Winter Weather & Christmas Music

I think winter has arrived! We've had our first snow fall this past weekend and things don't look like they're going to be warming up anytime soon. I think our high on Wed or Thurs is supposed to be 13%. I'm not a fan of COLD weather but there is something about snow that is quite peaceful to watch. I know, call me crazy.
Anyway, with snow comes lots of driveways and sidewalks to be shoveled. Blake has been our #1 shovel boy. He has volunteered countless times this week to get out and shovel the walks. I thought the cutest one was when he'd gone out to shovel and we'd called him in for dinner. After dinner when he look out the front window, he couldn't believe all his hard work had been covered by a fresh batch of fallen snow. :)
The kids have been hoping for a SNOW DAY but I keep reminding them, that doesn't happen much here in FLAT Idaho.

This afternoon the kids piano teacher had a Holiday gathering at her house and the kids all played Christmas songs and had treats.

We have a more formal recital in the spring as well as a Halloween recital in October, so when it comes to Christmas, it's nice to have it a bit more low key when everyone seems to be so busy with the Holidays and various activities.

The kids had a great time, and it was fun to spend the afternoon enjoying Christmas music played by a room of talented kids. Thank you Kristy, for being such an amazing teacher and for inspiring so many kids to develop such a love for music. Your GREAT and they LOVE you!

From REAL To FAKE

We had every intention this year of once again heading out to pick a live tree for our family to enjoy through the Holidays. Steve & I both love a fresh tree. (after growing up in the Northwest, who doesn't) Then last week we had a friend tell us Lowe's had all their artificial tree's on clearance. I have to admit, after living here in Idaho the past year 8+ years I've seen more and more artificial tree's. They have been a bit tempting. The thought of no mess with pine needles, or worrying about the tree dying before Christmas. I guess I never knew any different than to have a real tree, not to mention not wanting to have to pay the price for an artificial one. Nonetheless, we thought by buying an artificial tree we would be able to use it year after year. I must say, It was a bit strange however when your used to bundling up to head out in the cold to pick the perfect tree, and then stop off for hot chocolate, verses heading into a warm store, picking out your tree in a box and going for ice cream on the way home. It did seem a bit strange but we all had a good time.

I thought it was quite funny we had to follow an instruction booklet for setting up our "fake" tree. It was like putting a toy together. The kids thought it was a hoot. Especially when they saw that the tree came in 3 different pieces.

Steve was teasing the kids about making sure they remembered to water the tree real good everyday. Yeah right, look at this EASY set up. No mess, or remembering to add 7-up or sugar to the water.

McKenna had fun bending all the branches and getting them in just the right spot.

The tree we bought came with lights on it. We plugged them in as we went to make sure everything worked. Blake expressed concern various times during the course of the evening,that he was concerned about the fact it wouldn't smell like Christmas. Steve informed him we would get a Christmas scent to help it smell yummy.

It had been a long day, Blake didn't quite make it. Just about the time we were done setting up the tree, I noticed Blake had fallen asleep under the tree. We decided to wait and decorate the tree the next day with his help, so we finished off the evening by making some cookies and watching Rudolph.

Here it is! Not to shabby for a FAKE tree. We're enjoying it, I must say. I did go buy 3 PINE scented car fresheners per Steve's request. We hung them on the tree, then came in the house after being gone and it was YUCK! They ended up in the garbage outside and I've since been burning my cinnamon/baked apple candles. If you have any brilliant ideas on how to make our tree smell a bit yummy & fresh, send them our way.

A Time To Remember......

The past 2 weeks has come and gone with much gratitude and emotion. Steve's dad passed away just prior to Thanksgiving, so our days have been spent amongst family and friends reflecting on what an amazing person Steve's dad was. He truly has blessed the life's of so many, and I'm a better person today by having known him. I know his legacy continues, and I'm so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families and that we will meet again. Steve's dad grew up in Tridell, Utah which is about 3 hours from Salt Lake City. (near Vernal) Steve's whole family took a family history "road trip" in 2004, so we'd all been to Tridell once before. It was so special to go back and spend the day in a place that Steve's dad had shared with us just a few years back. The kids all remembered and even talked about some of the special stories Grandpa told on that trip.

The service was held at the local church building where Steve's Dad grew up attending church. It was a beautiful service filled with music and wonderful tribute's of his life. I must say however, it was a bit strange to be in a town where everyone knows " The Morrills"! The Morrill name has been in Tridell for so many years, not to mention the cemetery is FULL of the them. My kid's added humor to the trip when they commented on the number of deceased Morrill's they found in the cemetery. It was a beautiful day at the cemetery up on a hill overlooking the town, minus the wind. They had a wonderful military honors portion before the dedication of the grave. Steve's dad served in the military for a term, years ago.

Steve and Blake

All the granddaughter's received a rose to lay on their grandfather's casket following the graveside presentation.

Nadia, McKenna, & Cheyanne. This is our little trio. These girls were all born the same year and even though they've spent most of their lives living far from one another, they are so close. It's so cute to see them together. Nadia lives in Arizona and Cheyanne just moved to Boise recently from Washington. They sure did LOVE their Grandpa.

McKenna placing her rose on the casket.

Steve & McKenna

Grandma Morrill with the grand kids. ( minus 4. Jordan is on his mission & Rose left her baby girls in AZ and just her and Kevin came up)

My sister-in-law made these skirts for the girls all in less than a week. They looked so cute and the girls were happy to wear them in honor of their Grandfather.

Tyra, Hanna, & Blake

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Temple Square at Christmas:

One of the nights we were in Utah, we took the family and headed to Temple Square to look at all the Christmas lights. It was Thanksgiving weekend, the first weekend they are "on" and it was packed. People everywhere. Nonetheless, it was beautiful as usual and the kids were mesmerized. Steve and I have been down to see the lights between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it was a first for the kids.

I LOVE this picture!

We were asked by the sister missionaries if we would stop and sing "silent night". The girl's loved the idea. The boy's on the other hand, took a little to get them going before they joined in, and really enjoyed the spirit of the evening.

McKenna & Nadia ( Oh how they wished they lived by each other)

Blake & his cousin, Hyram. They are definitely a minority when it comes to grandchildren as they are out numbered by the girls. That however, doesn't seem to stop them from having a good time.

Even though it wasn't the best of circumstances for the family to be gathering together, it made us appreciate one another more, reach out to one another, serve one another and really feel gratitude for the family in which we are apart of. Steve's parents have done such a fabulous job with all 6 of their children. The LOVE that exists within that family is one so sacred and special, it's nearly impossible not to feel the love our Father in Heaven has for each one of us.

Food Network 101- Starring Baker Boy...

Blake came home from school today and decided he wanted to play "cooking show." He pretended just as on Food Network how to make and prepare his own version of chocolate chip cookies (or as stated in his recipe, gourmet chocolate chip cookies) He had ALL the ingredients scattered about the counter as he talked and walked us through the process of his famous cookie recipe.

This is a copy of his recipe. He actually wrote the recipe just before the "show" started. He told me it was my souvenir for attending. ( and helping) He wanted me to file this "one and only" gourmet recipe in case I wanted to make these cookies again someday. My favorite part is when he mentions using a "twitch" of vanilla. That vocabulary is so Blake!

He proceeded to tell just how to put the cookies on the cookie sheet and in what order so that they wouldn't melt into one another. It was a hoot!

This I must say, was the BEST part! I explained to Blake, I'd never seen anyone on Food Network describe how to lick the beater when finished sharing a recipe. His reply; " really? that's the best part." "And it tastes sooooooo yummy."

Thank you to Blake, for inspiring me to use a recipe more often, and most of all, giving permission to "lick the beater" when following his recipe. :)

High School Musical 3!

I Love Musicals! I think I'm as bad as the kids if not worse. We've been anxiously awaiting the release of HSM3 as the movies and the music have become a big hit in our house.

With the movie having been in the theaters a few weeks now, McKenna has been anxiously waiting to go. We would have gone the first week it opened, however she wasn't going to go without her cousin Cheyanne. Knowing her cousin was going to be moving to the area within a few weeks she decided it would be worth it to wait. We FINALLY went last weekend and everyone had a great time. My sister-in-law and I were as much into the movie, dancing and singing to the music as much as the girls were. (of course they claimed we were embarrassing them) Nonetheless it was fun and we ended the evening with a stop at mall singing and dancing as we shopped. :) ( The video of McKenna anf Troy dancing below is so funny)