The magical moments

Here are a few of our favorite pictures from the last few weeks. Miss Claus
All dolled up in our Christmas clothes for church

Claire giving the heart of her doggy a nose kiss at Build a Bear Workshop

Bailey choosing out her bear Kelli at Build a Bear Workshop

Riding the carousel at McCormick railroad park

Clarie "helping" mom shred paper

Clarie playing peekaboo with mommy

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

I am ADDICTED!!!

I have a new addiction, digital scrapbooking!!! I love it! I have just started doing it the last few weeks and I can't get enough. Scrapbooking without the mess, what could be better. No more kids ripping the paper part. No more digging buttons out of mouths only to find out they swallowed it. No more washing glue out of a three year olds hair and unwrapping ribbon from her neck. I can sit down in a soft chair, work on it for a few minutes and push save and the mess is cleaned up for me.
My name is Natalie and I am a digital scrapbooking addict!

Sub Zero Souffles

Here is a recipes that I found out a magazine. It is super easy even a kid could do it. Bailey and I have so much fun making these. Enjoy!

3 cups milk
1 pkg. (8 serving size) of chocolate instant pudding
2 cups thawed cool whip
16 oreos crushed
8 maraschino cherries

Pour milk into medium bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. Gently stir in cool whip
Spoon 2 Tbsp. chopped oreos into each of eight 8 to 9 oz. paper drinking cup. Cover evenly with half of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers. Cover with foil.
Freeze 5 hours or until firm. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving. Peel away paper to unmold and place upside down onto dessert plates. Top each with cherry.

Ward Christmas party!

We had our ward party the other night in the Barneys driveway.

Here are a few of our favorite pictures!Claire pre meeting Santa

Claire after meeting Santa

She never stops amazing me

A few weeks ago for Family Home Evening we had a lesson on the Chirstmas story and taught what all the different people in the nativity mean. Since then Bailey has fallen in love with the Christmas story. She wants me to tell her it several times a day. She spend hours everyday arranging our nativities.

The day before yesterday I found her playing "baby Jesus." She had a blanket over her head and was sitting by her doll craddle (which she put a yellow blanket in to look like hay) and was singing "Away in a Manger" to her doll. She told me that she was Mary, her doll was Jesus and that I was Joseph, after which she told me to go away and go to work since I was the daddy. She played "baby Jesus" for several hours, singing to her doll and telling her doll the story of Jesus.

As I think back over the last few weeks she really hasn't said anything about Santa or presents. Even when I ask her what she wants all she says is something pink. I am humbled by my three year old, she is the one teaching me to remember the true meaning of Christmas. I love you Bailey.

Our little Claire-asaurus

Who needs to play in your toys when you can play under them? Claire loves playing underneath tables, chairs, beds, whatever she can fit, or barely fit under. Clarie is getting so big. She has three teeth, walks along furniture and is trying to take steps. We have also found her sitting inside her toy box a few times. She is a little monkey but we love her so much!

IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Our nativity mosh pit designed by Bailey

Clarie heading for the nativity mosh pit Bailey spent a very long time setting up

Bailey Christmas "boot"


Since it is raining today (thank goodness) and we are probably the last people in Gilbert to decorate, we decided to get to work decking the halls. It was fun watching Bailey get so excited to decorate. She unloaded EVERYTHING way before I had time to put it up so we had piles if decorations all over the floor. While unloading she asked a million questions, adding to the million she already asks each day. Deep questions like "Is baby Jesus named Claire like our baby?" "Why was baby Jesus daddy named Joseph Smith?" "Can I wear our Christmas boots (stockings) to church?" And my favorite "Why isn't Joseph Smith Jesus daddy?" Me-"Becuase Joseph Smith was a prophet that lived a long time after Jesus died." Bailey-"Arey ou sure? Why did Jesus die?" Me-"So if we are good girls we can live with him someday." Bailey- "Like the "kindly song"(that is what she calls "I am a Child of God" song) Then she sings the I am a Child of God song and tells me about how I am a good mommy and I am helping her be like Jesus. Of course I started to bawl! I love my little girls!!!

Anyway, I am jealous though that Bailey is so young and gets to expericence Christmas through the eyes of a child for many more years. I miss the wonderment and excitment of Christmas. I remember riding my bike around for hours on Christmas Eve trying to tire myself out so I can sleep that night. And decorating our 3 ft. kid Christmas tree with so many deocrations that it tipped over ten times a day. And spending hours looking through the toy catalogs looking for the perfect gifts. Since I can't get away with doing those things anymore, my wish is to create good memories for my girls that someday they will look back on Christmas time and smile.