Lights

I love Christmas lights!

When I was younger, my dad always put up multicolored Christmas lights on the outside of our house. They were the cool big kind.

Well, I married a guy who hates heights and we have a two-story house so the outside lighting is left up to me.

So, since it's up to me,

we've never really done it.

Max and Emma want lights soooo bad.

Our neighbors all have lights.

Max's good friend's house looks like this for heavens sake (See my competition? It's a little intimidating!):

* photo from http://toddamyandclan.blogspot.com/2008/12/tis-season.html

He BEGS me every year to put lights up.

I don't have lights and I can't justify spending money on lights right now

but I do aim to please.

So,

brace yourself for some awesomeness,

I give you our lights...

The funny thing is, Emma and Max are thrilled!

I'm so glad my kids aren't hard to please.

:)

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I don't know about you, but time is flying.

If possible, I would ask for a couple more hours in the day.

We've been busy getting the house ready for when

Elisabeth moves back home.

Yesterday we moved the bedrooms around and somehow we got everything situated so we'll be able to have

an office/bedroom for when Jake comes home.

We still need to get a couple of new mattresses and some bunkbeds or trundle beds but for now, it's all going to work.

Emma is enjoying a room to herself until Elisabeth gets home this week.

(Yes, THIS WEEK!!!)

I went in today and saw this on her dresser...

Apparently it said this at first...

because that's how Cole told her to spell it.

Nice Cole!

So Scott helped her make the one above.

It makes me laugh because she loves being with her brothers.

Really.

I just think Cole was bugging her today.

Imagine that.

This is the time of year where we, along with the rest of the world, is busy but it's fun.

I had the opportunity last week to go to the temple with my dad and Cricket to get my Great-Grandmother's temple work done.

What a great experience that was!

Every time I go to the temple it makes me wonder why I don't do it more often.

I'm only blocks away afterall!

I'm ashamed to say I don't go often. Maybe that will be a goal for the new year.

Today we celebrated

St. Nick.

(one of the advantages of being of Dutch decent!)

The kids put their wooden shoes out last night and woke up to treats inside them.

Mostly, they get candy but this year Emma and Max got little games and Scott and Cole got Sprites. (Don't worry Beth and Jake...you'll get yours when you get home!)

Emma got a jumbo jacks game and Max got a finger bowling game.

I love that my kids get excited over little things!

They're so good that way.

Here's Emma enjoying her 5th candy cane this morning practicing her reading.

I think all her candy is gone now.

I don't know why she doesn't get sick!

Yesterday, Emma, Max, and I braved the FREEZING weather and went to

the Provo Christmas Parade.

It was so cold that the kids didn't even want to pick up the candy that was thrown to them.

That's saying something with them!

But it was fun for the most part.

I mean, when do you get the chance to see Elvis and Elton John sing Christmas songs to you?

Only in Provo!

We had our first big snow storm last night.

The kids were so excited to wake up to the white covered world outside!

One advantage of 2:00 church is they had time to play a little before. :)

Tonight was the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional.

If you didn't get a chance to see it, you can check it out on the Church's website here.

It really got me excited for the Christmas season!

I'm afraid my family is just going to have to get used to hearing me sing all month!

I love Christmas!

Whew!

What a weekend!

I didn't want it to end.

Elisabeth and Jake were home.

We had a most excellent Thanksgiving.

(Thanks Mom and Dad!)

Lost a lot of sleep the night before and morning of Black Friday. I didn't dare fight the crowds but I got Scott and Cole settled in their line and then came back and picked them up at 5 a.m. Scott scored an awesome video camera for over 50% off and Cole got hit in the head with a Cabbage Patch doll. (That's why I won't do Black Friday!) But they were happy. I stayed up all night though because I didn't want to miss a phone call from them. I don't think any Houghton's should do Black Friday next year. I'm just saying.

We pretty much just hung out on Friday enjoying our children.

It was a good day!

Saturday we attended a funeral of my brother-in-law's dad. What a remarkable man! It was an honor to have known him.

Then we had our 4th annual Houghton Family Kick-off to Christmas. We had another turkey dinner, decorated the tree, had hot cocoa and peppermint ice cream, drew names for gifts, made some holiday plans, talked about what a big year 2010 will be for everyone, made our guesses where Jake would be going on his mission, and finished off the night watching Mr. Krueger's Christmas and Nativity (that was put out by the church). I'm sad I left my camera at my parents house on Thanksgiving so I didn't get pictures this year.

Sunday was a day of goodbyes (sad) and another busy day at church. We had our Visiting Teaching Conference in Relief Society and I am embarrassed by my piano playing. Cole was called to be the 2nd Counselor in the Teachers Quorum. Then Lee and I drove Jake to the TRAX station in Sandy (sad) and then stopped by to get my camera from my parents house. (Truth: I just needed hugs like only my parents can give me!)

Then home again to a quiet house.

I miss not having Elisabeth and Jake around! Good thing Elisabeth will be home for good one week and two days from now! But who's counting. :)

Anyway, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and to end my Month of Thanks...

I'm thankful for you!

Month of Thanks -- Day Twenty-Four & Twenty-five (Sorry I missed yesterday)

My dad's had a rough year.

After being totally healthy, out of the blue earlier this year he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

I don't want to go into details but it was a tough and tricky cancer.

He went through high doses of radiation and chemotheraphy that literally wiped him out.

He lost his voice, his hair, all kinds of weight and his strength.

It was so hard to see him go through such a difficult trial.

But, he fought and he fought hard.

As of now, he's cancer-free!

What a huge blessing!

His hair is back.

His voice is almost all the way back.

He's put back on some weight.

And he's regained a lot of his strength.

My dad is back!

All I can say is that I'm incredibly thankful.

Remember how I said that this year has been tough but I could see the hand of the Lord in many things?

Well, this miracle is one of those things.

I know my dad did all he could to fight this

but he couldn't have done it alone.

Along with my mom's strength, thousands of prayers, the Lord has blessed us all by healing our dad.

I don't take this for granted for a second!

I'm so thankful for my awesome dad.

I'm also thankful for all of you who prayed for him.

Month of Thanks -- Day Twenty-Three

I probably have a million of these kinds of pictures on my computer.

Photobooth was invented for Cole I think!

Cole was born with a smile on his face and he brightens the lives of everyone around him.

Early this morning, I came to the stairs to say goodbye to my two high schoolers

(It was a lazy morning. Yes, I only made it to the stairs!)

and I said,

"Have a good day and I love you!"

Cole answered back in his best English accent,

"Why, I love you too, Mother! Have a fabulous day!"

Yes, the boy makes me smile.

Today, I'm thankful for Cole.

I'm All About Entering Cool Contests!

I interrupt my Month of Thanks to submit my entry in this cool contest. So many awesome things at once...It's hard to imagine!

Here goes...

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

A (good) family picture, Running Shoes, exercise outfit, a clean house, fabric to make things

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

My magnet board Elisabeth made me, the bookshelf Jake made when he was 6, the secret book Lee made just for me. I pretty much like all handmade gifts though. :)

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

A quilt.

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

My mom made me a huge teddy bear.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

Digital Camera, Kit Kittredge hat (I'm making), basketball shoes

That's all they've told me so far.

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

Rolls and apple salad

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

Hats, scarves, aprons, scrapbooks, games, snowman kits (I'm not saying who they are for though!)

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

It's a Wonderful Life

9. Favorite holiday song?

O Holy Night & Thankful by Josh Groban

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

Baking with my daughters, making presents, and spending time with my family and friends.

Month of Thanks -- Day Twenty-Two

Scott is a guy who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to work for it.

I don't know many 16 year olds that know what they want for their future career, have researched the best place to go to school for it and planned out what he needs to do to get to college.

He's got a great business mind. As a sophmore last year, he came in 5th place in the Utah State DECA competition.

I'm so happy that he is involved and works hard on things and enjoys things that will help him with his future endeavors.

He's smart that way!

He's just an all-around good kid!

He's not loud and doesn't draw a lot of attention to himself.

Many don't realize the great things he does.

He is kind, compassionate, funny, and handsome.

I'm so happy I get to be his mother!

Today, I'm thankful for Scott and for the good person that he is.