R2, where did you put my curlers?

"Oh Ani, you'll always be that little boy I met on Tatatoiny"

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"

Has anyone seen my pod racer?

If Darth Maul and Hannah Montana had a baby.

Even the inside of the elevator was Star Wars themed.

The flag cupcakes I made for our pack's Blue and Gold Banquet this year.

Got Milk?

I was a lazy mom today, and made breakfast for dinner for the kids. Matt wasn't home yet, and I was busy getting everyone everything they needed, listening to their conversations, and decided to call Matt to see where he was. Gabe has just tossed out the following comment: "I don't like eggs, cause I don't like eating something that just came from an animal"

I decided to get in on the conversation while I was waiting for Matt to pick up the phone.

Me: But you drink milk and it comes from an animal.

Gabe: ya, but I don't really like milk.

Me: but you like eggnog, and it has both eggs and milk straight from the animal's butt. (I know...several parental errors here. First, I realize that these things don't actually come from an animals rear, second, I didn't think that the kids would notice and that this was hardly the time for an anatomy lesson, and Third, we honestly try not to say butt at our house, but give me a break, it was the end of a long day and I was in three different places.) I also didn't realize that Matt had picked up on the other line as Chandler said the following and I responded....

Chandler: Milk doesn't come from the butt, it comes from the balls.

Me: (still not aware that Matt is now on the phone I'm holding to my ear) It doesn't come from the balls, it comes from the boobs.

Matt: hello?

Me: oh, hi.

Chandler: Well, the boobs are those big pink things right next to the balls.

Me: If they have boobs, they don't have balls.

Matt: (now laughing so hard he can hardly talk) sounds like you've had a fun day!

Chandler: But Uncle Jeremy cut off his cow's balls.

Me: that's because Uncle Jeremy's cow is a boy. (to Matt) So, where are you?

Matt: I'm coming down the hill. Hey I know, why don't we take the kids to spend some more time at a farm?

So, my day came down to this stimulating conversation of boobs vs. balls. I think boobs won.

Christmas pictures. Hooray!

The Christensen family party every year consists of lost of yummy appetizers, kids decorating Gingerbread houses, exchanging books with their cousins, opening Jammie's from Grandma, and the adults fighting over porta potties. (yeah, I won it!) It was an awesome, fun filled evening and I'm so glad to be family with these wonderful people.

Morgan with her Papa Christensen. All the girls and one Clayton climbed on Papa for a photo op. Aren't they so cute?

Gabe contemplates his next move.

The craziness of having 10 kids 10 and under decorate Gingerbread houses under one roof. I'm just glad it wasn't my roof. Thanks Jeremy and Renae for hosting the Family Party!

Morgan and I made quite the Gingerbread house decorating team.

Chandler's house was moderately decorated. Mostly because I think it all ended up in his mouth. :)

Morgan was very proud of her house. I think she and I got the award for using absolutely ALL of the candy on our plate. I mean it. We were literally throwing it on the house so we could be done.

We spent Christmas Eve with some great friends in our ward. We had delicious Turducken, and a spread the likes of which few have seen. Then the kids exchanged gifts that we had pre-drawn for, and the adults did a Chinese Gift exchange. I walked away with a blow torch. (yeah! I have so been wanting one) and Matt got a gift card to Blockbuster. (sorry Cam and Rosie for stealing from ya!) All in all, it was a wonderful evening. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends in our lives.

The kids loved swapping presents with each other. Morgan got a bunch of make-up from Kassidy. And she was so excited!

For the past several months, anytime anyone asked Morgan what she wanted for Christmas, she would answer "a motorcycle, just like Uncle Jeremy!" So when I found this at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving, I knew she just had to have it. Turns out, I'm pretty smart some days. And don't worry, Uncle Jeremy doesn't have a pink motorcycle....Its red.

After the 'motorcycle', everything else was kind of a let down I think. We could've saved a bundle, and just not bought anything else. I don't think she's even noticed her other toys.

Quick treats.

Here's what I made for the kids to give their friends at school today.
REINDEER POOP which was just rasinets. And Melted Snowman with this story attached.

I made myself a snowman
as perfect as can be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet
and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
and a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first it wet the bed!

Chocolate Covered Cherries and more OH MY!

One of the perks to my mother teaching classes at A&P and my husband being the store's manager? I sometimes get to assist during classes. I assisted mom the other day, and she taught how to make chocolates, caramels, and other sweets. So I came home and totally got into making Chocolate Covered Cherries. Chandler was kind enough to take these shots of me making some, since my hands were all gooped up. It was actually pretty easy, and they taste so yummy. (I've been very grateful for the constant snowfall so I can go out and shovel snow to burn off the sampling you just have to do when your making sweets for others)

So first you make a fondant, roll it into a ball, smash it flat, and then put your cherry in the middle.

Wrap it around the cherry, and seal it up.

I let mine sit overnight in the fridge, so they were good and set, and it also gives the cherry juice time to seep into the fondant, making it soft and gooey on the inside.

After I dip mine in chocolate, I like to drizzle with another chocolate, covering any mistakes I may have made.

Aren't they just calling your name?

These are the plates I made up for my Achievement Day girls and their families. (lucky ducks)

On my plates? Rocky Road, White dipped cherries, Chocolate covered cherries, fake Turtles, and Peppermint Meringue Kisses.

Dear Santa...

The kids wrote their letters to Santa last week. If you look close, you can probably see what they each wrote. I thought it would be fun to capture these shots for the future, so the kids can look back at what they had wanted Santa to bring them for Christmas.