What We've Been Up To

Another week has gone by and we are getting closer to Christmas! And there still isn't snow to be seen on the ground. (So weird) Last Monday we put up the Christmas Tree for FHE, but it took us almost all week to get all the ornaments on it :) We are such slow pokes this year.On Wednesday we went to the Provo Mall to see Santa! This is our 3rd year to see the same guy and I love it! He does such a great job! What's even better is that there was no line when we got there :) Xander was able to run right up to talk to him.
But Mara had her usual case of Claus-trophobia After seeing Santa, we went to see 'Bolt'. It's really cute and funny and the kids loved it. And we also had the whole theater to ourselves, so I didn't feel bad talking to my kids during the movie. It has been a long time since we spend the day as a family and took the kids to a movie.

In the Fall of 2004 I saw these way cute Christmas stockings in the Pottery Barn Catalog. But they were 25 bucks each, and at the time I only had Xander and knew that it was too expensive to buy them and that I probably wouldn't be able to match the stockings in the future. So after looking at them I knew that I could make them :)
Here's the picture from the catalog: So that Fall I bought all the material for 6 stockings and it was less then 3o bucks!! I made the stockings for the 3 of us, but have never really used them since we live at my mom's and she has stockings for us to use. And for that very reason I have never made one for Mara and this is her 3rd Christmas! I was also having a hard time deciding on how to make it, but I finally bit the bullet and made it on Saturday!! I feel so much better now that it's done. We still won't be using it, but at least it's done. All I really need to do now is get the names on them. I think they turned out great! It's always fun to have hand made stuff.
Here's a picture of the finished stockings:

Dad - Santa

Mom - Mrs. Claus

Xander - Snowman

Mara - Angel

Here is a few cute pics of Mara and the tree.
I love this one, even though it's dark.
On Saturday Night we had our Ward Christmas Party and Santa came there too!! Before he came out I made Xander run up to the front, so when Santa got there he was within the first 10 kids! I walked up there with Mara, but she kept on saying "I don't want to". I hope she gets over this phobia by next year.Last night we had family over and my mom had bought Rock Band for the Wii (my sister convinced her too). So we got it out and played for a few hours. Times like this it's hard that we have the Wii hooked up to the kitchen TV, but we worked it out.

The first set Mana -Vocals, Pat - Drums, and JD - Guitar

Karri & Xander -Vocals, Mana - Drums, Pat - Guitar

A better shot of Mom on the drums

Xander & Karri rockin it!

A good shot of my Iron Man on the guitar.

Xander even got a turn on the drums, and was excited that he got 34 %. He's so funny.

After we got the kids to bed I finally got to play. I sang a few songs, played the drums and the guitar. I think I like the guitar best. The drums are harder then I thought they would be, but still fun. I found that I was having Rock Band dreams all night. It must mean that I need to play more :) Maybe after the kids go to bed tonight!

I got a video of the first song played by our band.

It's 'Roxanne' by The Police.

I don't know if my mom really knew the song, so it's funny to hear her sing. And it's a little loud so don't turn up the volume too much.

I forgot to mention that Mara has been doing great at potty training. It's been 2 weeks and only 2 or 3 accidents. She is even starting to be dry at night :) I love that I don't have to buy diapers, and my checkbook loves it too.