This is the season...

We received this from our friends in Texas, and are going to try our best to do it this year as a family. I love combining the scriptures with songs and this will be a perfect way to prepare for and celebrate Christmas this month.

For the month of December we share a gift with you, so the true spirit of Christmas may join your family too. Now throughout this holiday season, as the days get hectic and long. Gather together at the end of each day, share a scripture, story and song. With your hearts and voices joined together, the spirit will ring loud and clear. We hope this time spent together will fill your holidays with love and cheer!
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year,
Lyle, Sherilyn, and family

Dec. 1 Isaiah 7:14 Angels We Have Heard On High
Dec. 2 Isaiah 9:6 Away In A Manger
Dec. 3 Micah 5:2 O Little Town of Bethlehem
Dec. 4 Jeremiah 23:5 O Come All Ye Faithful
Dec. 5 Isaiah 40:1-4 Joy to the World
Dec. 6 Jeremiah 33:14-15 The First Noel
Dec. 7 Isaiah 40:11 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Dec. 8 Psalms 24 Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Dec. 9 Jeremiah 23:6 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Dec. 10 Jacob 7:11-12 Far, Far Away On Judea's Plain
Dec. 11 1 Nephi 10:4 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Dec. 12 1 Nephi 13:18 What Child Is This
Dec. 13 1 Nephi 11:20-24 O Holy Night
Dec. 14 1 Nephi 11:27 Who Is The Child
Dec. 15 Helaman 14:3 Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus
Dec. 16 Helaman 14:5-6 I Heard the Bells
Dec. 17 Luke 1:30-31 I Believe in Christ
Dec. 18 3 Nephi 1:13 When Christ Was Born In Bethlehem
Dec. 19 3 Nephi 1:19 Star Bright
Dec. 20 Luke 2:4-7 O Hush Thee My Baby
Dec. 21 Luke 2:8-11 How Great Thou Art
Dec. 22 Luke 2:12-14 We Three Kings of Orient Are
Dec. 23 Matthew 2:1-2 With Wondering Awe
Dec. 24 Mosiah 3:5-8 Silent Night Luke 1:26-38, 46-47 Luke 2:1-20 Matthew 2:1-14

Merry Christmas!

Who's that knocking on my door?

My mom!!

On Saturday Jim told me he had to go help a friend move and at the last minute offered to take Bridger, too. I thought to myself "Great! I wouldn't mind a few hours to myself, and I had not even begun preparing for my primary lesson yet." About 35 minutes later I hear someone knocking at my door and it was my mom! Turns out our friends weren't moving, and Jim & Bridger had successfully gone to pick her up from the airport without me having any clue as to what was REALLY going on. What a great surprise!

So, we had a great long weekend all together. Mom got to participate in our pumpkin party, was able to meet my primary class, watch B & I in his swim class, attend the baby shower my friends threw me (her real motivation for coming out to OR), helped us get motivated to actually purchase drawers for the kids room, and Jim & I had an excuse to see Quantum of Solace during the opening weekend.

Can you tell where Bridger got his blond hair & blue eyes?

I loved seeing her react to the fall colors in Oregon. Being an Arizona native, autumn usually means that the weather finally cools down from 95 degrees to a pleasant 80.

Thanks Jim for a great surprise! And thanks mom for bringing 5 straight days of sunshine!

The Ultimate Showdown

Our Family Home Evening activity this week featured an Ultimate Showdown!

In this corner, weighing in at 33 lbs, 34 inches, and 2T clothing - we have the best, most bodacious B-Man...our very own BRIDGER BOY!!

His strengths are his stealth-like movements around the playing field, signature double ball throw move, boundless energy, and a laugh that can light up a room.

In this corner, weighing in at (we actually don't talk about this while I am pregnant), 6'2", size 12 shoe - we have the brightest, most fun hubby a gal could ask for, a go-getter, our in-house go-to-guy, and why they say "every Superman needs a"... DADDY!

His strengths include making up a fun FHE game on the fly, athletic versatility for switching from running to ball games, and willingness to step up and take over when the grumpy pregnant lady who lives in this house is tired at the end of the day.

The object of this Ultimate Showdown was to get all the balls out of your corner onto your opponent's side - and to be the last one standing!

I don't know if it was more fun to watch Bridger or Jim during this...

Hooray for activities that can tire out an almost 2 year old before bedtime during the winter when it gets dark outside at 5 pm!

Musical Moments...

The following are a few of the ways Bridger enjoys making music.
One of his favorite things to do with Daddy is play "ah-tar". Which means Daddy will play guitar hero and Bridger dances along. Tonight Bridger was showing off his skills and rocking out.

This has been something Bridger has done since he was like 9 months old. Only now, his stamina to sit at the piano and make all the songs play has increased.

I love how happy he gets dancing along at the piano. Also, somewhere along the way he figured out that it was fun to play with his feet. I will need to catch that on video sometime because it is hilarious!

"Treat Treat"

We had two very fun activities to help us celebrate Halloween this past week. First, we had the ward Trunk or Treat, were we made our family appearance as the "Super Schaffers".
Here is our car sporting its Superness.
Jim got a lot of feedback on his "Surfer Dude" wig. Many people thought he was growing out his hair, which is funny because if it ever got near that long, his hair would really look more like an white boy Afro.


Bridger was a little confused at times because he could not recognize all his little friends right away with their great costumes. A little too much stimulation by the end of the night.

Our second fun event for for the week was getting together with our friends in Sherwood and Trick or Treating on Halloween. Bridger was Santa, Jim was a Surfer dude, and I was the Wendy's girl (or Pippy Longstocking if you prefer - it was a flexible costume).

We got to carve a pumpkin...

Caught a ride on Daddy's back...

And really got the hang of the whole 'walk up to a stranger's house and collect candy thing'...

We went trick or treating with 3 Disney princesses, 1 lady bug, 1 bumble bee, 1 adorable flower, 1 Santa, 7 happy parents, and 2 proud grandparents.

We kept trying to get Bridger to say the traditional "Trick or Treat", but he didn't bother with the Trick, and would exclaim: "Treat Treat!!" as he held out his bag.

We had a great time. Thanks for the fun & Happy Halloween everyone!!

Now, I think it is close enough, I can start listening to Christmas music... :) Hey - at least I waited until November.