cake in a mug

cake in a mug.

I REPEAT:

CAKE 

IN 

A

MUG!!!!

go forth and make them.

you're welcome. 

1. make your box of cake mix.

2. spray your mugs with pam.

3. 1/2 cup cake mix in each mug.

4. cook for 1 min. in microwave.

5. add your frosting.

{god bless susie swensen and her genius FHE treats.}

the end.

especially when root beer floats are involved

family night.

where we put treats in their mouth so they will be our captive audience for at least 5-7 minutes of a scripture story.

the bigger the treat, the longer we have them sucked in. 

this is our method, and it's a good one. oh yeah.

i love little people.

go team gibson.

miracles can happen! 

especially when root beer floats are involved:)

ice, ice baby

drip.

drip.

drip.

that's what the ice castles were doing last monday night.

by the time we left, brennan and max's coats were soaked.

at one point i asked my father in law how quickly can a person get frost bite anyway?

because my toes were definitely feeling like they were on their way.

but when you're getting 6 boots,

6 gloves,

snow pants for 5,

hats,

coats,

digging your snow pants and snow shirt out of the depths of your closet drawers,

you're just not always thinking about boots for yourself.

so off i went to the ice castles in my chucks.

good times.

i have never seen anything in winter so amazing.

us and 3,000 other people thought so too;)

can't wait to go back next year.

{max was terrified}

there are no small parts, only small actors {FHE & strep throat}

tonight the kids searched through the dress up bin for their family night costumes.

samuel the lamanite was what sean picked to teach us about.

everyone was SO excited about the bows and arrows.

brennan wore his red lightening bolt cape with his bow,

max wore her Cinderella princess dress, with TWO purses, a tiara, a batman mask, and a bow.

brennan always gets to be the main character b/c no one else cares but him.

max always wants to be the princess in the story.

even though there is never really a princess,

we let her think there is.

and 9 times out of 10 chase is already asleep by the time we get to it.

so sean threw little people up the stairs at samuel the lamanite,

max shot arrows with her bow,

and i was the believer that had a big line of "i believe!"

there are no small parts.

only small actors.

sean read the story off of the back of the picture scripture story.

{the kids ask every day if it's family night now--SO awesome}.

and then i scooped bowls of ice cream with brownies on top for everyone.

everyone was in bed late, but that's just how family night has to be.

and i love it.

have to get every last drop.

this is crucial.

i love his little neck.

oh

and

by

the

way...

"strongly positive for strep"

and a blood pressure of 100/64 {that's normal for me and no i don't feel light headed.}

that's what they tell me.

what can i say, i was feeling left out.

{#i must have picked my nose at the grocery store or something.}

{#not really!}

the sun was out all day.

it was amazing.

my lungs were finally free!

and max finally got to swing and slide in our backyard.

dream come true.

blue skies, warm sun, and crunchy thick snow.

the best part of a utah winter.

{i could do without the strep throat.}

a slab of gingerbread house {FHE: feasts}

do not let this house fool you.

for tonight,

we gibson's learned,

we are NOT architects.

we are eaters.

no shame in that.

.....

builder: sean

froster: emily

decorators: max & brennan

manager: chase ray

while we built our annual gingerbread houses tonight,

sean led our family in a discussion about feasts.

brennan wanted "everything" for his feast.

max copied his answer.

typical.

i said rolls.

i have to have my rolls.

chase played with kix on his tray.

grandma carol wanted steaks.

and

sean wanted grandma max's sweet potatoes.

we talked about how at a feast we indulge a plenty.

feast ourselves upon the grandeur of the meal.

then sean asked the kids how they can feast on the words of the savior 

during this christmas season and all year round.

it was a beautiful talk we had with our kids while we built a candy house.

i am so grateful for this beautiful time of year.

where i feel the joy of giving more than ever before.

and care less about the receiving.

when for the first time i find myself saying merry christmas instead of goodbye before i close my front door.

and it leaves a smile on my face,

no matter what else is going on.

at first there was a small gap in the roof.

then more of a gaping hole.

then we lost an entire section.

and then we decided we might as well just go with it.

so brennan yanked off the falling piece,

and served himself a slab of gingerbread house.

my favorite are the red gum drops.

but only on the first night.

b/c hard gum drops the next day are just not my thing.

this can't possibly be user error.

it must be a faulty house.

whichever.

....

P.S.

it should be ILLEGAL to rain in december the week before christmas.

all of the pretty snow is melting away.

sob!