Sunday, November 30, 2014

November 30, 2014

BB invited her friend, Kali, over to make some Christmas crafts and have fun in their jammies. She is a very nice girl and they get along like peas and carrots!

Saturday, November 29, 2014

November 29, 2014

Our stake is awesome. They put on a wonderful evening called "A Night in Bethlehem". They decorated the gym to look like Bethlehem, including authentic looking stalls with shop keepers selling their wares, a silhouette of the old city on the walls, people dressed as roman sentries and other people from that time, and a live nativity that was put on every half hour. We were each given a little satchel filled with "gems" that we could spend at the stalls, buying everything from apples, olives, and bread with honey, to cookies and desserts, and even a little dreidel game. We had to pay our taxes, though, which always stinks :) I loved it, and if they put it on next year, I'll be dressing up!

Friday, November 28, 2014

Thursday, November 27, 2014

November 27, 2014

I think I'm finally getting the hang of this knitting thing. I finished up this chunky cowl in a couple of hours. I'm hooked :)

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

November 26, 2014

This really cool circle (halo) around the sun appeared and we just had to capture it. Stunning!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

November 25, 2014

We waited a while to see this movie and weren't disappointed! We thought it was great, if a tad slow, and was faithful to the book. Now to see the last installment - Mockingjay Part 2!

Monday, November 24, 2014

November 24, 2014

I baked and photographed these ooey gooey, chocolate peppermint marshmallow brownies for a post on HowDoesShe. Seriously drool-worthy and completely amazing.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

November 22, 2014

Special day! JJ won the Student of the Month award for the entire school for November - only one student is chosen for the entire school. As part of her award, she was given a gift certificate to Ruckers, so we took the girls to celebrate. BB even broke one of the high score records! Such a fun day.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Thursday, November 20, 2014

November 20, 2014

I hosted my first ever "Favorite things" party at my house for me and a couple of gal pals. We each brought our favorite snack to eat, visited, did a "favorite things" quiz, and exchanged our favorite things under $5 - we each brought 5 of the same "favorite thing" and handed them out to the guests. Each guest went home with five new "favorite" items from each other. I loved all of them, and have used them lots. It was such a fun night. I'll have to do it again!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

November 19, 2014


 Another fundraising event for Canadian Humanitarian - this time in Medicine Hat. The keynote speaker was the inspiring Ted Jaleta, a world class master's runner and motivational speaker, who shared a bit of his amazing story of survival as he escaped war torn Ethiopia and made his way, eventually, to Canada. Incredible story of strength and perseverance. The event was emceed by Rick Castiglione who was a news anchor and now films documentaries, one of which he did for Canadian Humanitarian. It was a lovely evening and a very successful fundraiser.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

November 18, 2014

The perfect type of snow to make some cute snow people - including a girl in a dress and a pony tail!

Monday, November 17, 2014

November 17, 2014

It's earlier than any year in the past, but we decided to decorate of Christmas! It just seemed like time, and it felt great! Too bad Lyndon was feeling sick tonight and couldn't be a part of it. Maybe next year!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

November 16, 2014

A special evening - it was Young Women in Excellence. TJ and B both shared their Personal Progress projects, TJ sang a duet with her friend, Alicia (accompanied by me on the piano), and TJ even curled JJ's hair to match hers. It was a lovely evening, beginning to end.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

November 15, 2014

The men in our ward held a Nacho Libre party and a few of them just had to dress the part. Hilarious.

Friday, November 14, 2014

November 14, 2014

A first, for me - homemade marshmallows! Homemade PEPPERMINT marshmallows, at that! Major yum factor going on here - and aren't they so pretty?

Thursday, November 13, 2014

November 13, 2014

Hello winter! The trees are weighed down by the heavy snowfall we got last night.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

November 11, 2014

Listening to some tunes on the drive home from Calgary. Loving me some Andrew Allen these days.

Monday, November 10, 2014

November 10, 2014

This gal chose to spend much of the day helping her dad shovel mailbox sites for grandpa and grandma. It was a great idea for a Young Women's service project. So proud of her!

Saturday, November 8, 2014

November 8, 2014

We finally got to meet "Archer" - my brother's gorgeous dog. He is such a sweetie and hangs on Aaron's every word. It was so nice meeting you, Archer!

Friday, November 7, 2014

November 7, 2014

This was a beautiful remembrance day assembly - the choirs sang as well as a few poems etc. from select classrooms. It wasn't too long, too involved, and everything has a great message to it. Loved it.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

November 6, 2014

The Calgary fundraising event for Canadian Humantarian was a smashing success with the amazing Dr. Samantha Nutt who was the keynote speaker. It was a fabulous evening with great food, inspirational speakers, and a lot of fundraising accomplished. Awesome!

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

November 5, 2014

Such a great student - winning awards left and right! These ones were for Xtra Math (passing off her subtraction unit) and an award for being an Exemplary student. Way to go, BB!

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

November 4, 2014

JJ asked me to post this photo and write:

"Dog - just had surgery. Owner - so happy!"

I had stitched up a small hole in the puppy's leg just minutes before. After I snapped the photo, JJ says "I hope her hair looked good." LOL!

Monday, November 3, 2014

November 3, 2014

I photographed this little beauty this morning at her home - she was the perfect little model. It was fun to stretch my photography "muscles" again - it feels like I haven't done enough of that lately.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

November 2, 2014

I love teaching gospel principles through music. I always learn so much myself. It's a great calling.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

November 1, 2014

One day after Halloween and Christmas stuff has taken over every shelf.  Just kidding. This stuff has been up since August.