They came to see Baby Jesus!

My little girls have always loved to play with the Natavity sets at Christmas. We finally got the Fisher Price one last year from Mom and they have loved it. K.C. was so cute while they were here last Christmas. He sat right down at the tiny table and played with Allyson for ever. He sure knows how to win the kids over in a short period of time! (which is good because he does have to compete with Jonny's airplane rides and such!!!) Anyway, this year Melody noticed that the kids had set up all the people and animals so that they were facing toward the stable. This makes perfect sense! Of course they would want to look at the baby Jesus. I have noticed lately that other nativities in the house are turned around to see Jesus. One day Allyson set up the nativity like this....

They are waiting in line to see baby Jesus! I thought that was pretty cute, and something only a child would think of. I set up a nativity so we can see the front of all the figures, but Allyson is thinking about how it really would have been.

The Missing Piece

I went downstairs the other day to find Todd and Allyson putting together a puzzle. It was cute to see a big daddy on the floor playing with his daughter, but that was not the best part. As I got closer, Allyson started telling me about how there was a piece missing so daddy made a new one! Who does that? He said that as he was making it, Allyson said "Daddy, you are a good artist, I am a scribble artist." She saved the homemade piece for last and called it the "masterpiece." I would have never even thought to MAKE a new piece. I generally just say, oh bummer a piece is missing. What a nice daddy!

Another Holiday First

Sad, but true! I don't remember ever making a gingerbread house with my kids. Shocking! For just 8 big ones at Costco, we were able to put this little kit together. I'm definately no Martha Stewart, or Emily for that matter, but it turned out to be a big FHE activity success with the kids and apparently also some of the neighbors kids too. They asked me where I got such a sweet kit and their moms ran staight out to get them one! By the way, I am so behind on the blogs because of the kids b-days and Christmas projects. It certainly isn't a reflection of how much I love you all! I will have to catch up on my reading and writing ASAP!!!

Kid-isims

Allyson is at a funny stage of like. Here is a cute story Todd told me today. He was in his office and I had gone to pick Jill up from dance. Ally came in and hugged him and said she really wanted her mommy(she misses me a lot these days even if I leave just for a minute). She asked if he would read her a book and he said "Sure, hop up on my lap and I'll read it to you." Then she brought him another one, of course, and he read that one too. She asked if he would read another one and he said "Well, I am kind of busy right now, so...." She laid down on the floor with her book and after a little bit she said "Daddy, what's busy?" He told her that he was working on the computer for his job so it would be hard to do that and read a book at the same time. She said, "So, busy means you can't read me a story?" Well, he ended up reading that story too! There will be no "Cats in the cradle and the Silver spoon" around here!!

Jordan was looking for his blanket and Ally said "Oh, does he want his BIU one?" (BYU)

Jillian is a very observant child. In school they learn about making connections from the things they read to things in their world. She has aparently really taken the connection thing to heart. In preschool we made some indian headbands and Allyson's was lying on the floor. Jillian said "Mom, I have a connection with that. We made headbands in school and ....." I love how she actually uses the word connection!

One day I was really giving it to Jill, maybe a little over the top because she said "Mom, you are going all harsh on me!"

We were cleaning up Jill and Ally's dissaster of a room and I said something about it being out of control. Jill responded "Things are getting off handy around here" I love how she tries to use our saying and messes them up!

A Puzzling New Tradition

Several people have told me that they love to put a puzzle out to work on during the holidays. I thought it would be fun to start this year since Allyson doesn't destroy everything in sight anymore! I bought a box with several different scenes representing all the seasons. I started us off with a 300 piece fall one to see how the kids would like it. We got it out last night and low and behold, they finished it last night! Luckily the box had a few more fall ones we can do. This time we are moving up to one with 500 pieces. Maybe by Christmas we will be up to 1000! So, if you visit us during these next holiday months, please feel free to work on the puzzle while we conversate or just anytime at your leisure. Hurray, a holiday tradition that isn't about food!

Halloween...

Here is a slide show of the big fun. Sorry we didn't visit any Grandparents, but after 2 preschool parties, a party for Katy's class, around 180 trick-or-treaters, and taking the kids out, we were exhausted. These pictures will have to do! Jordan is not represented because he had no costume. He helped scare people at the big spook alley down the street! Allyson told me that Jordan and his friends were trying to scare her. She said "I wish it was a nice alley so they don't have to scare me!" A small explanation of the costume choices--Jillian decided to be a mexican this year! I thought we should at least say Senorita or something a little more PC, but none the less. Thanks to Lili, all of Katy's dreams of being Hermine came true. And, of course Allyson decided on the ratty princess dress-up! At least we didn't have to buy or make anything this year which was the best! Oh, on a funny note, I decided to give out packets of hot chocolate instead of candy this year. I thought it was a great idea and Mom and Melody did too! Dad said if that's what they were doing, he wasn't going to answer the door! Well, he was right! The kids dug past the brown packets of hot chocolate to the nasty Now and Laters I threw in the bottom ( left over from Katy's class party). The parents thought it was great, but the kids just want regular old candy. Now I know!!!!!!! Don't lets get creative with the goods, just bring on the candy!!

Hap Hap Everybody!

Anyone who has been to the Farley Family Christmas will surely understand the title of this blog. If not, contact me and I will sing a little something that will explain! Anywho, my birthday started out bright and early with breakfast in bed from the kids. Apparently they can cook scrambled eggs with cheese and waffles--who knew? (It worried me a tich that we have a gas stove with flames of fire and such) They were so cute to put a little catsup on the side and apple jelly on the waffles--they know me pretty well! They also included a banana, partially peeled for easy access, and a large glass of milk! That was a lot of food! Todd also got breakfast in bed just because he was there! I forgot to take a picture since I didn't have my full faculties yet, so I borrowed one from the internet!

I told Todd that Hawaii was going to count for my b-day but he wouldn't hear of it! He wanted to take me to dinner even though I already made myself a birthday dinner of Sweet and Sour chicken which we ended up saving for the next day. Melody had just told me about this chicken thing from Carabbas that she and Emily had that was the best thing ever, so at about 8:00 we headed to Orem. On the way, we passed Krispie Kreme and I decided we should definately stop for some pumpkin cake doughnuts in lou of a cake. We called the kids and told them not to fall asleep and we would have treats when we got back. Who eats doughnuts and ice cream at 10:00? I guess it sounds like this day was all about the food! Oh well, I had to drown my sorrows as I am approaching the mid 30's. Remember that T.V. show "Thirty Something" ? That is Me!! Funny and wierd that I am that person. I still feel like I'm 20 something.......Anyway, thanks to all who called or stopped by to wish me a happy day and remind me of my oldness!