Last Sunday: I love the energy in our home on Sunday nights. Everyone happy, talking together, and goofing off.
Goofing off in line to get taco salad for dinner.
Samuel reading his new scriptures.
Tuesday: Girls outing! I took 5 of my girls (all but Tilly) downtown Mt. Airy to see the Andy Griffith sites and Main Street. We had fun window shopping and going in some stores like this music one.
We ate at Barney's Cafe. Alexis and Kylie would look like twins if Kylie cut her hair as short as I just cut Alexis's. When they're walking around the house I have to do a double take to see who it is. And now Kaitlyn is catching up to them in height and looking like them too.
I love hanging out with my girls!
Christmas Vacation's station wagon. Click on the picture and zoom in to see it.
Cool sheriff cars that roam the streets of Mt. Airy.
Wednesday: Talea wanting a picture of her holding her swaddled doll.
Visiting the bookmobile with 8 kids.
Samuel made this mallet from a book he got at the bookmobile and the driver wanted a picture of it.
Planting tulips and daffodils
Thomas made a cool Lego puzzle box and I loved watching him go around and show his siblings to see if they could figure it out. He's pretty creative with things like that.
Movie party! Watching Mrs. Miracle.
Spencer taught the little boys about little big snake so they're playing that on his tablet during the movie.
Wakee Six party with the 5 older kids after the 5 little kids are in bed.
Thursday: Hiking with Thomas and Spencer. We found this hike online, Cumberland Knob, and all the reviewers said it takes 2-3 hours and is a strenuous hike with lots of fancy footwork needed. That made us curious so we gave it a try. We got there and Spencer challenged us to do it in less than an hour. So we took off and hiked almost as quickly as we could without stopping for many photos or any snacks. It was straight down a ravine to a creek and waterfalls and then back up the other side. We did it in 54 minutes! 2.8 miles. I had planned on a long morning hike with snacks and sketching and photos of the scenery and long talks and not coming home until after lunch. But the boys were thrilled we did it so fast and we headed home by 11am. :) I'm glad they were at least willing to hike with their mom and I had a great time.
All of the kids went on buddy dates this week to buy presents for siblings. Thomas and Talea bought presents for Alexis and Anderson.
Cookie making party.
Making plates for neighbors and friends.
Samuel and Spencer coming home from their buddy date. They bought for Thomas and Talea.
Four girls playing with tiny princess dolls. I love hearing and watching them.
Overall day. :)
Pushup party. It was on Spencer's list of things to do this week. :)
Friday: Makenna came with me to a ward service project--cleaning the bishop's cabin so he could have his mother's funeral there.
All this has gotta go. Burn day!
I love watching everyone working and talking together.
Spencer had the bright idea to use the blower to get the leaves to burn faster.
Roasting hot dogs.
Madalyn pushing Spencer in the swing.
Ten kids enjoying a campfire lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs. Not exactly typical Christmas Eve fare but we enjoyed it anyway.
Madalyn recreating a picture when she did this with her marshmallow when she was 8.
Spencer went to town with my pole saw, cutting branches that were in his way of throwing footballs. I loved seeing him so energetic to cut stuff and enjoying the country life. It turned our 2 hour bonfire into 7 hours though. :) We had a lot to burn by the time he was done.
Sam and Andy were so cute looking like twins and roasting marshmallows together.
Andy put his between two pieces of chocolate b/c he didn't see the graham crackers on the table.
Showing some of the kids the hike I do almost every day through our woods. Alexis, Madalyn, and Kylie haven't seen it and the others wanted to come along.
Kylie loves the brown grassy field so I took her picture in it. I want it cut.
Christmas Eve dinner of fish, pita bread, cheese, and carrots.
All the stockings hanging in a row before putting them on the couch for Santa to come.
Nativity. Probably the last one with 10 kids. There will either be kids missing or spouses added.
The RS and EQ president (who are married) stopped by with some gifts so we opened a couple.
Christmas morning
Lining up upstairs to go down and see what Santa brought.
Sam and Andy got legos and overalls.
A bow and arrow set for the family.
Talea has been wanting a necklace for so long and she finally got one with a matching bracelet and ring.
Our tree with presents for one another.
Our Christmas tree cinnamon rolls.
I love all the little tags the kids write to each other.
Thomas got Alexis a knife and kitchen shears set for college next year.
Kaitlyn has been asking for sewing machine thread for months and was super excited to finally get some. She sews nearly every day. I gave it to her because I want her to make me some curtains. :)
Matching dresses from my mom.
Spencer's gift to Thomas is a cello he's getting from his old teacher in Utah. We just have to figure out a way to get it here. Spence made a treasure hunt leading to a drawing of a cello.
Thomas hugging Spencer. Too bad I missed his grin.
Makenna's new doll.
Andy and Sam playing with their new Legos.
Thomas playing with his RC car.
Family game of soccer. The RS president gave us that too and it was so fun playing it all afternoon.
Doing handstands while waiting.
Another overall day.
Studying Kaitlyn's new hairstyle book.
