at Christmas time...

At Christmas Time we...

fill our bellies with Christmas treats...

we gather all the visiting Alumni for a local game of sport...

and we play with cousins...

Gift Cards Rock

My parents divorced when I was 15 years old. We moved out of state so that meant anytime my dad wanted to see us he would have to travel. During the holidays I am sure it was more than he could handle to try and buy gifts for his 6 kids. Having the stress of a separation, traveling, making plans with your kids in a state that is not your home and gift giving on top is a lot for any man to handle alone. I remember clearly our first Christmas without Dad being at home. We were already very disappointed with the circumstances and my dad showed up on Christmas Eve to see us for a few short minutes. Our expectations were not very high. He had each one of us come out to the car, one at a time, to give us our Christmas presents. I was given a series of small boxes to open and each one held a gift card to one of my favorite stores! It couldn't have been a more perfect gift. You can't go wrong with a gift card. Having a gift card for the holidays eliminates the stress of having to exchange or live with something that you don't love. Gift cards are perfect for every person on your gift list and will cut down shopping time. You can even order them from the comfort of your own home. I think gift cards are the way to go and I have, since, been a giver, and very much appreciated, receiver of gift cards!

They have so many options these days. You can personalize the restaurant, movie theater, spa, salon, or store to the loved one's likes or location. You can also buy a general VISA gift card that can be used anywhere. Why not take care of business in one stop? Most super-stores have a variety of gift cards at the check out stands. While you are waiting in line you can check everyone off your list for the holidays. What a great way to get it all done. Enjoy your holidays and give the gift that you know will be appreciated by all. You can also count on not having to pay for oversized shipping or bulky traveling. Just slip you stack of gift cards in your purse and away you go. You could also be creative by wrapping it in a fun box, within a box, within a box to keep the anticipation up on Christmas morning. Come one, come all...get your gift cards today...don't delay. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Gift Cards Rock blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

 

Remodeling Preview

 BEFORE

re-plastered walls...

crown molding...

paint...

new mantel...

and new windows!

    

AFTER

We are still under construction so pardon the random tools and dust everywhere but here is the preview.

The rest of the house is getting new windows and the exterior is getting a little face-lift too.

This house is over 100 years old so this make-over was well deserved!

Christmas Time

Every year for Christmas I make fudge for all our neighbors and friends. This year was no different.

The grade school had their annual Christmas program at the JSA. Tori sang and danced to Feliz Navidad and Alex sang The Little Drummer Boy. They both did great.

Benton and I got to help with the practices and costumes. We had a lot of fun dancing with the kids.

Alex and her good friend Silvana with their missing front teeth. I wish they would have sang a little duet of "All I Want for Christmas...".

With lights up...Christmas programs performed...goodies pouring in...family coming to town...and school OUT...we are ready to begin the celebration!

Merry Christmas!

All I want for Christmas is...

MY TWO FRONT TEETH!

Stake Christmas Program

This year Garrett and I were asked to play in the orchestra for our stake Christmas Program. I got to dust off my flute and Garrett his Baritone in preparation for the program.

We had a great time playing with everyone. Once the orchestra was put with the choir, costumes and narration it was magical. It was great to be apart of this presentation.

Hundreds of nativities were set up and on display and over 300 people came to the Program. It was a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Tori helped me document one of our rehearsals. I wish I got pictures of the performance.

Merry Christmas!

One of life's curve balls

The other day I was on my way to Casas for a doctor's appointment.

I dropped off my kids at my good friend's house and decided to stay for a minute and visit.

As I was about to stand up and leave we heard a door slam and instant crying.

Seconds later Johnny, who was home sick from Kindergarten, came out the door holding up a bloody finger.

I didn't think much of it until Jen came back to the door to LOOK FOR THE FINGER!

He had the tip of his finger cut off in the door!

After a few seconds of searching she found it...finger nail and all.

Jen calmly put it in a baggie of ice and proceeded to call the local doctor to see if he was in town.

Meanwhile her injured son was holding a cloth around his severed finger and crying. 

I told her to take him to the hospital and I would stay with the kids.

She picked up Johnny and ran to the van to rush him to the hospital down town.

I stayed with the other kids and answered phone calls and informed family members of the mornings' events.

Jen called me from the hospital and told me that Johnny was in surgery and they were reattaching his finger.  She was also blessed enough to have her father-in-law and sister-in-law there with her to lend their support.

I took her kids to my house and then picked up all our kids from the grade school and fed them lunch....put all the babies down for naps...and cleaned up while Jen was resting with little John out of a successful surgery.

I know we were in the right place at the right time to help in a time of need.

The boys were so cute and all of them climbed onto my bed to watch Tom and Jerry and take naps.

Once they awoke I took them back home to stay with the maid and then headed to the grade school to do Art with the first graders. 

When school let out one of Jen's kids came out with a HUGE homemade get-well card with candy on it for Johnny. 

His siblings were very concerned about their little brother and wanted to head straight home to meet him.

3-of-a-kind

Do these three cousins look alike or what?! Tori, Malia and Kelsey.

Those HATCH genes run strong! 

Thanksgiving

This year we made the trek to Utah for Turkey Day.

We had a fantastic meal prepared by all of us.

It included: cheddar rolls, sausage stuffing, sweet potatoes, creamy bacon potato casserole, turkey, ham, bacon wrapped l'il smokeys, and about 7 different pies.

After dinner we got our family pictures taken.

Once we got home we enjoyed picking over left-overs and playing games.

Here is my immediate family...in order of age.

The following day we headed up to the Homestead for a swim and a soak in the hot mineral baths.

Garrett only swims if the water is above 80 degrees so the kids got lucky enough to have Dad swim with them.

My childhood home was across the street from the Homestead. When they added on the golf course they needed to cut into our property a bit so in return they gave us all LIFETIME use of the tennis, golf and swimming facilities on the resort.

That evening we took the kids out for a night of fun and games with their cousins.

Adalyn was barely able to see over the dash board but she loved driving her little convertible.

We were rounding a corner in WalMart when I heard a voice addressing with a cheerful, "Merry Christmas!" It was Santa...and no one was around!! We got him all to ourselves. 

My kids were beyond thrilled...plus he had a REAL beard so he must be the real thing!

Our trip was cut short because the entire house came down with the flu so we all parted ways.

Thats my boy!

It must be an instinctive nature for little boys to be able to pick-up a ball and know what to do with it.

I still have a hard time understanding the game!

Benton is lucky enough to have 2 best buddies...and they are twins to top.

They have a great yard with a "play place", basketball court, gardens, trampoline, and a great place for us Moms to relax and watch.

We gather most mornings so our sons can play some ball and we can catch up.

Beautiful mornings.

Sweet Innocents

The kids are preparing to sing in church on Sunday this Christmas morning.

They are singing "Baby in A Manger".

Every time Alex sings this song she tells me how much she loves this song and how it makes her want to cry because it is so beautiful.

After singing it for me a few times she announced that she needed to make something for Jesus.

She then proceeded to pack a sack lunch.

I mentioned to her that Jesus lives in Heaven and she said,"I know Mom. It is for when he comes to earth again. He is going to be hungry!"

So there sits a little sack lunch, for Jesus, on my counter.

"tank cue"

I was nursing my baby (Adalyn) and she stopped, looked up at me, and said, "tank cue." Her FIRST words...and she was thanking me!

Shameless Plug

My 4 sisters and mom have created a food blog. We share all our recipes with each other via this blog. Now we'd like to share it with you. Stop by and let us know if you've tried anything, or if we need to edit some of our recipes. Your suggestions, variations and feedback would be greatly appreciated. Join us at Scrumptious Sisters.

Blue Eyes

Garrett came home with a Great Dane puppy yesterday. This dog has the bluest eyes...so we decided to name him Blue.

He is going to be huge when full grown. Blue is only 1 month old. Alex loves to hold him over her shoulder and put him to sleep. In a few months she won't be able to lift this dog.

Real Moms Love to Eat

 It is true...who doesn't like to eat? I know all of us moms out there are guilty of hiding that mug of hot cocoa behind the cook book while making dinner or stashing that candy bar in your sock drawer and sneaking a piece here and there without your kids noticing.  I am here to tell you that you need not be ashamed of the fact that you LOVE to eat. We all do. I've found a book that is for us Beth Aldrich’s book, Real Moms Love to Eat and Food Affairiates.
I believe that by making all things from scratch will save you calories and tons of preservatives, therefore, making your sweet tooth not as guilty to satisfy. Instead of running to the store for a box of Oreos, try making them yourself.
By eating six times a day you will keep your metabolism boosted and constantly working. That is good. We need our metabolism working at its best and this will help accomplish that. I've recently read that by starting your day with a large glass of lemon water will get your metabolism off to a great start and also by saving your glass of water for the END of your meal will also help in aiding digestion. Instead of diluting your digestive acids throughout the meal, save that drink for the end.
Whole food are another great way to taste on the lips without seeing it on the hip. Whole food are great for the whole family and it is a wonderful way to start your kids onto a healthy way of living. Don't get me wrong, I am a lover of all things DESSERT and I will treat myself now and then but I do have a few rules to abide by in doing so; 1. It has to be made from scratch. 2. If possible, substitute sugar for Agave Nectar or honey. 3. Try to use at least half whole wheat flour.
Real moms really do love to eat, so don't be ashamed. Pull out your aprons and start cooking. This book has great ideas and recipes for success in the kitchen and discusses "how to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous (Penguin Books, NAL, January, 2022). This is a how-to book about learning to love and savor the foods that YOU like to eat, not foods on some crazy diet plan."

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich - Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Make your own Art Supplies

This is my first published article I wrote for Social Moms.com. Enjoy!

Make your own Art Supplies
Sometimes it’s more fun, feasible, and less-expensive to make your own art supplies, rather than running to the local store and stocking up again when your kids use the last bit of finger paint. Recently I hosted four little boys at my house and had to rely on my make-it-from-scratch skills. I was able to whip up homemade art supplies (some that are even edible) and they were a hit. These art supplies recipes can be made in only a few minutes, and you can get your children involved:

Edible Finger Paint

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Ingredients:

• 3 T sugar
• 1/2 C cornstarch (or flour)
• 2 C cold water
• Food coloring
• Blank paper

Directions:
Mix sugar and cornstarch together in a sauce pan. Add cold water and combine with a whisk. Cook on medium heat until the mixture thickens to a thin pudding consistency. I recommend stopping the cooking process a little before it’s the consistency you’d like because it thickens upon standing. Once removed from heat, COOL and then separate into bowls and color as desired. Pass out the paper and let the kids express their artistic abilities with their fingers and hands.
Another fun way to enjoy finger painting with your kids is during bath time. All you need are a few simple ingredients.

Bath Time Art

Ingredients:

• 1 can of shaving cream
• Food coloring
• Muffin tin
• Paint brush (optional)

Directions:
Spray the shaving cream into a bowl and mix with food coloring. Repeat in a separate bowl for each color. Separate the different colors of shaving cream into a muffin tin and it becomes a palate of fun for the bath. Include a paint brush or just use your fingers and let your kids be creative on your bathtub walls. The best part is it rinses off. Your children will want to spend hours in the tub with this idea.

Peanut Butter play dough

Ingredients:

• 1 C creamy peanut butter
• 2 C powdered sugar
• 1/2 C honey

Directions:
Mix either by hand or with the use of a stand mixer. Let your kids get in on the fun by using their hands. This is another great idea for you and your kids to have fun in the kitchen. The results are fun to play with and taste great too!

Her 1st

My baby is one year today. I remember the day she was born very vividly. I was extremely stressed out because EVERYONE had left town. My in-laws went to move Berkley from Arizona...Garrett had to run to El Paso to get my mom at the airport...my Doctor was out of town...and my "back-up" for the delivery room was with her mom and out of town as well.

I was left totally alone that day and Tori had two performances for a school play to top it off. I knew this baby was coming that day! No one believed me...and I was right! She came...and didn't mess around. She barely held on long enough for me to make it to the hospital and for Garrett to get back into town. Aunt Carol and Uncle Fred really stepped up and had a back-up plan ready to go for me. They were great but thankfully Garrett was able to get there...in the nick of time!

Adalyn Aspen was born...two pushes later. The Doctor barely had enough time to get his gloves on and catch her!

We love this girl. And so we celebrate with our traditional morning of presents and CAKE!

Happy Birthday my sweet little girl!