Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I posted... sorry about that. I have been a little busy.

There was Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, and right after that there was New Year's Eve.

And between the BIG things I filled my time with laundry, homework, reading, PTA, dishes, cooking, watching Cam, shopping, church responsibilities (like Cub Scouts, and Stake Primary), attending Eli's Holiday concert, cleaning, decorating for Christmas, wrapping, planning, and sleeping (a little).

We had a great time over the Holidays. The boys were out of school for only a week and a half but we filled it with family. Christmas morning we had brunch with my 4 NC siblings their spouses (3) and kids (3), my parents (2), my grandmother (1), and missionaries (4) for a grand total of 23 people.

It snowed Christmas night and we woke up to about 4 inches. It was perfect!

THEN my sister and her family (6) came from Alabama, and my Uncle and his family (4) came from NYC and we played games (Scrabble, Spaids, Kings Corner, Laser Tag, Scattergories, Kick Ball, Qwelf) and went to dinner (party of 12), had a family photo shoot, had sleepovers, went to lunch at 5 Guys (thanks Mom and Dad!), and then had 30 people for dinner on New Year's Eve.

Just part of the crew waiting for lunch.
As we all walked in the guy in the background (brown coat) asked "Where's the bus?".

Number of times people confused me for my sister's mother... at least 7!
Number of fights between the cousins... maybe 4. (surprisingly few!)
Number of hugs, kisses, laughs and all around good times... countless.

What a great way to transition from one year to the next. I can't wait to do it all again next year!
(although it is nice to have my house back!)

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

a link to NORAD Santa Watcher... where is he now?

Merry Christmas!

Love,

The Haines Family
Bryant-Laura-Garrett-Evan-Noah-Eli

The Eleventh Day of Christmas...

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

One day of not having to read this blog!
(I know you are thinking... early Christmas Gift?!)

Go, get, scoot.... do some last minute shopping, baking, or wrapping.

Enjoy your day off, but don't forget to check back tomorrow!

The Tenth Day of Christmas

On the Tenth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

*Ten Favorite Scriptures

1. Isaiah 9:6
2. Jeremiah 1:4-5
3. Matthew 17:20
4. John 10:16 (Correlates to 3 Nephi 18:21)
5. Philippians 4:13
6. 1 Nephi 20:18
7. Mosiah 2:17
8. Alma 32:16
9. Moroni 7:45-48
   
10. Doctrine & Covenants 98:12

If you don't have a copy of the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine & Covenants (standard works for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) you can find the scriptures online here!
(* These are just a few of the many highlighted scriptures!)

recap:

• 9 Things To Do,
  
• 4 New Traditions,
  
• The Christmas Spirit,
• Six Silly Faces,
• Five Simple Words!
• Four Christmas Tips,
• Three French Hens,
• Two Lame excuses,
• and a new Video replacing the one requesting some room!

The Ninth Day of Christmas

On the Ninth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

Nine things for your family to do!

1. Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” together
2. Go Ice Skating
   
3. Play BananaGrams or Scrabble using only Christmas words
4. Work on a puzzle together while singing Christmas Carols
5. Go Caroling
6. Drive around your neighborhood to look at Christmas lights
7. Watch "The Nutcracker" together
8. Read about the birth of Jesus in Jerusalem (Luke 2)
9. Read in the Book of Mormon how the birth of Christ was witnessed in the Americas (3 Nephi 1)

recap:

• 9 Things To Do,
  
• 4 New Traditions,
  
• The Christmas Spirit,
• Six Silly Faces,
• Five Simple Words!
• Four Christmas Tips,
• Three French Hens,
• Two Lame excuses,
• and a new Video replacing the one requesting some room!

The Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

k, this one won't fit within the song but it's a good one (if I do say so myself)

Watch this video and then decide on 4 things (one each night) you can do for others to share the Spirit of Christmas. Try to do something (at least one thing) that is outside of your comfort zone. THEN decide which one(s) you'll do again next year!

Don't forget to tell us what you did in the comments section!

Here are some ideas to get you started...

• deliver a Christmas Jar,
• Ding-Dong Ditch some groceries to someone in need,
• Write down your testimony of Jesus Christ and give it to a friend (if your friend is not a member include a copy of the Book of Mormon or a framed picture of Christ!)
• Christmas Caroling!
  

recap:

• 4 New Traditions
  
• The Christmas Spirit,
• Six Silly Faces,
• Five Simple Words!
• Four Christmas Tips,
• Three French Hens,
• Two Lame excuses,
• and a new Video replacing the one requesting some room!
  

The Sixth Day of Christmas

On the Sixth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

Six silly faces

If anyone out there knows how to make a mosaic with photos (erin?) will you please let me in on the secret. This post looked SO much better in my head!

The Fifth Day of Christmas

On the Fifth Day of Christmas our family gives to you....

5 simple words!

Oops I did it again! (I forgot to post for the day!)

recap? nahhh it really isn't that hard to remember is it?

The Third Day of Christmas

On the Third Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

Three French Hens!

Did you know that the Three French Hens represent the Three Theological Virtues; Faith, Hope, and Charity? Read 1 Corinthians 13:13, Moroni 7, and this.

• Three French Hens
  
• Two lame excuses
• and a video requesting some room!
  

The Second Day of Christmas

What, you actually expected me to blog on each "day of Christmas"? Yeah, me too.

I could try to come up with something clever... but instead will just give you...

Two Lame Excuses..... sick kids and errands.

Let's recap (come on, you have to sing it to get the full effect)

On the second day of Christmas our family gives to you....

• two lame excuses
• and a video requesting some room! :)

The First Day of Christmas

On the First Day of Christmas our family gives to you....

One video "Do You Have Room?"