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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Holiday Happenings

We're a little late with this week's update.  We've been busy digging out the boys room ( I kind of took it over with my craft/sewing stuff).  I thought they might appreciate a bed that wasn't covered in scrapbooking supplies, fabric, ribbon etc.  I've also been busy decorating the trees for each of their rooms and then there was that obnoxious hacker who got into one of my blogs and caused all kinds of chaos, including losing all the posts I had worked so hard on to post during the holidays so I could take a little blogging break!!  Back to square one with that one!

We have been in full holiday mode around here.  In addition to the Grotto last week we had two fun holiday parties to go to - both of them white elephant gift exchanges.  We prepared all week for a major ice storm which never happened - such a disappointment.  We did get a skiff of snow during Sacrament meeting on Sunday but that was it! 

Tessa did a lot of babysitting this weekend and earned some much needed money for Christmas gift giving!  She also helped out with a Senior Prom at a local retirement center as part of a National Honor Society project.  She had a great time and I am sure gave some of the old men a thrill when she danced with them!  One of them was an old time actor who had been in Twilight Zone!

I also helped out another ward in our Stake when their Enrichment Leader quit the week before their holiday dinner.  I got a lesson in fondant making from my friend Meg and then decorated holiday cupcakes for them - chocolate cupcakes with peppermint frosting with a yellow fondant star on top.  Yummy!

Cali was busy doing a little holiday baking herself.  She and her roommates made sugar cookies and hosted a holiday party for some of their friends who will not be returning to school.  When we went to Utah for Thanksgiving I took a oven thermometer to test the heat in Cali's apartment oven as she said everything was burning.  Well, when an oven is cooking 50 degrees too hot that happens!  Once they adjusted the temperature things turned out great - including their cookies.


Now they just need to learn how to focus their camera or take a few lessons from Your Homebased Mom on food photography!!
Cali had a busy week preparing for finals and her voice recital.  She and two other girl's sang  a medley of holiday songs - Cali sang Susie Snowflake.  I think she looked darling in her outfit!

Thanks to Emily and girls for going and supporting her and her two brothers.  At least I think Clark was there, he just didn't hang around for the photo I guess!!



Some of Cali's roommates were also there to support her - just wish we could have been there!!!

Clark and Cali are busy studying for and taking finals although Clark did manage to squeeze in a date this weekend - they decorated gingerbread houses.

Logan went to the movies and DJ'd a dance.  He has been doing a lot of job interviewing and it looks like he has a couple of good prospects!  We're keeping our fingers crossed.

All the kids arrive home this week.  Logan on Wednesday and Clark and Cali on Friday.  We can't wait!!!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for continuing to share with us. CONGRATS Cali on your performance. Your costume is darling!!!!! Wish I could be a mouse in the corner and watch all the festivities at home. Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! We love you!

AussieSaver said...

Hi Leigh Anne,

I have spent time these last few days reading your blog from start to finish and I love it! You have such a nice family and I enjoy reading about what everyone is up to and seeing your great photos!

I still don't understand everything completely, for example I don't know what a temple session is or what a ward is, but I can tell you come from a Godly family and that is both impressive and inspirational!

I will continue to be an avid reader!

Kellie

Catherine said...

Leigh Anne,

As always I enjoy reading your blogs and reading about your children. This time, I actually have a question for Tessa. Could she give me some ideas for the Senior Prom that her NHS chapter hosted? You see, I am NHS advisor at our school and that sounds like fun!! Where did they hold the prom? Who did they invite? How did they decorate? What songs they choose and did they have a DJ? Did they have a photographer? We have a retirement home/nursing home in our small town and I could see inviting the residents there to a Senior Prom . . . and maybe even holding it in their "common area" . . . the only thing is, there is another retirement community across town (which is acutally less than a mile) . . . but it's much larger and I'm not sure that everyone could attend together . . . anyway, if she could let me know some of the logistics, I could start planning . . . even if we can't do it this year, maybe we could next year! I would love to know other projects her NHS chapter does. So far we haven't done much outside of our Christmas project; we adopted a couple of needy families with elementary school children and helped provide gifts that the parents can use for Christmas - each child received clothes and toys - and lots of needed items. However, since this is my first year to do this solo, I would love to hear other ideas. Let her know that one of YOUR fans would actually love to hear from her!! She can email me (I subscribe to yourhomebasedmom!).

Thanks for any help she can give me!!!!!

Leigh Anne Wilkes said...

Hey Catherine this is Tessa. I wasn't in charge of the project but I did help at it. I'll just give you a run through of what we did at the event. It was more of a Winter Ball than a prom and it was held at the retirement home, and the dress code was semi-formal. Since it was a winter ball the decorations were christmas themed and the place settings had little goody bags of candy. As the residents came down from their rooms we took their picture infront of the big christmas tree that the retirement center had. Then the students mingled with the residents, which was really fun because some of the residents were hilarious and had cool stories to share. They had a one man band that played christmas music while we were waiting for dinner to be served. Also while waiting the students danced with the residents if wanted. The kitchen there at the home provided dinner. I had to leave early so I am not sure what happened after dinner. I believe that the girl who was in charge of this project worked with the activity director at the retirement home.