Mohawk Hat

Matthew is crazy for all things football these days. His favorite college team is BYU so when I saw this idea on pinterest I had to try it. I was going to save it for Christmas but I couldn't wait. Plus I may put one in my shop so I needed to have Matt model it. I used a purchased hat then added the yarn on top to make the "mohawk". I love freezer paper which is how I made the Y. Actually Matthew helped with that part.Now we just need a cold game to go to!

Snowmen

The Christmas crafting has begun around here! I have been working on these little guys last week. I used paper clay around a Styrofoam ball to form the heads. Which I painted added hats to and glued on top of the jars. The jars came from Hobby Lobby when they were on sale. I was going to fill them with hot fudge but I think I will put something else in them, they aren't very washable!

Deck the Halls!

Our halls are decked! Bring on the holidays! The day after Thanksgiving the kids and I got busy decorating. The villiage is on the mantel now with our gorgeous stockings made by Oma below.

The tree in all its finery!

The nativity that my parents gave William and I when we were first married. It has traveled safely with us from house to house.

I have to say, the kids were actually helpful this year. Usually I am trying to keep them out of the way until things are ready to go. This year they helped clear out everything that needed to be moved, dust it and vacuum. It was a lot more fun!

Thanksgiving

It was a great Thanksgiving around here! The boys came home from school after "Native American Day" looking very cool. So we had some Native Americans.

Also a pilgrim. Wednesday he came home with a turkey hat completing the cast of characters. I love kindergarten!

It was a great day for our family spent with great people, great food and great memories. We are so blessed I can't imagine a better life than the one I have. I am so grateful for so many things, the list is very, very long. I hope it was a great day for everyone else too.

The Phantom of the Opera

It is one of my favorite times of year, rich in cultural opportunity. This is the week our favorite Nutcracker production begins and it is the time most of our local high schools are doing their big play. Lucky for us Northridge High was doing Phantom. I have to admit I was nervous. This is one production that could get ugly fast if you didn't have the talent to carry it. I was counting on their drama department being smart enough to know they had enough talent if they committed to it. They did. It was great! I think high schools in our state have a great reciprocal system going. They seem to share sets and resources which results in a much better production than any of them would have the budget for alone. So this production had great sets, costuming and even the big chandelier. There were very few moments when I remembered that I was at a high school production, although the moment when the chandelier came down was one of them. It descended slowly rather than came crashing down-but they did have to do another show that night. But the big question was of course whether they could possibly have enough kids with voices to deliver those gorgeous songs. They did! Three of them. The Phantom was great, Raol I think I liked better than the guy on my original CD and Christina was gorgeous as was her voice. Seriously, I have said that high school productions are my was of exposing my kids to the dramatic arts but this one was one Brittany and I will be talking about for a long time. The tickets were a little pricier than some high school productions ($10 for adults and $5 for kids) but it was really worth it. It is playing again next weekend, go if you can!

Pinewood Derby

This year's Pinewood Derby. There is nothing like the intensity of Pinewood Derby! Matthew with the entries.

The car refreshments. So cute!

Matthew with his buddies and their cars.

After the official races the guy with the track broke out the loops. While Matthew didn't win the official race, by watching the times we learned he did with the loop races. That is his red car coming out of the loop. The boys had to put their hands in the loop to catch their cars in case they didn't make it through the loop. It was a fun night!

Crazy Hair Day 2011

Hey, what happened to that kid's head?

Hold on-is that Josh or a green-haired old guy?

Yep, everyone's favorite Hair day at school has once again come and gone. Can I just say how glad I am this day falls in October when colored hairspray is available cheap? It wasn't when we lived in CA and it was hard to find it and it was expensive

This was the kindergarten carpool, it is a good look don't you think?

This was the morning carpool. Good looking kids, even with colored hair! I have to admit to really enjoying spraying everyone's head. Makes me think I could have had a second career as a graffiti artist. Oh wait, there isn't any money in that. Guess I will just stick to heads.

40 things

(only picture I could find with me in it!)
So last week was my birthday. It was a big one. 40. Can't believe I typed that. I will tell you I didn't enjoy it. I think anyone who tells you turning 40 is no big deal is lying. It wasn't my favorite day ever. I did go to lunch with my mom which is always fun but it was a busy week and a busy day which ended at the Pinewood derby. It actually improved as the week went on, I guess once the trauma of the day was over I could have fun. Lunch with friends, fun date with William, shopping with my mom and sis.

So I have been thinking about this turning 40 thing this week. I decided I needed to be more grateful for where I am at 40. Cause really, life is pretty great. So I decided to make a list of 40 things I love about my life. Don't feel like you have to read this one, it is for posterity!

Things I love about my life at 40
1. I married the right guy years ago in the right place.
2. I have a fabulous relationship with my sister. She is my ultimate best friend.
3. I enjoy lunch every Wednesday with the friends of my childhood. They are so much better than therapy.
4. Having hobbies I enjoy.
5. Living 7 minute away from my parents after having tried lived hundreds of miles away from them.
6. Loving my neighborhood.
7. Living by mountains again.
8. Not having to change diapers anymore.
9. Having a live-in babysitter.
10. Friday night dates.
11. That I finished college-there were times I didn't think that would happen.
12. William and I still have fun together.
13. I was sent three great kids.
14. Those kids are healthy, smart and fantastic.
15. I have figured out what makes me happy.
16. My life is made up of those things.
17. Having great parents who have been and always are there when I need them.
18. Being able to stay home with my kids.
19. That I live 3 minute away from Hobby Lobby, yes this really has improved my quality of life.
20. William still likes me, and trust me he knows me better than anyone.
21. Having a daughter to hang out with.
22. Having sons to teach me how fun watching sports is.
23. That everything my Young women leaders taught me all those years ago was true. Good choices really do equal a happier life.
24. After a nasty fight with cancer years ago my mom is still here.
25. A quiet house after everyone is asleep and safe in there beds.
26. Late night movies with my girlfriends.
27. Having a healthy body that allows me to do what I want (even if I do miss my pre-baby days).
28. Adult dinners with the in-laws.
29. Having a crafting buddy again, my friend Mandi is responsible for the increase in crafting the last year.
30. That my kids all have close friends-whom I like.
31. Having great in-laws.
32. So shallow, but my new grown-up car. I never thought I could love a car like I do my Acadia.
33. My ward. I love that I enjoy going to church every Sunday.
34. Pintrest. Love it.
35. There aren't many craft projects I won't try.
36. Being a mom is even more fun than I thought it would be (harder too but...)
37. I have finally learned how to say "No". (Thank you Mom!)
38. Dinners/gatherings with my Butler family.
39. Sunday dinners made by my husband.
40. I have everything I ever dreamed of.
I hope that didn't come off as obnoxious. I just needed to remind myself not to get bogged down in less fab parts of 40 (wrinkles, love-handles, creaky bones and being officially "middle-aged" ugh!)
If anyone is still reading this, here is your reward. A rare, crazy picture of me with my friend Amy last Summer. Man we laughed hard in that tube! Hope she will still be my friend if she finds out I posted this picture!