goes outside every night after dinner to just look at our lights on our house. We like to one neighborhood that goes all out. They did not disappoint. I didn't take any pictures because I was driving, but trust me...it was good. I have a feeling we will be going around to another neighborhood soon because Dylan loves it so much!

Yesterday after school Blake went to the ortho. He has 2 wiggly teeth, but Blake hates to pull out his teeth. The orthodontist told him it is his homework assignment to get those teeth out so the other teeth can come in so that they can get brackets on the adult teeth at the next appointment in February. Then he could get his expander off. They said that the teeth are looking great and that he is doing a really good job with brushing. Good job my little rule follower.

Basketball Games

Monday nights are nice because we don't have practice or scouts, etc. So we started "Home Alone" and finished it later that week. The kids loved that movie. Why hadn't we watched it together as a family? Great question.

I also helped at the school for 3rd grade. I work at the preschool about 2 days a week, so it was fun to go over to the boys' school. It had been awhile, but it is always the same group of moms that help, so it was fun to catch up with them before we helped out. 

Saturday morning we had basketball games. Dylan's game was 10am and Blake's was 12....much better. 

Dylan did the same thing where it took him a little bit to remember what to do, but once it clicked again, he did great.

He took a couple of shots. There really aren't too many shoots at this age and even fewer go in.

He also rebounded, which was awesome.

And he made a basket!! So much fun.

They had Blake play post. He is tall, but not aggressive. Although it is making him be more aggressive and he is a lot more aggressive in basketball then in soccer. He is really good at seeing people open and passing them the ball. He didn't make any baskets, but he got some rebounds which is great.

They did great. It is fun to watch them. Each week they are improving. 

We came home and made bread for their primary teachers and for our VT and HT families. Then we made dinner because we had our friends, Cindy and Jon over. Aaron and Cindy worked together in CA and then they moved out here. They came to Blake's baptism. They have one grandson who lives in CA, so they love to be around the boys. Blake especially really likes them too. They are a great couple. Blake was chatting up a storm with them.

Basketball Games and Ward Christmas Party

We had Dylan's well exam. He is 80th percentile for weight and 95th for height. He is doing fine. He has had a wart that we have tried to get rid of at home, but we needed some help from the doctor. Dylan did not want it frozen off.....he screamed. It took 2 of us to hold him down while the doctor did it. The nurse after said, "holy cow, he is very strong." People will one day believe me. We also found out that he has allergies. It is kind of given if you live here.

Saturday was a beautiful day. Once again we have been having days of really nice to really not nice...going from 85 degrees to 40 degrees. Anyway, this is the first year the boys have played basketball. I had heard from talking with friends about a program called Upward. I signed them up for the camp during the summer and they really enjoyed it, so they wanted to play a season of basketball. The program is actually a national program, but organizations have to elect to institute the program. It is faith based so it is usually only churches that have the program. Here in Texas it is no big deal to have this program, but I think it would not fly in CA.

They focus on teaching the kids good character and the skills needed for basketball. They have a prayer, they talk about scriptures and have the kids memorize them..the scripture has something to do with what they are working on. For example the first month was courage--helping them see that it takes courage to play a new sport, or play on a new team, or get out in front of everyone for your first game, etc. Then they worked on patience--not every time will you make a basket, etc.

The games are on Saturday and they call it Silent Saturday because the parents are not allowed to yell at their kids during the game. We have noise makers and can clap, but not yelling. Their philosophy is that there is too much criticism in the world and our kids don't need to hear any more of it...they need to be praised more. So they hear only praises from the parents. It is the job of the coach and the ref to teach them. And they do, they will stop the game sometimes to help them see that they traveled, etc.

Blake and Dylan really like that we can't talk. I like it too.

Then at the end of the game they award the boys stars. Best offense, best defense, most christ-like, best sportsmanship, and something else.

At the start of the game, they have music, then they announce all the kids. The kids love it.

Then they say a prayer.

Dylan plays on a kinder/1st grade team.

They have wristbands that have a color on them. They are to guard the kid on the other team with that same wristband. Dylan was a little confused at first, but once he figured it out, he did awesome.

They aren't allowed to steal the ball at the age because they want them to learn how to dribble and if they could steal then it would be a boring game. So, they just put their hands up for defense. If there is a loose ball or a bad pass, then you can steal it that way.

He took some shots.

Here is the noise maker.

Dylan's game was at 10am, then we went home and made some food for the ward christmas party, then went back at 3pm for Blake's game.

Blake is on a 2nd grade/3rd grade team. About half the kids have played before.

Blake did great. He is much more involved in basketball then he was in soccer. He did great on defense. He basically played point guard because he is pretty good at handling the ball.

We were really proud with their first game and the boys really enjoyed it.

We came home and changed and then went over to the ward Christmas party. I didn't take many pictures, but the decorations were cool.

Projects and decorating

Saturday we worked on Blake's project, which was to make a fossil cast. We decorated the house..inside and outside. Then we did haircuts.

Thanksgiving Break - My Birthday

Friday was my birthday. It was kind of low key. We did stuff around the house and worked on some of Blake's cub scouts stuff.

We opened presents and did some shopping. We only went to one store and that was really because we needed to get some stuff for a project Blake was working on. I found this sign. This is Dylan...aka Mr. Hangry. If it was a shirt, I would've bought it.

We also went in the spa again and once again, we all loved it.

Then we went to dinner at an Italian place by our house. Aaron go there a lot for our lunch dates, but the kids had never been since we go when they are in school. I had never seen a kids size slice of pizza, but this is how big it is. Huge. Dylan ate it all. Blake got their lasagna, which is amazing and he ate it all too. Apparently they like the place too.

This is a picture of the necklace my parents got me for part of my birthday gift. Pretty huh? Someone in Hawaii made it.

Thanksgiving Break - Thanksgiving Day

Thursday morning we went to the Turkey Bowl. There weren't enough kids to do a kids game so the kids and I played soccer, catch and they went exploring.

We watched Aaron play too...as much as their attention span allowed.

We came home and made our food, then headed over to our friends' house for Thanksgiving. The hosts were the Campbells--Blake and Caleb are good friends. We also happen to home teach them so we go over there as a family and the kids play. We love it. They are a wonderful family. The Richard family was also there. The mom has had crazy health issues for about 2 years. It is so sad. I have become good friends with her too....I bring her family dinner a lot so her girls really like me. In her last stay in the hospital she found that she will need a kidney transplant.

It was Aleasha's first time making a turkey. It looked really good and tasted amazing!

Where the adults ate. 

After we ate, the kids all played while the adults played games. 

Then we went over to the Brock's house to eat pies with  them. 

It was a great day. While we were sad to not be with family, we were happy to be with good friends. We have much to be thankful for. Hope everyone had a wonderful time. 

Thanksgiving Break - Movie and Note

Wednesday we went to see the movie "The Star" which is an animated movie of the nativity story. It was really cute and we all really enjoyed it.

We got home and made pies for Thanksgiving. Then Blake found this postcard in the mail for him. Doesn't he have a thoughtful teacher?

Thanksgiving Break-Perot Museum

Day 2 (Tuesday) we went to the Perot. We got there right when it opened and got everything done really fast because it wasn't super busy.

Then we went and worked on Blake's Nova award for Cub Scouts. He had to talk to people in the museum. One lady talked to him for about 40 minutes. She loved talking about volcanoes. It was helpful!

Then we saw some awesome gems.

It is hard to read, but someone found this gold nugget with their metal detector. I might make fun of those people with metal detectors, but whoever found this did pretty well.

This is made out of legos. Pretty cool!

They had brain flakes there so Dylan was in heaven. He got some for his birthday and he loves them. They are very cool...check them out if you have never heard of them.

On our way home we stopped at Costco. Then we went home, ate dinner and then went to Colton's baptism. Colton is one of Blake's friends. His mom and I are friends.

Thanksgiving Break-Heard Museum

Monday we went to the Heard Museum. The weather was perfect for a hike. We did the longest hike and it was great. It was super dry though.

Love this pic!

After the Heard, we went to a really yummy Mexican restaurant.