Sundays

Brett and I have been team teaching the 6 and 7 year old primary kids for awhile now. I really like it. I like hearing Brett teach. Even though he complains about it, I think Brett's a great teacher! I think it's good for me to hear his testimony and to see him interact with the cute kids in our ward. It's good for me too, I like teaching the basics. It confirms my own testimony of the gospel and I'm grateful for that! 

We have 12 new kids this year! We had 9 of them in class yesterday. Our girl to boy ratio has switched this year too. Last year we had all boys and one girl and this year we have 9 girls and 3 boys. We saw our old class (they are in senior primary now) waiting in the hall, they were so excited to see us. I said, "We miss you guys and we love you!", and cute Jackson Landon gave me the biggest hug! Best primary hug ever. 

Jolie just moved out of the Sunbeam class. It's amazing to see how much she has grown this year. Primary was a hard transition for her and she is doing a lot better now. She loves her new teachers and I'm sure she'll have a great year. Her favorite thing is to be called on to help. It's almost painful to watch if she doesn't get picked because you can just see how bad she wants it! She also likes to give talks and help with the article of faith or whatever allows her to talk in the microphone. The new Sunbeam class is so cute--I can't believe how little they seem!

Luke gets to start nursery in exactly 2 weeks! I asked Brett if we should just start him early and he said, "No!". I thought about it and decided he was right, he has plenty of time to be big but only 2 more weeks to go to primary with us! He fell asleep just before church ended this week. I think 11 o'clock church is so hard for the nappers!

Colby is doing a great job passing the sacrament. He's also been taking fast offering envelopes around with Brett after church on fast Sundays. He said that he got 6 out of 7 houses to not only answer the door yesterday but to also donate which is wonderful for them and for the people in our ward that need some extra help. Yesterday I reminded Colby that it was fast Sunday and I asked him to think of something to fast for. He went back to bed with a grumble and later when I asked him to get up and get ready, I asked him again. He came up with a great idea all on his own. He fasted for his step-mom that she would have a healthy pregnancy and that everything would be okay with the baby. When he told me that's what he was fasting for, I was really proud of him. Nikkei is a great influence on Colby and I'm happy that he cares about her and the new baby that will be here in April. He's a good kid, such a good boy.

He likes it--there's no fooling me!

Brett often uses the old "hang man" stand by as a game in class. One of the boys wanted that poor stick man to DIE so bad this week. It was really funny. He was pretty mad when people guessed right!

Captivated!

Random Cuteness

I just transferred some pictures from my phone from the last few months. Brett said to me recently that he wished he could slow time down so we could enjoy how cute our kids are right now...for just a little longer. I completely agree. It's so fun to see them learn and grow but it just goes by so fast! I can't believe that Colby is almost a teenager and that my baby boy is almost 18 months. They are so special to me, even on the crazy days!

Luke was a monkey at the library Halloween party. Ooh ooh ah ah.

Luke loves to put plates on his head. He thinks he's really funny when he does it too.  I guess I would agree because I always take his picture when he does it!

Here's Luke, eatin' some cinnamon toast. He's just cute. I can't believe I waited this long to buy a shaker to mix cinnamon and sugar in. I remember making it with my sisters all the time and now my kids love it too.

This was a funny sign that was hanging in the waiting room in my Gyno office. LOL! I do use my phone a lot but even I can show some restraint.

Here's Jolie after her Thanksgiving Feast at preschool. They had stone soup and her food assignment was pumpkin pie. She is such a cute Pilgrim. She is enjoying preschool and is excited to go every week. I am really impressed with all of the fun things they do every time she goes! My friend Pat is her teacher and she is truly amazing. We are blessed to know her and to have Jolie in her little school. 

These are the mini pumpkin pies that I made for Jolie's preschool feast. I just used my regular crust and pumpkin pie recipe but I made them in cup cake pans. After they baked I popped them out and put them in cute rainbow colored liners. They were yummy and super cute. I would definitely do this again.

Luke loves this helmet in the gym day care. He is so stinking cute. I love this little sweetheart so much. He has gotten better about playing with his friends in the day care while I work out. I'm so grateful because it's a wonderful outlet for me and I know it's good for my little mama's boy too.

Here's cute Jolie sitting on Santa's lap...the only thing she asked for was markers! She would NOT tell me what she was going to ask for. She said, "You'll hear when I tell Santa". She's a little stink and she still laughs anytime she hears or says the word "poop".

Ha ha! Lukey loves Santa! Listen to how evil I am: I made him do this twice because the first time, the picture didn't save on my phone! Buwahahaha!

Ouch! Luke had to get stitches! He fell off of his toddler chair and sliced his chin on the fireplace. We ran to the urgent care and he got 7 stitches. I felt so bad for him, but I was brave. He was tough but screamed the whole time. It looks really good now. Hopefully we won't have to that again! Only my boys have had stitches--so far.

Ginger Cookies

I love these Ginger Cookies so much. I made them for neighbor treats a few weeks ago and wanted to share the recipe.  It's great as is or with semi sweet chocolate chips--this is a big batch so if you decide to add chocolate I would suggest 1-1/2 to 2, 12 oz bags. Yum!

Giant Ginger Cookies

Ingredients

4-1/2  cups  all-purpose flour

4  teaspoons  ground ginger

2  teaspoons  baking soda

1-1/2  teaspoons  ground cinnamon

1  teaspoon  ground cloves

1/4  teaspoon  salt

1-1/2  cups  butter

2  cups  granulated sugar

2    eggs

1/2  cup  molasses

3/4  cup  coarse sugar or granulated sugar

Directions

1. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds to soften. Gradually add the 2 cups granulated sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and molasses. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour mixture.

3. Shape dough into 2-inch balls using 1/4 cup dough. Roll balls in the 3/4 cup coarse or granulated sugar. Place about 2-1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are light brown and puffed. (Do not overbake or cookies will not be chewy.) Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Makes twenty-five (25) 4-inch cookies.

**I don't make mine Giant, I just use my regular cookie scoop and do 12 to a pan. Giant is fun but I'd rather have more cookies! This recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens and the original recipe calls for shortening (no thanks, butter is better). 

Road Trip--Oceanside!

We were fortunate enough to get an invitation from my bff, Becca to take a road trip and stay with her family in Oceanside, CA. It took some coaxing on Brett's part, but when he finally gave in, he confessed that he needed a vacation as bad as I wanted one. We left on the 26th (our temple anniversary BTW) and drove to St. George. We stayed overnight at my aunt's condo and then on Tuesday morning we headed for CA! It seriously was the right choice. It was sunny and beautiful and best of all I got to see Becca! She and I met at the University of Utah. We had Spanish II together and we ended up on the same study abroad in Chile. Afterwards we traveled to Peru together and had so many adventures. We took a couple of classes when we got back and have just stayed really good friends. Becca taught me to love running too--I can't leave that out! We were able to go running together a couple of times while I was there and it was great. I wish I could gather all of the important people in my life and keep them close to me. I would run with her everyday if I could. We've only seen each other 3 times since we graduated and I miss her dearly. I'm so grateful this trip worked out and that we were able to get away from the cold and enjoy our friends! I appreciate their hospitality so much. I love you Becca!

When we got to Oceanside, we hung out at Becca's for a little while and then they took us to the pier down at the beach. It was the longest pier in the Western U.S. and it was so fun to walk out into the ocean as the sun was setting. Lot's of people were fishing for Sardines and we walked down to the restaurant at the end of the pier to get penny gumballs for the kids. I didn't get any pictures, but I loved it.

On the second day, we were able to go to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. It was a beautiful day and we had fun wandering and checking out the animals. In the pictures below, you'll see just how much fun Jolie had playing in the splash play area. She's so funny! It took Luke a few minutes to get brave, but then he had a blast too. Becca's son, C loved it too but her little girl, E just kept escaping and climbing the big hill!

Luke eating a delicious PB&J

This is Becca trying to keep E in the splash area. It didn't work!

Jolie went crazy in the water area. She's a little fish. She loves to get wet! She played and played and played some more.

The elephants are my favorite. There were a lot of babies this year at the zoo. 

Becca and I at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park!

On Thursday and Friday we went to Lego Land. I really liked it! I was sad that Colby couldn't see all the amazing things they had built out of Legos, so we need to go back with him.I was impressed with that part alone! I also liked that we could gear our day towards our little kids. They loved it.

This was one of our first stops to PLAY Legos! 

E really getting into it haha!

There were several cities that were built out of legos. This is Washington D.C. and it was absolutely amazing. Everything was re-created from the Vietnam Memorial to Iwo Jima. I loved it! They said that in the New York display there were like 3 Billion Legos. I want to know how many Legos there are in the whole park.

We LOVE waiting in line haha!

Our little Aviator!

At Lego Land there was a giant Fort with slides, tunnels and obstacles. It was great--we ran around in there for a really long time.

This was an amazing Christmas display made out of Legos. They also had real snow while we were there. We didn't stop to play in it because, hello--We're from Antartica and we knew we'd be headed back there soon.

Bumper Car fun

Jolie with her Drivers License!

Luke on the little train. He had just woken up so he wasn't quite ready to smile for me.

Becca, You put the wet stuff on the hot stuff, you put the cold stuff on the hot stuff. Don't forget.

The highlight for Brett Yancey: soaking people. Cory and Brett  soaked quite a few people on this ride. There were little pirate ships that sailed around and when they got to Brett and Cory they got sprayed in the face by two grown men laughing their heads off. There was also a ball area where Brett was shooting people in the face (including me and Becca). He was almost in tears a few times when he saw people's reactions to being assaulted. 

Lego Buffalo!