Goods Forever

Kids Christmas Wrapping

Casey — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:33:17 +0000

Today the kids are wrapping their very special dollar store items. They ran around the small store last weekend with their ideas and were so excited … hiding from each other as they carry gifts to one another and giggling as they share what they got other people in the store. Getting to check-out and home is always a bit of a challenge but we manage with the mystery of what is to be opened tomorrow morning!! Haley shared last night that shopping at the dollar store is her favorite tradition. I love seeing what they have in mind for each person and how carefully they consider what they’d like. As they get older, there is more thought involved and it’s so precious to see their eyes light up as they give their gift and see how much fun it is to give for Christmas. (without it costing us a fortune)

At this very moment, our bedroom is filled with gift wrapping paper of various sizes and shapes as the kids cut randomly to fit odd shapes of presents to make them fit in their unpracticed art of gift wrapping. Connor is using large strips of scotch tape to wrap around the entire present. I saw big balls of wadded up wrapping paper that were evidently too big or too small to fit after the cut was made. I have provided a small instruction on how to wrap but in the excitement of it all … I think it just gets covered. Isn’t that the whole point … that you won’t know what’s inside? A few extra crinkles and scotch tape will make it that much harder to guess.

DayZ’s List to Santa

Casey — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:40:31 +0000

Haley wanted to be sure that Santa didn’t forget DayZ this year so she wrote up this list …

p.s. She also asked Grandma to make her a stocking … she knits, you know so she should be able to make that happen in a day, right?

Christmas Caroling!

Casey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:47:46 +0000

What fun we had last weekend Christmas Caroling with friends. Our friends Anita & Mike have made this activity extra special by providing dinner and hosting a great time before we even head out to sing! We had so much fun at their house and then all loaded onto the trailer with out hot cocoa in hand.

and then, a funny noise as we start driving … uh oh …

Change of plans … walking. We had a great time even though some of the kids got pretty tired. We went after the Christmas Play at the church so it was a long night for them. We realized it was 9:30 when we stopped at the last house!!! So much fun we didn’t realize the time. Luckily no one was in bed when we rang their doorbells

Haley was such a cute helping with little Olivia and Connor & Ray were having so much fun off to themselves, actually not sure if caroling was “cool” anymore?

Children’s Choir Christmas Play

Casey — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 07:12:55 +0000

Christmas in Reverse was an adorable musical that the kids’ choir did at our church last weekend. Haley was the star carrier and took her job very seriously. It’s great to see her having fun on stage with her friends and singing out to the Lord!
Here it is …

Make a Smilebox slideshow



Kids Holiday Family Night
Casey — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:02:21 +0000

Wow, what an amazing family night at the kids’ school!  Here’s a couple videos of Connor’s performance, thanks to a friend who posted the video  . I’m thankful Connor was near her son  .






Here’s some cute pics of Haley in her performance …


I posted my video clip from my camera so you could hear her cute song … Arizona Wonderland …


       


School Christmas Parties
Casey — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:52:56 +0000

I’m so glad that both the kids had fun teachers that allowed them to enjoy the last day before the break. Connor’s activities started at lunchtime and it was awesome that Eric got to go too  .  Haley had a cookie party at the end of the day.

Here are their classes …





       


Sensaria Spalidays …
Casey — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:36:17 +0000

Fun spa events this month including making custom gift baskets! This was so much fun … 

I spent a lot of time this month at parties, on orders, gift baskets and at events. It’s been a lot of fun to meet other women and enjoy an evening encouraging them to take care of their skin and take the time to have a fun night out with their friends. 
I already have 8 spa experiences planned for January so I’m looking forward to another busy and fun month of having a great time while building this new business for myself.
       


Tattling takes on a new meaning …
Casey — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:34:47 +0000

I’m on the phone and this appears before my eyes with a wide-eyed Connor behind it …

       


It Snowed in Laveen!
Casey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:48:30 +0000

Well, not really. but. it did as far as the big truck that dumped a big pile in the middle of the Home Depot parking lot for Winter Fest sponsored by a church in our community. It was a huge event! Amazing. Kids went wild throwing snow balls in this wet pile of snow that melted fast. The church provided free food and entertainment. 
However; at the same time as this event, the Laveen Community Council was doing a Polar Express Night so it was a bit of a conflict for them to do such an event on the same night as a pre-planned community event. It bothered me that this church would do that?!? Plus, that they would spend so much money on snow when there are people in such great need in the community? It was just a little odd.  We did both so it worked out for us … from one event to the next …
First … snow …


Then off to the LCC event for the Polar Express, silent auction and Santa.

First, we enjoyed our picture with Santa (our kids wouldn’t go so we did  )


Then, bundling up with free hot chocolate and cookies to watch the Polar Express on this huge inflated screen outside.


FUN Night!!
       


Tamales!
Casey — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:08:35 +0000

We are no longer Little Norway with lefse and lutefisk eating contests.  Tamales are the big thing here. People have tamale making parties, they are sold in parking lots and it’s a very special meal for Christmas and other holidays. Soooo, the Children’s Ministry did a fundraiser and we learned how to make them … or, at least, we stood in a part of the assembly and did as we were told  .  A couple at the church were the experts and pre-cooked all of the meat and helped to make the masa – corn stuff that goes in them. The goal was to sell them to earn some money to help with the cost of kids camp. They had a blast last year and we hope they are able to go again. I think it was a really special experience for them.  Haley even pulled out the devotional the other day and wanted to do her morning Bible time alone and work on a page that she hadn’t done from camp.  Almost brought a tear to my eyes! That’s the whole point of Bible time in the morning … to help them develop the daily habit that I wish I had developed! And, for her to want to work on a devotional for herself, very inspiring  .  Praise God.

Here’s some pics …