The Quiet Book

For the past 6 months I have been working with my friend Sarah on creating a quiet book. It took us a long time. This is something I have wanted for all of my babies, but finally got around to making one for Lily. This is what she got for Christmas. The boys love it too though. Hopefully it will last.
Find the bugs hidden in the grass.

Matching patterns.

Match the animal to its pattern.

Match the animal to its home.

Build a sandwich, set the table, undo the buckle.

The stoplight.

Using snaps, learning shapes.

Button the flowers.

Flip photo books.

" What time is it?"

Lace the football.

Drive the car down the tracks.

Write a letter and mail it.

Dress the weather/season bear. Learn to use a zipper.

Tic-Tac-Toe

The cover. We actually split the pages between two covers to help out with fighting...hopefully. After all it is supposed to be a "quiet" book. We will see, first run is this Sunday.

Thanksgiving

Lily found the leftover pie!!

All the kiddos eating pumpkin pie.

The table.

Me, cooking. I have to admit, dinner turned out awesome!!!

Playing before dinner.

We had all the Swensen clan over for Thanksgiving. It was a lot of fun and not nearly as stressful as I thought it may turn out. We had a great day.

We have so much to be thankful for.

Something Funny

This morning Luke threw a toy at the TV and broke his toy. When I began to chastise him for this choice this is the conversation that ensued...
"Luke, why did you throw that toy at the TV?"
"I didn't!"
"Luke, I saw you."
"Well, I knew that I shouldn't, I thought about it, but then I lost my thinking."

I laughed so hard I couldn't even be bugged anymore.

Then later we were driving in the car. We were listening to Christmas music and the song was talking about mistletoe. Luke asked what mistletoe was.
So I said...
"Well, it is a Christmas tradition that has to do with a plant with green leaves and white berries. People hang it up and if you get caught standing under the plant you have to kiss."

"Yuck, that is disgusting!! I would never kiss a plant!" I began to laugh!!

"No, no, you kiss the person standing under the mistletoe with you."

"Now I really hate mistletoe...that is disgusting!"

So funny.

The First Snow Fall

About two weeks ago, we had our first snow. Of course it didn't stick around and tonight it is snowing for the second time. But I love these pictures. Everything is so simple when you're a kid. It snowing for the first time makes your day!

Again

I found the boys like this again a few days after I posted about it the last time. Oh, I love it! Even better, this time they are hugging.

Harry Potter Extravaganza

We threw a Halloween Harry Potter party with friends the Friday before Halloween. I have been getting grief about not posting...so here it is.

The Invitations: Sent out on parchment paper with wax seal and all.


The Invitations read:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. ,
We are writing to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your attendance is requested at the All Hallows Eve Feast on Friday, the twenty-ninth day of the month of October, the year two-thousand and ten. The feast will commence at seven that evening.

Each student is required to bring:
-one over sized plain black t-shirt (one that you don’t care about ruining. You can find these at any craft store).
-students may also come in costume or wizard robes, if they wish.

You will arrive via port key at Jake and Michelle Swensen’s home. Concealment charms have been sufficiently placed around 854 E. 2200 S. in the city of Clearfield to avoid suspicion from the surrounding muggles.

According to the decree for underage sorcery, no children will be allowed to attend the feast.

We look forward to an evening of well-mannered frivolity and await your response by owl post no later than October 21st.Thank you.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Hogwarts Headmistress


The Guests/Students:
The Akes
The Speredons: Hagrid and Professor Trelawney

The Hicks

The Standers--awesome Halloween costume. LOVE IT!

The Lunds: Lavender Brown and Professor Snape

The Ninows

The Schows

The Jacobsens

LOVE it!! Sarah as Professor Trelawney

The Rees--sorry its blurry

The Ingebretsens

The Burts

Playing Games:
Everyone was given a wand and sorted into their houses. Then we played Harry Potter trivia and had a Tri-Wizard Tournament. Congrats to Gryffindor who won the House Cup. (Ravenclaw took a close second.)

Decorations:

Our Dementor

House Flags

The Classrooms:
Defense Against the Dark Arts

Divination

Transfiguration

Professor Snapes Potions Closet

We had a great time! I forgot to post a picture of the food table. But we had fun with that too. We served chocolate frogs and wizard wands. Bertie Botts every flavor beans and parchment scrolls. Butter Beer and rock cakes. So fun! We are so glad we had such a great turnout. Thanks to those of you who came and are not Harry Potter nerds like us. Thanks for putting up with us. And to those of you who got the craziness....thanks!

I know....we are such nerds.

Hermione petrified/exhausted!