Merry Christmas!

I fugured I better write before Friday hits & the kids are home for 16 days. I am so excited for the break! I have all of my Christmas shopping done, so I can enjoy the time with my family. I think we will make cookies & play in the snow.Then, we will come in & drink hot cocoa & cuddle on the couch to read books. Sounds so relaxing......
I love this time of year. I love the snow (but if you know me, I hate driving in it). I love the peaceful spirit that warms our hearts & homes especially. This year I want my kids to truly understand the meaning of Christmas. It's so hard when they're little to teach them that it isn't only about the toys & Santa. So much is centered around that. We were watching a Christmas show the other day & the teacher was asking what Christmas meant to the students. Their answers were like: Giving, Santa, toys, trees & the Christmas spirit. Those are all nice, but not one mention of Jesus Christs' birth. The 'real' & only reason for the season. It's like we're getting ready for a big party, but we've forgotten who the party is for. Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Do we have a gift for Jesus this Christmas? We don't buy gifts for Him. We give Him gifts in other ways. We give to others to show our love for Him. Have you done something to better the lives of those around you? Have you been of service to those in need? I try every year to answer 'yes' to those questions, especially at Christmastime.
Every year we play "Secret Santa" to a family that we know who needs extra help of some kind. I love to secretly find out what the family is in need of, then deliver it to their door & hide so they can't see us. It's the best feeling. It's so nice to see our kids coming up with ideas to do for the family, picking out toys for the children of the family, making cookies for them or helping to wrap these things. They still remember families that we helped 4 or 5 years ago. One year, the family wasn't coming to the door so Craig opened the door a little & said "hello" The mother came to the door & my husband said ' we just came by to bring you these cookies, & all of this stuff was on your doorstop' She looked so confused! She said 'But I just got home & there was nothing on the doorstop. Brother Record, Did you do this!? I thought for sure we were found out, but he insisted it wasn't us. I still think to this day she knows it was us, but that will be our little secret. I know our kids are still little, but it's a lasting memory for them. They will always remember this & hopefully when they have their own little families they will do the same for others. I hope that this will teach them that receiving gifts is fun, but giving to those who otherwise might not receive anything is even better. Giving to others is the best gift the Savior could receive from us. Charity-The pure love of Christ. Merry Christmas!

Happy 12th Birthday Adam!

Ok, this is the last birthday, for a while. Are we crazy...or what? Tonight we celebrated Adam's birthday. It was actually on Wednesday, but this week was one of those weeks where every single night is taken by some activity. Crazy! So, tonight we had the family over for dinner & cake. He wanted Creamy chicken & rice and oreo cake. Click the link & it will take you to the recipes on my recipe blog.

He got a lot of nice things for his birthday. My kids are so hard to shop for for Christmas. They usually get so many fun things on their birthdays a few weeks before Christmas. Oh well.

Uncle Chad got him a PSP! He is very excited about it! He won't put it down! We'll have to set limits on that. Grandma & grandpa Hansen got him the same remote control car that Matt got. Grandma & Grandpa Record got him a magnifying wand that plugs into the TV & magnifies what ever you want & displays it on the TV. It's really cool to see what the hairs on your arm look like.

Dad decided now that he's 12 he should have his first real gun. So, he got a .22 from us. I'm not sure how I feel about this just yet, but he's proven to be very responsible & knows & follows the rules. So, he's ready to go kill some squirrels or something with dad. We also got him a Lego set.

Adam is very special to me. He is our firstborn child & he has a sense about him that makes him shine. He has the biggest smile ever! Everyone is surprised to know that he is so sensitive & such a loveable kid. Not that he's bad, he just comes across as a 'tough guy' most of the time, but he really is a very thoughtful & caring young man. (I can say that now that he will be getting the priesthood tomorrow! Wow, that is crazy! I feel old now.) He is so good with Emily. He will even sit & play with her & he really looks after her. He is such a good big brother. We love you Adam. Hapy Birthday!

Happy 7th Birthday Matthew!

Matthews birthday was last week also. You have to remember that I flew home Tuesday night, had Emily's birthday on Wednesday, Thanksgiving on Thursday & his party on Friday. So, we kept it 'low key'. He had a friend stay the night & we ordered pizza & I bought an ice cream cake. I usually make dinner for everyone & make some kind of elaborate cake. I feel like I took the easy way out, but it was nice to feel relaxed & enjoy HIS day. It was SO nice. He was given a lot of nice gifts. I didn't take many pics. My camera is still on the fritz. So, I need to get the pics from Mary (my MIL).

Grandma Hansen sent his gift home with me from Utah. It is a little remote control car that spins all around. It's crazy! He has to fight me for it. What? It's fun! I'll post a pic later.

Uncle Chad got him a Nintendo DS. Yes, his very own! He is so excited about it!

Eric, Adam, Sean & Matt

He also got some transformers & a nerf gun

(don't get the buzzsaw nerf gun, it's annoying.

I wish I would have known that before I bought it. lol)

Matt's ice cream cake

Matthew is such a sweet boy! I love my little Matthew so much. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. The only child that I had without an epidural. So, I felt the most pain with him. I STILL love him! He makes my day brighter. I love his laugh & willingness to help me with anything I need. We love you Matt! Happy Birthday!

Happy 3rd Birthday Emily!

Emily turned 3 last week. I feel like the slacker mom for not posting earlier, but come on, give me a break, 3 of our kids have birthdays this week AND I just got home from Utah last week. UGH. You can see my suitcase in the background of the pics. My camera's been acting up,(hint, hint Santa) so I just got the pics downloaded.

We had a great time at her party. We got her a toy puppy that walks & barks on a leash. She loves it. We also got her her first 'Barbie'. We bought the only one that was actually covered in clothes, amazing! Do they really have to have such immodest clothing! For the love.......
Funny face

Uncle Chad got her some Diego Mega Blocks

Papa got her a Dora bath doll. She loves it.

Grandma took her to Build-A-Bear that day & she picked out a monkey & lots of clothes. It was her first time there & she loved it. She has been on this monkey kick lately.

She wanted a monkey cake, but I didn't order the pan in time,

so she picked Strawberry shortcake.