Temple Square

On Sunday afternoon we went to Temple Square. We walked around the grounds and went in all the buildings. We had a great time!

I told Allen that Mommy and Daddy stood there when they got married. Of course, he went right over to the step.The kids liked the big fountain. I'm wearing my new skirt and black boots. This is an Eskimo nativity scene. They are a few large sets outside.

Allen recognized Joseph Smith right off. He went right up to him, stood on the step and smiled for the camera.

I love this tree! There were three in a row completely covered with white lights. I can't imagine how long it took them to wrap every single branch. It was impressive!

Holiday Cheer

• Caroling on Christmas Eve
• Acting out the Nativity
• Making pies
• Watching our favorite Christmas specials
• Taking a family photo
• Eating, eating, and more eating
• Playing basketball
• Plenty of board games
• Lots of new clothes
• Driving in the snow
• Saw Tale of Despereaux (the book was better!)
• Lots of laughs...

Ashley and I made 3 kinds of pie: peanut butter, key lime and grasshopper

THE NATIVITY

Narrator --my dad, Mary -- Andrea, Joseph--Ross, Baby Jesus-- Abby, Shepherds -- Kelland and Allen, Angels--Amy and Ashley, Wisemen--my mom and Annette, pianist -- we took turns

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in pink :) Abby did pretty good at not running away. This shepherd had fun with a green marker earlier that day :) Twelve of us went caroling. We visited 4 homes and left each a special treat! This is the current Schmidt Family: 22 members (12 adults, 10 grandchildren)

The most exciting thing this Christmas was what Ross gave me. He showed me this picture on his phone instead of handing me something to open. A PIANO!! I can't believe that after many, many years in waiting for a piano that finally own one. (Ross took care of delivery and everything while I was in Utah). I'm so excited to go home and play it!

Daddy Arrives!

We are so happy to see Ross!Abby just loved being in Daddy's arms for a story. Once it was over she'd say, "again!" Ross read it over and over.

We went to Ogden City Park and saw the Christmas Village. We waited in line to go inside Santa's castle. Allen quickly sat on his lap and then acted a little shy. Abby was happy this time -- no tears. They loved their candy cane/ornament from Santa.

After seeing Santa we walked around and saw the little kiosks or "houses". There were displays inside -- each with a different theme. The Ogden lights is a place we've gone to since I was a kid. It's tradition!

The Snowy Day

We had a great time in the snow: shoveling it, building a snowman, throwing it, walking in it...

"The Snowy Day" is one of our favorite books too!

What's New?

• Kindergarten Christmas Program

We went to my niece Sydney's Kindergarten Christmas program. We sat with Jolynn and 3 of her kids -- Celeste, Josh and Michael. (The photo on the left shows the kids singing and behind them is a slideshow -- someone's picture of a reindeer.) I was very impressed with the technology the teachers and amazed that 4 years ago I handled 50+ kids in my K classroom. I don't know how I did it.

• Burger King

We took the kids to Burger King for lunch. I ordered my favorite -- Jr. Whopper and a strawberry milkshake. The kids enjoyed playing (especially on the slide) and Allen introduced my mom and I to his "new best friends."

• Christmas Party -- hot tubbing

Darren (my brother) and Jolynn and their 7 kids hosted a very fun Christmas party: good food!, Bingo, hot tubbing, and a family video. Awesome! Allen and the rest of them loved being in the hot tub in 20 degree weather with his cousins (especially because we got dumped on with snow that day), and everyone Christmas carolled in the cold :)

• Temple Trip with Annette and my mom
• Games, games, games

My cousin Heidi came over tonight and we played Skip-Bo, Bohnanza, and Scattergories for a few hours. So much fun! Thanks for coming over Heidi. Let's do it again next week!

99 Things

I saw this on Tricia's blog. To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done.

• 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
• 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
• 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
• 15. Adopted a child
• 16. Had food poisoning
• 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
• 18. Grown your own vegetables
• 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
• 20. Slept over night on a 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
• 27. Run a Marathon
• 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (Las Vegas)
• 29. Seen a total eclipse
• 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
• 31. Hit a home run (and a grand slam!)
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 83. Walked in Jerusalem
• 84. Had your picture in the newspaper
• 85. Read the entire Bible
• 86. Visited the White House
• 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
• 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

I got 49 out of 99. What about you?

Here kitty, kitty!

My parents have had Cali (Calico cat) for many years. She's an outdoor cat because my parents are both allergic. Cali typically runs when she sees small kids get close, but I guess she was fine with Allen and Abby. They had fun playing with the cat and petting her. They were surprisingly gentle :)

Who is your ROLE model?

I got this in an email today --

Do the next five steps without looking at the answers below:

• 1) Pick your Favourite number between 1-9
• 2) Multiply by 3 then
• 3) Add 3, then again Multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator....)
• 4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number....
• 5) Add the digits together

Now with that number see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below :

1. Einstein, 2. Nelson Mandela, 3. Jacob Zuma, 4. Tom Cruise, 5. Bill Gates, 6. Gandhi, 7. Brad Pitt, 8. Hitler, 9. Andrea Tucker, 10. Barack Obama

• I know.....I just have that effect on people....one day you too can be like me.... :-) Believe it!
• p.s. -- Stop picking different numbers. I am your idol, just deal with it!!!! Now CHANGE number 9 to your name and send it on :)

Christmas Zoo

Every year we love going to the Layton Park to see the Christmas lights. All the lights are in formations of animals, objects or people and each year the park adds a few new ones -- which we try to point out. We always go and think, "what does a T-Rex have to do with Christmas? or a whale? or a snake?" But it's fun to see the different lights (some are animated scenes) and walk through the "zoo" as long as you bundle up!

Roommate Reunion

Yesterday I got together with Kristal and Brittany, two roommates from my freshman year at the College of Easten Utah, and our kids (7 total). We had a pizza lunch, the kids played while we chatted, and later we made/frosted sugar cookies. It was a lot of fun! Allen talked about his new friends on the car ride home.

Brittany - thanks for letting us come to your house and Kristal - thanks for bringing the cookie cutters.

PHOTO: (l-r) Carson, Kaylee (in the highchair), Allen (rolling the dough), Kristal holding Jason (who is sneaking dough), Brittany, Will, Emmy, and Abby is not pictured because she's too busy toddling around!

Let's play in the snow!

The kids enjoyed their first time to play in the snow this season (it was 60 degrees in Virginia that day). My mom went out to shovel the snow and, of course, the kids wanted to "help". We really bundled them up -- Abby could barely move. Abby is wearing some snow pants from my childhood. They are huge and I rolled them up a lot... she looks like a big pink marshmallow and seeing her toddle around in it easily makes one smile.... And the fish tank is very popular with the kids. They are loving Grandma's house!

Ross -- we miss you! See you in 6 days.

The mind of a child

This Christmas village was spread out and spaced randomly on the "snow". Later we found it like this (see photo). Allen must have seen the "unorganized" houses and arranged them all in a row because that's what he is used to seeing (we live in a townhome complex). He also made a line of people in front of the church. Seeing how a child interprets their world is so precious!

Little Travelers

Traveling with two busy kids on an airplane by yourself is the worst. The plane from Virginia to Chicago was empty (which was awesome), and then we changed plans in Chicago (9 degrees there -- brrr! I don't miss that!). It was nice to have an hour for the kids to run around in the airport and play before getting back on a plane, but the next one was full. Having a busy child on your lap for 3 1/2 hours is awful, (Abby only slept 30 minutes during our 10 hour journey), but we survived. Now the kids are enjoying Grandma's house -- so much that Allen woke up at 4am to play. (He is still on Eastern Standard Time (two hours ahead) and he went to bed at 9:30EST).

We miss you Ross!

The Christmas Story

Our family of four had a wonderful Christmas (Dec 13th). Allen was so excited to see the "birthday presents" that Santa brought and we made our traditional birthday breakfast cake since we were celebrating Jesus's birthday. It was so much fun that for a moment I wondered what our families were doing that day... realizing that for the rest of the world it was a normal Saturday and stores were open :) I'm glad we get to have Christmas again in 2 weeks. It's too fun to only do it once :)

The kids love their toys -- train set, Marble Works, big construction blocks and a kitchen. We are excited to see family in Utah!

I saw this video on youtube. It explains to the world why Christmas is important...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

And Santa already came!

I'm so excited to open the presents tomorrow! (Tomorrow is our family Christmas here in Virginia because I am leaving on Monday with the kids for Utah. Ross will join us the following week. It will be fun to have a second Christmas with my family).

Ross called me the "Christmas Queen" because I took care of everything this year -- cards, shopping, decorating, family gifts, wrapping, baking... Yep, and I had fun.

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

Tree Lot

After visiting teaching this morning the kids and I had about 30 minutes until our usual lunch time. I decided to stop at a Christmas Tree Lot that was near our house. (I hadn't been to a good tree lot for many years and I have many fond memories of tree lots in my childhood -- always a funny experience.) And there is nothing like that pine smell at Christmas time.

Allen thought we were in the "woods" with all the trees around. We walked through, looked at the beautiful wreaths, and saw a small bonfire. The kids got so EXCITED!! Allen loved the flames and Abby kept pointing and saying "smoke, smoke." On the way to the car I showed Allen how to run through the trees like a maze. Of course, this became a new game. He loved it!! On the way home he said, "Mom, can we go to the campground park again?" I guess with fire and trees he thought we were camping.

Other Tidbits/Thoughts today:

• I absolutely love the way Virginians decorate for Christmas -- candles in the window, wreaths on the windows and garland with white lights. It's a simple colonial style, but very elegant.
• Tonight while I was rocking Allen before bed he said, "Santa is my favorite person." Then he said, "Mommy, you are my favorite person too."

The Letter K

I hosted preschool today -- 2.5 hours with 6 kids aged 3 and under. We did lots of "K" things and 5 of them were wrapped in Christmas paper. A definite hit!

• Kings for a "castle" (I made with blankets and chairs. The soccer cones are supposed to be the turrets. It actually doesn't all fit in the picture -- it's really long and wraps around.) When the kids arrived they made a crown and explored the castle.

• Kite dancing
• "K" titled books from the library

• Koolaid playdough in the kitchen
• Glued Kix on a "K" card
• Kangaroo jumping
• "Katie" song
• kiwi (tasted fruit and talked about bird in New Zealand)
• wrapped Rice Krispie kisses
• "k" word cards and "K" in sign language
• made kazoos
• took home everything in sack each child decorated with C'mas stickers.

KRAZY, but kool!