Ward Christmas Party

Well not much to report from here. This week we had the Ward Christmas Party. Good food and good company? We're game! We volunteered to decorate a table. Luckily I got off work early enough to do it. We won most traditional.

We enjoyed a good program, and had fun visiting with our friends.

I was thankful that Craig was able to join me this year. However, I was still not in the mood to chase the boys all around the church. Was it not for the fact that I love parties, especially Christmas Parties, we may not have gone.

Hey, at least I didn't have to cook dinner.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

As of Sunday, we finally have the house restored to a bit of sanity. We have both trees decorated, and I think all the decorations are up, excluding the Christmas Dishes.






Saturday, I met up with my cousin at The Festival of Trees. We haven't gone for a couple of years, and I have missed it. I thought the boys would really enjoy it too. The only downside was trying to push three boys, who did not want to be in a stroller, through the crowds.

Have you seen this child?

Yes it's true. I lost Big H at the festival of trees. Craig had just showed up so me, my cousin and Craig were scoping the crowds. I headed towards the front and caught sight of the information booth.

"I'll ask what to do when you've lost a child," I thought.

Well there was Big H sitting on a volunteers lap, crying his head off. The ladies laughed a little when they saw Little H.

"Hey I think we have that kid with us in the information booth," they all said.

I laughed and said, "Yeah can you tell he belongs to me." :)


I was very appreciative, and the volunteers were impressed that I was so calm. I was trying to keep from getting to the worried stage before it was absolutely necessary.



Shortly after, loosing Big H, the twins took to holding hands. That's sounds like a good idea to me.

Here are some of the trees, and gingerbread houses, that were at the festival this year. Beautiful as always.












The big man himself was at the Festival, and Big H was all excited to go see him. We got there right as Santa was returning, and the boys all got a candy cane. They were all really excited about Santa. So we waited. . .and waited. . .and waited. . .and waited. . .in line. I probably should have just dropped it. After all, we had already gotten Santa photos at Wal-Mart back in November. But the boys cried and cried in those photos, and I was just so excited the Big H actually wanted to see him. I was crossing my fingers that this would be a happy visit. Well I'm sure you can guess what happened.

After me, repeatedly asking Big H, "Do you want to see Santa?"

And getting an excited, "Yes!"

It was finally our turn and Big H started to say, "No, No Santa!"



As always Santa was nice, and we got a pretty decent photo. At least there wasn't as much squirming.

Waiting for Santa almost made us late for a reception we wanted to go to. Luckily the reception went way over the time on the invitation. It was for a friend of mine that I knew in first grade. We were great friends, but she moved after that school year. We wrote for a while, but it faded out. Then, one day, I got a letter from her. I think I was in high school at the time. Anyway, thanks to the wonders of facebook, we are still in touch today. She looked beautiful, and I was glad we made it to her reception. Sadly, my camera died so I couldn't get a picture with her. But I took a photo of the fun cake lollipop I got from her wedding.



It was DELICIOUS!

Upon returning from the festival of trees, I gave all the men a haircut. They were all in huge need. And, since we don't have much time for a good cut with the scissors, I just pulled out the clippers. I still can't believe how short it is. But they still look cute as ever!



To conclude our decorating, we made snowflakes at my parents house on Sunday night. My mom is responsible for the really pretty ones. Nephew K helped out too. It was way fun. We brought the home and stuck them on the wall with the tree on it.



P.S. It's Christmas Card time again. Those that want one sent snail mail let me know! Happy to do it!

Three Little Spooks to Help Decorate the House

Here at the Stratton house we have a deep fondness for this time of year. If you haven't noticed already. We've been trying to make the most of our Halloween, and my three little spooks have done a nice job of helping me.



They each made a paper plate skeleton. Little H was afraid of his. Big H thought it was the coolest thing on the planet, and still stares at them with deep admiration-- while yelling out some excited toddler babble.

Though Little H may be afraid of that skeleton, he's more than happy to tell you what shapes, kind of, sort of, make up his face.



On the note of skeletons, one certain little spook-- Baby M-- will not allow this skeleton to rest in peace. If it weren't bad enough to have spiders and rats-- or kitty's, as the boys call them-- crawling all over you. Baby M insists that his ribcage must be constantly torn away from the rest of his bones. I guess at least Mr. Skeleton always has a smile!



The boys also helped me put up some fancy spider webbing. I'll admit I was turned away from spider webbing before. I think because I thought it seemed over done. But I spent a dollar on one bag, it covered the front of our house rather well and really does a lot to add to the ambiance of the season. That being said, it is still incredibly annoying to put up, especially with dry skin.



The boys and I also had fun painting these leaves to put on the tree in their room. This tree will one day be re-figured and repainted. Partly because I don't like it, partly because putting in the door kind of messed it up and partly because we have to redo the boys room anyway. Thanks to that nice little crack in our foundation.



We have also taken in some of our Seasonal favorites. We have watched Scabbers(a.k.a.Casper). We have watched The Kitty Movie(a.k.a Hocus Pocus). May I note, there are now three Kitty Movies, which are: Stuart Little, Milo and Otis and Hocus Pocus. Big H loves Hocus Pocus, but Little H always says, "It's Scary Mom," when the zombie comes on.

We also watched The Nightmare Before Christmas.



And I have tried to get the boys to watch Halloweentown with me. That one hasn't been met with much acclaim.

I must also mention, when I say watch I mean repeatedly watch. That is mostly thanks to Big H.



Baby M cracks us up because he is really so attentive when it comes to movies and TV. If I leave the TV on, and take him out of his crib, he won't come upstairs. His favorites so far seem to be Stuart Little and Thomas. . .-- Surprise! Surprise!



What fun we have had for Halloween this year. I've really enjoyed all the fun activities we have gotten to do together as a family.

We're Dreaming of a White Christmas

Our Boots are waiting anxiously by the door for some snow to go traipsing around in.

I have to say I'm rather sad that there is no sign of snow. And, yes, I even find myself disappointed with the 40+ degree weather we're having- it almost got up to 60 today. I love snow around the holidays, and the bad part about it being warm now is that it's going to be cold later.

But while we wait and dream of our White Christmas we've been keeping busy.

The boys learned how to climb into the crib. This doesn't bode well for wanting to move the baby down to there room one day.



We decorated the boys room. Thanks to Grandma A the boys have a tree that's all their own, and it's decorated with non-breakable ornaments that the can pull off and play with.




Little H became a career man and he's now ready and off to work- Fisher Price Doctor Play set and all.



Big H became a reindeer. This may be taking that love of animals to a new extreme ;)



I got the house all decorated.









Little H has been perfecting his biting skills.





We attended the Ward Christmas Party. My parents came along to help since Craig was at work that night.

This nice lady held Baby M for me while I ate.

The boys had fun running around and playing with the other kids. Funny how sometimes they can be so shy and other times they are so outgoing.

We've kept up our hygiene. Baby M loves baths.



And Baby M got a high chair.

Jack Frost I hope you deliver before Christmas rolls around.