It's beginning to look like Christmas at the Hardy's.

My early Christmas present from my dad arrived and we got it put together and decorated. Love it. The kids lay in front of it in the mornings before school.  While I was gone to see my grandfather Mike and the kids put out some decorations and lights. Once I got home we set up this cute little tree. Today, the kids decorated their gingerbread houses from grandma Reva and Aunt Lee. They had a lot of fun and the houses turned out cute. They are the new center piece on our kitchen table. We even had a little snow in the grass this morning that Ashley and Owen went and played in for a short time. They are counting down until Christmas break.

Our little tree by our little fireplace. 

Working hard.

Ashley decorating.

Alysha decorating

Kids with their finished houses.

My grandpa Richard's birthday

Nov. 23rd for my grandfather's birthday, I flew to Portland to meet my grandfather and dad then we drove on to Salem. Where we celebrated with a wonderful dinner my aunt Lee made. I got to spend five days with my family away from the kids being spoiled, enjoying dinners out and shopping trips. I had a great time but it was nice to come home. 

Grandpa's birthday dinner.

Dinner at the Road House

Me, Aunt Lee, Clancy, Grandpa, Dad and Lolo

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning I went to visit my grandma Jane at the Cottages in Payette. I found her this cute little tree with LED lights and decorations for her room. She was the first one at the assisted living to have a tree. I had a nice visit with her and got to say hi to my uncle Bill and his family. Then I picked up Mike and the kids and headed to my mother-in-law Reva's house for a yummy dinner with Mike's family. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving.

My grandmother, uncle Bill and his family.

Reva and Scott.

Amanda, Mariah and Alysha

  

Mike, Kristey and Ashley

Ruby, Landon and baby on the way

Idaho Ice World

My brother Cody came to visit so we all decided to go ice skating. It was a lot of fun even with all the crashing and falling. Mike even gave it a try this time and did really well. It was also Alysha's friend Jacobi's birthday and first time skating and they had a blast. My camera didn't do very well so don't have photos of everyone. :(

Jacobi and Alysha

Me standing for once that evening. I fell at least 6 times, worst ice skating I've done ever. I'm blaming it on my balance being off from my recent head injury from the ice skates falling on my head from the shelf in the shed the other day when I was trying to get my Christmas wreath down

Molly and her mini me, Delaney

 Grandma Francee with Delaney and Molly. Cody and Will in the back.

 Kids using walkers to help with skate, with Mike and Eric

Mike and Owen taking a break.

The forgotten photos on my phone

So whenever I forget my camera I take photos with my phone then I forget about them. Well, I finally remember these photos from the Lowe's Build and Grow workshop where the kids made Ghoul Buses. An awesome photo of Alysha with her friend Jacobi wearing mustache glasses. A photo of the kids with their Creepy Keepers from Lowe's Build and Grow workshop. A photo at the movie theater after watching the new Hotel Transylvania movie. A couple photos of Ashley and Owen at the Lego class. Then one photo of the kids' artwork from my first day of teaching art to the second graders. I think that gets me caught back up. 

We are currently working on mini chocolate pies for Ashley's feast at school. Mike and I are building Alysha's bearded dragon, Pepe a new enclosure. Mike shaved all his hair off, beard and top of his head. Shocking! We are all looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving break.

Rollerdrome

A couple of Alysha's friends decided to throw her a birthday party. They asked me to drop her off at one of their houses then they would go roller skating at the Rollerdrome. I decided I'd see if my sister would meet us there then all the younger kids could skate too. We all had a lot of fun. The big girls decided to stay for another session while the rest of us went home. The big girls all went back to Marina's house for cake and  ice cream then were spending the night. I'm sure they had a great time.

Delaney, Ashley, Owen and Mason ready to skate.

Kids skating

Delaney and Alysha

Owen learning to fly.

Mason, Delaney and Ashley skating to the last song.

All the big girls ready to skate in the second session.

Alysha's 15th Birthday

Wow, can't believe Alysha is 15 years old. If you think that is weird check out all the weird mustache theme items you can buy to play with. Yes, teenagers are into fake mustaches at the moment. Alysha and her friends are crazy about them. So I made Alysha a mustache cake and found all kinds of things with mustaches on them. A t-shirt that says" I mustache you a question? Can you shave it for later?", an iphone case with "I mustache you a question", mustache ear buds, rings, bracelets, belts, wallets, stickers, fake fur mustaches, fake finger mustache tattoos and much more. So after going to Chinese for dinner and to see the newest Ice Age movie we came home to play with mustaches. Even her new bike had a mustache. Crazy but fun.

Alysha with her mustache cake.

Mustache cake

Alysha with her new t-shirt, iphone case, ear buds and lots of stick-on mustaches.

Owen with a mustache

Owen, Alysha, Amanda and Ashley with mustaches

Amanda pondering the universe.

More mustaches

Alysha with her new bike