Boys vs. Girls

The girls waiting for their frosting to harden.

The boys working on their train!

The Boys Train

The Girls House

The kids all had a great time working on their gingerbread creations. Usually every year we make a gingerbread house and take it to a family that we think would enjoy it. This was the first year that we actually kept the gingerbread house/train and let the kids enjoy all their hard work!

Once There Was A Snowman.....

Well, having this much snow dumped on us does make it easier to build a giganto snowman!!!! They worked so hard rolling that thing around the yard, then Uncle Scott went out to help assemble the big guy! Needless to say he's now in a heap because it turns out that it's more fun to knock him down than it was to build him.......

Christmas Eve

The girls in their Christmas p.j.'s. They are back row, from left to right: Sabrina, Vanessa, Samantha, Sierra (Shawn's daughter), Jessica (Kari's daughter) Front row: Jasmine, Talisha and Savannah

Boys in Christmas p.j.'s! They are back row, left to right: Tanner, Slade (Shawn's son), Thomas, Levi, Daniel (kari's son). Front row: Benjamin (Kari's son), Joseph (Kari's son) and Isaiah!

All 16 kiddos!!!!! So cute in their Christmas p.j.'s!!!

I have just decided to post pictures from Christmas on here randomly since it may be awhile before I become organized again....:) These were all from Christmas Eve.

Making Cookies!

Wa-Hoo, I'm making cookies!!!

"Hand me some dough!!!"

When you are this cute, you can sit on the table! Isaiah wanted to be part of the action so bad. Next thing we knew, he was in the middle of the table, grabbing for dough!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Well, we have a full house with 16 children and 5 adults here for 2 weeks! It will be a little crazy here so posting may not happen for awhile.

We wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!!!!

Pat On My Back!

Every so often my job as a mother goes as planned! Amazing, I know! Here's the deal:

Last night Levi made some choices at bedtime that earned him a consequence. His Dad told him he would be grounded the next day until noon (we had no school due to the ice). Normally that's more of a punishment for me because I have to hear him complain about not being able to play the entire time he's grounded. Today was different! When he woke up, I explained to him that he would be my personal assistant until noon. Whatever I needed done, he would help me do! He really wasn't sure what to think of that. He helped me change sheets on a sibling's bed, he vacuumed up crumbs left on the floor by his baby brother, he fed Jasmine AND burped her! Of course I had to hear, "Mom, have some pity on a brother! I have my new shirt on and I don't want her to puke on me!!" That's what the burp cloth is for darling.

I honestly could not believe how fast the time flew by! I know he was counting down the time but for me, it just whizzed by! I kept telling him how much fun it was to have him home, helping me. I got a kick out of his comments. He's got a mouth that is constantly running. He's dang funny and I love to just listen to him talk to his little brother or sisters. The kid is a riot!

After making him a grilled cheese sandwich, cut in triangles (that move got me a serious eye roll and a "Oh my gosh Mom, I'm not a baby!" remark), he was grabbing the phone to see who was available to hang out!

I told him how much fun I had hanging with him all morning and that I was super excited for the next time he got himself grounded. This personal assistant thing worked out very well!!!!

Classic Christmas shows

"Girls, what are you doing?"

"We're watching Rudolf!"

"Why are you plugging your ears?"

"It's SCARY!!"

You have to love those old classic Christmas movies. The animation is the best!!! I remember them being a little scary for me as a child too. But if you plug your ears (so you can't hear the scary music), it's not so bad and you can continue to watch the movie!!! Good news for all!!!