Christmas

For Christmas this year, I found a used sewing table that I wanted.  So when Mario agreed to give it to me as a gift, I thought of a clever way to wrap it to fool the kids into thinking it was a new television. Nate had shot an air soft bullet in the family room and hit our other tv, so we have been living with a orange spot on the tv for months now.  The kids have been begging for us to replace it and we kept telling them no.  We decided Christmas would be a good time to replace it.  So we asked our neighbors to store the new one in their basement.  On Christmas Eve,  I took the kids to Target for some last minute items and Mario snuck over and retrieved the new tv from the neighbor and wrapped it and put it in our closet so the kids wouldn't see it.

We put the sewing machine into our old tv box and then wrapped it.  So Christmas morning, the kids all saw the big box and assumed it was a tv.  That was the last gift opened and the disappointment on their faces was priceless when I pulled out my sewing table.  We didn't let the disappointment last too long though.  We told them the Elves were hiding their last gift and they quickly found their new tv. Mario and I had so much fun tricking them though, especially Eric.

Although it didn't snow on Christmas, we had a beautiful day just hanging out as a family.  The next few days after Christmas got into the 50's and 60's so we really treasured those warm days and did a lot of things outside.  Now it's back to being really cold so we are all bundled up inside.

The sewing machine wrapped up

Everyone got new socks

Nate did it again, got Zach an awesome gift

A new quilt for Erin to hide under

Nate made this pillow for Erin

Boys got new R/C cars

Nate got Eric a new towel (we are a practical family)

Eric's new Sperrys

Zach giving Mario his new camping utensil set

Zach got Nate the game Blokus, which Mario and I love

Eric got boys new Lego books

I got Mario and new Ipad mini and kept it secret from him which is no small feat

They found the new tv

Christmas Eve

We have continued my parent's nativity story tradition from when I was a child.  But we do ours with puppets rather than acting it out.  When I was a child, we opened all our presents (except for Santa's gifts) on Christmas eve.  Mario didn't want to continue that part of the tradition.  

This year, we invited our neighbors across the street to come watch our puppet show and then to listen to our children play Christmas carols, and then have dessert.  As you can see from the pictures, Sophie really loved the puppet show.  She was all into it. 

Erin plays the piano for our show

Eric narrates but wishes he could do the piano part  

The twins do the puppets with help from Mario

Homeless Shelter

Mario arranged for our family to serve lunch at a homeless shelter. It was part of our gift to the Savior this Christmas. The kids did a great job. Erin didn't want to be photographed with an apron and hairnet for some reason.

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Writings by Nate and Zach

Haiku written by Nate:

Thankful paper by Zach:

Rubric for Zach's speech on Hawaii that he practiced a ton and he's very proud of his grade.  He asked that I include it on my blog.

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Elves on the Shelf

Even though my boys are getting pretty old, I decided to squeeze just a bit more of childhood out of them by getting them some Elves on a Shelf. I didn't like the official Elf on a Shelf so when I saw some homemade ones for sale from a sister in a different ward, I couldn't resist getting the boys each one.

They are having so much fun with them. I figured it is a tradition that maybe they can do with their own children one day. They can each take their adorable elves with them (if I can part with them.)

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Happy 10th Birthday Boys!

Last weekend we celebrated the boys' 10th birthday.  They were pretty disappointed when they found out their birthday was on a Sunday.  But we went to Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday and then celebrated the rest of their birthday on Sunday.  I thought maybe they were getting too old for Chuck E. Cheese but apparently not.  That's where they both wanted to go and they had a great time.

Here are some pictures of them on their birthday.  I think this may be my very favorite age so far.  They are so much fun (a lot more fun than their older, grumpier siblings.)  Mario and I are both really enjoying them at this stage.  How lucky they are to be twins and have a built in best friend.

Nate gave Zach a Florida Gator hat

Zach got Nate the new Diary of Wimpy Kid book

Nerf Guns, love the expressions of excitement

Nate made his own "cake" which was really chocolate pudding pie

Zach chose Mario's ice cream cake

The Past Week

Mario got his braces off. He also pinned on Lt. Colonel. Hooray for the pay raise! He says it's weird to be called Colonel. He puts a note on his phone at work with his rank so he remembers to answer the phone properly.

I have been sewing up a storm with my new machine. Mario and I decided our living room and family room were too dark with the dark wood and our dark couches so we are making changes to pillows and curtains. I've been sewing a lot. Plus I finished a quilt and gave it to Erin.

Speaking of Erin, she's doing awesome on her quilt. She appliquéd the Temple onto it. It looks great with the blanket stitch, another good reason for the new sewing machine. My last one didn't have that stitch.

I am so impressed with Nate and his braces. He has all his dental stuff organized and he's taking very good care of his teeth.
Nathan "won" the opportunity to take home his class lizard. I'm really excited, can you tell. His teacher told me I had I buy crickets at pet store because the ones out in the yard have been exposed to pesticides. Wow, I wonder how the lizards survive out in the wild.

Zach did a bunch of chores on my new commission chart one week. He earned like $25 (the only other kid to pick chores and earn money was Nate and he earned a whole 50 cents). With his money, he bought a set of drums (we are all excited about that purchase) and a brand new basketball game that I found brand new at yard sale for $30. He talked the guy down to $20 because that's all he had left after buying the drums from Erin's friend, Savannah. We all do really love the basketball game though.

Lastly, Mario sold his Acura. While praying one night, he felt prompted to sell it. I felt bad for him because he's never had a nice car. But we have learned to follow promptings no matter how hard they may be. So he is back to driving the pickup truck that he bought from Charlie last summer. Actually he drove the truck all summer and then again when we got Eric the car. The SUV was pretty much just used for date night. So it was waste anyway. Now we've are able to really put a lot of money into kids' mission accounts.
Not much news to report on Eric except his grades are higher than ever despite him having 2 AP classes and 3 honors plus debate. He barely does any homework and I'm not sure he studies for anything but Spanish class. Sure wish I had his brains.
I feel very blessed. I'm very excited for General Conference this weekend. I can't believe I used to dread all the sessions. Now I can't get enough.
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