Just Chuggin’ Along

This past week was another busy one. Now that I’m subbing, my days are extra busy. I was able to experience some jobs that I haven’t done before (or haven’t done for a long time). One day, I helped out with some older kids that need some one-on-one or small group interventions. One of the boys attached himself to me right away. As we were walking to art, he asked me if I wanted to go to Mexico with his family for Christmas. He told me he was sure my mom and dad would say I could go. 🙂 Another day, I helped in the special needs class. That was actually rather fun, even though it was a lot of work, both physically and mentally. I made it through the day, though, and even avoided actually getting bit, even though the biter tried three different times through the day, haha. Once we get home from school, we jump right into after-school routines, dinner-making, and all that jazz. The kids have been enjoying fun holiday dress-up days and activities at school. It’s hard to believe that we only have one more week of school before winter break starts. I’m really looking forward to the holidays, though. I think we all are. Paul has been busy with work, fixing broken things (sometimes made more broken by people who thought they were fixing it, which makes it extra…fun). Just two more weeks until Christmas!

Just a girl in her church dress…with her bunny…and her…Halloween mask? This kid cracks me up.
I made banana bread last Sunday. I decided I didn’t REALLY need to toss the chocolate chips in some flour to coat them before adding them to the batter. Well, I was reminded what happens when I do that: all the chocolate chips sink to the bottom as the bread bakes (as opposed to staying evenly dispersed). I took this picture to remind myself not to take shortcuts like that, haha. It was still quite tasty, though!
Abigail’s teacher let her bring home this little Olaf for a sleepover. That woman sure gets her! Upon arriving home, Abigail immediately ran upstairs and got Anna and Elsa so that Olaf would feel at home.
Later she made Frosty the Snowman with Play-doh, but also made sure to make Frosty’s wife. That smile says it all!
The stuff one finds on the bottom of one’s shoe after teaching pre-k. It’s a googly-eye. This is one of the many reasons I take my shoes off as soon as I get home. Who knows what I’m gonna be tracking in!
Abigail giving a talk in Primary. She’s not reading yet, so she was happy I could be there to help her.

A Busy Week

It was quite a busy week. We didn’t really do anything out of the ordinary. Well, I did have my first full week of subbing, so that was a bit different, but it’s going to soon be the norm. We only have two weeks left before Christmas break. Hurray!

I found this guy and thought he was the perfect addition to my table.
I told her to get ready to go out and this is what she came down in. According to her, they all really do go together because they are all of her favorites (favorite leggings, favorite skirt, and favorite shirt). 😀
A mini project that turned out quite fun. I had a bunch of Christmas pictures printed up and grabbed a couple of cheap wreath hangers as well as some mini clothespins. I already had the white string. I love the result! Plus, it’s on the door to the garage, so I get to see it often.
Paul was tasked with putting up the wooden Christmas trees at the park.
This is what they look like at night. There isn’t electricity at the park, so the solar Christmas lights come in handy.
Paul also put up more solar Christmas lights in the shape of trees (along with a banner that is lit by a solar spotlight) up at the entrance that we use to get into our neighborhood. There isn’t a monument or electricity or anything like that, so we had to rely on solar.
Abigail drew a picture of Hulk. Do you see the muscles on his arms and legs? Oh, and his purple pants? I love her imagination so much!
Can you tell I have a thing for nativities?
This is the one we had when I was growing up. My mom gifted it to me when I got married (she had gotten a different one a few years prior). I still get a little choked up every time I unwrap the figurines.
This one is a music box (if you turn the star, it plays “Silent Night”). It was given to us by Kris Huston. Paul lived with the Hustons after he got home from his mission until we got married. We’re still in touch and they feel like family. My favorite thing about this one is that it was made in Bethlehem. It is so, so special!
One of my favorite sights.
Paul was cutting down the pumpkin plant and discovered this teensy pumpkin that was hiding.
I put it next to the other teensy one. 😀
They had an event in the park where the kids could visit with Santa. 🙂
We also had the kids pose with the Christmas tree forest. Abigail kept jumping up and down and yelling cheese…
…so I told her to stop. Look at that face!
She was ready to go home after that.
Paul found these lights that we could use for the porch and carriage lights. It causes quite the effect (especially when combined with our projectors that do something similar). Abigail liked dancing in the lights.

Thanksgiving and Some Pre-Christmas Fun

This past week was much better. We all had the week off, which was nice to be able to relax. We slept in, hung around the house, went to see the zoo Christmas lights, had a friend over for Thanksgiving dinner, and decorated for Christmas. It’s been a nice week!

Abigail has been getting adventurous with her spelling. She likes to put letters in random order and see if I can actually pronounce it. This one was fun.
We picked our tiny pumpkin!
The perfect Thanksgiving decoration. 😉
We like to go see the zoo lights before it gets busy. The drizzly cold weather kept the crowds away. Abigail was being silly and wouldn’t hold still for a picture, so this is the best we got. 🙂
She asked Paul to take her picture. I love that toothless grin!
Pecan pie! I love that I’ve figured out how to make this. 🙂
This is the face of a little girl who is, apparently, STARVING. This is what she said as she dramatically flopped on the couch: “I’m…starving…I can’t wait…for bedtime snack…I have to wait FIFTEEN MORE MINUTES?!”
Paul got the turkey all ready to go into the smoker.
He smoked the turkey and some potatoes. I took care of the other sides for the meal.
I love making rolls!!
A picture that Abigail’s teacher took of her last week.
Decorating her tree. She wore that hat all day (even when we went out to eat and went to a couple of stores).
Joseph decorating his tree. He decided to keep it downstairs this year.
My gnome club.
Itty-bitty birds!
This looked like a good corner to put my angels.
Abigail helped hang up the stockings.
This is one of my favorite spots.
This is the other favorite spot.
I love this Dr. Seuss quote!
My metal sign. I love its multi-meaning. 🙂
The big tree!
Paul found a wooden nativity that is perfect for our front yard.
I love that he “wraps” our garage door every year. 🙂
Our guards. 😉
A little bit of California nostalgia (extra points if you know what Rudolph is made of).
I really like the symmetrical kid trees.
The weather has been a bit…challenging this past week. It was overcast, rainy, drizzly, and just…blah. For more than a week, actually. This morning, the sun finally showed up and I am so happy!
I stumbled across this snippet of a quote (by Thomas S Monson) while looking for good Christmas quotes. It spoke to my heart and spirit. Yes, there are many fun things that happen during the Christmas season, but I hope to never forget that there is another “reason for the season”. I was not there during the Savior’s birth and I will probably never physically travel to Bethlehem, but I can travel there in spirit through the words that have been written and the songs that have been sung.