Update

The last few weeks we've been busy with various holiday activities.  Last Sunday Katie and I made headbands and bows for her.  I should have waited until nap time so I could have given them to her for Christmas but I was so excited to make them and then have her put them on. 

Then we made ornaments for the tree.  Our first project was painting a pine cone green then decorating it with glitter and ribbon.  Next, Charles wanted to make reindeer.  The kids painted clothespins brown and Katie and Charles made theirs super sparkly with glitter while Eric left his plain.  They turned out pretty cute.

Tuesday Eric had his String Concert.  He's been playing the violin for about three months now.  He plays well and loves it too.  Dean and I weren't sure what to expect from the fourth graders but we were pleasantly surprised.  They sounded awesome. 

Thursday, Katie, Andrew and I had our Christmas program at St. Luke's.  Our theme was Christmas Around the World.  My class represented Sweden, Katie's class represented Africa and Andrew's class represented America.  Each class dressed in traditional Christmas costumes from their country and said Merry Christmas in their language. It was a cute program.  I forgot the camera so their are no pictures.

Saturday, our ward put on Christmas in Nauvoo.  The primary kids sang and participated in the Nativity.  Katie, who is not yet a Sunbeam snuck into the program.  I went in the room where the boys were getting their costumes to  get her and somebody and given her a halo to wear and a candle to hold.  She was a bit of an unruly angel.  She  walked in front to go stand next to her brothers, who were shepards, then she took her halo off and had a hard time getting it back on again.  Oh, well she's just a few weeks away from being a Sunbeam.  I forgot the camera for this event as well.  Dean joked with me that it was ok because memories are overrated. 

Give Thanks

I have soooo much to be thankful for.   I'm thankful for my beautiful family.  I'm thankful they are all healthy and happy.  I'm thankful that I have food to eat, clothes to wear and a home to live in.  I'm thankful that I have a job and that I get to take Andrew and Katie with me and see them throughout the day.  I'm thankful for my parents and my brother and sisters and for their families.  I'm thankful that my parents raised me in the gospel and that I have a Heavenly Father who knows and loves me.  I'm thankful for His son and the Atonement.  I'm thankful for my husband. I'm thankful that he is always there for me and that he is a great father.  I'm thankful for my dishwasher and chocolate cake and Dr. Pepper.  I'm thankful that I live in a free country and for those who fight to protect us.  I'm thankful for a warm bed and a comfy couch and hot water.  I'm thankful for my friends.  I'm thankful that I have so much to be thankful for.

Happy Halloween

Halloween was fun this year (isn't it always fun?).  Eric wanted to be a bandit.  Easy enough.  Charles wanted to be a skeleton with a homemade costume and Katie changed her mind every other day.  She went from Belle to Sleeping Beauty to Snow White.  After going to three different stores I found black clothes for Charles and decided to use glow in the dark paint for the bones.  I should have used white paint first, then the glow in the dark paint.  Live and learn.  His costume turned out good anyway. Katie ended up being Cinderella because I wasn't willing to pay $40 for a Snow White costume. She was super excited because I put make up on her.  Andrew was the cutest little elephant ever!  Here are the pics of our fun.

Happy Two Month Birthday

Our little Andrew is now two months old.  Being a parent has taught me that most cliches about babies, children and time are true.  He has grown like a weed, he is cute as a button, these are the best years of our life, he is the apple of our eye (along with the other three), time does go by in a blink of an eye and it flies when you're having fun. 

The last two months have gone by so quickly.  In the beginning, many of the days seemed to pass by in a sleepless blur.  Nevertheless, I have enjoyed each day since Andrew was born.  He is out growing that sleepy phase and moving into a much more happy, awake, smiley, cooing phase. 

He had his two month check up today. His stats are: 23.5 inches long, 15.25 cm head circumference and 13.2 pounds.  When the doctor came into the room he jokingly said that I have a "failure to thrive baby". 

These are a few of his likes and dislikes.

Likes
being held
bath time
the swing
riding in the stroller
playing on the floor

Dislikes
sleeping in his crib before 11:00 pm
when I eat the wrong foods
having gas
getting laid down
when his sister and brothers get too close to his face

I walked into the living room this afternoon and Katie was eating dry Cheerios with a clothespin.  She said to me, "Hey, mama, I'm eating these Cheerios with my chopper sticks."

Butterscotch Cookies

Butterscotch has long been one of my favorite flavors.  I remember as a little girl visiting my granny and pa.  Pa always had a pocket full of Brach's hard candy.  My two favorites were butterscotch and root beer barrels. 
This weekend I was on Sugardoodle.net.  I frequently visit this website for Primary ideas but  had never noticed that on the sidebar there is a link to recipes.  I came across a recipe for butterscotch cookies and had to try it. 
I sure am glad that I did!  I love to bake but usually only bake chocolate chip cookies when I make cookies because that is what my family likes best.  This just might be my new favorite cookie.  They smell amazing as they are baking and taste even better.  Here's the recipe or you can check it out on the Sugardoodle website.

Butterscotch Cookies

4-1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 c. butter

1-1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

2 pkgs. butterscotch pudding (3.4 oz)

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

3 c. butterscotch chips

Mix flour and baking soda and set aside. In another bowl, cream together the butter, brown and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Stir in the butterscotch chips. Bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes. Just watch until edges turn a golden brown.

Try them, I promise you'll love them. 

Say Cheese!

Eric is going to learn to play the violin this year

Charles is a proud big brother

The Future's so bright Andrew has to wear shades (even if they are pink)

Sissy thinks Andrew is so cute in her sunglasses

Daddy snapped this picture when Andrew was fussing but it looks like a smile

This hair is NOT due to static electricity