Christmas Concert

just a day before 'winter break', the kids had their Christmas concert. the middle school gym was jam packed with parents, friends and other family members. it was kind of a rough night for savannah and jilli (they had both come home sick with fevers from school), but they didn't want to miss it and persevered through it all.

i'm so happy that mr. coyner (jilli's kindergarten teacher) takes the time out of his crazy schedule and volunteers to get this thing together every year.  it was a great night!

Graham Cracker Mayheim

About a week before Christmas, all of Doug's local-ish siblings and their kids got together for the graham cracker house decorating event.  Let's face it, this family is getting so big that pretty much all of our holiday celebrations end up at our church building.  So, that's where we headed. 

There was sooooo much candy, the kids loved it!!

Everyone was smart (except me, being the lazy one) and 'glued' their houses beforehand so it was just a matter of the decor.  There were a few extra pre-made houses that my kids scored so it all worked out.  Izzy and Jilli shared one and did pretty well (with my guidance) at deciding together how they wanted to embellish their digs.

Savannah, getting all creative!

Payton working away on his masterpiece.

The finished products...

Payton added rocket boosters to his.

And here are all (minus a sick one) of the kids.  I think there are more kids here than there is in our ward primary...and that's not all of the grandkids, just the local ones. Way to go Gifford family for trying to multiple and replenish the earth single-handedly.

Pressing Ci-i-ider Through a Straw....

or, a cider press

Doug and I had about 500 lbs of apples left from a Young Single Adult activity and needed to use them before they went bad.  Thankfully there is a great couple in our ward that owns a President Jorgensen Handmade Cider Press.  They were wonderful to let us and about 4 other families come and press the crazy amount of apples for FHE last night.

It was pretty dang cold out, but the kids had fun helping out with this amazing contraption.  They did go in and out of the garage, snacking on hot dogs, chips, hot chocolate and delicious peach cobbler.  So, they did thaw out every once in a while.

I'm thinking that we got about 30-40 gallons of apple cider.  And it's yummy!  The apples are Yakima fuji's and super sweet.  I'm not a juice/cider drinker, but there is something about this stuff that makes me want to drink glass after glass of it. Hmmm....maybe it's the pregnancy.

The moon started to rise while we were wrapping things up.  It was so beautiful. 

It was a great night spent with family and friends...and lots of apples!

Tree Time

Last year we were very blessed to have one of my lovely friends deliver our Christmas tree.  We probably wouldn't have had one otherwise.

This year I am a little more anxious than usual to get decorations and all things Christmas going.  I think it's because I couldn't last year. 

We took the kids out of school a bit early on Monday (which they were ecstatic about) to go searching for the perfect tree.  I love living out where we do, because there is a tree farm at almost every corner. This year we tried a new place just about 3 miles down the road from us.  There we met a lovely lady named Sharon and we took ourselves through her picturesque property complete with a log house and a little bridge over a small creek.  Once you start to look at all the trees they tend to start looking very similar.

Savannah spotted this one.  We looked at several others just to be sure and then came back to it.

My little lovies!!!

Everyone insisted on helping carry this beauty to the car.  I love when they want to be so helpful! 

Sharon (the lady in the back) also makes pretty incredible live wreaths.  I saw a gigantic one and asked how much.  Only 30 bucks!  I snatched it up.  So, if you drive by my house, look at the front porch where it is hanging!  I love it! 

Our FHE activity was, of course, decorating this Fraser tree.  We usually go with a Douglas fir, but this turned out perfect for us.  I think Sharon will have some returning customers next year!!

The 'Power' of Prayer

Along with many others, we lost power last night.  About 3 a.m. my eyes shot open for some odd reason and all I saw was pitch black.  I didn't really fall back asleep very soundly because of the baby bump and the loud noises outside.  I kept saying little prayers about the power coming back on, thinking about the Thanksgiving turkey in our fridge and the insane amount of water that we wouldn't be able to pump out of the basement.

Around 5:30 Payton and Savannah crept inside our room.  "Mom, we lost power. It's really dark!  We said a prayer so we could make it downstairs!"  They climbed in bed with us and started talking about the weather and how much they didn't like it.  Savannah, bless her heart, is just like her mother.  She gets a little worked up over things like this and starts worrying about everything.  "I really don't like this at all." She said.  There was several minutes of silence and then Savannah said, "Mom...Dad...Payton.  Can you say a prayer with me?"  Dad asked what exactly she wanted to pray about.  And she said that the electricity would come back on.  We told her to go ahead.  It was a short and simple prayer.  She thanked Heavenly Father for the day and asked Him to help us be safe. And then she asked that the power would come back on and ended it.  In the instant she said amen...the kitchen light that we always leave on at night for the kids flickered back on and the heat turned on in our bedroom!  She sat up straight in bed and yelled..."THE ELECTRICITY IS BACK ON!!"  We were all a little stunned and started laughing a little. "That is so awesome," she said.  Seriously, it was pretty dang incredible.  I just can't help thinking about it and smiling.

So, to anyone living near by us whose power was out, I will just have you know that your power came back on because of the faith and prayer of my little 8 year old sweetheart!

ONE YEAR AGO...

For the past week I have been reminiscing about Hawaii.  Surfing, para sailing, jet skiing, luau's, walking the beach, soaking up the sun.  Oh that glorious sun!!  Sweet memories.  That's where I was one year ago.  But with those memories come the memories of the night after we got back.  November 17th.  Can't help but drift to those moments...when things changed. 

Not that I'm not constantly reminded of my accident with the dizzy spells, nerve damage and scar tissue from the surgery, but

hopefully this date will forever be a reminder to me of how blessed I am, how deeply I love and appreciate my friends and family and how grateful I am to be here.

MOZARTS in the MAKING

Piano Recital

November 12, 2011

Payton and Savannah have been taking piano lessons for the last year.  A sweet lady in our ward offered lessons for free.  We couldn't pass that up.  It hasn't been the easiest thing in the world to get them to practice the way they are supposed to.  But it has been awesome to hear their progress.

They each played 3 songs.  Unfortunately, the recital was held in the chapel so I couldn't record it.  Just know that they ROCKED IT!!  Doug and I were beaming!

Savannah and Payton with Lila Burgin.  She is very sweet and patient and we greatly appreciate the (free) time she devotes to teaching our kids.  What an amazing gift and act of service!!

Halloween Weekend

Thursday; Pumpkin Carving

Jillian's (the big one)

and

Izzy's (the polka-dot one)

Savannah's (back)

and

Payton's (front)

Mine.

If you couldn't tell, it's a G for Gifford.

Friday; Party Time.

Jillian's class party.

Butterfly and Bumble Bee

They had a blast buggying down with Mr. Coyner's music!

Also, on Friday, Doug and I went to an adult Halloween Costume party.  We did dress up, I just didn't get any pictures.  We went dressed as our host and hostess whom have a blog called 'Training With a Track Coach and his Adorable Wife'

So...we were Track Coach and Adorable Wife.  I even had a little spy (the sister) go to their house and 'borrow' some of their athletic gear.  I'm proud to say that everyone thought it was hilarious and we won for most creative costumes!  Glad they were good sports about it!!

Saturday; Trunk or Treat

Savannah the Pirate Princess

Isabelle the Bumble Bee

Payton as Zorro...without his mask.  (It was a last minute costume)

Jillian the Butterfly

Doug and I headed to the temple with the youth that night, so the kids got lucky when grandma said she would take them to the Trunk or Treat.

 Monday, we hit the streets of Onalaska for our very first time taking the kids trick or treating.  We usually just stick to the Trunk or Treat.  It was an interesting experience.

We visited a few friends and then came back to Grandma's house for some family activity's with the cousins.  It involved donuts and apples and lots of spit.  Good times.