what - no pictures?

Ok, So I was going to post this a few weeks ago...but I was having problems getting the pictures, I figure I'll post it anyway and then put a new one up as well...

(flash back to December 18th)
So here's the thing. I'm not a big picture taker. I see all these other blogs with tons of pictures on them and I feel a bit guilty, because I don't have tons of pictures of my kids or, well of anything. I don't have my camera around 24/7 and I miss a lot of really funny stuff. I could have my kids blackmailed for life if I started toting a camera. Hmmm... maybe it's not such a bad idea.
Things are going well. I have a cold, but it hasn't caused me too much grief yet. I've been pretty steady in the work department, I know it's going to get crazy in February, so I'm trying to store up some energy now.
We have been working on our night-time routine with the girls. No more diapers. So far in the last two weeks I think we have had one completely dry night. yay. I'm trying to stay positive.
I had the girls write letter to Santa last week. Alma asked for a toy cat and a big dark brown bunny. Ivy asked for a real live pink unicorn, a real puppy and a toy Santa. We mailed the letters to the North pole and yesterday both the girls got letters from Santa. It was so awesome. Santa rocks. By the way, so far Santa has only been able to find - you guessed it - the pink unicorn. I'm going to have to go to the "big city" tonight and do some power shopping.
Speaking of the "Big City" I had a request from a friend for some pictures of the town that I live in. I thought about going around town and taking some photos, but it is really cold outside. Last week we dipped down to -37 degrees with the wind chill. For you US folks that's around -35 Fahrenheit. bhrr.
Anyway, instead of taking my own photos, my super-smart husband suggested I just get the pictures from the town website. Here is the link if you want to see more of our little town.
http://www.stettler.net/default.cfm
Here is a picture of the Christmas tree the the town puts up in the middle of Main street the beginning of December every year:

And here is our local steam train. I think there are only a few left in North America, so this is actually pretty cool:

One of the 7 wonders of Stettler is the Threshing Machine (yes we are that rural):

And last but certainly not least is Main street

So that is my little town...I love it here.

This week was Christmas Program week for the Girls. Alma's was last Wednesday and Ivy's was yesterday.
Here's Alma at her concert:

And here are the girls posing after her concert. They are so darn cute!

And this was taken at Ivy's concert. It was so funny because she was quite upset when she opened the gift from Santa and found that it was a book, not a pink unicorn. "I don't like it". I think she was pretty mad at Santa, but was too shocked to say anything to him. I had to explain that the book wasn't the only gift from Santa this year...he would come to our house for Christmas too. That made her feel a bit better.

I better make this quick, because it's late and I am tired and my eyes are red from not enough sleep and I realized this morning that if i don't start getting more rest, I'm going to look like the walking dead and start getting wrinkles and that would just depress me.
Anyway, I'm still running on all cylinders. I keep waiting for things to slow down, but something always comes up. I wrote a 12 days of Christmas poem for our Branch Christmas party. I based it on my own life (not quite, but that's how I feel sometimes):

On the 12th day of Christmas my Relief Society said to me
Let's make 12 dozen chocolates
eleven crafts
ten minute talk
nine memorized scriptures
eight scrapbook pages
seven books to read
six children crying
five visiting teaching routes
four jell-o recipes
three baby blankets
two primary lessons
and don't forget your family home evening

Only for me right now, it Christmas baking, Christmas concerts, Christmas cards, visiting teaching, etc. etc. etc. Lucky for me though the baking and the shopping are mostly done and things are starting to settle down.

We had a wonderful time at our Branch Christmas party on Friday. Good food, good friends, and the decorations turned out great. Instead of asking Santa Clause to come for a visit, we had a visit from the three wise men (our branch presidency) and they did a great job. I'm just glad I don't have to plan another party until...well January at the earliest.

We have also started night time potty training. so far we have a 0-3 record, but I am going to stick with it. I just have to remember to go up and get them to the potty before I go to bed. Speaking of...maybe I better cut this short and get upstairs now.

I'll post pictures and fun stuff soon