Guy's Birthday

We started out Guy's birthday this year down in Moroni. Our BIL Craig's birthday is the day before Guy's and so we all got together for cake and ice cream. Guy really wanted a German chocolate cake but I ran out of time to make one. Eventually (about a week after his birthday), I bought him a German chocolate cake from the grocery store. It was not nearly as good as a homemade one.

While we were down in Moroni, my mom called to wish Guy a happy birthday and to offer her grandma services in the form of a sleep over for our kids so we could have a night out. What a great present. So, the following weekend, Grandma and Grandpa came down and got the kids so Guy and I could do dinner (Los Hermanos) and a movie (Harry Potter). They even kept the kids just a little bit longer so that we could go to a Primary Workers appreciation party. Then they brought them home and had them all ready for bed by the time that we got home from our party. These kids are so lucky to have grandparents like them!

Guy got a new mug and a gift card to Sportsman's Warehouse from my mom and Steve.

A card from us.

Can you tell that Guy was not thrilled with the present that I got him? He really wanted bullets and other reloading supplies and instead, I got him a white dress shirt and a pair of pants to wear to work. Later he told me that he really did like the pants and even wanted another pair. It is a good thing Christmas was so close.

Blowing out more candles.

Gingerbread Houses

In an effort to get our house back in order, we did a little bit of clean up last night. Part of that clean up was to toss out the gingerbread houses. I was kind of sad to see them go.

Gingerbread houses were a blast as always. I think my favorite part was a trip to WinCo to check out the bulk candy. What a great selection. Ashley really wanted M&Ms for her roof and Amelia requested a chocolate covered pretzel fence. I was happy to oblige. Also, each of my girls wanted to do their own house last year, but I only had one house. This year I planned ahead and bought 3 houses, one for each of the girls and then one for me to do. I could have gotten away with not doing one for myself since I was busy helping the girls the whole time. Luckily, Tamara didn't plan on doing one that day, so she was available to help out all the kids. And then she helped me throw mine together really quick.

Tamara helping Josh.

Amelia was very meticulous. And she used every small candy cane available. Elliot didn't even wait until we got home before he started eating her fence.

Daija used food coloring for her roof, which also made her fingers very colorful.

Ashley loved doing her own house. She used crushed candy canes around the windows and here she is making it snow on her finished house. Underneath that tree are four presents. Elliot was a candy snatcher this year and ate one of them. Ashley thought that we should go back to the store and buy another one to replace it. We never did so all she talked about during the Christmas season was the present that Elliot ate. The really funny thing about it was that Ashley had no trouble eating things off of the other houses.

Betty was a hoot to have at gingerbreads this year. She kept telling Jacob that they were going to have the best house and win. The only problem was that we weren't having a competition. Erin arrived late and she still got her house done before I did.

Richell, Jeanell and Shauntell hard at work.

Some of the masterpieces.

What a fine lookin' group.

Betty, Erin, Linda, Tamara, Corinne, Elliot

Jacob, Lori, Amelia, Ashley, Vicki