Prescott parade

this was our second year to go up to Prescott for their Christmas parade. It was a lot colder this year but we still had a blast!

We started out by decorating ginger bread men cookies.

Kevin and Laycee
Emma and Reagan were still hard at work after all the other kids were done!

Haylee, Emma, Tyler, Trent, Laycee

Reagan and Logan

Reagan wouldn't leave Joe for a second!

Haylee and Emma

The largest gingerbread village in the world

My favorite house... it is the house from UP they were so creative

Emma found Mason just as we were finishing up

Lexi relaxing with the kids

Check out those great frosting jobs

Emma quickly started eating hers when she got to the car

Setting up at the parade. It was pretty cold this year

We had to wait a while for it to start but we got great seats.

Haylee is such a great older cousin to Emma

And of course you have to get Pizza I didn't get a picture of the adult pizza but it was BEAUTIFUL... Pesto chicken and artichokes, YUMMY!

Joe and I

Watching the parade

It was such a fun day we all went to dinner together and enjoyed the day with family.

ward christmas party

The ward party was a ton of fun it was Friday night and so Joe did not get home in time. There was a yummy dinner and then the kids sang songs. Emily, Jaxon and Troy came also since Brett was at work. It was fun talking to everyone in my new ward they are all so friendly!

Emma and her friend Kazlin (I probably spelled that wrong) waiting for Santa

Tyler thinks he was too big for his lap but he wasn't shy about telling him he wanted a bakugan 7 in 1 toy... Santa looked awfully confused I guess he doesn't keep up with the latest toys.

Emma asked for a ballet dress (a tutu, it took me about 2 days to finally convince her that a ballet dress was a tutu because she said a tutu was a train, she was confused with a choo choo)
Reagan just babbled about how Emma was her big sister and Tyler her big brother

Then they had cookies to decorate for the kids.

Tyler did a really nice job. I think he added a ton more candy after the picture

Thanksgiving

We had a great thanksgiving at Joe's parents place. Lexi and her kids were there too so my kids were so excited to play with cousins.

It was so beautiful outside we sent the kids out so we could eat in peace.

Tyler, Trent and Haylee

Reagan and Emma

After dinner was a short walk to the park

a little roll down the hill

And of course some sand angels

It was a great day and we have so much to be thankful for.

The First big reveal

For some reason I don't have very good before pictures but you get the idea!

The steps

#1 take down 4 HUGE mirrors

#2 RIP down wall paper

#3 Spray with DIF and remove backing

#4 Get a bucket of water and TONS of sponges and wash no SCRUB the glue off the wall

#5 Patch numerous holes due to large mirrors and 1960's intercoms system

#6 put texture on

#7 Prime all the walls

#8 Paint walls

#9 Put up chair rail and baseboards (by the way Emily and I did that all by ourselves!!!!)

#10 rip out NASTY cat pee carpet (well pay someone to do that)

#11 New carpet

#12 New light fixture

#13 Sew and put up curtains

I am sure I am forgetting some steps but that is what I remember right now!!!

So here it is...

These pictures are hanging from knobs from my kitchen

Sorry the lighting is awful

A close up of the knobs

My new picture!!!!

I would like to thank

Home depot

Ace

Joannes

Kirkland home

my credit card

all my family it would be too many names to mention

and

most of all Emily for all her hard work from the beginning to the end and all the little details in between

Emma's pet

Joe found this worm in the front yard after cutting down a tree. Emma said she wanted to keep it and feed and and make it sleep. So Tyler went and got a power aid bottle and put it in. We found it last week and amazingly it is still alive even after Emma gave it something to drink and almost drowned it, she filled the bottle way over it's body.

Don't report me please

I know all about child labor laws but they just don't apply to any kid that walks into my home!

Emma loved getting huge pieces and had to come show me every time they were bigger than before.
Even the one year old didn't get to play.

Brielle hard at work!!

I know he is not a child but he thought he got the biggest piece award... I am sure I pulled much bigger pieces than this!

Jaxon took just as many trips as Joe and I he loved helping move all the branches that Joe cut down.

Just thought this was cute they must of been on there union break because I wouldn't have let them rest.

This is what you get when you work a kid too hard.

The work is coming along and I am almost ready to show the big reveal of the first completed room. I am learning so much and it has been very tiring but very fun too.