Christmas 2011

Christmas has come and gone and now it is time to get back on schedule.  Why does it seem that at Christmas it takes forever to get here but once it is here it is gone in a flash? But as long as we can remember the real meaning of Christmas and carry it with us all year, Christmas will always be in our hearts!!

Clark was so excited, Santa brought him a cell phone, some Lego's, BB's and a new air soft pistol and of course mom and dad got him clothes (they were well needed, somehow his shirts have shrunk, not that he has gotten taller or anything).

Ryan got a bike, some Lego's and BB's with an air soft pistol too, and headphones for the Xbox from Santa, and yes clothes from mom and dad.  They all needed clothes.

Emma got another American Girl doll (this time it was a look a like), a scooter (it's a cross between a ripstick and a scooter, I will have to get a picture), a message board that she had to put together and some other fun stuff from Santa.  Yes, she also got clothes from mom and dad, like I said they all needed clothes.  What is with growth spurts, can't they just stay little for a while longer?

Andrew was having a blast opening his presents, he would take a small piece of paper and tear, it took him forever to get them open but when he did he was so excited he had to have another one.  This year Santa brought him a soccer goal and ball (yes, he love the sport), a truck, a "Car's" sheet set and comforter (he loves 'Mater and Lightening McQueen) and some coloring books and crayons.  Yes, he even got some shirts from mom and dad. One of his favorite gifts were the trucks that his grandma and grandpa got him.  I think he likes them because of the noises they make, he was in heaven!!

Look what I got!!
(this one was from Santa)

I got a crepe maker, President Monson's autobiography (funny, so did Carrson), some clothes, a pair of boots, and as a family we got a doughnut maker from my sister (yes, we have even made some).

I hope that every one has had a great Christmas and had a wonderful season.  Now, on to the new year!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

To you whom I may have forgotten (who check this blog every once in a while) with a card and those of you who aren't on Facebook.  We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!!!!

On a side note can you believe it is three days before Christmas and we are having tornado watches and warnings.  I just found out a tornado hit north of us, never heard the sirens and I also had just checked the weather just before it touched down. Another thing we have been in the 70's most days this past week.  It doesn't even seem like it is December, yet Christmas in a few days!  Crazy weather even for Alabama!!!

Christmas is coming

Christmas is coming and up until last week I had spaced seeing Santa.  I called a friend and they had not seen him yet either, so we decided while the older kids were at Young Mens we would meet and visit with Santa.  As you probably know here we go to The Bass Pro Shop to see Santa.  The kids like going there because they have games for them to play, coloring sheets and a craft area.  So once we got there Andrew was so excited to see him, he even went running up to him and put his arms up so Santa would pick him up, so cute!!  Emma was also excited to see him but she didn't run up to him.

Andrew and Santa

He doesn't look excited but he really was!

Emma and Santa

Making a cute ornament

Ward Christmas party

This year the youth was asked to put on the Christmas Story out of the Scriptures and both Clark and Ryan were in it.  Ryan was a scribe and Clark was a wise man.  The youth did a great job putting it on even though all they did was stand there while it was narrated.  The funniest thing was was when the shepherds came out and had some sheep with them (young women) one of the sheep would baaa during the narration, I thought it was great. 

King Herod and the scribes.

The three Wisemen.

Three silly girls.

Emma, Grace and Carol

Santa's visit to the library
On Tuesday we went to the library for story time and so Andrew could see Santa again.  Well the Santa part went great, he loves the man but the story part we are still struggling with.  He doesn't want to sit there and listen he wants to get up and run, so needless to say I spent a lot of time outside because I was told he was being too loud and disruptive.  I am sorry but I am trying to teach him he has to sit there and be quiet, so I am sorry that by me standing by the door is causing problems (sorry ranting). I think if they'd have started on time he probably would have done better, he had been sitting there with Emma and myself for fifteen minutes already.  On a good note he was excited to see Santa again!!!

Santa coming in to read a story.  Andrew is at the bottom of the picture in the blue shirt.

All he wanted to do was sit by Joseph, but then after a couple of minutes he decided he wanted to get up and run so that was the end of that.   Emma also loves to go and listen to the stories.

Andrew and Santa

Up to my eyeballs in snowmen!!!

This year Carrson decided he wanted me to make sock snowmen for gifts for his coworkers.  Luckily I had made one of these about fourteen years ago, and then had the beehives make them last December for an activity.  But making twenty of them by yourself gets overwhelming.  Needless to say the table was covered with snowmen for a few days.  But I do enjoy doing crafts and all you need for these are a tube sock, enough rice (uncooked) to fill it two thirds the way full, and marker to draw there faces, something that looks like a carrot for a nose (painted orange of course) and some flannel fabric to make a scarf and some patches oh, and don't forget a glue gun.

This is a few things of what the last week has entailed (except the trip to the emergency room (which I posted earilier), I hope your Christmas season is going well and I hope you are able to enjoy the season!!!

Visiting teaching gift ideas

 I was looking at a friends blog and I liked the idea of posting your ides for gifts (so you can remember later what you did ) when you go visiting teaching.  I like to try to take something when I go even if it is a plate of cookies or something else, I think it makes the sister's happy I know it makes me feel good to get something, even if it is a magnetic shopping list or notebook.  Since I have been a slacker, here is November and December's.

 In November I did a frame ($1.00 from Michaels) and a picture of the "forget me not" (President Uchtdorf's talk from the women's session last October).  I found the picture perusing some blogs and photo copied it. (Sorry I can't remember which blog it came from, if I see it or remember I will post it.)  I loved the talk and thought this would be a great reminder.

In December I made "Snowman Soup" or as Emma kept calling it "Snowman Snoop".  Now that she has called it that I keep finding myself saying "snowman snoop".  I also made these for Emma's school teacher's.  I found it on the blog brownpaper--packages.com.  I thought it was a fun idea and it didn't cost a lot!

All you put in it is a couple packets of hot chocolate mix, a candy cane for each packet, some marshmallows and  some "Hershey Kisses" (I used the candy cane ones, YUMM)

Here is the poem that goes with it

"When the weather outside is frightful

Snowman Soup can be delightful,

May it warm your spirit and your soul,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

When you get a chill or a "brrrrr',

Use the peppermint stick to stir,

Add hot water and sip it slow,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

Concerts, Concerts and more Concerts!!!

I started this post last week and I am just getting back to it.  Sorry!!  Well, the kids are out for Christmas (yes, I said Christmas) break and the last week or two have been pretty busy.  The schools were trying to squeeze everything in before school was out and with two kids in extra curricular/band classes we had some extra things to do in the evening.  Ryan has has a band concert and Emma has had 3 (out of 4) concerts (they ended up cancelling one of her concerts).  So we were on the go quite a bit, and on top of that  Carrson was out of town for a few days also. 

Ryan has had a lot of fun learning to play the clarinet and was so excited for his concert.  A couple of months ago he found out the band teachers were having try outs for the jazz band (here it is an after school/extra curricular activity).  He decided he wanted to tryout but the only problem the jazz band is only for eighth graders but as a seventh grader he could try out on the piano.  He tried out for the jazz band and ended up making it.  Talk about excitement!!!  He did get to play a song with the jazz band but I didn't get a good picture.  Ryan does very well with the piano and the clarinet, he has a lot of talent and I love to listen to him.  I forgot if you notice where he is sitting he is third chair out of about twenty nine clarinets.  Way to go!!!

And then there is Emma, who has decided that she wanted to be in the choir at the elementary school.  The nice thing about that is is it before school one day a week, so other then that I don't have to worry about anything, except getting her out the door for the bus so she isn't late for choir.

Here she is at her choir concert at the school (top) and at the mall (bottom).  She had another concert that she went to, I didn't get any pictures due to her sitting on the floor while she sang and me being at the back of the room.  They did a great job! 

Here they are singing the "Twelve Days of Christmouas" can you guess where they are in the song?  If you answered with "and a partridge in a pear tree" you are correct.  They were so fun to watch doing their actions.  She has had a blast singing with the choir.  

Another trip to ...

...the emergency room/Primed.  This time it was Andrew.  We were at church today, Carrson and I were in Sunday School and a friend poked her head in and motioned for me to come out.  I didn't think anything about it so I left all my books in the chapel and walked out.  Come to find out Andrew had been playing in nursery, he fell and hit his head right on the edge of where the accordion type doors latch.  Needless to say OUCH!!!  The nursery leaders seemed quite nervous to have something like this happen.  No worries accidents happen! 

Poor little dude, he ended up with three stitches and a battle wound.  He was such a big, brave and tough little man!!!  He did a great job for only being two!!

Annual Christmas Parade

Yesterday was the annual Christmas Parade and this year both Clark and Ryan were in it.  This year they let the youth be in the parade and Clark had signed up to be in it.  I got a phone call the other day to let me know what was going on with the parade (at this point I hadn't heard anything from my child) and the sister in charge asked if Ryan would also like do it because they needed another wiseman.  Not a problem, he would love to.  When I told him that he was going to be in the parade too, he was excited.  But little did I remember he had a Scout campout Friday night. Talking with his scout leader he would make it work so he could do both, besides one of the other scouts going was also a wiseman in the parade.   Needless to say they made it back just in time to shower and get out the door, and the rest is history.

 The group on the float before the parade started (minus one, she came after I had taken the picture and I didn't think about taking another one)

 The three wisemen

Clark, Ryan and Zack

 Emma, Marianna, Addison and Samantha, waiting for the parade to start.  I had left Andrew home with dad because he had had a runny nose and I didn't want him out in the cool air.

Clark and Ryan going down the parade route.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I have not said what I am grateful for.  I am so grateful for my husband and my family, and all the help they give me!!  I am also thankful for the job my husband has so we can have the things we need and even some of the wants we are able to get.  I am also thankful for my friends old and new and for what they have brought into my life.  I am also thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who loves me for who and what I am and for always being there for me.  I know I don't deserve all that He gives me but I thank him for everything he does for me!!  There are so many things to be thankful for I just wanted to name a few, but I am thankful for even the small things the rain, the birds songs, children's programing (so I can get something done during the day) and so many more things.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We had a good time except for the fact Emma had been up all night with the stomach flu, YUCK!  But other then that it was wonderful, by the time we ate she was feeling better and even had a little bit to eat. 

This time of year I always try to remember the real meaning of Christmas.  I went into an establishment the other day and there was a sign in there that I loved, it said: "Here we believe in Christmas not holiday". I loved it, but then again I am in the "bible belt" and Christmas is Christmas.  There are some who want to believe otherwise, but in this house we believe in Christmas!!!   I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season it is my favorite (especially when everyone is healthy and not sick)!!

Oh and by the way basketball started last night and both Clark and Ryan are on the same team.  Yea! two days a week for one hour and done by 6:00pm, maybe things are looking up.

Why?

Friday night (11-25-11) I had gone to bed while Carrson was out watching t.v. or playing on his computer or something (I was asleep).  About 1:00am he came into the room saying we had just been vandalized.  Some idiotic/stupid (yes I said it) boys tried to steal our blow up Christmas decorations from the front yard.  The reason he was even aware of what was going on was when they tried to yank one of them out of the ground it popped, and made a loud noise.  They didn't even unplug them, they just yanked them out of the ground.  They were even staked in the ground to where we didn't think they would come out, with our storms, we didn't think about teenagers yanking them out of the ground.  Carrson had already called the police and the first thing the policeman said when he got out of the car was "is it slashed", I guess they have a lot of vandalized/slashed decorations this time of year.  He was telling Carrson that they (the policeman) had resorted to just lights and nothing else.  Isn't it sad the at Christmas they have problems like that?  Sorry to get on my soap box.  So needless to say all we have are our lights out in front and no fun blow up decorations that the boys and dad spent all morning (Thanksgiving) putting out.  We had even just bought a new one that was destroyed and the other one was salvageable with a little duct tape.  But will they be back if we put it out or will we be safe?  I don't know if we are going to chance it.  So far our neighbor has been safe with hers (we did let her know what happened with ours), I hope nothing happens!  

Cruisin the Caribbean :)

Warning Picture Overload!!!   I am warning you now that there are a lot of pictures.  I was having a hard time deciding what pictures to post so I tried to chose some from each day, but believe me there are a lot more too choose from so I hope you enjoy.  

Like I posted in the previous post Carrson and I went on a cruise.  We went with his parents and sisters and their significant others, to celebrate his parents 50th wedding anniversary.  We had a lot of fun.  Thanks to my sister (Jennifer) for coming and taking care of the kids and her husband (for letting her come), we were able to go and enjoy ourselves.  We cruised the Western Caribbean on the Norwegian Sun and stopped in Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman Islands; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and an island in the Bahamas called Great Stirrup Cay (I believe it is owned by the cruise lines). 

Friday night (November 11, 2011) Carrson and I set off for Port Canaveral, Fl to meet his family and get on the ship.  I was a nervous mess just thinking about being on a boat for seven days.  I don't do well with motion and I was a little queasy.  I had been battling a sinus infection for the last month and was on my second set of antibiotics and was worried about how I would feel.  I ended up being more excited as I was getting on the ship. 

The view of the front of the ship from the terminal.  Ooh the nerves were going but I was excited.

 The view of the Kennedy Space Center from across the bay, on the back deck of the ship.  I learned that the flag on the building is the largest flag in the country, it is three football fields in size, each star is six feet from point to point (there are fifty) and each stripe is wide enough to drive a bus down it.  I thought that was pretty cool and some fun information. 

Once we were on the ship we went to the buffet and the outside deck to await the time till we could go to our rooms and drop our carry ons off.  Notice the thumbs up by Carrson's dad, it is a good thing.  We were getting excited to meet up with the rest if his sisters and their significant others (thirteen of us total) and set sail.  Oh and by the way there is an all you can eat ice cream bar (for those of you that like that, and yes the Draper's are big ice cream fans).

Waiting for the ship to set sail.  We had just finished the lifeboat drill and were waiting around on deck 6 for the ship to leave.  I did rather well (better then I thought I would do) watching the boat leave the dock.  I did get a little light headed but it was good.

Carrson's parents

Happy Anniversary Clark and Audrey!!!

Sunday...was a cruising day.  We just took it easy, slept in, ate breakfast, walked around the ship, ate lunch, relaxed, ate dinner, went to one of the shows and then I was ready for bed.  I had an okay day but with all the pressure in my head I had to lay down to see if I could get it to stop, also by the time the show was over it was 10:30.  I figured if I wanted to feel good for our first stop I needed to get some rest.

I have never seen the water so blue, I was so amazed at how blue it is.  It was so beautiful out there on the ocean.  It is funny how vast the ocean is and how small you are even on a ship as big as we were.

Cozumel, Mexico... (Monday 11/14/11) is in an island in Mexico where we took a ferry to the mainland to catch a bus to go up to the Tulem Mayan Ruins.  It was an awesome trip.  Our tour guide was amazing with a background and a lot of information on the Mayans that I never knew.  I am sooo glad we chose to do the tour.   

The ferry we took to the mainland.

  (Oh talk about seasick, by the time we got to the mainland I was so ready to get out and get on land).  I did better on the way back, I slept or tried to.

Our tour guide telling us about the Mayan calendar.

The group that went to the ruins.  We were missing three of Carrsons sisters. 

One of the original openings.  Notice how short it is, the Mayans used it for defensive purposes.

Carrson and his mother

Rebecca, Carrson and Jennifer

These were everywhere.  We thought they were iguanas but Clark (the younger) says they look like komoto dragons.  Not sure but they were everywhere. 

The Grand Cayman Islands, British Isles... Tuesday (11/15/11) We just walked around and shopped.  We hung around with Jennifer and Alan and had a lot of fun going around to the shops.  Everyone else had shore excursions to do. 

Carrson giving is brother in law a hug for the picture.  

(if I remember right he was supposed to give him a kiss on the cheek when his sister counted to 2 and then she would snap the picture)

Once we got there we realized when we saw the "Tortuga" sign and saw all the pirate paraphernalia we realized "Pirates of the Caribbean".  Tortuga is where Captain Jack Sparrow went to get his crews.  Kind of exciting.

YUM!!!

Yes, even in The Cayman Islands if there is a Dairy Queen we have to stop for a blizzard.  Price for a blizzard in The Cayman Islands, US money $6.24 there money $4.99

The best shot of the Norwegian Sun that I have

Coming back on the tender. 

Ocho Rios, Jamaica... Wednesday (11/16/11) We decided to do a zipline/tubing shore excursion with Jennifer, Alan, Rebecca and Bob while we were there.  We also have a missionary from our ward (Carrson and Clark are the families home teachers) that his mother was going to let him know that we were going to be there if he had a minute.  He ended up not being able to say hi, due to he was on splits two hours away, but that was okay because we didn't have much time before we took off for our excursion.  We all loaded on a bus and we were off.  I really liked Jamaica, it was green and beautiful.  I felt bad looking at their housing and schools (thinking ours are bad) nothing compared to theirs.

Getting ready to zipline.  ScArY!!!

I decided that if Clark and Ryan could do it when they were eight I could do it

Our group. Aren't we just so cute.

Waiting!!

Sorry, I had to post this.  This was overhead while we were waiting to go down the zip line.  Our guides told us it wasn't poisonous but I think they were just saying that.  Oh, it was ugly and gross/disgusting looking, it just sat there taunting us while we went by, or so I felt.

We were up in what is called the canopy of the forest.  I couldn't take too many pictures seeing as I was going down.  Talk about nerves, once I got hooked up I didn't want to go.  I did go and when I got to the bottom I thought I was done nope there was more.  By the time I was done I was shaking like crazy but happy with myself for doing it.

After zip lining we piled back in the van and headed up to the drop off so we could to tube down the river.  We found out the bridge (above) was built in the 1638, and look how clear the water is, (I think that is why it is called the White River).  With tubing and no waterproof camera (Jennifer had one but not digital) so we had to buy pictures of us going down the river.

We had a blast going down the river our guides were great/hilarious and they made it so much fun!!  We had a spot in the river where there were some rapids and Carrson lost his tube and I almost lost mine but I held on and didn't fall WAhOO, yea for me!!!

Having a blast!!!

Thursday...was another cruising day.  Another day to take it easy.  We got up for breakfast, visited with the Zundel's, relaxed,  had lunch, took a nap, got up in time to see the sunset, visited, had dinner, went to one of the shows, watched the rest of the Broncos (Thursday night football) ate buffalo wings and then went to bed.  Yes, another exciting day at sea.

We had beautiful sunsets every night!!  This one was from Thursday night.

 The family at dinner

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Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas...Friday (11/18/11) We arrived at a very small island in the Bahamas for our Friday adventure.  Knowing when we got off the ship that there was a storm coming and the captain just might cut the excursion short we decided to go anyway and we went and got on the tender and set out for the beach.  We walked around and got our legs wet (the water was cold, not what I was expecting for being in the Bahamas) and just relaxed on the beach.  We set out with one of Carrsons sisters and her husband and met up with the others by chance and had an enjoyable morning relaxing.  We had been there for a couple of hours when we had gotten word that the Captain wanted us back on the ship two and a half hours earlier.  We decided we would get back on the ship and have lunch instead of lunch on the island, so we set out for the tender.  For the most part we all made it on the same tender back. 

While we were waiting on the tender the storm was getting worse the pictures don't do it justice but the wind was getting worse and the waves were getting bigger.  Here I am thinking I am going to be sick.  We started off to the ship and the first wave out of the cove drenched us.  We were sitting on the top of the tender and the waves were huge, and they kept coming (it was more fun than a ride at an amusement park).  When we started out we were dry but by the time we got off we were drenched.  It was good, I didn't get sick till we were just sitting waiting for the tender in front of us to finish loading, but all in all it was good.

This was the tender that we were on.  I took this picture a good 45 minutes after we got off.  It took forever to unload.  From what I understand there were lots of people getting sick and actually throwing up.  Glad I was already off or it wouldn't have been pretty.  We actually had a lot of fun!!!

Notice the sailboat, it was out in the storm.  I don't know how they were enjoying it but I would be sick.  The waves were huge.

 Notice the ice cream.  He found out there is a self-serve soft ice cream machine on Thursday.  Like I said the Draper's like ice cream and yes he has taught his kids well.

Well there are the highlights of our Cruise.  I hope I remembered what I wanted so didn't forget.  Yes, I had a great time and would probably go again.  I think the hardest thing is coming back home and having to clean and cook.  Boy, were we pampered for a week.  Thank you so much for inviting us to partake in the fun!!!!