Mission Impossible

So tonight I was on a mission. Que the music... I was in search of an unwanted Christmas tree. I needed one for a project I am working on, not the whole tree just the trunk. And I figured the best and cheapest way to get a tree trunk was to wait until after Christmas and get one of the left over/unwanted Christmas trees, FREE. I even made my husband assist me in this quest.

See, we don't have a real Christmas tree. Not because we don't like them. Not because of the additional cost. But because Christmas trees set off Tyler's allergies. Therefore, we have a prelighted tree that doesn't cause anyone to get sick.

We started at the Home Depot, we were there already for some other things so I asked around about the old trees. Ahh, but we were too late. They had already recycled them. So on to the corner lot in front of Safeway. Darn if the gate wasn't locked. So I got the bright idea to go to the recycle center for our neighborhood...also know as the police substation. Bingo! Trees! No locks on the gate!! If only that police car wasn't there. But don't you worry, I just waited and pretended to read the information on the signs until he left. I found a perfect tree, in the back corner of course. After much pulling and pushing I was able to free the tree, and it was a big one.

So we put it in the back of the truck and brought it home...cut off the bottom 3 feet...trimmed all the branches from the trunk...loaded up the unused portions of tree...and took that all back to the recyle substation. Mission Complete!! You will have to wait until a future post to learn what I'm making. I can't tell you...it's a suprise!

Just know that my ever supportive husband kept singing, "Bad boys, Bad boys, whata gonna do...." He also kept telling Aaron and Jared in the back seat to say goodbye to mommy, cause "she's gonna get arrested for stealing a Christmas tree!" I'll have you know I returned most of that tree right back to where I got it from. No harm, No foul!

P.S. I think I too am allergic to Christmas trees. After climbing through the pile to get the one I wanted, my nose started running and I started sneezing and now my hands are red and itchy where I handled them! The things I will do for a Free tree trunk.

Christmas Eve Cookies

Every Christmas Eve we make and decorate cookies. This serves 2 purposes.

1 - Keep the boys busy making a fun dessert that they love

And 2 - Cookies for Santa!

The big debate is which cookies to leave out for Santa. Usually we leave 2 cookies, however, this year Aaron thinks his cookies should be left while older brothers have a different plan in mind. Either way Santa will have delicious cookies left for his visit. I hope he comes soon!

Just getting started decorating... Jacob loves decorating cookies.

Tyler likes it too, even though the picture says differently!

Aaron just kept asking for more frosting. MMmmmm, those are going to be some yummy cookies!

Once Jared figured out what to do, there was no stopping him. He wanted every sprinkle and every color frosting.

I even got in on the cookie decorating.

These are Aaron's final product. Don't they look sooo good?

Here's what we have left. There is nothing like Christmas cookies.

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses

Today we built and decorated gingerbread houses. We are not the best builders, but we made a good attempt. The best part about this...I bought 2 kits so Jacob and Tyler worked on 1 while Aaron worked on his own. Therefore, no fighting over who gets to put what where.

Aaron could not wait to decorate his house. Hence the sliding decorations and needed props to hold the roof on.The house that Aaron built. Not bad for a a 4 year old. He was happy, so I was happy. He did it all by himself.
Jacob and Tyler worked on their own house. Not bad!

Aaron could not wait to eat his gingerbread man.

Tyler got a little green while applying the green roof.

So I wanted a good picture of the boys with their houses.

Here is attempt # 1.

I don't know how Tyler does it, but he always has a few weird faces.

Attempt #2: Again with Tyler

Attempt #3:

We have a winner.

Dad came in and made faces at the boys to get them to relax.

Such a great looking group of boys. And really cool houses.

2 more days to keep them entertained. Wish me luck.

Ward Christmas Party Pictures

Here are the pictures that were taken at the Ward Christmas Party. Not a bad picture of the family with Santa. The terror on Jared's face is priceless and Aaron was just trying to get as far away from Santa as he could. Tyler is our brave one and Jacob thinks everything is lame. But we are together and that's what counts.Tyler and Mom at the Nativity dress up.

I love the look on Tyler's face as he looks at me with this silly crown on.

More Birthday Hoopla

Aaron has spent the day asking me when I am going to call my friends to invite them over for my birthday party. Well, my parents are all that got invited and they are the ones that actually called and asked to come by. My Mom baked me a chocolate cake and thanks to the candles my children gave me as a present earlier today, we sang and blew out candles. Here are a few pictures from my "party". Although before my parents got to our house Aaron informed me that we needed a pinata or it's not really a party. Maybe next year?! Yes, you read those numbers right. I will admit that I turned 37 today...EEEEeeek! Where does time go?

These are the birthday decorations that Aaron demanded Dad put up for my party.

And of course, my roses. Joe gets me red roses for my birthday...and any other day he feels I need roses. This year he came home with 24 of them. Talk about spoiling me. I have a great husband.

Today it's MY Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Me!!! Happy Birthday to Me!!! Happy Birthday to MEeeeee!!! Happy Birthday to Me!!!

After church Joe got all the boys together and presented me with my Birthday presents. He got me some new workout clothes, lotions from Bath & Body Works and the best present ever!!! My very own Mother's ring. It has all the birthstones of my 4 boys. Isn't it beautiful! I Love It!! I have been wanting one for quite a while and Joe did a wonderful job picking it out. Yes, I gave him a brochure with my favorite picked out and he did a marvelous job of finding me that ring. My poor boys have pinks and reds for birthstones, which didn't make them very happy. It goes in order in case you are wondering. Jacob is the pink, Tyler the ruby, Aaron the emerald and Jared the garnet. All my boys! Did I say I love it? Well, I do.
So....1 more time...Happy Birthday Dear Sherri! Happy Birthday to Me!

Let 's get creative...

Jacob has been at it again. Thanks to a 1/2 day of school, he had the afternoon to get creative. He disappeared for about an hour and came out with this really cool Lego airplane. It had bombs that shot off of it and a guy in the cockpit. He is really getting good at making Lego creations. I know! Pretty cool! Later he created an anti aircraft machine gun to help shoot down enemy planes. (His words, not mine.) He is obsessed with military stuff.