I have been wanting to update and redo our 72 hr kits since we moved. I figure we may need something more substantial than shorts and flip flops since we now live in Ohio. Carli was being my little helper yesterday and she said something so funny while we were working on them. I was trying to find an old pair of sweats for each of the girls to put in with their stuff for an extra change of clothes. Carli came up with a pair that have elastic at the bottom that she usually rolls up so they are shorter. I had told her I wanted her to find long ones in case it was cold. Her response to me was this - "Mom, I can just keep them pushed down because when you don't have anything you really don't have to be cute." Lindsey was having trouble finding some that she was willing to part with. All she could come up with were the ones that were too short and she wasn't sure if she was going to like having her extra change of clothes be too short. Again, Carli told her, "Lu, when you have nothing you don't have to be cute!" I'm sure that seeing all of the images on TV of the people in Haiti have sparked her little brain into some thought on why we would need a 72 hr kit, where we would go, and the fact that if we were using our 72 hr kits the last thing on our mind would be looking cute! She was very specific about what treats she wanted in her backpack! My goal is to finish these today so I can cross it off of my "to do" list. And, by the way...I hope we never have to really use them.
72 Hour Kits & Carli
The Man on the Corner
We've all seen them - the people who stand at the entrance of the grocery store parking lot or the freeway with a cardboard sign asking for work or money or donations. Well, today we saw a grandpa holding a sign asking for money or diapers or work. We pulled out of the parking lot as Sydnee and Lindsey were frantically trying to find some cash for him before it was our turn to pull out. We didn't find any and they begged me to go back. I thought for a minute and came up with 50 excuses why we didn't have time today but I did finally go back. The girls were so anxious to help so I asked Lindsey to go ask him what size of diapers he needed. Lindsey promptly replied to me, "I'm sure the biggest they make, Mom! His bum isn't very small!" Sydnee and I were dying laughing and after we got a handle on ourselves we asked him and he told us the diapers size he needed. We went into the store and bought him some things and he was so appreciative. I really hope that this man was truly in need of help and wasn't just trying to get cash for booze or drugs but I guess it doesn't really matter, does it? My girls were so willing to help and felt that feeling of truly giving and helping someone. They talked about him for awhile. I'm so glad they helped me feel the true meaning of Christmas today!
Christmas is Coming!
The girls always want to have their own trees in their room. Well, what do you know - we found PINK trees! I love them. They are so cute and they match their rooms. Grandma Marci gives them an ornament every year so they have all of those plus some others. These trees will be fun to add to every year.
Thanksgiving and Carli's Baptism
We are so lucky to have such wonderful families. Del's entire family joined us last week for Thanksgiving and Carli's baptism. Everyone in my family was there except for my brother Jon and his family. It was a lot of work to pack in both of those events into one week but so much fun. Del Sr., Marci, Tiffany and Jared came early. Tiffany and Marci helped me get my Christmas trees up. I've never had my Christmas trees up for Thanksgiving but it was fun to be able to turn the lights on Thanksgiving night and welcome CHRISTMAS! Tiffany and I worked out a little trade - she does my trees and I will be making her lots of cute baby jewelry. I kept telling her how much I loved my trees and what a great job she did - she told me she wants to have the same reaction when she sees her baby jewelry! Can you say PRESSURE! We had a total of 26 people and one extra dog. The boys were planning on going hunting and my brother Scott can't hunt without his dog 'Gracie Lu' so even MOJO had a friend to play with. We woke up to SNOW the day after Thanksgiving. It was so fun to see the kids wake up and look outside to see snow. There was just enough for them to make snowmen and play in it for a day before it melted. On Saturday, Carli got baptized. I can't believe my BABY is baptized! It was such a beautiful baptism. Carli picked who she wanted to speak, sing, and give prayers. We are lucky to have the musical talent of Jon and Courtney. They sang the song, "A Window To His Love," and it was BEAUTIFUL. All the kids sang "I Know That My Savior Loves Me". That is one of the songs from next year's primary outline and it is such a sweet song for children to sing. Carli asked Cathy and Lindsey to speak. Cathy spoke on baptism and Lindsey spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost. She wrote her talk herself and we were all so impressed. She did a great job and wasn't a bit nervous. My heart was so full - it was a beautiful day and I was so grateful to have so many family members and friends there. I played catch up on Monday and Tuesday to get the house back in order and by Wednesday I hit a wall in a serious way. I sent my kids off to school and crawled back in bed for a long winters nap! I'm all good now and ready for December!
It's so fun to have a new baby around. This was a rare time when she wasn't being held.
Mojo and Tiffany are pretty good friends!
Ansley, Lindsey, and Gracie
Turkey Time (We deep fried one turkey, cooked two turkey breasts, and had Honey Baked Ham) We had A LOT of leftovers!
Bentley and Bryndi
Nicole and Sydnee
Bryndi and Carli
Our "Grateful Tree" - we must have gotten sidetracked - surely we are grateful for more than that
Cameron
Decorating the sugar cookies for the after baptism get together
Grandma DoDo and Grandpa Brad
Me, Andrea, Tiff, and Courtney
Mike T getting ready to fill his bread bowl
So many good treats
Talentinos and Jensens
Lindsey was always holding cute baby Lucy
Travis keeping Gracie Lu and Mojo under control
Carli and Lucy
Tiff and Jared - I can't wait to meet their baby girl in February!
I have to include these masterpieces that Tiffany whipped up!
Tiff's Christmas Tree motto - "If you can still see green, they aren't finished!" There is still some green on the tree but not a lot of green left in my wallet! There's always next year!All of the pictures of Carli in her baptism dress are on Del's camera. These were just from my little point and shoot so I will have to add a few more from his camera.
Trick or Treat
We had a cowgirl, the Jonas Brothers Biggest Fan, and a Chocolate Chip Cookie this year.
I think Lindsey and her friends did a good job. The Jo Bros were legit!
Carli, Jolie and Savanna on a serious sugar high!Amazing Race
For the end of season party, Sydnee's volleyball team had an Amazing Race party. They did all sorts of crazy things. I don't have any photos of the race because our house was the ending point. Once they got here they had to do their last challenge and then I fed 14 hungry 13 and 14 year olds. They are all such nice girls. I won't miss the craziness of trying to get Carli from school and rush to Sydnee's games but I will miss seeing all of these cute girls. They had a good season and have lots of great memories.
The winning team - Izzie, Halle, and Kelly
I think they were singing the Michigan fight song! They had to learn it from someone and sing it for one of their challenges. 
