M & M Christmas Poem

M & M Christmas Poem
As you hold these candies in your hand
And turn them, you will see
The 'M' becomes a 'W',
An 'E', and then a '3'.
They tell the Christmas Story--
I'm sure it's one you know.
It took place in a stable
A long, long time ago.
The 'E' is for the East,
Where the star shone so bright.
The 'M' is for the Manger,
where the Baby Jesus slept at night.
The '3' is for the Wisemen,
Bearing gifts, with which they came.
'W' is for Worship, Hallelujah!
Praise His Name! So as you eat these candies
Or share them with a friend,
Remember the meaning of Christmas:
It's a love that never ends.

First Present Under Our Tree

After we decorated our tree, we turned on the lights and just enjoyed it. Little did I know, there was already something under the tree.

It's our little rescued cat, Lily

Christmas Tree

I start Christmas shopping in July. I've been running out of places to put these gifts. That's why I was happy to get our tree up. I have NEVER had a themed Christmas tree. This year I do. Its snowmen. I really like it. I don't miss the other ornaments this year, but one child sure did. Each year my children get one ornament (or more) for his or her own. Each is kept in their own box in the box of ornaments. This way, when they leave home, they will have a tree full of ornaments even for their first Christmas.

Family Home Evening Halloween Obedience

This is my family home evening that I'm doing on Sunday, October 31, 2010

Advance Prep: You will need two copies of each ghost. One white of each and one yellow, one green, one red, one pink, one blue, and make and extra copy of one white one that you put chocolate chips shapes on and color them brown.

Opening Prayer:

Family Business:


Scripture: Alma 57:21 "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."


Song: Quickly I'll Obey (Children’s Songbook, page 197)


Lesson: The Chocolate Chip Ghost Story
Once there was a family of ghosts--a mother and 6 children. One day, when the mother was in the kitchen, she discovered there was nothing to eat, so she gathered her children together and told them she needed to go to the store. She said to them, "Remember, don't eat or drink anything. Ghosts should only eat cottage cheese and vanilla ice cream and drink only milk. (I say "ghosts should only eat foods that are white" and then have the children name some white foods) I don't have any of these things." So the mother said good-bye and went to the store.

Well, each little ghost wanted to try something different so, while she was gone, the little ghosts went looking for food. The first ghost opened the cupboard and found a can of corn. He ate them and the next thing he knew he had turned yellow! The second little ghost found some spinach and when he ate it he turned green! The third little ghost found some strawberries outside and ate a whole basket full. Then he looked at himself and, yes, he had turned red! Well, the fourth little ghost found some pink lemonade--after he drank it all he found that he had turned pink! The fifth little ghost found a fruit bowl filled with blueberries. He ate all the blueberries and turned blue. The sixth little ghost didn't want anything to happen to him, so he searched everywhere to find something that a ghost should eat, like milk, cottage cheese, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. When he looked in the freezer he saw some ice cream. He took it and ate it all. Then he looked at himself. OH NO! He turned polka dot. It was chocolate chip ice cream!

When the mother came home, she cried, "OH MY GOODNESS! LOOK AT ALL OF YOU. Whatever can we do to get you white again for Halloween?” She called the ghost doctor and this is what he told her to do. Keep all the little ghosts in bed for five days and give them nothing but vanilla ice cream, cottage cheese and milk and they should be ready for Halloween. So that is what she did and by Halloween night, the five little ghosts were all white again to go out haunting and spooking and shouting "BOO!" And they never again ate something they shouldn't.


Closing Prayer:

Refereshments: Ghosts in the Graveyard. (Just like dirt cups but using 2 dollops of whipped topping on top with mini chocolate chips for eyes)

Happy Halloween!

How Much!?

I knew this was coming. Braces. I took my two oldest children to an orthodontist for an assesment. If I did what they are suggesting, my son alone would be $3100.00 after the insurance paid. So, I've been looking for a job. What a depressing situation! I have years of experience of working in an office as as receptionist/secretary/office manager and no job prospects. I found one job I would absolutely love but he was going to make a decision on Monday, September 20, 2010 and I did not get a phone call or email. I never knew how depressing it could be to look for a job. Your self-esteem sure takes a hit. I knew it would be harder in the economic conditions that exist now but I didn't know it would be this hard. I've never had a problem finding employment before even though I'm not good at interviewing. I'm trying to get better.
I am still optomistic. I will work wherever necessary to make my children healthy and happy. I just wish I could pay for this stuff while still being home for them.

Nightmare at the Zoo

The zoo is hosting an exhibit called Nature's Nightmares. No, my children weren't on display. Instead, they had bats

and a vulture (who I thought was actually pretty with all the colors on his neck).

The ones I couldn't get pictures of were a piranha, a bird-eating spider (whom was hiding in his hole so we didn't see him well), scorpions, a skunk and a vemenous centipede. It was nice that my husband could come. His arm is healing well. He promised to bring the children to the zoo. It was great to have him along.

Discovery Gateway

My husband severly burned his arm on August 14. This means he cannot do the things he wanted to do. I know this may sound odd but I look at this of a kind of blessing. My husband always has projects he wants to do which does not leave any time to do things with his family. Usually, if I take the children to the zoo, I have to take all three by myself. This week, because he couldn't do what he had planned, he took us to the children's museum at Discovery Gateway. My son got a ticket for up to six people to get in for free. We spent about 4 hours doing projects and watching the children have fun and we still didn't do all that was offered. We played with balls that went through a maze. We played at the store. I think my youngest really loved to shop. She bought mostly fruits and vegetables. She would wander for a minute, pick up a can or two and go back to the produce section. We were able to sit in a real life flight helicopter.

We played with stacking toys and legos.

The girls made tie-dyed bags using permanent markers.

I don't think I could afford to pay for the tickets at full price at $8 to $8.50 each. We did have fun and the children do want to go back. Validation cost me $2.00 for the day.