Storybook Land and Ice Crea...

We went on a field trip with Cody's class to Storybook Land.

We wound our way through crowded masses of school kids and christmas trees looking at scenes of kids' stories and movies.

The kids loved it.

 We stopped at the mall nearby with a friend afterwords and then got ice cream on the way home. The babies were obviously worn out -they didn't even quite finish their treat.

Today we are packing to go to Utah!!! The kids are being a little crazy. As I was tackling Mackayla to cut her finger nails Macey came running in crying saying Cody had stolen her gummi vitamin. I hollered to Cody, "That's not funny." He responded back logically: "I didn't laugh though, mom."

Miss Macey and the Kit Kat Kitty Cake

We have a rule that started when Mackayla was born and I was getting no sleep and Ben wasn't home enough to take shifts. It was that Cody and Macey couldn't come out of their room until 7:00 a.m.  We've kept it going, because I just like it:) Every morning I hear Macey my little morning child at exactly 7:00 a.m. coming out of her room. This morning was no different. She tiptoed into my room and I told her happy birthday!

Then I told her I was going to tell her about her birth day. Little details about the day she was born. When I was done, she asked when I would tell her about her birthday. Birthday, to her, is CAKE. Then she stood up on the bed with her arms carefully to her side and declared I am taller. She saw something on my desk, then went to see her dad getting ready to leave. I heard a piece of their conversation, "It was on she's desk." Ben: "It was on her desk." Macey: "Ya, I know." Cody came sleepily in and Macey told him we are one year different now (they are two, but for two months they are 4 and 5). She stood like 5 feet from the bed and told me to move because she was going to jump to the bed. Apparently when you're 4 you can do superhuman things you just can't do when you're three. Pretty cool.

Life is not dull with Macey.

I asked her some of her favorites. Here they are:
Favorite food: edamame and blueberries
Favorite Thing To Do: play with daddy
Favorite Color: Pink and purple and yellow and orange and brown and black
Favorite Toy: Kitty Shadow and Hobbit
Favorite Place To Go: To School
Favorite Candy: Chocolate
Favorite Treat: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Favorite Song: Follow the Prophet

A few more pieces of trivia about Macey:
She asks every day that I do her hair "on one side" and one side only.
She can wear a pair of shoes out in one day, and she does with most of her shoes.
She is hard to think of presents to get because the few times we go to look she finds things that Cody and Mackayla would like, and nothing for herself. She is very thoughtful. Even today when she opened gifts the only things she said were thank you and how much Mackayla would like the necklace she got.

The most important parts of this cake were that there is a ball of licorice yarn for the cat and strawberry cake inside.
I actually talked Macey into the plastic kitty. She wanted a fondant one:)

Her "Colors" present
I think we did well with the presents we got, she seems to love them.

 Snazzy new outfit from grandma Bonnie. so macey

 picture treasure hunt at the party

 Happy Birthday to you! 

Macey knew exactly who she wanted to invite:

 L to R: Jax, Hallie, Cody, Marshall, DD, Macey, Lizzie

 When it came time to blow out the candles I could see Macey tense up. She doesn't love that part. So we all blew out the candles together!

 Macey's best friend, and accomplice, is sweet Lizzie. We love her!

Her mom Jakobi, on the left, used to do birthday parties at the gymnastics gym she manages...it was sure nice to have her help!!

Happy Birthday Macey!

Bread and Bethlehem

I have a friend who ground her own wheat to make her bread.

It was weird.

Then interesting.

Then intriguing. 

Then I wanted a wheat grinder.

I have been making my own bread for a couple years now. Not because I am that mom, but because I have an obsession with bread. I only like expensive store bought bread. This is easier on the wallet.

Wheat grinders are expensive though. I was thinking about it...and mentioned it to my mom while she was here. She has one that she will never use again. 

 She mailed it to me!!

Speaking of bread...

BETHLEHEM

Its Hebrew name, bet lehem, meant “house of bread,” a name that was of no particular significance until He was born who would be known as the Bread of Life.

-Bruce D. Porter

Babysitting sometimes should be documented. 

2 five year olds

2 three year olds

1 one year old

and 1 three month old.

 The older ones are easier, they just play together and make a mess!  The babies...are not easier.

Silent Night

Corvallis Nativity Festival is a big deal around here for the church. It was such a fun way to start out December and a celebration of the Christmas season!

The first exhibit stood out to me because it didn't just have the typical figures in a nativity, but an entire village. 

Off to the right is Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

It was interesting to think that at the same time the Savior of the world was born

people were just sleeping or washing dishes or something normal. Shouldn't they be celebrating the most amazing event on earth?

I read the Christmas story in the bible the other night and was surprised at this verse:

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

He hadn't noticed the star. 

I had always imagined it huge, filling the sky, like in the Living Scriptures movie:)  

 "Remember that the fulness of Christ's ministry lies in the future. The prophecies of His Second Coming have yet to be fulfilled. At Christmas, of course, we focus upon His birth. But, He will come again. At His First Coming Jesus came almost in secret. Only a few mortals knew of His birth. At His Second Coming the whole of humankind will know of His return. Then He will come, not as "a man traveling on the earth," but His glory "shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."
^{Russell M. Nelson}

^{Nativities were from all over the world.} 

Phillippines

 Africa

 South Africa

 We went to a puppet show. Mackayla was just downright crazy and irreverent:) She got excited every time a new thing popped up and would SCREAM. It was awesome. 

It's a terrible video I realize. I was trying to be discreet. I shouldn't have cared...my child was WAY past discreet:)

Light and Power

We went to a huge nativity festival that our church puts on here in town.

It is a big production and was so neat (low quality pictures, due to lighting and Mackayla to follow later). I saw this sign there (I'll tell you what it says below):

It says this:

In North American culture we attach meaning to the colors and symbols of our lives. These symbols help uplift and strengthen us individually and as a people. Most importantly they help us to Remember The One who gave His life so that we might live.

As we put the Savior first in our lives, we will always walk in His light.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying: I am the Light of the world, he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life."

John 8:12

I think that is beautiful.

Later, it was time to take down our turkey to make room for our advent calendar and start the countdown to Christmas!!! The now decapitated turkey drifted to the ground and only one feather stuck to its body. It said LIGHT AND POWER.

Cody had thought of that one because he is grateful for the light in our house and the power that gives that light.

I am grateful for the Light in my life and the Power that gives that Light.

Cody is too:)

I am SO excited for this Christmas season.

Evidence / RIP JVC

Today instead of just picking up after my little munchkin I decided to take a couple pictures.

The one I regret I missed is after meal times...those could be their own post though.

This is only a small portion of the evidence of a one year old: 

Pieces of crayons and lost marker lids all over. (I need to put those higher, but she'll find a way to get them.)

 Sippy cups and of course, shoes shoes shoes all over.

Crumbs in my bed from a little mischief maker who discovered where food is kept.

 The novelty of putting dishes away has not worn off and I am benefitting.

 Little Mackayla can't reach the cups on the top shelf but LOVES to unload the dishwasher. So she will YELL at someone until they get her a cup to give back to put away.

 I got this beauty in college over ten years ago.

It has come to rest in the garage, next to the toilet paper.

We will miss the lined picture and immense stature.

RIP JVC.

I won't be bragging about this my whole life...but I changed my engine air filter today and I'm pretty happy about it. Thank you youtube.

We had a fun surprise outside our house today.

Enjoy your day!