Shrinky Dinks!

 I found so Shrinky Dink paper at Joanns on Black Friday and decided to give it a go!

Oh it is so much fun making these things.  I decided to make the kids some Christmas presents with them since it was so close to Christmas.  They take some time, but they're not too bad to make.  First, I printed out the image the I wanted on the computer, several times larger than what I wanted the final product to be.  Then, I colored like a little kid.  Then I put a hole in it, cut it out, and baked them in the oven for about two minutes.  It is so fun to watch them shrink! I covered mine in modpodge to seal the color, but it didn't work too well.  Next time I'm going to try acrylic sealer.
As cool I think Shrinky Dinks are, the kids weren't too impressed.  Gabe lost or threw away all of his key chains, and Elisa doesn't ever wear her bracelet.  Although sometimes she'll wear the necklaces I made her.  I'm sure I'll be making more of these, despite the kids lackluster attitude about them:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Christmas Randomness

  

My Eesa Fashionista, looking fabulous, as usual!

Toddler shaming.  He got into my makeup (yet again) and did this when I scolded him!

Sometimes, I start braining Elisa's hair and I can't stop.  This is the result.  Pretty cool, I think!

The same day! It was ugly sweater day.  I'm glad I kept this sweater, because it is cute and not actually ugly!

 Elisa attempting to take Ian for a tricycle ride in the garage.  Ian was not amused.

I found Ian's Doppelgänger.

Erik was home a little early so we took the kids to see the lights at the Mesa Temple, and went out to eat at Joe's BBQ afterwards! Fun and yummy!

It works! We bought a new battery and it worked. Ian likes to sit in the Barbie jeep, but he's too scared and little to actually drive it.  Elisa rides in it sometimes.

Ian and some messy pudding.  So cute!

A little trip to the park down the street. Ian had so much fun! 

My cutie at the grocery store.  I can't remember why I even took this picture, but he sure is adorable!

Erik, trying to fix the crib with his butt.  Elisa initially broke the side rail by standing on it, and then Ian "helped" by kicking out some of the columns.  The crib is still missing a couple of columns, not the safest thing to have around.  Ian already tried to get out through the space, but his head got a little stuck so he doesn't try it anymore.

My (adorable) little monster, into my making AGAIN. 

Me and my cuties.  Just missing Gabe. And Erik!

Ian, crying in a corner of his room for an unknown reason.

My princess in her new Christmas dress!  So cute and festive!

We match! I love this sweet girly!

Elisa in her new "starry night" dress

Ward Christmas Party

For some reason, Erik and I were put in charge of the ward Christmas party.  I got stuck with decoration duty (always! why??).  I questioned the decorations since it was going to be outside.  We did NOT think holding the party outside was a good idea, and we were proven right, unfortunately. I should have gone with my gut and skipped the decorations, but I went along anyway. It was a fairly big hassle buying all the decorations.  It was an even bigger hassle putting them up.  And lo and behold, the night the decorations got put up was one of the windiest nights of the year.  By the morning, almost everything had blown away.  Just enough stayed to make it look tacky.  Well, at least I'll never be asked to decorate again!
The breakfast itself was at first awful.  It was freezing cold and windy and I just wanted to go back home.  But after an hour or so it started to warm up and the wind died down a bit.  The kids had fun playing in the field and playing the games.  Santa even came and gave them a goody bag!  Despite the okay-ness of how the party turned out, I will never attend an outdoor breakfast in December again.  Never.