Hands Up!!

These two boys sure have enjoyed playing together over Christmas break!

I was lucky enough to get held at gun point one morning as I was doing my makeup.

I will be excited for the break to be over for one reason………we'll have a baby, but other than that I am going to really miss the kids all being home.

Grant and Logan have just played and played together!  Grant is really going to miss all this kids being home, but he'll soon have a baby to help me take care of.  I think he'll like that job too!

These two boys can hold me at gun point any day!

Peppp

All we heard Thanksgiving weekend was questions of "When will Peppp, our elf, come?"

I told the kids usually not til we have our trees up and decorated.  So they were all eager to help decorate the house!

And sure enjoy Peppp came the next day after the house we ready for the holidays!

This was one of my personal favorite things Peppp did.  He cut out these cute mustaches and placed them on the kids pictures around the house.

The kids LOVED it!!

Of course Peppp left the mess.  That's the one thing that drives me crazy about Peppp is he always leaves the mess behind.

Peppp must have had a busy night back at the North Pole, but at least he found a comfy place to sleep once he made it back to our house!

We woke up to find this note on the kitchen table….

Along with these fun little Elf Donuts!

And what fun straws.

Peppp was found hanging from the chandelier.  Guess he wanted to see the kids response when they found the donuts!

We all loved the elf donuts!

One morning we woke up to breakfast already made by Peppp!

We were all impressed with the tiny little pancakes Peppp had made!

And Peppp even had an apron on and a chef hat.  And he brought an apron and chef hat for the kids as well!

I just love Logan!

He is such a sweetheart!

He has really LOVED Peppp!

He wanted to make Peppp a blanket so he would have something cozy to make him feel at home in our house.  So with Kiersten's help he got busy and made this adorable blanket!

He loved sewing the letters on the fabric!

He did a wonderful job!

I love this sweet letter Logan wrote to Peppp as well.  He wanted Peppp to leave the  blanket so that he could show it to Grammy Boswell.

Silly Peppp taking an Elf bubble bath!

He looks pretty comfy!
We love having Peppp around for the holidays.
All the kids loved finding where Peppp was hiding each morning.  One morning he even brought tiny candy canes…..Kiersten put those in her Little Things Collection!  They were awesome…..they were so tiny and made by elves for sure.

Christmas Continues for Some...

Both Justin and Hunter got tickets to a Suns game in their stockings.  I still think Santa meant to put Hunter's ticket in my stocking!!  But I was glad they were going to get to spend some time together.  It is so important for us as parents to make that time for our kids on an individual level.  So thanks Santa!

Hunter was thrilled beyond words!

He even caught a shirt that was thrown up in the bleachers.  That really made his day!

Now this looks like one happy kid!

Hunter just LOVES his dad!  And Justin LOVES Hunter!   Justin was super excited to get to take Hunter out of town.  They are a great time together.  They spend several hours in Harbor Freight……it's like a man's mall with tools!  Hunter thought that was super fun too and from the looks of all the stuff Justin bought so did he!  Most of it was for the shop but I did notice he bought other stuff as well.  I had to give him a hard time about that!

The Suns were playing the Philadelphia 76rs.

The Suns won and it was a great game I heard!  They also got bobble heads for free for being in the first 300 fans at the game.

After the game was over they let the kids go down on the court.  Hunter could have shot a free throw on the court but he didn't want to.  For once he was a little shy.  They ended up spending the night because the game got over so late.  They enjoyed sleeping in til 9:30!

It was fun to hear about their trip and see the joy in both their eyes when they got back!

Date with Kiersten

Since Kiersten was feeling sick on our other date to Gilbert,

 I decided she should come with me for my last doctor appointment.

We had such a great day together!

I love spending time with this sweetheart!

We decided to treat ourselves to pedicures……boy was that a good decision!

Being 9 months pregnant and all, I really enjoyed having my feet rubbed!  I was just what I needed!  We did a little shopping, ate yummy food and let Kiersten got to Extreme Air Jump!

All in all it was a fabulous day!

I got lots of complements on how good I look for being a week away from having a baby!  And when I told people I was pregnant with my 5th baby they just couldn't believe it!  It really has paid off to workout my entire pregnancy.  It wasn't easy but I am really glad I never gave up!  I'm sure it will help with recovery as well!

25 Days Closer to Christ

One of my favorite traditions is our 25 Days Closer to Christ Advent Calendar.

Every morning the kids get to open a door and find a little typed up paper telling them what we get to do that day.  Some days it's some fun activity, some days it's just saying we get to go to their performances and get a treat, and some days it's something spiritual.

Whatever it is, the activity helps us spend time as a family and helps us focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  It helps us to remember that receiving isn't what's important.

The kids were excited to find gifts were included in this days activities.

I found some cheap wise man costumes.  So I figured why not get them….we'll be able to use them for years to come.  Plus then I don't have to track down and borrow some.

So years I've made all kind of authentic food for our Jerusalem dinner.  But I have learned that just having a selection of meats and cheeses, with nuts, olives, flat bread with hummus and a couple of juices to drink is really what the kids enjoy.  Plus it's so much easier for me!

The kids walk through out the house with flash lights looking for the star to show them where to find the baby Jesus.  Justin and I are Joseph and Mary.

This year Kiersten and Hunter thought it would be cool if they each brought a gift for Jesus just like the wise men did.  It was pretty special!  They came in and presented us with the gifts by kneeling and everything.  I think it really showed the respect they have for their Savior even in a pretend setting.

This is one of our most favorite Christmas traditions for sure.

It was so cute while we ate dinner Justin read the Christmas story from the Bible to us.  We then discussed what it might have been like to have been there on that very special night.  And while we were doing this, Grant was so excited to hold the "baby Jesus."  It was super cute!

He just held "baby Jesus" and would look at it.  He told me he "tant wait for yo baby to tum!"

He is going to be a wonderful Big Brother! 

Look at how cool the kids decorated for our ELF party!

Hunter learned how to make these 3D snowflakes from Mrs. Kim Skinner.  He taught Kiersten and then they made a ton to hang up.  I love them!

Instead of eating cotton balls, like Buddy the Elf, we saw who could stuff the most large marshmallows in their mouths.

Grant was a trooper…I believe he got 2!

Logan did awesome…..he got 4!

Hunter was turning red as he tried to stuff #6 marshmallow in his mouth.

Kiersten has so serious skills!

She stuffed 11 marshmallows in her mouth!  It was crazy!

Then once Justin did 14 I realized Kiersten got her skills from her dad!

I seriously only got 4  and I was gagging :)

Don't the kids look cute in their Elf hats we made last year!

Yes we did it………..we ate cookie dough and the kids loved it!  Maybe not as much as Justin did though!

I picked up the scrap paper at Justin's office to have our own snowball fight!

Hey when you live in Arizona you have to improvise.

We had such a fun time running around in the basement throwing "snowballs" at each other.

The kids teased me that I wouldn't be able to run after them since I am 9 months pregnant.  But they were pretty surprised when I was running around pelting them with the "snowballs".

I was so much fun!

Christmas Eve day we made cookies for Santa!

Now doesn't this picture show Grant for sure had a good time making the cookies.

I think he got just as much flour on him as we actually put in the cookies!

The cookie decorating was a big hit with Kiersten, Hunter and Logan!

Here is our list of 

25 Days Closer to Christ

1.  Go to Grammy Cluff's for dinner and play with cousins.

2.  Go to Kiersten's and Hunter's piano recital and get ice cream afterwards!

3.  Read "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and have a treat.

4.  Learn of Jesus and begin our "Gift's for Jesus."

5.  Family Fun Night….meet at the temple to watch the Live Nativity then come home to enjoy hot chocolate and make smokes by the fire maybe play a game or two!

6.  Learn of Mary.  Decorate our "Uncle Doyle Tree."

7.  Go watch Kiersten dance before the Light Parade.  Get hot chocolate and then watch the Light Parade.  Then go to dinner with Tif and kids!

8.  Decorate gingerbread houses while watching the Christmas devotional on TV.

9.  Learn of the Angel and make an ornament.

10.  Learn of the Lamb.

11.  Go to the Strings and Choir Concert.  Afterwards get dinner or a treat.

12.  Learn of Joseph and start our "Large Jingle Bell Tradition."

13.  Watch a Christmas movie, like Home Alone, while having a yummy treat!

14.  Go to the dance recitals.  Eat dinner or dessert afterwards!

15.  Make a yummy treat and take it to our secret service, Sister Nettie Cluff and plan something else to do for her.

16.  Read Christmas stories while coddled up in mom's bed.

17.  Learn about the Innkeeper missing out on the chance of a lifetime.  Talked about how we are all like the Innkeepers and need to make room for Christ.

18.  Learn of the shepherds and make a its blanket for Sister Nettie Cluff.

19.  Caroling with violins and then learn of the Angels.

20.  Learn of the Wise men and boys make smores by the fire pit (Kiersten and I might not be back from Gilbert).

21.  Do a secret service for Nettie Cluff……rake leaves or something.

22.  Open the special gifts we have for each of you.  Have our Jerusalem Dinner!

23.  Have a  Buddy the Elf Party, watch the movie ELF!

24.  Go look at Christmas lights and deliver a few gifts to Nettie Cluff and make cookies for Santa, then watch a Christmas Movie.

25.  Give everyone in your family a hug and tell them one thing you love about them.  Show your appreciation for your Christmas gifts!  Remember to thank Heavenly Father for all you've been blessed with both physically and spiritually!

Notice the jingle bell above the 3D snowflake?

Our tradition of is called our Jingle Bell Tradition.  We have a this large jingle bell, we start by giving the jingle bell to someone.  They then perform a secret act of service for someone else in our family and leave the jingle bell for them to find.  I saw this one morning and just had to take a picture.  

Hunter had made a small #D snowflake for Kiersten!

And any tradition that gets your 8 year old son to make his older brothers bed is a tradition worth keeping.  Logan made Hunter's bed while Hunter was eating breakfast before school.

This is one of my favorite traditions!  I love hearing and seeing the sweet things my kids do for each other and Justin and myself.

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve Day I decided to let the kids open up one gift.  The gifts that they got from each other.  Some times we've let then do this in the evening but then there really isn't any time to play with what they got so this year I let them do it after lunch…..such a good idea!

Grant was thrilled when he saw the Hunter (with a little help from mom) had got him cowboy boots and a cowboy belt!!!

Hunter and Logan were sharing this gift.

They got a pair of air soft guns!

Thanks to Kiersten and Logan had Hunter's name so he actually was surprised at what Kiersten got him and what he got for Hunter.  

Kiersten was pretty excited to open her gift from Grant!

She knew it would be good because mom would have helped a lot with it!

It didn't disappoint!  It was the EOS chap sticks just like she wanted and a great purse from Justice!

I love that Kiersten wanted to write a note to Santa!

Look at those cookies…..with that much sugar Santa should be able to make it through his long busy night!  We ended up sprinkling the food for the reindeer's outside.

We told the kids we weren't doing the 3 a.m. thing again this year.  Being 8 1/2 months pregnant I wasn't up for that.  So they had to wait til 6 to wake us up and they actually listened!

Grant was super excited to see that Santa brought him just what he wanted.  This was the exact truck he had been talking about for months.  It even has a trailer with a  skid steer just like daddy's!

Santa surprised us all when we saw he brought not only one electric scooter for Kiersten but also one for Hunter and Logan to share.  This was all Kiersten wanted for Christmas!!  It will be funner with two though for sure!

Grant got a remote control truck which he was super excited about!

Hunter got a scope which Justin convinced him was for a gun he already has….

Kiersten was really surprised and thrilled when she saw we got her a laptop!!!

Kiersten

To Use- laptop

To Amuse- Clothes jewelry, shoes

To Cherish- Roller dance bag for competitions

Logan's dream came true when he opened his gift……a AR Drone helicopter was all he could talk about.  Besides wanting his own gun.

Hunter loved getting camouflage clothes for hunting and a note that promises that Justin will sign him up for the hunter's safety course and take him deer hunting if he gets drawn!!  Pretty sure Hunter would have been happy with just this gift!

Hunter also got a remote control this year…..his is a ball that is controlled using your iPod.

Grant got riding gear to go with the 4 wheeler he got!!!

The 4 wheeler came a few weeks before Christmas because his daddy couldn't wait to give it to him!!!

Grant

To Use- his own iPod

To Amuse- remote control truck

To Cherish- 4 wheeler with riding clothes

Well the boys were surprised when they were taken on a scavenger hunt around the house and found they each had gotten a gun!!!

Now those are some huge smiles for Christmas morning!!!

Hunter

To Use- 22-250 youth model for deer hunting

To Amuse- Sphere remote ball from Brookstone

To Cherish- camouflage clothes with promise to go deer hunting in 2014

Logan

To Use- camouflage clothes

To Amuse- remote control helicopter

To Cherish- 410 shotgun youth model

This year Justin and I got a washer and dryer set for the basement.  YAY….no more hauling kids laundry upstairs for me!  So we didn't buy anything else for each other.  The kids did buy Justin some of his most favorite treats and they made up a scavenger hunt for him to find them.

They did a great job with it!

We have some future Hunter's right here.  I love Grant's face!

I think Grant was just as excited about the guns as the other boys were! 

The scooters were a HUGE hit!!!

Justin playing with Logan's helicopter Drone!

Not sure if it's a gift for Logan or more for Justin….hahaha….

but seriously it is a pretty fun toy.  It even has a video camera on it that shows up on the screen of the iPod or tablet you use to control the device.  It's pretty awesome!

Grammy Boswell made the kids a fun Dr. Seuss quilt!  We all love it!  She is so talented and we sure benefit from her talents!

So Christmas night I hear something in the garage and I go out to find Justin opening up 3 boxes.  Come to find out he had bought several things that him and the boys "NEEDED" for sighting in their new guns.  It was the funniest thing seeing him trying to sneakily open them up so I wouldn't notice that he had bought so much stuff.

I had fun teasing him about it for sure!

They went right out Christmas day and sighting the 22-250 in.

Thanks to Grampy Boswell for his help!

The boys had a fun time out at the rifle range.

All in all it was a fabulous Christmas morning at the Cluff household!!!

It is kind of sad when you're super excited about getting a washer and dryer for Christmas…..guess I am just getting old!