Skating, Eating & Reindeer Games

Today was a perfect day! Matt was home so I went to CVS and got $50 of stuff for free. I went to a kick butt spinning class, and then we went ICE SKATING! Cooper sat in the penalty box the whole time (wish I had one of those at my house!). Ruby was a natural. It was so fun to see her in action. Ice skating in a rink is so much funner than sliding in an ice storm. I am pleased to say that we are enjoying a balmy 15 degrees now. It was 1 when I went to CVS this morning!
Do you see that look on Coopers face? The busted look! I can't even tell you how many times I have seen that look this month. Especially when he is standing on the counter or scaling the pantry shelves looking for SYRUP! We watched Elf, one of my favorite movies, the next day his face was all sticky from drinking syrup straight from the bottle!
I love our ward. We do the funnest enrichment activities. We dipped (mostly ate, I AM Coopers mother you know) pretzels at my friend Laura's house.
Last but not least, Reindeer Games! Matt has a classmate that loves to hunt. He has shot 4 deer this fall, so we bought one of them from him. We went to the Butcher/Taxidermy to pick up Bambi. As we were waiting for our fresh game, Ruby asked why there was a deer hanging from the ceiling!! What a great photo opportunity (those are antlers on my head by the way)! We have a whole freezer full of local nature.

Sad Angel

Cooper had his Christmas program yesterday. It was awesome, he didn't crack a smile the entire time!

Matt just finished the dreaded CORE! It is a 16 week intensive group of 8 classes. He has worked his tail off. He had 5 finals last week and is now done. We can't wait to hang out with daddy!!! It is crazy to think we are already done with 1 semester. This time is flying by!

The weather has been cRaZy!!! We have had some freezing fog and rain with 20 degree temperatures. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is a disaster! The whole town is covered with a sheet of ice. The roads are pretty good because they are constantly putting salt down, but watch out on the sidewalks! Slippery do dah! They canceled school on Wednesday because of it. Yesterday we were up to 56. Go figure!

While I have been working on this post, the kids have been super quite. Cooper just came in with a guilty look on his face. I asked him what he did and he said he ate THE ORNAMENT! I had just hid all the treats that we have been consuming by bucketfulls. Our neighbor brought over a darling lifesaver christmas tree ornament. Needless to say, it is now much smaller and no longer a tree.

Santa, reindeer, bells and camels

I have to hurry because Matt has to take his computer! He has finals this week and has been very busy. We are looking forward to Friday when he is done! He will be off until January 12!

We went to our ward party last night. Cooper wouldn't sit on Santa's lap because he wasn't giving out any treats! Greedy child! I can't believe how grown up Ruby looks on Santa's lap. She is not a little kid anymore!

We saw a live nativity at Coopers school. Ruby was nervous the camel was going to spit in her eye. There Christmas program had a lot more electric guitar and laser lights on the ceiling than our ward party!

We got to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. I think we had 4 people drop money in over an hour! I have decided that I would be more giving when I walk by those poor cold volunteers freezing their cans off!

I was driving Cooper to school on Friday, in the middle of Bloomington, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a lot of stopped cars and 8 reindeer! They walked right in front of us. I wanted to yell Now Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen! On Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen!

December

Cooper's preschool sang at the Redbud retirement home. I was so proud of him, it is the first time I have heard him sing when he was supposed to. He sang Away in a Manger during church and I almost cried it was so sweet!
Somehow Coop got Poison Ivy in the winter! He had 8 patches of it on his body. He had a welt on his back as big as my thumb! Luckily it didn't bother him too bad. He picked up a stick without leaves. I guess it was a poison light saber!
This is my latest project. I collect advent calendars. The squares are magnetic so it creates a lid to cover the muffin cup holding a little treat!

Matt is just starting finals. He has been working soooooo hard. It is crazy that he is done with 1 semester! The time is flying!

I have made 4 batches of cookies since Friday! I am so sick of COOKIES!!!!!

A Christmas Tag

1- What is your favorite Christmas song? Away in a Manger

2- When was your most memorable Christmas? When Santa knocked on my door.

3- What is your favorite Christmas treat? Snelgrove Peppermint Ice cream with hot fudge.

4- What do you dislike most about the Christmas season? How stressed out people get.

5- What do you like best about the Christmas season? The light in my kids eyes!

6- Who is the hardest person to shop for on your Christmas list? Ruby, she isn't into anything anymore :(

7- If you could receive one gift without money being an issue, what would it be? A full ride scholarship for Matt or a new camera.

8- What is your idea of a perfect Christmas Eve?Dinner with the Peterson's followed by hanging out with the Rich Family. I can't give any more details in public past this point:)

9- Which do you like best, eggnog, or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate with peppermint whip cream!

10- Do you prefer a fancy Christmas tree, or one decorated by the kids? The kids! We pick a family ornament each year and one for both kids. They love to get out their ornaments.

11- What is your favorite family Christmas tradition? Festival of the Trees, Christmas dishes, Christmas stories.

12- Do you like fruitcake? Only the one I am married to!

13- Do you prefer skiing or snowboarding? skiing!

14- Are you dreaming of a White Christmas, or do you say “Bah Humbug” to snow? I like snow from inside a warm house. This piddily Indiana snow we had this week doesn't count as snow!

15- What was your favorite gift from Santa when you were a child? My Fashion Plates and the Raggedy Ann doll that my mom made for me. Ruby now has her.

16- What is your favorite Christmas movie? Charlie Brown.

17- Have you ever eaten snow? Skiing, many times. I have actually made ice cream out of snow. I love to catch snowflakes on my tongue.

18- Who do you wish could be with you this Christmas? I would love a little visit from my mom.

19- When do you put up your Christmas lights and decorations? Right after Thanksgiving

20- Real or artificial Christmas tree?We have always done a real one, but I could easily be converted.

Thanksgiving!!

We kidnapped Matt several times over his Thanksgiving break. We spent one day in Indy. We went to the zoo where my children were head butted by walruses (through the glass). We went to the Children's Museum which was PACKED, and The Indianapolis Motor Speedway! We went on a tour of the race track, unfortunately we only went 35 mph instead of the 230mp

We spent Thanksgiving with friends here in Bloomington. As you can see, we had quite the feast. All I had to make was rolls, raspberry honey butter, and Ritz Cracker Stuffing. That was our 4th dinner! I was more stuffed than the poor turkey!



Matt had the whole week off from school. We had so much fun having him around! We made a list of all the things we wanted to do and we did them all and then some! His greatest desire was to make a paper mache volcano! It was AWESOME!!! It was a 3 day process with building, painting and errupting, but oh so fun!

We have so much to be thankful for. I am humbled by the amazing people that we have in our lives. I feel so very blessed that we are here in Bloomington for this incredible opportunity. Everytime I think about the way things worked out with our house selling, I am extremely grateful. I am so grateful to be a mom, I have amazing kids! I am also grateful for my incredible husband. I am so proud of Matt for going after his dreams and working so hard at it. Life is good!

Walmart Bingo

I stole this from one of my very favorite people (thanks Shawnee!).
I think at the Bloomington Walmart you could EASILY get blackout!