Cookie Trains

We went to Grandma's house to make cookie trains. It's a tradition. We don't make ginger bread houses we make cookie trains. I did put the cookies together, there being 6 kids and I knew I couldn't help them all at one time, and then they did the decorating.



This is how helpful Troy is when it comes to putting up the tree, wrapping presents and decorating cookie trains. It's ok, because I enjoy doing those things.
Aunt Tricia was a great helper. Helped me put the cookies together and helped Ana work her frosting bag.
Ethan made "crazy gumdrop train"

The kids finished their trains really quickly because I told them they couldn't eat the candy until everyone was done decorating their trains (so we have enough for everyone). Now to give them all away. We never keep them, we give them to neighbors and teachers. The kids were very worried at first, but after a few yummy treats from neighbors they were excited to deliver the trains to people.

More Snow

Last weeks snow and concert

Last week we got a lot of light and fluffy snow and the kids were very excited to go out and start shoveling while waiting for the bus. It was so light they could push it around with a broom. This weekend we picked up a few more snow shovels so that all the kids can help shovel the snow. I hope the newness doesn't wear off too soon, I might get away without having to shovel this winter : )

Morgan plucking her Viola and Victor singing in the 5th grade choir. Ethan and Ana's class sang The Night Before Christmas and it was too long to upload, but it was really cute and Ana kept up with the parts she knew. They all did a wonderful job!

Ward/Church Christmas Party

Tanya wasn't too excited to go to the Church Christmas party after being overwhelmed with the Church Halloween party so she opted to go to Grandma's house instead. Troy and I are over the parties so we don't really have the opt out choice. All the rest of our children participated in the program during dinner and did a wonderful job.

Grant read a scripture, Victor rang bells during a couple songs and did great, Morgan performed a song with the girls her age, Ethan sang a solo and Ana sang with all the primary. Everyone did a beautiful job. We had about 40 more people than we planned for, but that is a good thing, especially since we had the focus on Christ not Santa. In fact I was a little nervous since we were the first year not to have Santa come. All in all it seemed to be a success.

Decorating the kids christmas tree

First week in December started off with decorating the tree, getting all the Christmas decorations out and putting a few lights up out front.

The kids (Ukraine kids) have never had a Christmas tree. Ana said they had one at the orphanage, but had never had celebrated Christmas before that. Ana has been so excited about Christmas! She has had tons of questions about Santa, Christmas trees, elves, candy, presents, etc. So when we started to get the tree out she was bouncing off the walls and being a great helper. All the kids enjoyed putting the ornaments on the tree and getting all of the Christmas decorations out.

Victor helped me put lights in the trees outside and they look great! I'll have to get a picture to post.

Thanksgiving

Percy started Thanksgiving off with a lovely turkey bone. I never let him have people food and this year gave in. He was probably in Heaven.

We had Troy's brothers family over and my sister's family and our adopted (not really because she was in her twenties when she joined the family ; ) sister's family come. So we had 22 people and it was noisy and loud and lots of fun. The kids just played and played downstairs, it was fun to have them all together.

Here is a quick update on things for the last couple weeks:

• Grant made the 8th grade basketball team. He is very excited, though the daily practices are a grind.
• Tanya turned 13 yesterday. We had a party Friday night. Grandma & Grandpa Tingey came as did Brady and his kids.
• Victor went to priesthood preview tonight. Of the 6 boys there, he was most willing to try and answer questions. When asked by the Bishop what the priesthood is, he answered: "it is your spirit." The Bishop kindly corrected him. Still, the boy is game, and we were very proud of him.
• Morgan all the sudden seems to be a piano player. She is pounding away constantly and learning some decent songs.
• Ana basically learned to read in the last few weeks. She's been on the cusp for a few months, but something seemed to click recently, and she can read simple books just fine now. Though she's 8, she had never learned, not even in her native language. She spontaneously wrote a song today with accompanying picture--posted below.
• Ethan continues to keep everyone social. He is the most frequent playmate for Victor and Ana and can communicate things sometimes that others can't. For example, the other day Victor and Ana were laughing hysterically when we told the kids to go brush their teeth in the bathroom. It took Ethan to explain that they thought the word "bathroom" means toilet. Who knows what they thought we were asking them to do.