'i'm dreaming of a white christmas!'

tonight we decorated our christmas tree!
and just as we were decorating...it just decided to snow!
read about how my mom is hoping for a white christmas also.

Christmas Slippers

Today we went to a Christmas Party at Dearma's (grandma's) Mobile Home park Clubhouse They had games (decorating cookies, and ornaments, plus a game of Wiffle Ball), Chocolate Fondue, and of course all he cousins enjoyed being with each other at Christmas time. The grandparents passed out a gift for each grandchild...youngest to oldest. Me and my cousin Taylor (we are the same age), both got two pairs of earrings, one, loops with little diamonds dangling down the centers, and a pair of small earring...mine had shells with small pink beads on the sides of them. We both also each got a pair of slippers. Mine were fleecy dark purple, LLBean slippers. The insides were smooth and soft. They also seem like really good quality, (knowing LLBean.) Above is a picture of my wonderful slippers. Thank you so much Grandparents!

snowing, and snowing, and snowing

We are getting loads of snow!
Even at this moment it is snowing...
We all woke up and just one look at that snow and we were immediately pulling on snowsuits, gloves, hats, and mittens! Mama was inside giving cold people mugs of hot chocolate and cookies...I really liked that because, after you have been outside for about an hour or so, and your fingers are numb with cold... it's really nice to come in to that! Above, are pictures of the snow, and how cozy it was inside!

SNOW!!!

Let it Snow

We just got a short cloudburst of snow! According to the weather report, it's supposed to be snowing a lot in the next few days. Yay! The first snow always is fun, also it is Clare's first snow : ) It always makes you start feeling like Christmas! I definitely feel that way, because the minute it started snowing, I popped in the nearest Christmas CD I could get my hands on! It would be really nice if we woke up to a bunch of snow in the morning! Me and Mary Autumn are having lots of fun making forts, making up games to play while it's cold outside, and playing with some of the toys she got, for her birthday. Like her magnetic paper dolls she got, (she really likes playing with those.) Well, if we wake up with snow in the morning, I will definitely have pictures for you.

Oh! It just started snowing again, just as I was getting ready to post this!

Mary Autumn's 4th B-day

On December 5th, Mary Autumn turned four! Since she has a December birthday we made her a snowman cake, which we did last year too on her 3rd birthday. On that day I looked back to when she was a tiny newborn, just brought home from the hospital. She was the only one in our family that was not born at home. The reason she wasn't was because while my mom was in labor Mary Autumn decided that she was not going to come out. She put up her elbow, which made it impossible for her to come. That really showed her personality...she is the same as she was then, determined, and headstrong. In the morning of the day Mary Autumn was born I woke up and was surprised to see, my aunt (who is the assistant), Dody (midwife), and Dearma, all there. I mean you don't usually wake up to see a bunch of relatives and friends standing there! But the minute I saw Dody there I knew what was going on. It was a pretty long birth (all day), well at least compared to Clare's birth (July 8th, 2008.) Andrea who is a cooking expert, (and loves it), immediately got on an apron and started simmering onions for soup, while setting me up dipping uncooked rolls into oil, which were to be cooked to go with the soup. By lunch time, Andrea had soup bubbling in the stove, and warm rolls cooling, ready to eat. I remember her insisting on Mama having a bowl of soup, and a roll. then by sometime between late afternoon-evening, they went to the hospital. All he kids sat down to watch the cartoon 'Lord of the Rings', until at 9:00 the phone rang... we had a new baby sister! I remember the first thing I asked was 'what color is her hair?' She is now four though and not the baby of the family any more, now we have adorable little Clare, for a baby. But I still remember the day as though it were yesterday. She is getting so big! But now I'll just sit back and watch 5 month old Clare grow up! (not that I'm that eager for her to!) : )

Food

Check this out!

These are people around the world and how much they spend on food

per week! It's real interesting!

The last one is really amazing! Imagine spending that little a week on food.

1. Germany - $500 a week for food

2. North Carolina, USA - $341.98 a week for food

3. Japan - $317.25 a week for food

4. Italy - $260 a week for food

5. Great Britain - $253 a week for food - I wonder if the dog on the table is part of the diet?!?

6. Kuwait - $221.45 a week for food

7. Mexico - $189.09 a week for food

8. California, USA - $160 a week for food - Apparently it’s cheaper to eat on the West Coast of the U.S.A than the East Coast. See North Carolina above.

9. Beijing, China - $155.06 a week for food

10. Poland - $151 a week for food

11. Egypt - $68.53 a week for food

12. Mongolia - $40 a week for food

13. Ecuador - $31.55 a week for food

14. Bhutan - $5 a week for food

15. Breidjing Camp - $1.23 a week for food!!! {Sudanese refugees in Chad}

Our cutie!

Watch this video to see how big our little cutie is getting!

Awwwwwwww!

Gingerbread Cookies

Today I made Gingerbread cookies (known in our house as Gingerman Bread). The recipe made three dozen cookies! So we have lots of leftovers. Everybody enjoyed them, and I made frosting, so my siblings got to frost their own cookie. The younger kids slathered enormous quantities of frosting all over their cookies, but I liked how Gianna took her time and carefully frosted her cookie, and carefully put on little eyes, buttons, and a mouth, with a toothpick. Everybody enjoyed the crispy, crunchy cookies, and I'm glad I made them.

A Good Thanksgiving

Clare, propped up with pillows, at Thanksgiving dinner, watching everything going on all around her.

There was a rocky hill along the trail that looked fun to climb, We stopped for awhile to climb all over it.

Hope that everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our family, after church, went on a bike ride along the old railroad grade in Tuolumne, and everybody had a great time. It was pretty cold at our house but (since the railroad grade has lots of space) it was pretty warm there and so, with everybody speeding all around on bikes (boys racing, girls at normal speed), we all made our way up the trail and back again. Dearma came with us to help my mom, and just be with her grand kids on Thanksgiving Day. After that we rushed home to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunt's house. After a filling dinner we all climbed into the car, eager to get home. With my stomach full and my mind content I happily tumbled into bed and fell to sleep. I had a great Thanksiving Day!

Pumpkin pie and more!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Pumpkin pies, turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes! It really is a time to give thanks for all you have. I think that I am thankful for my house, family, food. Imagine the people who sleep in cardboard boxes, have no friends or family, and have to beg for money to buy food. Above is a picture of a pumpkin pie that I made for my family for Thanksgiving. Dearma (grandma), came and helped me make the crust. She was a great help, I would have done it absolutely wrong without her help. I also made cranberry sauce, and my mom is making a cheesecake (her favorite!) Leave a comment saying what you are thankful for.

Arizona

On the road to Arizona!

E-mailing family and friends.

Breakfast at the Hotel in Ridgecrest.

Going into the Hotel room.

Stopping in Palm Springs for lunch.

Mormon Battalion Monument in Yuma, Arizona.

By the Colorado River.

Beautiful Palm Tree.

Aunt Jean's turtle.

Chatting with Aunt Jean, at Lunch.

Help, I'm imprisoned in the Yuma Territorial Prison!

Writing in our journals about our trip.

Sitting on Aunt Jean's brick wall.

Last night in a hotel!

Recently me and my grandma went on a trip to Yuma, Arizona to visit my Great Aunt Jean. We had a great time! We went many places when we were in Yuma. The Mormon Battalion Monument, The Colorado River, A date company, and The Yuma Territorial Prison. The Colorado river was very beautiful with the reeds in the background, and a got a couple great shots with my camera. We went to the Date Company to get a box of dates for my siblings. There was a large gift shop, followed by regular dates, candied dates, chocolate dates, orange dates, apricot dates, ect. The Yuma Territorial Prison was really cool, it was actually the first prison in Arizona! There were cells that you could go inside, above is a picture of me in one.
We got a large update on family history, from Aunt Jean, who is a family history expert. I enjoyed listening to Aunt Jean and Dearma discuss family history, but when (after listening for a while) I got tired of it I spent my time roaming the yard walking along Aunt Jean's brick wall. By the time we left Aunt Jean's house I had that back yard memorized! I had a great time, and I am so grateful that Dearma took me. It was a fun way to spend lots of time with my grandma.

My cousin, Taylor blogged a great description on the real meaning of Thanksgiving.
Read her post here.

A List of Famous Homeschoolers

Read the list here.

Baking

Lately I have been really interested in Baking, Below are pictures of stuff I have made.......
Crown Cake

Spice Cake

Pumpkin Bread

Busy Baby

Baby Heaven!

Chicken Pox

Mary Autumn has come down with chicken pox!
When we were little Me, Gianna, August, and Athan, all got it around the same time. Athan I think was one, I was six, August was nine, and Gianna was three. Awww! We were all so little! Well pray that Mary gets well soon!

Anna Mae

Fall Tidings

As the leaves turn colors, we can sure tell fall has come. Tomorrow we are going to be having a little party at home. We are going to have a cookie eating contest (whoever can finish their cookie the fastest while it is hanging from a string. No hands!) We also will have Bingo, bobbing for apples, and eating cookies and apple cider, yum, yum! Tomorrow August has a 'duathalon'. Never heard of it? It is the same as a triathlon (swimming, biking, and running) only without the swimming part. The duathalon is in Knights Ferry, and he seems pretty excited. Well good luck August!

Anna Mae

Fashion Makeover

Last night me and Mary Autumn did a fashion makeover.

Summer, pink, beach outfit.

Fancy, spring, blue, dress

I'm glad I have a little sister to dress up. : )
Anna Mae