Christmas Recorder Concert

The girls were in a Christmas Recorder concert. Just lovely, ladies. Notice the socks.
Thanks for the roses, dad.

Just having fun.

Most of these were taken by Ben-Man. Great job, Benjamin!

Just for me

This is Rhet for the last month. Just wanted to remind myself that he is real, alive, and isn't just a "picture" of perfection. Let me go see if I pinch him, if he will move! He sure didn't even blink when I took this shot.

You are on candid camera! You just won $5,000! I bought ice cream! Move, dang it...MOVE!

I figured it out and...HE MOVED!!!!!!!!

Oh, THAT is what lingerie is for. Just kiddin', just kiddin. I'm seriously kidding, Nicole is on the floor watching Friends.

Co-op GIngerbread Houses

BEFORE

AFTER

Months of the Year-2010 Calendar

JANUARY: Together for the New Year.FEBRUARY: We love you our Valentine!

MARCH: My little good luck charm

APRIL: Some spring bunnies

MAY: April showers bring May flowers

JUNE: Summer fun

JULY: My sweets

AUGUST: Hummingbirds are here. Coo coo

SEPTEMBER: Back to school timeOCTOBER: Halloween fun

NOVEMBER: Veteran's Day

DECEMBER: My Christmas stocking

Jaime and David's baby, Mackensie

Gotta have them cheetos after birth!

Dad, Mom, sister Autumn, and David-the proud father

Poor little bruised Mackensie

Ahhhh... how sweet! I want one.

"Merry Christmas," Love the Washing Machine

Just an early Christmas present from the washing machine

Come trick-or-treat at our VAN!

Why just pass out candy when you can trick your fellow trick-or-treaters?

You choose-

Curtain 1: toothpaste or sanitary soap

Curtain 2: ooey gooey leftover dinner squished up in a yucky blucky blob. (wipe included with choice)

Curtain 3: delicious store bought candy; none of that black or orange cheap-o nasty stuff, either.

I think our kids played about 10 times each. Definitely something to do again next year!

The Tucker Halloween Circus...pretty scary!

TUCKER FAMILY CIRCUS

Forget ghosts and goblins- you need to be worried about the Tucker Family Circus coming through your town on Halloween night. We have a magician (Alex) and her magic bunny (Ben-Man). There is a tight rope walker (Daiz) and an interesting mime (yours truly) and finally, the ring master with the crazy hair (J Rhet).

Watch out, trick-or-treaters, the Tucker Family Circus ONLY does tricks... you never know what it is going to be-you may get a flip or a silent performance, or even a terrifying act of a daring feat. OR it may be a trick of toothpaste, instead of candy, in your jack-o-lantern sacks. There is one thing we do know--- the Tucker Family Circus will AMAZE YOU!

Primary Program

What happened to my babies???

The older three children had their Primary Presentation for church. Dad was on TDY, but it was super cute, so I wanted to post their lines that they wrote and memorized.
All three spoke at the microphone and were wonderful.

Ben: (grumpily to the teacher trying to help- but saying it to her IN the microphone) "I already know it!" "My dad is super nice. He plays games with me."
Daisy: "I like reading the scriptures because they make me feel warm and good."
Alexis: "Temple blessings unite families. I think the temple is pretty. The temple is important because it is where we are sealed together forever."

(I put their words in their favorite colors, pretty genius, eh?)

We worked REALLY hard on the songs, and it was great to realize while they were on stage that all our work was in morning devotional- which Ben misses for Preschool. He just happened to be in the front row and probably sang ONE (chorus only, mind you) out of thirteen or so songs. Woopie- go mom! Girls in the back had them DOWN, though. Oh, ya! Too bad Colby wasn't as well behaved during this glorious hour and ten minutes.

No computer= freedom?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like in the pioneer times? No cell phones, no computers, no internet? Well, stop wondering and come over to Jessica's house! Apparently this home in Georgia has taken a step back in time to show this family the stress free life without the worries or email, texts, and phone calls.

OR

Come to Jessica's house and realize that we aren't in pioneer times, so if your computer and cell phone decide to die in the same week... you are thoroughly, how should I put this?... in trouble. That is how everyone communicates, my dear. You still will get important emails- people just think you are a flake for not being where you need to be. You will still get voice messages-people just think you are a snot for not returning them. So- in other words, DON'T come to Jessica's house (plus, I would have to clean.) DON'T let your son play with your cell phone and suck on it (I like to think it was the sucking and that it never landed in the toilet), and DON'T try to download crazy stuff from youtube. It isn't worth the experience!
I much rather cook on an open fire and leave my lights off to get that pioneer sensation. I would say take away my car, as well- but stranded with four kids ALL day in one little house would just seem wrong. Sorry, Laura Ingalls Wilder, we'll just stick to reading about your day!

Halloween Trick...or just plain sneaky?

So, on Halloween, the kids and I sent Rhet on an errand to Lowe's. Then we decided to decorate the house for Christmas a LITTLE early... complete with Christmas tree, lights, stockings, and ornaments (yes, we are fast!)
We said it was all in the name of a Halloween TRICK...
but who am I kidding: I love Christmas. I love the huge blow up yard decorations, the smell of cinnamon brooms that can knock you out if you get too close, the hay rides, the hot chocolate and marshmallows sitting by the fake fire, the darkness at 6:00 and the kids think it is time for bed, the opportunity to remember service, the excuse to spend money on airplane tickets and gas to spend time with family...
SHOOT, I'll admit it (partly because Rhet never reads my blog) - I had no intention whatsoever of waiting till the day after Thanksgiving!
It was pretty funny when trick-or-treaters came to the door and saw Christmas inside! I'm thinking of keeping it up till April and claiming an "April Fool's Day" joke. Whatever works to keep the holidays present "in my heart". Plus, I HATE, I HATE, I HATE putting it all down. Perish the thought of that dreadful day!

Mmmmm, can it be Christmas forever??... Why, YES, it can!!!!

Nooooo!

What do I get for trying to be a health conscious, whole grain loving, natural bread making gal?

Well, it isn't my fault they put

AND

in the SAME stinkin' lookin' foil pouch

P.S. Hot chocolate in a wheat grinder= bad idea.
P.P.S. Don't try it at home.

Watch out, Armed Forces!

Out of these three proud American veterans, can you tell which two are having bad days???

Nicole...such a doll, oh, I mean cheer bunny!

Friends Maty and Drew "flapping" away.












Mady and Nicole.















Go Greenbrier! Nicole- top left!

Nice birthday cake, Nicole. Sorry- frosting was a little runny. Remember the Barbie legs that are now on the side of the cake. Yummy!

P.S. If you are way clueless and never read my blogs- Nicole is our fun exchange student from Germany.