Busted!

It was Lilly's birthday and my friend Katie (a fantastic photographer)was trying to get Addie to sing Happy Birthday on camera. She had been singing it all morning and then as soon as the camera was on her, and everyone was watching, she clamed up. Thats okay though because she gave us a different kind of footage!

The Happy Birthday Grandma video was taken with her morning look- hence the crazy hairdo. I think Addie is a little confused about all the birthdays coming and going, can you tell? Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

Update

Shelley said I need to update my blog- I know, I couldn't believe it either! LOL
We didn't end up having to eat poi on our Thanksgiving turkey (thank goodness), but Justin and I were worried that the turkey would even turn out. We've only ever cooked one other one and it wasn't the best, (done on the outside, not in the middle). We got a few turkey tips from different sources and decided to use an online recipe, and a tip from our friend Megan to put cut up oranges in the cavity for mois'er meat. It turned out SO good, one of the best turkeys we've ever had, and the meat was incredibly mois'!
We ended up inviting a few families in the ward and some of Justin's co-workers for a total of 23! It was a total blast and we loved every minute of it, but we'd still trade it for being together with our extended families which we miss so much this time of year.
Speaking of family, we decided to use you all for our Christmas tree decorations this year. I was thinking how it would be a fun idea for the girls to have family pictures as ornaments and a few days later Haley said she had an idea to do the same thing. We bought our tree, (fake and prelit- what have we become?) the weekend after Thanksgiving and put only ribbon, popcorn strands, and family pictures on it. It looks amazing and the kids, especially Addie, love to go over to the tree and look at all the pictures of the people they love.
Lilly's birthday was last week and I gave her the option of spending the afternoon with mom or having a regular cake/presents party. She chose to spend the day with me, and we both enjoyed the one on one time. I took her to Build-A-Bear, which is called Hanai Bear out here and let her pick whatever she wanted. She picked a small white (groan) bear and three outfits for it. I'm lucky they only had a few outfits for the small bears or we could have spent way too much on a wardrobe for her new friend. She grinned the whole time and couldn't believe she finally had a Build-A-Bear friend like she's "wanted her whole life!" After that we went to find her a new dress (definitely a need) and then to lunch at Farrels. I told her she could have whatever she wanted on the menu so naturally she picked fries and a shake- wouldn't you? Because it was her birthday, they gave her a free scoop of the ice cream of her choice with any topping she wanted. When they brought it out she had to stand up while they made a bunch of noise and announced to the whole restaurant, "This is Lilly- today is her birthday, she's turning seven years old!" Then they sang Happy Birthday to her. When it was all over she sat down and said, "that was a little bit embarrassing"
When we were finished with lunch we went to Sports Authority to use the gift card from G-ma. Lilly got a new snorkel set and her own boogie board. She told me it was the "best birthday ever!"

The Church building we meet in was burned a couple years ago and is finally about done being rebuilt. Today there's a truck bringing a load of new furniture to be assembled. All the ward members are asked to come help unload the truck and put together the furniture. It seems a little "Extreme Home Makeover" to me. Kinda fun.
Our ward party is Friday and my friend from the ward was saying she and I should show off our Turbo Jam moves there. She is way into exercise and borrowed my DVDs. I'm not sure that would be appropriate since the theme is "the land of Jeruselem" and we're supposed to come dressed up in clothes from the time period of Christ's birth. I'll let you know if the shepherds can "houz it".

Lilly was sitting on my lap the other day and we were talking about how Santa only delivers to the kids that have been good this year. I asked her if she'd been good and she said "hmmmm..... not so much." I was shocked! What kid ever says that? I decided to ask my other kids the same question. Isabelle said, "wellllll..... a little bit good." Haley and Rachel both said no they hadn't! What is the deal? I mean there's honest and then there's insanely honest. I asked them what they could have done better and they all answered with the exact things they needed to work on. It was incredible! I'd never seen kids do that before! I think Santa will give honesty points this year for sure!