Feast or Famine

As I think about starting a new year I realize that I have no idea how 2010 will go for our family. I think my own personal motto lately has become "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best". In November of 2009 my brother and sister-in-law had a challenge in their home, they called in "No Money November". At first I thought it was crazy, not to spend more than $125 on groceries or gas for the entire month. Pay only their monthly bills, ie) mortgage, utilities, credit cards, etc. And spend no other money for the entire month. Now they live in a community where they never have to drive more than 10 miles to get anywhere and he rides his bike to work so they seriously only spent $25 on gas for their vehicles (wouldn't that be nice). But as the month went on she blogged about her experience, her attitude was positive, they were holding to their plan and there was a sense of accomplishment in her tone. At the end of the month he sent out an email that went over the entire experience, what they learned, what they would change and how fulfilling the experience was. I've been thinking about that email for the past two weeks and wondering some things about myself:

1. Do I have the self discipline to do this?


2. Would my food storage hold up for the month?


3. Would we eat well balanced meals?


4. How would my children react?


5. What would my bank account look like at the end of the month?

The more I think about it the less crazy it sounds and the more sensible it seems. Especially as I mentally check the expenses for the rest of the holidays and second guess myself at the necessity of the expenditures. So.......here comes "No Money January" at the Mitchell house, let's bring on this learning experience!

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. The girls enjoyed making sugar cookies together.
They planned, prepared, created back drops and performed a Nativity for Jake's parents and brother Mike. It was wonderful to see them playing "Nativity" together throughout the week in preparation for their Christmas Eve performance.
Ella as Mary, Paislee as Joseph, Grant as a silly wiseman, Jake also played a wiseman and I was able to be a shephard.

Although everyone appears to be happy in this photo Grant is about to be extremely disappointed as his gift is not a toy....

But darling slippers! He was so upset!

Christmas morning we actually had to wake our children up! Not that we're complaining but we thought for sure that this would be the year we would have to start having them "go back to sleep for an hour". We woke Grant up first, as he pushed himself up off the bed the first thing out of his mouth was, "Santa Claus?" Our answer was, "Yes" and he replied, "Okay", as though he wasn't quite sure what that meant but that he was ready for it. He then went and woke up his sisters who were disoriented and confused as to what was going on! Finally everyone was awake and on the same page and our Christmas morning began.

Ella and her flapper costume from Santa!

Paislee with her new game.

And this little guy who enjoyed every single second of Christmas!

Goodbye Mullet

Although it's difficult to tell from this photo Grant has been sportin' a mullet for the past few months. We've been combing the front of his hair flat down and letting his curls have a little party in the back. Sadly his curls were turning into ringlets and it was time to give this little man his first haircut. Yesterday Jake took him to Fred the "barber" in Meridian and those curly locks were chopped.

He's so used to his sister Ella combing his hair he was great through the whole experience.
And here are the final results. I need to find a tutorial on how to do boys hair but I think we'll eventually figure it out.

He looks like such a big kid now instead of the baby he used to be.

Christmas Activities

We've been fortunate to have a lot of fun filled activities during the first few weeks of December. Our stake had a live nativity where the kids were able to witness the journey to Bethlehem and the humble circumstances the Savior was born into. They've had a sleepover with Papa and Grammy with a gingerbread house put into production. Tonight we were able to drive through some neighborhoods around us and see the beautiful Christmas lights. And they were able to visit with Santa.
We are blessed with three beautiful, smart, hilarious children and are so grateful for each of them and the joy they bring into our lives. (The sleepover was last night and we missed them, the house was too quiet without them).

Little Wise woMan

Saturday was the ward Christmas party, it was amazing. Our Activity Committee's theme was "Warm Hands, Warm Hearts" and it was all about service. Paislee had been asked to sing with the primary nativity and she was one of the wise men. I think it's wonderful she is so willing to put herself out there and sing with a group, it sounded very beautiful!

Typical Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we headed to Idaho Falls to spend it with my Mom and Grandma. Jake took these very candid photos of Grant and the leftover turkey leg from the big meal, isn't this how it goes. We start out gang busters with a smile on our face.

We continue to chow down, the food is too good to pass up.
And finally it sets in, we have eaten too much, our pants are no longer comfortable and we need to rest from our over indulgence.

Here's hoping that all of you had as fantastic Thanksgiving holiday as we did!