SING-A-LONG

Monday night we went to our friend's the Rhees to participate in a sing-a-long. Our family joined a few other families from the neighborhood in the Rhees' living room gathered around their beautiful Christmas tree as Sandra played any Christmas song that the group requested. We sang Jingle Belles, Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer, Still Still Still, 12 Days of Christmas, I'm Gettin' Nuttin' for Christmas and so many others.
The children were armed with bells to ring, which they used through each and every song. Sandra's 5 year old son Jeremy, who had informed her earlier that week that he wants to stop taking piano lessons to take conductor lessons, with chopstick in hand led us through the songs. It was a fun way to spend the evening. The only ting that could have made it better would have been for Steve to be there singing along with me.

Old Friends and New Ones

I have had a couple of opportunities to hang out with some of my friend, Sandra, friends from her old neighborhood. When they scrapbooked a few weeks ago they were kind enough to include me in their gift exchange/lunch. We met up at Paradise Bakery with our exchange gift.

This is a cool group of women. We had some great conversation, a few laughs and of course lots of photos were taken. I feel quite blessed to include Sandra as a friend. She is such an incredibly nice person. I have enjoyed getting to know he friends and appreciate the friendships I have made with them.

COOKIES

From the time I was a little girl Christmas Cookies has been a integral part of the holiday.

I remember my mom making the dough and rolling out cookies. As I got a little older I discovered cook books and that there were so many more cookies than sugar and chocolate chip that people could make. I would try anything that looked festive and different.

Since I have become a mother a huge part of my holiday is waking up at 4:00 am and sneaking downstairs to work on a batch of cookies. My love for creating these yummy goodies has rub off on my girls and they can't wait until they get to make their own Christmas cookies.

So this year has been not different.

The girls are off track for the entire month of December, so we have tried to come up with some fun activities that they can do. And what is better than making sugar cookies.

The giggles and conversation as they produced their cookies was fun to listen to.

I spent Friday morning and most of the day knocking out a couple batches of cookies.

Saturday afternoon our area was hit with quite a bit of snow, so to keep everyone from getting a little stir crazy being in the house we decided to decorate those yummy sugar cookies that the girls had a made a few days earlier.

It was funny to watch everyone creativity blossom. Becky mixed her green and red frosting and ended up with a beautiful grey which she frosted her candy candy cookies and then dubbed them "moldy candy canes". Hmmm...not very appetizing. Steve transformed his cookies into things such topo maps on Acadia National Park, the state of California, and he and I canoeing on a lake complete with our reflection in the water. I am a traditionalist and my cookies looked like that they were suppose to be. I guess I am just a little boring.
I did learn to not critique Steve's creations.


And of course the best part of making all the cookies is to taste them to make sure the are PERFECT.

It was such a good time. Lots of laughing and talking. The part I will remember the most is that we were all together. I just love my little family.

FESTIVAL of TREES

Saturday I took the kids to South Towne Center to visit the Festival of Trees.

There were hundreds of beautifully decorated trees in different themes.

Many of the trees are decorated in remembrance of a child or adult that has passed away. Next to some of the trees would be there photo and there were people who stood near the trees that could tell you the stories behind the trees.

There was a sweet spirit there with those trees.

It was a little piece of heaven for me. There were many brightly decorated trees that I fell in love with. There were a couple of trees that were "girlie themed" with purses and shoes. Those were also some of my favorites. Another one that caught my eye was the tree that was decorated with PEZ candy dispensers. Very clever. The kids enjoyed the trees too.

It was an excellent way to spend a chilly Saturday afternoon

FAMILY PICTURES

Last Thursday we finally got our family picture taken after a couple of failed attempts.

We took a few more traditionally posed pictures inside the house in front of the Christmas tree. Then Steve had an idea to take a few with us up in the willow tree in the backyard. So we all went out, barefoot, into the cold backyard and climbed up into the tree. I was not too sure if I would like these. But I ended up loving them. I actually love them so much that I blew one up to 11x14 to mat and frame and hang over the fireplace. So, I guess Steve does have some good ideas.

BLACK FRIDAY

It's the most wonderful time of the YEAR!!!

BLACK FRIDAY arrived...

I picked up Dayna, Annette, Annette's daughter Rachel and Stacey and we stopped and got some hot cocoa before standing in line to get into Smith's Marketplace when they opened their doors at 5:00 am.

It is fun to race for the great deals, but it is a blast to be with such good friends. I seriously think I laugh the hardest during those shopping trips. I am not sure if it is because of the company I am keeping or my bodies reaction to the lack of sleep.
Speaking of lack of sleep, while we were standing in line to check out Rachel found the photo booth at KMart and slid inside and took a quick power nap. I have to admit I was a little jealous she got a chance to close her eyes for a few minutes before tackling the remainder of our shopping excursion.

About 12:00 pm we decided it FINALLY go and have some breakfast. We put our name in at IHOP and about 30 minutes later were seated for a much deserved meal. As we looked around the table, the exhaustion was finally started to show on all of our faces.
Stacey was the first to get dropped off. When I opened the back of my van, the pile of bags and packages began to fall out. We definitely took advantage of as many of the deals that were being offered out there. Good Times were had. I can't believe I have to wait 364 days until we get to do it again.

THANKSGIVING at GRANDMA'S

This year's Thanksgiving was at my mom's home in Ferron. We woke up and were on the road by 5:45 am. My brother had driven from California a few days earlier with his little family. It was our first chance to meet Lil' Louie who is only 2 months old. He was such a good baby. He was asleep most of the time we were there. So I spent much of the time just cuddling him and taking in all of that wonderful baby smell.
Since our family has grown so much, mom decided to have a children's table. The kids seemed to enjoy having a place all their own. They came to the grown up table and loaded the plates with turkey, dressing, corn souffle, green beans, yams and rolls and then went back to there own place. It was nice to sit down with my brother, his wife Mabel, Mom, Pop and Steve. Definitely one of the things I am most thankful for this year is my family and Steve's family.
Becky enjoyed being on of the 2 children luck enough to receive the turkey leg.
Little Annie, my niece, enjoyed feeding herself mashed potatoes. Before long she will find a comfortable place at the kids table and join in on all the fun.

GRATITUDE

This year for Thanksgiving I made a GRATITUDE JOURNAL. At the beginning of November, during Family Home Evening, I taught the lesson about gratitude and told the family about the journal I was assembling. I asked them to think of the things, throughout the month, that they was thankful for. I was not not sure what kind of responses I would get.As Thanksgiving Day began to draw nearer, the kids would as me questions like, "...is it ok if I say I am grateful for toys...can I write it in poem form..." It made me hopeful that they were actually putting thought into there responses. And here are some of the thins that the children said they were grateful for.

Zack: Of all the things I could be thankful for, I am thankful for my freedom to speak what I want, when I wish. I am proud to have this life and the choice to be an American. I am also thankful for my religion, an LDS Mormon. I love to have something to believe in as lives end and new ones begin. I am proud of the choice to believe in Christ, and have a chance to live in the ETERNAL City in Heaven. I am proud of simple things, things that are important, however, for everyone. I love to have thanks for every little or large thing.

Belle: I am grateful for a roof over my head, food, water, health, family, ears, school, tv to entertain us, Grandma, friends, clothes, toys, money, pencils, paper, paint, shoes, healthy stuff, earth, everything.
Katie: Thanks for a roof, a bed, protection, a blanket, a fireplace, toys, fire, the earth, love, heaven, trees, plants, pets, clothes, a family, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Becky: Count my blessings for company, grandparents, love, family, cousins, bible, plants, baptism, animals, home, food, beds, weather.

LOOK out PARTRIDGE FAMILY...

While we were visiting Grandma and Papa's this past weekend the kids started up their own little band.

Zack had brought his oboe to practice for an upcoming school band concert.

Katie brought along her guitar that she is bought 2 months ago.

Belle found Papa's tin whistle to jam on.

Becky added some soul to the mix by blowing on the harmonica.

And lastly was Anastasia bought up the rear on he recorder.

It was incredibly loud, but very cool to see them all kind of hanging out.

HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES

Unfortunately Steve had to work on Wednesday, which was our ward's Halloween party.

Katie was a Renaissance Princess

Becky was a Beautiful Vampiress

Belle was a Cute Devil

Zack dressed as Eragon, from the book of the same name

And I pulled out the costume from 9 years ago and was Dorothy (minus my scarecrow)

We then headed off to the church for the festivities. It was fun to see all the cute goblins and ghouls, but especially cool to see so many of the adults participating.
It turned out to be a fun night that ended with the children trunk or treating in the back of the church.

The Ropers

Madi

Krystal & Taylor

Heston & Bailee

Sandra, Jon, Julie, & Eric
Sara, Emily, Brecken & Kaitlyn

Dayna & Nikki

PUMPKIN CARVING

Tuesday night we brought in some of the pumpkins that Steve and the kids grew this summer.

It was time to carve into those suckers.

Hope you enjoy the pictures...