Christmas Elves are hard at work.

This year I had most of my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving so only a few things to shop for on Black Friday. Yes, I'm one of the crazy people that shop at 3am the day after Thanksgiving. I find it exciting and fun but I don't take it to seriously. I make a list of things I'd like to try to save money on but I'm not going to stand in line for to long. This year I didn't spend that much and just ended up with a few smaller items and lots of tape. The kids can't seem to leave my tape alone.

This year I wanted to make a Christmas Palm Tree which I think turned out cool. As usual was my idea and design with Mike's building skills. We used stocks from our huge sunflowers in the garden for the trunks and used branches from our old fake tree, some wire, zip ties and lights and here is what we have.

Kids under our Tropical Christmas Tree. :)

We have been working on a few Christmas projects like this wreath I'm making from left over fencing wire. Have more photos but decided I didn't want to give away anymore information until after Christmas. But this elf is busy, busy, busy. Wrapping presents, getting cards made, decorating and shopping. Yes, I am enjoying myself. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope that you had a great Thanksgiving. We are very thankful for our wonderful family and friends. The kids helped prepare food to take over to my sister Molly's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Mike had to work but was lucky enough to get off work early. The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins. We all had a great time and ate lots of very yummy food.
Happy Holidays!


Owen making ranch dip for our veggie tray.



Alysha cutting up potatoes for our mashed potatoes.




Ashley finishing her chocolate pie.

Kids with Grandma and Grandpa.

The kids loved sliding down the stairs. We couldn't keep them off of them.

Kids very wound up!

Will cutting the turkey with Delaney's help.

The kids table.

The rest of us! Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Beautiful Fall Day

I can't believe it is already the middle of November. I love fall! The colors of the leaves to the cooler weather, so pretty! We spent an afternoon walking around the Caldwell Ponds and playing with my new camera. Our photos turned out better than I thought they would. Mainly cause I really don't know what I'm doing with the new camera yet. We hope that you are also enjoying the fall and we are looking forward to Thanksgiving! Love the Hardys.



My cute children



Alysha now a teenager! Where has the time gone.




Ashley is getting to be such a big girl.

My little man. Surprises me everyday with new questions and ideas.

Other things we are working on!

The kids helped pick grapes in the back yard, then Mike and I steamed them to make grape juice. Then a few days later we made some grape jelly, yummy!

I've been having tons of fun planning our first and probably only big family vacation!! A HUGE Thank you to my AWESOME grandfather!!!! I'm so excited! I've been researching, reading and asking lots of questions but I think I've got it all planned out. We will be flying to California in January to spend three days at Disneyland and California Adventure. Where we will celebrate Ashley's 8th birthday with a fun Character lunch at Ariel's Groto. Then we will take a train ride to San Diego to see the ocean then spend a day at Legoland and a day at SeaWorld. Where we will celebrate Owen's 6th birthday a few weeks early. Ashley and Owen don't know about it so planning on telling them on Christmas. Alysha is harder to keep things from so she has been helping me plan and get things ready for it. :)

I've also been trying to turn the office into Mike and my bedroom. I decided to paint a family tree on the wall, then added picture frames and butterflies. I just need to get everyone's photos then I can complete my project.

Santa has been having lots of fun creating a Mickey Mouse Christmas this year to go with our family vacation. Finding fun things with Mickey and Minnie on them for stocking stuffers, things to decorate the tree with on Christmas Eve. Fabric painting luggage and fun clothing to wear to the airport. Yes, I know I get way to into parties and holidays!! Always something to keep me busy!

Last is a photo of Owen's paper bag project for school. He wanted to make it a Santa Puppet.



Owen picking grapes



Ashley picking grapes

Stacy researching Disneyland

Reading tips on taking kids to Disneyland

Painting my tree in the bedroom.

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My almost completed tree, just need photos.

Mickey & Minnie luggage for the kids.

Stocking stuffers.

Clothing I found at Saver's for our plane ride to Disneyland.

Owen's puppet.

Alysha's 13th Birthday Party

For Alysha's birthday this year she decided she wanted to go bowling so we thought it would be fun to celebrate like it was the 1950's. I found all the girls skirts then added poodle iron on patches and found the boys all t-shirts black for the big boys and white for the little guys. We found old vinyl records, Coke in glass bottles, bubble yum gum, lollipops, glow sticks and neon straws. We downloaded music and made a cd with Rock around the clock, Twist and Shout, Splish Splash and other classic rock and roll songs. Mike drove the party van full of preteens to Boise to the BSU campus where we had the party at the Student Union building in the Game Center. The kids bowled two games, we had food, cake and ice cream. Alysha got some great presents and they all had a lot of fun. Here are some of the photos I took during the party.


The party crew.

Delaney and Ashley look'n so cute.

Girls dancing in the party room.

Let's Bowl!

Mike and Owen look'n slick

Alysha bowling.

The party.

The hosts.

Alysha opening presents.

Happy Halloween Weekend

Halloween weekend finally arrived. We had fun carving pumpkins and trick or treating three days in a row. First went trick or treating at the Nampa Downtown businesses, organized by the Nampa police. Where all the kids walked from store to store collecting candy during the afternoon. Saturday, we went to the DARE party the Caldwell police organized for the kids, which indoors and was really busy. Sunday night we handed out candy from our house and the kids went trick or treating around our neighborhood then made a quick trip to grandma Reva's for yummy potato soup. It was a great weekend other then Owen wasn't feeling very good on Saturday.



Kids at the Downtown Nampa Businesses



In line for the DARE party

Headed out trick or treating from our house.

Mariah and bat Bella.

Kids trick or treating.