Sunday superb.

We had a great day last week. Dave and I both spoke in church.  Me in our home ward and Dave on assignment in another. He took Jared with him. He really enjoyed spending that time with his brother and said he was very proud to be with him. Because of travel and choir we ate a little later.  Our meal was fabulous. Some old favorites we haven't had forever. While we were waiting for the chicken to cook we played a game. Now everyone knows how Dave feels about games. But I had seen this on pinterest a few months back and really wanted to play it. Finally got the kids to do it while we were preparing talks the night before. It was so fun Dave wanted to play. Shocker! !

 It is basically like telephone, except on paper. Each person has a piece of paper and writes a simple sentence on the top. Then you pass it. Next draws a picture of what the sentence is. Fold over sentence and pass. Next person writes sentence of picture fold picture and passes. Continue to bottom of paper. It was hilarious. We went through a lot of paper. After the game we ate and did dishes. We then watched 'It's a Wonderful Life'.  Kids were not to excited,  but I told them it was a Christmas classic and we were watching it. All but Blake loved it. Then we popped popcorn and made hot chocolate with all the trimmings. Whipped cream, candy canes, flavors, etc.

 Our stake president has challenged us all to read the Book of Mormon by stake conference. Which is third week in April. We got our books out, sat down with our snacks and read for an hour and a half. Then off to bed. It was a wonderful day.

PS.  Computer is being stupid. Posts will be delayed and pictures added later. It annoying me. I have concerts and games and crazy outfit to blog about. It will all come later. Doing this on my phone makes it hard to check spelling also.

Picture Clean-up

I have a few picture that don't really fit anywhere.  I needed to do a clean-up.

The kids cleaned up all the pallets and made us a tempory sidewalk.

This is the only picture I have of the chocolate making weekend.  We did work that weekend I promise.  A few months ago Dave and his siblings got together for some genetic testing stuff.  He asked me if I wanted to go up with him, but I said no.  I wanted him to just be with his siblings, no in-laws or kids.  I think it is important to do that once in a while.  He later said it was a great day and he enjoyed being just them for a bit again.  That is what this picture reminds me of.

Leah and Blake had" Inside Out Day" at school a while back.  One of the stupidest movies I have ever seen.  They where supposed to dress like the person they really thought they were inside.  Blake said he was a farmer at heart, Leah said she is crazy and wacky.  I thought it fit them very well.  Apparently Leah's principle did not.  

I wish I would have gotten more pictures of the insulation.  We all hauled over 140 25lb bags up stairs and into the garage.  The saturday I was doing chocolates the kids opened them and dumped them in the blower themselves.  Later I helped some, then on a Tuesday night Blake finished the job by himself as we where at YW's.  Dave was in the attic.  Blake was so proud of the work he had accomplished.  Dave kept telling him he had done a man's job.

Christmas decorating.

Putting down sub floor.  After being so proud of his 'man's work'  Blake has wanted to do more.  He spent a few days helping Dave put down the floor.

Basketball

Our youth group decorating the tree at church.

This is what Leah wore to practice the other day.  Cora wore her long Christmas socks as well but took them off before I got a picture.

I saw these on Pinterest and loved them.  Gave them to my in-laws on chocolate making day and to the sisiters I visit teach.

A paper cut out Cora did.

Lego from Blake.

What we are giving bus driver and teacher this year.  I think it would have turned out much better if Blake had not emptied my craft drawer.  You know, a little nose and brown antlers.  But it is what it is.

Sports

We are into a great time of the year.  Basketball!!  The girls have had a lot of different things going on lately.  Leah had a school volleyball tournament awhile back.  I only saw one game, but it was fun to watch.

Waiting

Cora is helping to coach the junior high girls team.  She was very sad that not enough girls wanted to play in high school.  She is staying involved as much as she can.  Cora is enjoying it.  Not quite as good as playing.:)  Both girls have also been doing Acro.  I thought it would be a little slow for them.  We did the first class and they didn't care.  Just wanted to be doing gymnastics again.  The last one of this session is this week.  Both are disappointed it will be over.

I love that they are so active and enjoy so many different things.  Last night after basketball practice we where having a snack and Dave and the kids started practicing the song they are singing with the church choir in a festival Thursday.  They sounded so amazing.  From basketball to singing 3 part harmony.  Man they are awesome.

House Warming Gift

Our kids share a phone.  Mostly Cora uses it, but the other day Leah had a volleyball tournament so she took it.  She came home and told us that Grandma Smith had sent a text saying she needed to talk to Cora about something.  Just joking I said, "Oh, do you and Grandma have some big secret?"  Cora said that yes they did and walked away.  I thought she was playing along.  The next day as we are making chocolates my phones rings.  It is my mom, she wants Cora.  Cora goes into a room and shuts the door.  Well I'm a little slow, I guess.  I then realized they really do have a secret.  Last Sunday I was not feeling well and didn't go to church.  Cora came home after choir and grab the keys and left telling me not to worry.  I was to sick to be curious.  Later Dave came down and said Cora needed us at the house.  I really did not want to move, he said she was quite insistent.  I made it to the car and into our house.  Outside my house was my parents truck.  Strange.  My parents live and hour and a half away.  As I walked into the kitchen this is what was waiting for me.

Beautiful isn't it?!  So glad I got up out of bed.  It was worth it.  A while back I was talking with my mom about how I could get some red in my house.  She suggested redoing my table and chairs. They were an slight orangy brown and would not go with our new house at all.  I loved the idea, but accepted that it would be low on our list of things to do and a big job.

I also wanted to recover the stained fabric we had.  My parents knowing we had other things that needed done first did it for me.  They got some of my siblings involved.  Even my sister and brother-in-law that live in Utah helped.  My sister redoes furniture beautifully.  My parents got the cushions down to her and new great fabric I can easily wipe.

They redid them and sent them back up.  My dad painted everything and then he and my brother and nephew put them all back together.  It was such a fun surprise and goes perfect.  I love how everyone helped.  A few weeks ago I had on a red sweater and Cora started asking me about my favorite reds.  I never suspected a thing.  She played her part very well.

Thank you so much everyone.  It is a fantastic housewarming gift.  Absolutely the perfect thing.