The Christmas Spirit

The Christmas Spirit
Watch and share a new Mormon Messages video, “The Christmas Spirit,” in which a young girl quietly teaches her preoccupied family the true meaning of Christmas. This video is also available in Spanish. Visit the Christmas topic page to learn more about how you, your family, and friends can draw closer to Christ this season.

The Christmas Spirit

The Nutcracker!

Grace and I decided to start a tradition of going to the nutcracker each December. I wasn't sure Isabella would enjoy it so she stayed home with the boys and we told her we would check it out and see if she would enjoy it the next year. I tried really hard to get into it(I didn't know there was no talking or singing) and about 15 min. in, Grace looks at me with a skeptical look and says, "This is kinda boring"! The dancing was fun to watch and the dresses were beautiful and fun to look at! The atmosphere was great and we even ran into some friends who have this same tradition! After it was over, on our way to the car, this was our conversation:

me: You like it?
Grace: Kinda
me: You want to come next year?
Grace: YES!
(really? even after asking every 5 min. how much longer..?)
me: Should we bring Bella next time?
Grace: ya
me: Really? Why do you say that?
Grace: So she can sit through the boring thing with me!

Needless to say, after all was said and done we had a good time and will continue this tradition and bring Bella next time! We did find out that Jaxson has an eye for the art unlike Grace and I. His school took them and he loved it! (they did sit right up front and Grace and I were so far back, you could barely see the dancers...next time, spend the money..upgrade!)


At one point, Grace lets a giggle escape her, it was quite loud and she was very embarrassed. Then we both got the giggles..it was the man in white TIGHT tights pictured below skipping across the stage! It was kind of funny!

Bel Aire ward Christmas party!

What a great ward Christmas party! It started off with The Polar Express. We have a man in our ward that is a model train collector and had 3 trains with a city set up in the middle! It was a lot of fun, Brock would chase the trains around! We tried to get a good picture..but I'm still trying to figure out my camera so all you really see is a big swoosh!



Behind the train she took the primary kids silhouettes and lined them up on the wall like they were riding in a train! So cute! My boys weren't there on picture day, but we did get the girls! Very easy to tell who is who! LOVE the noses!!




Santa was also sitting over in a corner for pictures and lap sitting, however, he spent most of his time trying to keep the boys from stealing his candy canes(never would that involve my son and his two cute friends..ha!)








Then we had a great traditional Christmas dinner, served by the youth and followed by singing Christmas carols and a nativity play, put on by the primary children to the song, The Nativity Song, rearranged by a composer in our ward. Our neighbors, the Rogers, joined us and it was a great night!
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On the drive home, the Rogers told us about a house just behind the church with crazy lights on it, so we drove by and I have NEVER seen anything like it before! They even had their own radio station you could tune into and listen to Christmas music. The kids loved it!






It made me think of a Christmas picture I saw this year! Ha Ha!!

Is independence a good thing?

There are two things that Brock loves 1)baths and 2)taking off all his clothes and running around naked!
I was in the kitchen and heard water running and him playing, so I went to check it out and this is what I found! Brock in the tub, having taken off everything but his jammie shirt that is too tight to take off himself! After laughing internally and taking a picture I said, "Brock, what am I going to do with you!" He responds, "um...take off my shirt?"
Love him!



Ok, so I had to add this picture from this morning! I found my little streaker in the snow clothes today! Totally buck! I put the diaper on for the public nature of the blog! HE HE!!

Thanksgiving

Lisa just posted some great pictures on her blog that I had to steal.
Flag football on Thanksgiving morning



Silly moments




Christmas light tour... (funny story behind these pictures)!


Foosball

Boys cooking spaghetti


Brad, Lisa, Joe, Emily and Sam Acker came out for a visit and to spend Thanksgiving with us. We had a great time together as we always do! Playing and watching football followed by feasting on Thanksgiving! No pictures however because the camera was broken!
Friday, 5am, Derek, Lisa and Brad ran out to find some deals! I got a new camera! YEA!! We also went and saw the Christmas Carol, which was great! Good family tradition!

Saturday we all drove to Bel Plaine and participated in a 5k run with a food drive to fill the food pantry back up after the holidays! It was on this chiropractors property, very rugged terrain! It was a really fun run though, especially to run with extended family! Joe came in first place with 27 min, Jaxson behind him with 28 min. and then the rest of us followed along after them! Sam and Grace wrapped up the end and finished strong! So proud of EVERYONE! Hopefully we can make this a tradition too and keep on running!






We finished the weekend up with dinner at Jose Peppers and playing Joe's new board game! Can't wait to play again at Christmas!

Camera broke!

I am so enjoying blogging that I look at each situation with a blog description in mind! It was a sad day when our camera took it's last click! No postings here for a while...here's to hoping Santa remembers what a good girl I've been!!
Know of any good cameras?? Please contact Santa with details! Thanks!

Denver for Mission farewelcome and Halloween!

What a fun year for our family. We have welcomed home two missionaries and sent off another. Terryn Acker was the first to come home in Sept. from Odgen, Utah mission. He and his dad and brother spent a fun weekend out here in Kansas after he got back.
Halloween weekend happened to be the only Sunday where Dawnanne(my sister) had all 5 of her kids home in a while and probably for many years to come. Nathan Gill returned home from his mission in Ontario, Canada the Wed. before Halloween and Collin Gill his little brother, left on his mission to Kentucky the Wed. after Halloween. Clark, the oldest brother flew out from California with a friend Marissa, and the first night they had a quadruple date (with youngest brother Josh who is finally old enough to date). The rest of the weekend was the Farewelcome for Nate and Colin! Here is a picture of them playing games on Sunday!

Denver happened to get the biggest snowstorm in 12 years 2 days before we were headed out..so with many prayers and the a few hours delayed, the sun shone bright and led us on dry roads safely! It made for a very fun time in Colorado. We don't ever get snow like this in Wichita. Brock didn't even know what it was...crazy!







It was a great weekend, we started off at a Halloween party with the Ackers and got to see many of the cousins and aunts and uncles. We will return for the holidays to spend more time with them!
Lots of my side of the family came out for the big weekend, Patti and her daughter Gentry, Amy and all her family, Jan, Stacie and the grandparents! We played lots of games, ate lots of yummy food, went trick or treating and even dressed up as burritos for free Chipotle...well the braves ones did...















It was a great weekend and good experience for my kids. Especially Jaxson, he saw three cousins serving missions, his cousin Colin took him to the bank and Jaxson saw him take out all the money he had earned himself to pay for his mission. He also got to go to his cousin Grant's church as he received the priesthood. We are so grateful for the wonderful example family members are setting for my children and the unconditional love that is always felt!