Christmas morning -staged!!!

..............I really had planned to update the blog a few days earlier, however, as I was trying to multitask --downloading pictures from the camera, making lunch for the kids (boiling water for mac and cheese) and entertaining the same kids and their friends, I inadvertently deleted several days worth of pictures!! Wow -- was I frustrated! I walked away from the computer denying the fact and finished the mac and cheese and then calmly - as to not upset my children's friends stated get your robes on Ellis kids and get the boxes from your gifts for some retakes!! I'm the type of person that once I have something in my head I have to do it right then - even though the friends were there. So -- when you look at these pictures they are pretty close to what happened without all of the paper and ribbons strewn everywhere!! ( So the next 2 blogs were staged as well)

We did have a wonderful Christmas morning together as a family as we enjoyed the new snow falling, gift giving and remembering our Savior's birth.

The Nativity

...................................................We usually get together with some friends to do the nativity, but this year we were on our own. Although, we did have 2 cute sheep!! No matter how wound up the kids are by this night they always love to dress up and act out the Nativity and read Luke 2. We also watched a church video with several Christmas stories and wrote out our gifts to Jesus and put them in an envelope on the tree.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

We have had several good sized snow storms in the past week or so. We definately had a white Christmas with 9 or so inches falling throughout the day. We were planning to go see Todd's folks but couldn't get down there. It was pretty though. The one with the dogs I call - On Dasher, on Dancer, on Odie, on Misty!!!

Ward Party

We had a nice ward Christmas party and dinner on Saturday. Todd was helping with the High Priests in the kitchen and he volunteered Brandon to help serve too. Not sure if Brandon really appreciated the assignment! Christen was the only one to visit Santa this time -- with her friend Lauren.

Good Mom, Bad Mom

Friday Dec 14th Todd took the day off work to help me finish up the shopping. This has become a tradition in the past few years because I tend to feel overwhelmed - especially with Brandon's birthday in December. ( just a side note about Brandon's birthday --He told us to wake him up on his birthday at 5:13 in the morning because that was when he was born. I laughed at him and said, "how about I wake you up at 3 am and push you around for 2 hours since that is how long it took me to push you out!!)

Anyhow, Todd cant take time off work close to Christmas so this does help. We had an enjoyable time together running errands and going out to lunch. He helped with carpool and I visit taught. We were planning on Christen's dance recital that evening. We were all set to go - got to the rec center while people were milling about. I went over and put some lipstick on my little dancer. The girls were exchanging their gifts as was planned. Then Trevor came up to me and said, "- so are we going now?" I said, "what are you talking about?" Then I glanced around and people were packing up to leave!! I was a bit confused until I realized that the whole thing started an HOUR earlier!! WE MISSED her WHOLE recital!! -- It was actually an informal showcase. They do the real recital in the Spring - good for me. Christen was crying, I was flabbergasted and Todd was just shrugging his shoulders. Trevor was practically out the door and Brandon said, "don't worry, you have done that to me too." (which I do NOT recall) I felt felt like the worst mom EVER! Even though I have done many things for all of my children including that days shopping, multiple field trips, treats, etc, etc - this was a bad moment!!! I profusely apologized to my only daughter and she did forgive me.

Luckily, the two girls that she dances with most of the time were willing to do the tap dance again so I could videotape them and take a picture. Tomorrow is her dance party and you can be sure that we will be there on time with her favorite plate of cookies in hand!!

The Music Man

OK - so we have had alot of music concerts lately but this last one of Todd's was GREAT!! I was totally amazed. He joined the town band this past fall and has had rehearsals once a week. It has been a great outlet for him and a way to bond with the boys as well. He has come home and practiced various songs but I had no idea how wonderful he would sound with a big group. It was incredible! He was in the regular band and then he also was in a seperate trombone choir with just 5 trombones. He actually had a solo part too. I actually had tears come to my eyes because it sounded so good and I was so excited for Todd to be involved it such a talented group. That's my Music Man!!

Big Day for Brandon

Sunday Dec 9th Brandon was ordained a Deacon by his father. We weren't sure if Grandma and Grandpa would be able to make it with the snow but we were grateful that it cleared up and they made it! It was very special and we were all very proud of Brandon. I cant believe he has grown up so much and now has this great opprotunity to serve our ward members. Afterwards, Todd's folks came over for dinner. It was great to share this day with them and also to hear more about their mission. They gave him a very special gift which was a copy of the Ellis family crest that will remind him of our family unity and he will have it for his own family someday. Thinking of how the time has passed that doesn't seem so far away!!

Yesterday (Dec 16) he passed and he did a great job. I told him he has to make sure that we are not late to church now. He said that he felt the spirit when he was doing it. Such a great boy!

Brandon and Trevor's band concert

The night before the activities of the last post Trevor and Brandon had their school band concert. it was Trevor's first official concert and they both did very well. It was fun to see them playing together. They both have progessed nicely and we are amazed at how Trevor can play by ear so well - of course we are trying to convince him that reading the music is important too! The band taecher mentioned to everyone that she was thilled to have 3 trombones in the band. Trevor is on the far end.

I put the picture of Trevor and I in since he was hidden by the trombones at the concert. This was taken on a field trip that he had to a musuem. He is such a fun kid to be with!

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas!

Dec 8th we woke up to snow which was very festive - however, we had things to do and places to go. Todd had his work family party. It was pretty fun and Christen was excited to see Santa. It has been determined by us that this will be Trevor's last year for photos with Santa. He was acting like a typical 9 1/2 year old - crossing his eyes in the picture and showing his slightly sarcastic side. Too bad too because maybe his big red suited friend wont visit!! -- (it wasnt THAT bad - good for a warning though especially when Todd's boss was right behind us in line!) The snow was coming down at a steady pace and we had already planned to go over to Todd's folks to help them with their Christmas tree. We left the work party a bit early. We have had a tradition that our kids help grandma and grandpa decorate their tree. Since they were gone last year we wanted to make sure that we kept the tradition going. It was fun. By the time we got home we decided that we were in need of new snow tires for the van -(by now already put on.)

This picture with Santa is actually from our subdivision party.

I've been elfed

Check out my Christmas spirit!!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1156059402

Happy Birthday Brandon Boy!

Saturday Dec 1st we celebrated Brandon's 12th birthday. - He will actually have his birthday on the 6th. I can't believe I will have a Deacon by next Sunday! He is such a good boy. We are really proud of him and the decisions he makes as well as the friends he hangs out with. We do birthday parties every other year - so this was it. He had 4 friends (one couldnt make it) over and we went to Brunswick Zone to play in the arcade and to bowl. Then we went home for pizza and cake and ice cream. One good thing from the cannery trip - see past blog-- was that I did get some YUMMY 6 inch (then frozen) chocolate cakes that we used for the party so it really was fairly stress free. Todd was a big help and we had fun watching Brandon with his friends.

Welcome Home!

Last weekend over Thanksgiving we had a nice quiet dinner at home and had a fun evening together. The best part of the weekend for us was going to the airport to welcome back Todd's parents from their mission to South Africa. They were incredibly tired but it was so great to see them. We had gone the day before to decorate their house with banners and signs. We were SO EXCITED!!!

Starlighting Tradition

Last night we went to our annual starlighting event. It is the coolest thing ever. Earlier in the day Todd joined the Castle Rock band at the library bandstand for an hour long concert. Then we took a town trolley over to the festivities. There are lots of booths sponsored by many churches including our own. They pass our free cookies, hot cider and provide carolling. One church even has a live nativity with real animals. As it gets darker the crowds gather to the city and county building and there is a short presentation before Santa comes and lights up the star on top of the Castle Rock. Then there are fireworks!! It is such fun! This year Brandon brought a friend and we met up with some other friends of our too. The weather was perfect the whole evening - just jacket weather. We have been there other years when it was frigid.

Speaking of traditions Todd and I went on Thursday night to a High School play of Fiddler on the Roof. One of the young men from our ward played Tevye (sp). It was awesome! Brandon also enjoys watching the kids for some extra cash.

STARLIGHTING!

Walk Like an Egyptian

Christen had her Egypt day at school on Friday. The first graders have had a fun unit on Egypt and thy put on a program for the parents and decorate the classroom like musuems. It was very cute. She enjoed bringing in a few items that I had from my study abroad in college and shared pictures of me and then on a different trip grandma c also at the pyramids and on a camel.

Brandon's last Blazer days

A few days ago Brandon received his Second Class and First Class Boy Scout awards. He is right on track to get his Eagle early - we will se if we can keep it up. His leaders have been so incredible this past year!!

You will also notice my new specs. I am getting old! They do help though for distances and Brandon is pleased that he is not the only one in the house with glasses. I can now understand some of his pain and complaints but it is not too bad. The lady at the glasses place said that these that I picked out look grandma - ish!! She tried to get me to get some others that to me looked much more grandma -ish -- so anyhow I like these!!

A simple memory

I was just thinking of a cute thing that my kids do when we are snuggling. Especially Trevor and Christen like to hold on to my leg or foot if we are laying opposite on the couch or bed. It is a silly little thing but cute. Christen had the stomach flu on Tuesday (see last post) and she wanted to hug my leg - which was great because I wasnt too close to her!

Penguin What???

Last week on Tuesday I was at the cannery canning jam. I have enjoyed doing things like that while the kids are at school now. The best thing about going to the cannery is bringing home free stuff! It doesnt always happen but it sometimes does. So, as we were all leaving the head guy said that there was a bunch of ice cream and frozen treats to take. I was in heaven! Especially when I saw an incredible chocholate mousse cake (which is best when kept frozen and snuck into when no one is watching - especially during stressful moments during the day). Anyhow, one of the other things they had was a big tub of icecream from Baskin Robbins called Penguin Swirl. I thought that sounded different - but fun for the kids. I loaded it up with my chocolate mousse cake and some other wonderful known Dryers flavors and went on home.

A few days later on Saturday Trevor's group of cub scouts had an activity and I invited the leaders to bring the boys over to our house for ice cream since there was plenty for the taking. I wasnt about to share my chocolate mousse cake but I figured that I might be able to let go of some penguin swirl. All was good and I got the cones, scooper and ice cream out and then opened several tubs of icecream - one being the penguin swirl. I wondered to myself -- is it because of all of the pengiun movies that have been out lately - Surf's Up, Happy Feet etc etc that someone would come up with such a title? I opened the lids and I should not have been surprized but before me was pitch BLACK ice cream! Never in my life had I seen such a thing. I imagined millions of gallons of this stuff rejected by Baskin Robbins and sent to thousands of canneries all over the country. As I scooped deeper I saw scant traces of a frosting like white concoction swirled around what turned out to be a black licorice sea. The boys were thrilled at the thought of diving into such a mixture! I carefully told then to lean over the table as to not get the stuff on their uniforms. My hands were stained with black as I started scooping and the two den moms wisely chose peppermint for themselves laughing with me all the while. Before we knew it the cones were devoured and I was a hero. The boys left happily satisfied by the new flavor.

That night we has waffles for dinner -a family favorite. I was proud of the fact that I had added some of my ground wheat flour to the mix to make a hearty, healthy meal for my family (ok- dont laugh). We started to dig in and I noticed that Trevor was trying to sneak some of his waffle over to a famished looking Brandon. I said, "Trevor what are you doing? You need to eat your own food!! Why...???" He looked at me blankly and promptly expelled black sludge from his mouth onto his plate and said, "Thats why!"!!!! He ran to the bathroom with us helping --- and I was amazed that we thought that we'd seen it all before this experience.

In true Trevor form he said later that he had thown up earlier in the trash can but hadnt mentioned it to us yet. The next day as I was preparing another meal I found the remnants and promptly explained to my 9 1/2 year old the importance of letting us know when those types of things happen so we can take care of it in a quick and orderly fashion. He was assigned to spray and lysol the trash can and stay home that day to re coop. The only thing else to say is that when foods like that go in they must come out one way or the other and for poor Trevor it was both for awhile. so my advice to you is that if you ever see Penguin Swirl -- RUN Away!! -- and go for the Cabin Fever Chocolate Frozen Mousse!!!

Happy Halloween!!

Here are a few pictures of the kids celebrating Halloween. We went to Elitches one day and then did the traditional trick or treating. We also had a Cub Scout pack meeting Halloween party which was fun.

Happy 80th Birthday Mom!

Last weekend Todd and I met up with my siblings to celebrate our Mother's 80th birthday!! We actually left our kids home with friends (who we greatly appreciate!) Todd and I have only been away on a plane one other time and it was great to be together. We mainly just visited and caught up. We enjoyed staying with my brother Ralph's in their beautiful home. We went on a tour of Welfare square and the Humanitarian center for the church. That was incredible to see all that is accomplished there! We ate VERY well - Thanks Teresa - and played a rowdy fun game of bunko with a Halloween twist as well as honored mom with cake, icecream, memories, and a wonderful dvd slide presentation on moms life. How blessed I am to be part of such a great family!!