Flashback

We have gotten dumped on and it has been so much fun.  My good friend from High School was in town and she invited us over for some fun behind the scooter.  I love the flashbacks that flooded my memory as I watched Allie get pulled behind the scooter on the snow.  I remember the days not to many years ago when it was me being pulled behind the scooter.  I have countless, wonderful memories from my times over at the Howards.  Thanks for all of the great memories!

The scoot puttn' along in the snow

Allie was shockingly hesitant about this sled ride.  She finally decided to go if she could ride with Mitchell.  I don't know if she had a little crush or what.  She had never met Mitchell before, but that was the only person she would go with

Fun Aunt Karee decided to take the kids for extra rides through the streets as they waited for their scooter ride

I was watching our neighbor Macy on this morning.  I finally convinced Allie to take a ride with her

Live Nativity

We ventured out on this freezing cold night with the Histand's to check out a live nativity in Eagle.  It was a free event and was pretty neat.  We started the night by getting a hay ride on the tractor up to beginning of the nativity. Through our walk we got to see a live camel, a donkey, the town of Bethlehem, and baby Jesus.  It was such a fun night topped off with warm hot cocoa at the end. 

Owen and Allie checking out the camel

Allie loved holding her hand out and having the camel lick her.  The camel was so friendly, almost in a scary way.  I am surprised nobody got their hand chomped on

I love this picture because it literally looks like Owen's hand is in the Camel's mouth.  It really wasn't, but I really wouldn't be surprised if it was because this camel was so friendly

The hay ride back to the car after the tour.  Everyone was so freezing cold

The attempt to get a picture of Owen and Allie together on the hay ride

Party's, Party's, Party's

It's that time of year, where there are party's to be had by all.  We started out the week by having our music group "Christmas Party."  After music group we helped the kids make christmas tree's and snowmen.  Everyone had a great time during the "making" phase of the craft, but especially loved the "eating" phase after everything was done.  How delicious it was to eat the fluffy snowmen and  frosted graham cracker trees.  

I guess we were segregated at this craft table-boys on one side and girls on another

These cute trees were just graham crackers cut diagonally, frosted on the edges, and lind with M&M's.   F.Y.I.- I prepped all of the graham crackers and it is tougher than you think to cut a graham cracker on the diagonal. 

Cute Samson loved eating every piece of both his creations

I think most of the boys ended up eating their plate fulls and not many of the girls touched theirs.  Allie wanted to bring her's home to show dad

Randall Santa Party

The next party that I was absent for was over at Blake's cousins.  Santa attended this dinner and I guess Allie was just thrilled once again about seeing Santa.  I have lost count of the number of Santa's that Allie has met this year.  I am just glad she hasn't put all the pieces together and asked why all the Santa's look so different.

I guess Allie just stood here for quite awhile and also stood in front of the kid's at one point just to get a better look at the jolly man

Allie is into giving Santa hugs.  When we went to the mall earlier this day and saw a different Santa,  Allie gave the mall Santa a hug.   Also at this party she gave a little snuggle

White Elephant Party

Well to top of the week, we had our annual White Elephant Party at Papa and Grandma's to attend.  We look forward to this event every year.  There is always good food and a lot of laughing.

Allie was not a participant in the game this year, but got an adorable Minnie and cozy "Wilbur" blanket as she calls it.  The pig is like Wilbur from Charlotte's Webb she told me, so it's her "Wilbur" blanket

Grandma Deb and Allie

Allie also got this adorable story book.  It's a book all about herself

Grandma Deb brought out a box of knit items that she was giving away.  Allie had such a fun time playing dress up with all of the scarves and hats.  I guess I better get on the hunt for some fun items for the dress up box

Papa decided to join in on the dress up fun too

"Heading" Into Trouble

Allie decided this was the new way to go down the stairs.  Papa Jim was telling me this is what she did one evening while I was away at work.   I didn't doubt this dare devils new accrobatic way of going down stairs, but had yet to witness it.  Well, today Allie showed me how she prefers to go downstairs.  Thankfully she slowly creeps down one stair at a time.  I am hoping the day doesn't come when she goes full force, headfirst, and backwards down the stairs crashing into the wall.  I wonder where she got her "crazy" genes from?

Truffles

Tis the season for making up plates of yummy treats for friends and neighbors.  Tonight I have a work "candy" party to attend.  I made some carmels and just thought I would continue with some other yummy goodies to go on treat plates.  These yummy truffles were so easy...thanks Meg for the recipe

1 package orea cookies-crumbled fine in a food processor

1 8oz. package of cream cheese softened

chocolates to dip the truffles in and any other garnishes to go on top

*Mix the oreos and cream cheese together to form 1" balls.  Dip in the melted chocolate (you can use whatever color of candy melts you want to match the time of year, or for baby showers, etc).  Then drizzle with additional chocolate and garnish with sprinkles, crushed candy canes, etc.   Place in the fridge for 1 hour to chill.  Yummy!!!

Allie had to get in on the action.  She waited patiently eating her favorie treat, pistachios, until I was ready for her to sprinkle away.  When we were done I took a picture of the truffles.  Allie wanted her picture too due to her contribution.  This is one of the first pictures she actually smiled when I told her to smile 

Saturday Adventures

Well our busy month of December began.  There are so many fun and free things going on it's hard to choose what activities we are going to do.  We started off the day by attending a free cooking class at Young Chef's Academy.  Aunt Katie and Cam met up with us and the kids had a fun time rotating through a few activities.   

These kid-freindly cookie cutters were awesome.  I got one for Allie to play with her play-dough

Decorating a gingerbread man

These cute aprons were adorable on these two

The next adventure that we headed off to was the Eagle Country Christmas.  We couldn't pass up a free visit and photo with Santa, along with a visit from one of the reindeer.  

Allie was all smiles after her visit from Santa.  She was a little hesitant after the girl in front of her in line broke down in tears.  After some reassurance, she realized Santa wasn't so bad and went and sat on his lap

Hanging out listening to some kid's choirs sing

Getting around the easy way.  Pap and Grandma Deb were able to join us for the fun

Reminiscing about that great moment on Santa's lap.  Allie just loved looking at her picture with Santa

We met up with one of Santa's reindeer

Later on this evening we went over to my friend Kelly's house.  We met up with a few other girl's from work and I attempted to make a gingerbread house.  Allie was supposed to be my helper, but she ended up stealing my candies once they were opened.  I actually could have used some help along the way with this project.  Silly enough Kelly and I had major issues with the frosting bag that came with the gingerbread kits.  We both cut to big of holes in the bag, which was a bad mistake.  Despite loosing great amounts of frosting onto the table and into my mouth I tried switcing frosting bags multiple times but finally ended up with mearly no frosting.  

The beginning of my night before things got ugly

Michelle's cute daughter Morgan was the entertainment for the children

Graciously everyone ended up sharing frosting with me so I could finish my gingerbread house.  Thanks for the fun night ladies!

Double Dippin'

Well it's about time we had our double dippin' coupon days in Boise.  At the beginning of the week it looked like there weren't that many great deals going on- Kmart did have double coupons going on so I thought I would head over to check that out at some point during my week.  After hearing word on Tuesday afternoon that Kmart was out of a majority of products, we had someone check with Wal-Mart to see if they would add match Kmarts douple coupon deal.  

Well, you guessed it...while at Wal-Mart with coupons in hand we found out that they sure would ad match.  It couldn't have been any more beautiful than that.  Double dippin' at Walmart of all places.  We began Tuesday night at 8 p.m. searching through our piles of coupons trying to figure out what we could get for free or less than $1 after doubling the coupons.  Well as you can imagine this ended up being quite the process and we ended up leaving the store at 12:30 p.m.  Oh...I bet you want to know how much I spent.  My subtotal was 223.19.  After I went dippin' my total fell to $13.08.  I had one item that I did not have a coupon for-that was the etcha sketch for $4 that you see in my photo below.  Yes...I am single parenting this week and I had Allie with me this entire 4 hour trip.  She actually couldn't have been better for me, so she definately deserved a little reward.