Scrapbook Supplies
Scrapbooking
Finished Project
Scrapbook day always involved lunch. So we made Mickey Mouse sandwiches, cheetos, cauliflower and and M&M's (Mickey Mouse) cookies. We listened to Disney songs and decided we were ready to go again! Thank goodness we have an Aunt who is going to take us in October.
This was Christmas 2009. We decided to make shirts for Christmas Corner one night. It was a big project but Justin helped me and it was fun for Christmas. It felt like a small Christmas for us but honestly, I kind of liked it. The girls didn't get so much that they felt overwhelmed, instead we have had so much fun playing with their gifts. I got the Biggest Loser Wii game and have to say Jillian and Bob can make you hurt. Justin wasn't a very good boy. He ended up with a pair of socks and a book. Earlier in December Santa made an unexpected visit and brought him a new compressor. I think that is all we will post about the end of 2009. Honestly, I've tried 10 times to do more but something always comes up or the internet shuts down so here is to 2009. WELCOME 2010!!!
My Aunt Claudia (my mom's sister) and my Uncle Mike came up Tuesday to see my Uncle Jerry. We met at my sister's and had such a fun visit with them. My aunt has ovarian cancer and my uncle has prostate cancer. I saw my Aunt in June and I can't believe how much better she looks. She was really weak when I saw her last. It was so fun to be with her it reminded me so much of my mom. She was doing chemo and had a heart attack. She has decided to take a break from chemo and see what happens. She feels great peace. She is such a fun Aunt. She soaked up my girls and my girls loved to be with her.
We had our 3rd annual Ostler Treat Day. When we first got married we made candy with Justin's family each year. It was so much fun that I decided that we needed to have a day to make treats with my family. These are the yummy treats we made. If anyone needs a sugar rush head over.
White Fudge with Peppermint
Turtles
Rice Chex Mix Bar
Rice Crispy Marshmallows
Divinity
Oreo Truffles
Carmels
Fudge
At our candy party, Laralynn gave us all an amazing Christmas present. She made us a cookbook that she got from my mom with recipes in my mom's handwriting and fun pictures. Steve also carried on a tradition that my mom use to do, he bought us all an ornament that had to do with us. Justin got a basketball hoop since he had a goal to make a slam dunk this year. I got a drill, since I got a new drill for my 1/2 birthday last year from Justin, Allie got an ornament of fingernail polish since she used to paint my mom's toes. Aubrie got a cell phone. She loved to call my family when she was younger and would sing to them. 
Last year, Sunday's Christmas Corners were where we took a day of rest. This year it feels like catch up day. Do all the projects we didn't get done during the week. I feel blessed to have a job but I am realizing there are such something that have to give. So here is a pictures of the things we made for the last week, that we made TODAY!
Last weekend, Lisa had a boutique at her house. We watched Ellee, Jag and Sam. For Christmas Corner we made Sugar Cookies. Aunt Karalee and Laralynn came too. Aunt Karalee helped the kids roll the dough and cut them out. Ellee and Allie decided they didn't need cookie cutters and made their own SNOWMEN. They turned out really cool!
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Oh, how I miss this amazing lady. My mom died two years ago today. I regret not appreciating and loving her the way I should have. As it is often said, you don't realize how great something is until it is gone. I find myself missing her and wanting to ask her simple questions that she could answer
How do I raise girls?
What did you do to survive putting your husband through college while having a family?
How did you serve so diligiently being the Primary President and the PTA president at the same time and still raise a family?
What should I make for dinner?
Can you watch my girls today?
I miss hearing and feeling expressions of love from a mother. She was my cheerleader for times when I felt like I was losing at the game of life, she called to see how I was doing, she called to ask if I wanted to go shopping, she called just to say I love you. I know that many people love me and I so appreciate that, but there is nothing like a "Mother's Love" I was so young and blind to fully understand and appreciate all that she did for me. I often feel such guilt for not taking better care of her. I know it is all in hindsight but oh, how I wish I could have been a different person and been able to dig deeper and take care of her longer. I know it does me no good to sit and dwell on this subject so instead I write... "What I would do if I could spend the day with my mom.....
1. I would eat brownies and mint chocolate chip ice cream with her for breakfast.
2. I would go shopping with her and let her go down each and every isle and be in the moment with her.
3. I would take her to a movie and cuddle up next to her and have her hold me.
4. I would watch a Jazz game with her and scream at the TV as if it would make a difference.
5. I would scrapbook with her and watcher her spend hours and hours on just one page.
6. I would take her to Pepperidge Farms and eat Chicken Cordon Blue.
7. I would slide down the stairs on mattresses and laugh and laugh
8. I would go for a walk in the leaves and talk about all the things we were grateful for.
9. I would go to the store and listen to her talk to everyone that she knew.
10. I would listen about all the advice she could give me.
11. I would lay in her bedroom on her bed looking up at ther cottage cheese ceiling and just listen to each and every word she said. I would soak it all up every moment.
12. I would spend time watching her hold my daughters, play Cinderella with Allie, and smother them with hugs and kisses.
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I am so grateful for my mom and the wonderful memories I have of her. I love you and miss you, my angel mother.
Couldn't get picture to turn!
Pop out Christmas Trees! Justin joined us for these. I asked him to make Christmas Trees that the girls could decorate and put together. I am so amazed at how creative he is. I know it comes from a long line of creative people in his family. He is such an incredible guy and I am grateful I have him and that he puts up with my craziness.
My dear Grandma was born today, December 9th many, many many years ago. Although, she has been gone for 12 years now, her memory will never die. We talk about her often. When Aubrie found out who she was and that she was named after her, she refers to her as my Ardith Ellen. Tonight for dinner, in her honor we had waffles with strawberries and whip cream. 
Grandma use to go with the Senior Citizens to Wendover for the day. When she got home we would rushed to Grandma's house to hear all about how much money she won. She never would tell us how much she made, she was a liar. She lied about everything. Anyway, she would tell us to sit down and she would tell us about the trip so she would start with the drive and then she would say how she put a nickle or two in and then she got hungry. She would then spend 10 minutes telling us about breakfast. How light and fluffy her beligan waffles was. How big the strawberries were and how it had a beautiful fluff of whip cream. She made everything magical. She was amazing. The best Grandma any child could ask for. She was such a big part of me and I miss her deeply! 
Christmas Corner always begins with countdowns. For the first couple of days that is we make our countdown chains, candy calendars and this year we made another countdown holder. It didn't quite turn out as easy as the instructions so we will finish it up tomorrow after I buy some rubber bands.
Christmas Candy Calendars is a tradition that Justin did when he was a little boy. This year we made them at Papa and Maama's house on Sunday. I didn't have my camera but this is a picture of Aubrie's calendar. Each day you get to pick a piece of candy off the calendar until Christmas. Who wouldn't want that tradition!!!!
December 1st begins Christmas Corner. We sang songs, read christmas stories and made christmas chains. I let the girls pick their own paper from pack of Christmas paper. They had a lot of fun cutting and gluing. It was fun this year to realized how much they can actually do on their own.
I have to admit this project was a mess. It was really cute on the instructions but not as easy as it looks. I think I just need some rubberbands and it should work. The point is to break open the holder and get a treat. We chose bubble gum. The girls love love love bubble gum. So I figured one a day wasn't bad.
December 3rd was a Santa project foam project. Unfortunately, with me working, some projects are the kind that come in a kit and you just put together. It was still fun though. I think just being with my girls and having something to do is all that matters.
