Decorating the Tree

The kids have been dying to get the Christmas tree up all of Thanksgiving break. We had planned to decorate it tonight, but had some other things come up that we needed to do. As they were going to bed, Little Hema expressed how sad he was that we didn't do the tree over his whole Thanksgiving vacation so we scrapped bedtime and headed down to decorate! 

Hema did a great job with the glass ornaments.
Only 1 got broken going up this year! Woo Hoo!  

Vela was pretty much just thrilled to be up past bedtime! :)

Where is a picture of Cora you ask? Yeah we aren't crazy! She went to bed and skipped the fun. There are lots of non-breakable Christmas activities that she'll get to participate in. 

Hooray for the Christmas Season! 

Katie!

We always love spending time with Katie (Hema's birth mother). She is such an amazing person! On Saturday we met up a Planet Play and had a great time! 

Katie and Hema! ♥

We did bumper cars, laser tag and played lots of video games!

Vela and Daddy having fun! 

Cora loved all the rides this time and couldn't get enough of the little carousel.

Shooting hoops!

Sweet!

We are so very grateful for amazing birth parents who continue to allow us to be part of their lives! 

Dinosaur Museum

Now that the weather is cold again, we are back to spending lots of time at the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum. There is an exhibit there now called "Notions of Motion" that is really fun. My kids can play in there for hours. This week we met up with some friends and had a great time. 

Hema and Luke pedaling to make the lights turn on. 

Cora wishing he could just reach those balls!

Vela holding still just long enough for me to snap a picture.

Hema with the fossil puzzle he put together. 

Cora loving the sand. 

We sure do love Thanksgiving Point! 

Cora

Cora loves to undress herself, find Hema and Vela's clothes and put them on instead. Lately, she has been climbing up on Hema's bed and dancing like crazy all the time. It is pretty funny! The other day I snapped this picture of her. I thought it was funny that she got Hema's glasses on too. 

 She got up and started dancing and jumping and as I went to walk out I heard her fall and turned around to see this.

She had fallen between the bed and the wall. So sad and funny at the same time! She is always doing this kind of thing but I never have my camera right there to capture it! We adore our sweet and funny little Cora! 

Simple Microwave Popcorn

Have you all tried this? I had heard about it ages ago and finally gave it a try a few weeks ago. I sent both my air popper and whirly pop to DI when I was decluttering awhile ago and can't stand the taste of microwave popcorn. So when I decided to make several batches of caramel popcorn for my primary leaders I looked this up and tried it out. It is brilliant I tell you! Try it and you will never go back to eating that fake tasting nasty microwave popcorn again! 

Step one: Measure out 1/2 cup of popcorn.

 Step 2: Pour it into a brown paper bag. I used one from the grocery store. I've also seen lunch bags used.
Do not add anything else - just the kernels!

Step 3:  Fold the bag down 2 or 3 turns. Do not staple it or anything. It doesn't have to be sealed.

 Step 4: Put it in the microwave for about 4-5 minutes. Just like with any microwave popcorn listen and when it's a few seconds without popping it is done.

 Step 6: Open the bag quickly, the air will be hot so be careful. It will burn if you do not pen the bag!

Pour it out and be sure and dump the "old maids." You can add butter and salt or spray with a little spritz of pam then a little salt. Or you can make this amazing caramel corn Favorite Caramel Popcorn Recipe. That is my favorite recipe and with 1,300 plus 5 star reviews, you know it's not just me that likes it! 

I hope you throw out your bulky air poppers and never buy nasty store bought microwave popcorn again! 

Primary Program 2011

We had our ward Primary Program in October. I love the Primary Program, but tend to get a little stressed out about it all running smoothly since I ma the Primary president. As always, it went well. The kids have such strong little spirits and you can't help but feel love when they talk and sing. It is such a blessing to get to spend every Sunday with these amazing kids who I love very much. I am also grateful for my amazing presidency, music ladies and teachers! I really love primary! 

The cute man kneeling down int he front is our awesome Stake President - President Makai. 

My parents with Hema and Vela. The program straight wore Vela out!
Thanks for coming out mom and dad! 

This is how Cora ends up every week at church. It is right during her nap time.

By the time the meetings were over I felt the same way and went right home for a nap myself! 

Halloween

Halloween was a lot of fun this year! I know this is being blogged a little late, I've been lacking motivation to catch my blog up.... but here goes! 

My cute little trick or treaters on Halloween!
Hema was batman, Cora a peacock and Vela Batgirl. 

Hema with his candy! 

Vela super excited about her candy!

Cora only trick or treated a few houses... it was too cold!

Krychele and Cora on Halloween. I LOVE this picture!

Hema at his school costume parade. 

Hema making a little spider at his class party.
I am his room mom again and we had a fun party!

Hema and Vela's pumpkins. They did a lot of the carving themselves this year. 

Posing with their pumpkins - which grandma Hawkins grew!

Cora was happy just to pound on one like a drum!

Our ward Trunk or Treat!

Cutest little Peacock!! 

I have never made any form of hot dogs for my family- since I detest them!
But I made these simple spiders and all 3 kids loved them!

Served them on spaghetti sauce. 

We had a fun neighborhood Halloween party. The dads donut eating race was super funny!

Well that pretty much wraps up our Halloween festivities!