Countdown to Christmas

We have been working away at our advent calendar these last couple weeks as we count our way down to Christmas.  It has been weird trying to get into the whole spirit of Christmas when it is still 75 degrees outside and the boys would rather be outside riding their bikes then inside doing Christmas crafts.   

I found this awesome tutorial to make star wars snowflakes.  I just had to attempt them with Preston since he has entered a huge Star Wars loving phase.  They were the most tedious things to make and not at all on my skill level but every time we opened it up Preston would squeal with excitement and tell me I was the best snowflake maker ever.  Yeah, he totally fed my self esteem and I liked it!  So I I would make another, and another.  Absolutely worth the time for his reaction.

Our neighborhood hosted a snow day  I didn't expect it to be so crazy but apparently snow is a novelty in the desert.  We ate some doughnuts and played in what little patch of snow we could find.  The best part was having the snow blown right onto them. And  being able to walk away feeling warm.

Our November

Oh my goodness.  I cannot believe that November has already passed and we are almost finished with the countdown to Christmas. We have spent our days going on bike rides, playing at the park, and enjoying the outside - when we were not sick. Porter would love it if I let him ride his motorcycle all day and Preston would spend every day after school swinging at the park if I let him. But, we also spent a majority of our November sick.  I could honestly say that one of us was sick for the entire month and it is still lingering. So, with all that sick time spent at home we found ways to keep us busy.  Porter helped me make tamales, we did a lot of coloring and made an amazing Cookie dough cheesecake for Ms. Jenn's  (Aunt Jenn) Birthday.  I also took a chance and allowed Porter to assist me in making some pumpkin ravioli and it went surprisingly well.  Besides the snowstorm of flour that ended up happening he was a great little sous chef.

 



  

Even with all that sickness we couldn't miss out on the phoenix Tamale festival in downtown Phoenix and I was completely surprised by Preston's new found love for the tamale.  Matt and I barely had a chance to take a bite before presto gobbled it up. On the other hand, was not very impressed by the festivities and we spent a good portion of our time watching him collapse onto the ground in 2 year old fashion.  We bribed Porter with some ice cream if he could change his behavior and lucky for us it worked!  Off to Sweet Republic for some the the best ice cream you will ever eat.

Tantrum beginning right about now




  




 





My Parents and 2 of my sisters, and my brother came down for Thanksgiving.  It was a crazy party!  Ther were a lot of kids running around, but it was so fun and I loved seeing them all play together.  My sister's kids are so good with my kids.  Preston and Porter were spoiled rotten with big kid cousins doing all sorts of fun things with them.  One of the best things I heard one of my nephew's say to Preston was "cousins are automatically friends."  I loved it! It has been a long time since I have spent a Holiday with a big portion of my family and it brought back so many fun memories.  I was in charge of a turkey that came out looking spectacular. A real prize winning, picture worthy bird. But I completely forgot to take a picture of that maple glazed beauty! Porter and I made some place holder cookies for all the kids.  I had fun turning his chubby little Porter hands into turkey cookies for all the kids to decorate. And then we made our caramel apple pie. Oh yeah, it was a good thanksgiving.
  

When grandpa comes to town it usually means some sort of nature seeking adventure will take place. I remember as a kid almost everywhere we visited would require a hike.  So, all of us went on a hike to the wind caves.  My kids were a little bit poky so we only made it about 2/3's of the way up.  But the view of the city was still pretty impressive. And of course I was totally shown up by my 4 year old niece and my old dad!

Grandma Farnsworth surprised Preston with a bag stuffed full of box tops.  He thought it was the best thing ever!

We took everyone to the Mesa Temple lights.  I remember going to these when I was little.  The best part was that it was warm outside.  No shivering while you walk around (total win).