Project du Jour

I like me a good project.   

I enjoy putting my heart into something and having some creative product at the end that didn't exist before.   Unfortunately, I don't often have the time I'd like to put into these kind of extra projects that almost always get in the way of daily life.  

So, when I found out that Cami's Christmas package had to be sent by mid-October, I got a little nervous that I would struggle to pull together meaningful gifts for her.   After all, it wasn't that long ago that I was shopping with her to buy all of her mission clothes and supplies.    And she is not the easiest person to shop for in the first place.   

Actually, though, it probably ended up to be better timing than I expected, since I didn't have the rest of the Christmas expectations to keep me distracted.    I bought a few things, but then got the idea to make her a day-by-day quote and photo calendar.  I had a very specific vision in my head of what it was supposed to look like and got very excited.    It took me many, many hours of work, but in the end, I am very happy with how it turned out.     I can't wait for her to open it and for us to be able to follow along with our calendars too.   There's something kind of exciting knowing that we will be turning the pages each day and seeing the same photo and reading the same quote.  

And since Cami can't look at my blog, here are some pictures of the finished product, which turned out every bit as cool as I wanted it to!  

Favorite Present

So what was the kids' favorite Christmas present this year?

Here are a few clues:

*it clearly has nothing to do with hair care or grooming

*it  wasn't any more winter clothing that Adam could refuse to wear

*it definitely was not a rake 

(how long do you think it takes leaves to decompose on their own?)

*and it definitely didn't involve any new pets

....

So what was their favorite present?  

A slackline!  

Poised a couple feet off of the ground, the kids make their way from one tree to the next teetering, bouncing....

and laughing the whole way!

I love that it gets them outside more and that it's something they can all enjoy together.
I am very glad that it has the guide line above for them to hold on to, so that they don't end up like Dwight did in this clip....

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Some other favorite presents:

Emma: weaving loom and some new clothes

Ellie:  pioneer doll set and a lap harp

Adam:  microscope and Monopoly

Spencer:  laundry supplies, a new coat, and a few textbooks

Cami:  trip to Mexico and some nail polish

Glen:  tools and a stereo system

Lara:  new macro camera lens (from my brother Nate) and a new kitchen

The Only Thing Missing....

A little glimpse at our Christmas this year.  It was only missing one major detail.

Christmas Eve:

making our final 12th-day elf delivery and a look at the Christmas tree right before going to bed

Spence and Ellie posing for the perfect "selfie"....

Adam and AnnaLisa during our Christmas devotional of reading scriptures and singing songs...

Watching Christmas videos with daddy....

Christmas morning:  

Christmas breakfast made by Emma (orange breakfast bread, eggs, bacon, and OJ) ....

Opening presents...

 Spence got practical gifts....

It was almost perfect....

The only thing we were missing was....

this beautiful girl who is entering into Mexico as we speak, so she can spend her Christmas vacation working with this organization to build homes for the people there in the Rocky Point area.

Despite missing her fiercely, especially today, we are very proud of her and her unselfish desire to serve those that need it.

Merry Christmas!

Surprise Fish and Advice

If you ever need a great idea, our little Ellie is the one to call.  Her mind naturally thinks very creatively and it is an unusual day that she does not have a grand idea she's cooking up!  She excitedly plans menus, cooks up plans to start her own preschool, plans her birthday parties months in advance, eagerly offers to teach FHE lessons on a weekly basis, and happily dispenses advice to anyone who may find themselves needing wisdom.

Most recently, Ellie got the brilliant idea that Adam needed a fish for his birthday and she was going to be the one to give it to him.  I wasn't so sure how I felt about the whole new pet thing, but she was insistent and Glen was enamored enough with her enthusiasm that he happily took her to the pet store the night before his birthday to help her gift-giving dream come true.

She woke Adam up early on the morning of his birthday and led him down the hall to his first birthday present of the day...

Luckily Adam was as excited to have a fish as Ellie was to give it and Adam has turned out to be quite the fish guardian.  For instance, when the floor company came last week to install the hardwoods in our kitchen, he became quite worried that the vibrations of the work would disturb his fish, so he has transplanted it to a quieter locale until the kitchen work is done.  Additionally, when he is going to be out of the house during his fish's feeding time, he makes sure to assign someone to fish-sit him while he is away.  

Speaking of enthusiasm, Adam's birthday cake was planned for weeks in advance by a certain sibling of his.  It didn't turn out quite the way the cake maker hoped (I'm not allowed to mention any names), but despite its appearances, I do have to say that it was quite tasty.  I'm a lucky, albeit chunky, mom to have such good cooks in the house. 

Now, I hate to brag too much, but Ellie certainly is showing some predilection to becoming an advice columnist someday,  so if any of you seem to find yourself lacking wisdom in any area of your life, I invite you to leave a comment here on the blog or on Facebook with a question for Ellie.  She will answer the questions for you in a future "Dear Ellie," style blogpost.

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