Christmas pictures

Here are some Christmas pictures:

This is the girls in their new robes- they love them and they look so cute and cuddly in them!



I had to post this picture- it's of Arianna watching Nick open up the present she got for him. Look at that face- she was so excited to see him open up that present!


This is Nick opening up his Nintendo- he was very excited! I'll post more pictures next week!

The post I've been waiting to make!

Well here it is: The gift I've been just waiting to give. Laura finally got her opposum for Christmas. I think the look on her face pretty well sums the experience up for her! She threw the box after she dug through it and felt the fur. I am quite dissapointed in Aaron as I feel he has really led her astray. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have had to teach her this difficult lesson. I really didn't want to do this to her but I felt it was my responsibility to impart this learning experience to her.
I'm sure she's a better person for it!

You'd think it was a Monday morning!

I had a little excitement here this morning. I was laying in bed being lazy and all the kids crawled in. Nick and Arianna were playing game boys when Nick moved the wrong way and hit his funny bone on Arianna's game boy. I heard a "crack" and then Nick started screaming. Now sometimes Nick can be "over dramatic" but he was really screaming saying it hurt really bad. I thought he broke a bone or something. I'm trying to get him to calm down when all of a sudden he says "I'm going black" - and proceeds to pass out. At first I thought he was joking but no! I couldn't get him to come to. I tried calling Mark but of course he wasn't at his desk. I went back and tried for awhile to get him to come to and was trying not to get too panicked myself. Finally he opened his eyes. I asked him if he was alright and he was like Yeah- it's fine now. Now keep in mind that I threw my back out Friday and it was really getting better- if I screwed it back up flying out of bed he's going to be in trouble!!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Tonight we have my families Christmas party and I can't wait. We always have so much fun and this year should be no exception. I'm sure I'll have pictures to share next week.
Since this is the last time I'll be posting till after Christmas I just want to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas. I hope you all enjoy this special time with family and friends.
Merry Christmas!

Oh sweet mercy!

It's day 1 of vacation and I'm going a little nuts already!!
The problem isn't that they're fighting- it's that Nick got a call to stay overnight at a friends house last night and Arianna got a call from a friend to go play at 10:30 today. Therein lies my problem. I now have 1 child left who is feeling very left out even though I promised to take her out for lunch today and get a video.
Hopefully this will subside quickly and I won't have someone attatched to my leg for the rest of the day!! Although just think of the exercise I could get since I have laundry to do today and it's downstairs- I might have my own little workout all set up for me!

A very long long night

I'm so glad last night is over with. Mark left for Canada for work at 3:00 yesterday afternoon. I always worry a little when he's driving somewhere for work trips (those of you who know him and how he drives completely understand this!!)
So he was supposed to call me around 9:30 when he got there. I know how tiring it is to drive straight for over 6 hours so I decided after supper at 6:00 to call him on his cell phone and maybe call him every 2 hrs or so until he got there. I call- it goes directly to voice mail. OK- I wasn't worried at first, however when an hour goes by and still voice mail I was getting concerned. He was supposed to have his phone on so I wasn't sure what was going on. Well, turns out I never did get ahold of him the entire time.4 long hours of worry!! Just to make matters worse- I put Halle to bed and she starts crying because she wants daddy home. I told her daddy will be home on Friday and then we get to go to a great Christmas party that night. She says she wants to go to the Christmas party now. I said- you don't want to go to the party without daddy do you? Her reply-- daddy isn't ever going to come home! Well that wasn't what I wanted to hear when I can't get ahold of him and I'm picturing him crashed somewhere!!! She continued crying on and off for about 45 minutes- finally she fell asleep. I couldn't take it anymore and at 10:00 I looked up the hotel and called to see if he had checked in and low and behold- yes he had! They rang me through and I said um hello- you were supposed to call me! He said he was trying to figure out his cell phone to see if he could call internationally with itand was just about to call. He never did get the voice mail I left him. I was just so relieved that he was safe and sound!! Unfortunately, I apparently have a little of my mother in me- I hate to think how worried I'll be when my kids start driving- lets just all pray that they drive like me and not their father!!

It's a work of Art!

Well I came into the living room the other night to find this:













I was a little perturbed and said Halle you spilled all your skittles- pick them up!

That's when I was "enlightened." You see she didn't spill them at all. She was making a:
are you ready??
really ready??




A SKITTLE ANGEL!


Here's the finished product- it's very* obvious* right?!? I should have known she would never spill all her candy all over the floor for just any reason *sigh*.
At least she's creative!!

Halle's Christmas Program

Halle had her school Christmas program last week. It's so nice that we have the fine arts center at the high school now. It makes it so much nicer to see these programs now instead of sitting at bleachers at the school gym!

The program was about a family picking out their Christmas tree in the woods. The bottom picture is Halle singing the mittens song. It was ccccold out side so they needed mittens to keep their hands warm.


Then at one point in the story the family picked out their favorite Christmas songs to sing. One of the little girls picked out- Old McDonalds Farm. The sister didn't think that was a good Christmas song but the mom said it was fine. The top 2 pictures are about the animals on Old McDonalds Farm.
One is the deer with his antlers. The other is the skunk that was on the farm. He was stinky.
Halle did a great job and it was so cute to see her keep looking out for us and then giving this tiny wave when she spotted us. It was a cute program! It's really nice that she was in the front row. It really helps to get decent pictures!

Christmas Tour of Homes

Oh this is going to be so much fun. BooMama is holding a Christmas Tour of Homes where people can show their Christmas decorations. I'm only doing 3 pictures because I don't decorate the whole house.





This is our Christmas Tree. I really love it this year. My niece came over and lent her very many talents to assist me with it this year. I think it really turned out nice













I found our stocking holders last year. It was a challenge to find something for 5 people so I was thrilled when I found PEACE! Santa fills our stockings so they're empty until Christmas.












This is just a small portion of my village. It really doesn't do it justice in the daylight. At night it's really beautiful as it goes around 2 walls of the kitchen.




Hope you've enjoyed the small tour. If you want to see other tours just head over to
BooMamas!
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Getting a hold of Santa

I need some help. You see in the past years Santa has gotten ahold of me and asked me to do some of his work for him. I haven't heard anything from him this year and I've lost all of his contact information. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that as I'm usually very organized.
I did read however in my nieces Laura's blog that Santa has apparently contacted her and she has done some work for him this year. I just wanted to get in touch with him to make sure there wasn't anything he overlooked that I could help him with.
I really have to stop being so helpful but I can't help myself- it's who I am!!
So if anyone has any contact information I would really appreciate it because I really like to feel useful this time of year!

Arianna's Christmas program

We had Arianna's School Christmas program last night. This was the cutest program I've ever seen school put on. They found a snowman book that just had the illustrations done and the kids wrote the story. They sang songs that coordinated with the songs.
Very cute! After that they just sang a couple of normal Christmas songs.








Arianna got to play the cymbals along with one song- she did great!













The last song they circled around the auditorium and did a little square dance with their partner. Arianna had a boy! UGHHHHHH- she wasn't too happy about that- at least she said she wasn't- deep down I know better!

It was a very fun night! 

The snowman

Halle has been wanting to build a snowman for a couple of weeks now, but the snow just hasn't been good packing snow. With the drizzle yesterday it made the snow, um, wet and better for packing! When she got home from school yesterday Nick went out with her and they built her a snowman! She was quite proud! I hope she enjoys it because with all the rain today there won't be any snow or snowman left after today I don't think!!

Monday

Well today the time has come for me to tackle reorganizing the basement. I figured it would be a good day to do it because I'm going to be stuck down there for a while. My knob to turn my dishwasher on won't turn so I'm having a repair man come this morning. Since he's going to be in my kitchen I won't be able to get anything done there so I'm relocating to the basement.
I'm hoping it won't cost me anything since my receipt says it has a 1 year warranty and I just bought this dishwasher in April. Hopefully it's something minor and an easy fix. I'm ready to have my dishwasher back-it's amazing how much you take these things for granted!
So wish me luck cleaning the basement. I figure since the kids are all gone it would be a good time to clean out the old toys and make way for the new ones. The kids probably won't be very happy when they get home and see all the stuff I've packed up to donate to LOVE!

getting old

Today Terri and I went to visit my Aunt who is in a hospice home. This is my dad's oldest sibling. My Aunt is not doing well and they don't expect her to live much longer. My dad comes from a large family and this is the first sibling that will pass. I think this is going to be really hard on dad as they're all getting older.
We got to the home around 9:40 or so and went to her room. She was sleeping and we tried to wake her but she only opened her eyes for a moment and then went right back to sleep.
So we didn't get to visit with her. The whole thing just makes me a little sad. It's a little strange to think of my aunts and uncles not being there anymore when we've been surrounded by them our whole lives. I hate to think of my dad getting older and I know he thinks about it a lot. You just always imagine your lives with your parents in them and now that mom's gone and dad's getting older it just makes you realize that your life will be different one day.
I'll just keep enjoying the time we have right now!

I have a snoop!

Yesterday I found a present that on 1 side had been tried to be opened. I mentioned it to Arianna and she told me she didn't do it- by her response I knew it wasn't her. I pretty much knew it wasn't Nick so that left Halle. My only other thought was if Ryan (daycare) had done it because he's obsessed with my tree this year. So last night when Mark got home I mentioned to him that someone had tried to snoop into a present. Halle happened to be in the living room with us and when I said it she got this very mischevious grin on her face. I looked at her and said "was it you?" and she says "yes but it's ok because I still couldn't tell what was in there"
At least she's honest right??
I guess I have a little sympathy because I remember trying to snoop when I was little too!!

Is it just me or does this picture speak to you too??!?

I ran across this picture today and it just really spoke to me. Look closely at this young man. I mean look really closely- it's obvious that he is really father material. His eyes are saying "I would really really like to begin a family right now." In fact if you look closer he's saying "If only my wife would agree to start a family right now- that would make me the happiest man alive- that would be a great Christmas present!"

Actually now that I look closer this picture is speaking volumes. Look at the man behind. He is saying "I would really like to be a great grandpa"
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words- I'd have to agree- wouldn't you??!?

More fun in the snow

Mark went outside with the kids yesterday afternoon and oh the fun that they had! They started with shoveling- if only that was still considered fun for them when they grew up!
They went on to trying to build a snowman but it wasn't good packing snow. Nick started skiing (he's really getting into that) and then Mark ran in and said he needed the camera NOW!!!!
I got it and ran it out and laughed so hard- Halle had climbed on the back of the skis and was hanging on to Nick and they were skiing together. Soon Arianna took her turn at trying it. Then they all had a snowball fight. What great memories that they made!

Snow Day!

Oh the kids are buzzing around here so excited! We did get the snow and freezing rain they predicted and school is cancelled today. I thought Nick was going to jump out of his skin with excitement! Halle is already planning her snowman that she and Nick and Arianna are going to build later. I do enjoy snow days when it lands on days that I don't have day care kids. It's just a special time to do fun things with the kids.
I do however hope the roads improve by tonight as we have a Christmas party to go to.
Enjoy the weather and hopefully it gets you into the Christmas spirit!

Christmas MeMe- come play!

1. Egg nog or Hot Chocolate- Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or put them under the tree- He brings our stockings
3. Colored lights on house or white- no lights on house but our tree outside has colored
4. Do you hang mistletoe- no
5. When do you put decorations up- the day after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish- caramal dipped marshmallows
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child- the year I got a toy (I don't even remember what toy) and it needed batteries and we couldn't find any so my brother Duane quick ran to the store with me and bought me batteries so I could play with it. In fact the store was closing and the doors were locked but someone came out and as they did we ran in!
8. Do you open gifts on Christmas eve- we always did as kids but now we usually open them on Christmas morning- depending on when we have church
9. Snow- love it or dread it- I love it for the first couple of months then I dread it
10. Can you ice skate- no
11. What's the most important thing about the Holidays- celebrating Jesus' birth and spending time with family
12. What's your favorite Christmas song- religious song would be
"O Holy Night" non religious would be "Sleigh Ride"

I'd love to hear some of your answers too!!

Mark did some more raking on Saturday and this time Arianna got in on the fun. Look at her in the leaf pile- she is straight up and down! I'm glad she didn't break her neck doing that flip!
I'm glad they had nice weather for doing this- it sounds like today will be the end of that. I am ready for snow though- It's not Christmas without snow! When February comes along I'll be ready for it to be gone though.
This was not how I downloaded the pictures so I apologize- you'll have to look from the bottom picture up!

My little elves

We always put up our decorations the day after Thanksgiving. This year Laura came over to help. We had so much fun!
Here are the girls trying to get the tree skirt around the bottom of the tree. We had a lot of fun and I think the tree turned out beautiful and the girls are very excited about the tree this year because we decided that it was a Russian tree since some of the ornaments looked Russian to them. I guess it was the color red and a couple of them had gold swirls on them. I'll post more pictures later at the Holiday Tour of Homes that is being put on by another blogger.

The long awaited gift!

Halle has been wanting an American Girl doll for quite awhile now. It's been an issue between her and Arianna since Arianna got one for Christmas last year. Grandma told her she would get her one for her birthday this year- she told her that about 2 1/2 months ago so the wait has been on.
Finally on Sunday we had her birthday party on that side of the family. She didn't forget so she knew what she was getting and she couldn't wait.
When she opened up the package she said" this is exactly the one that I wanted!"
I'm so glad it lived up to her expectation!
Now the girls are spending lots of time combing the hair- dressing them etc...
It was worth the wait!

 

Day after Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving day. My sister had the flu the night before and I was worried she wouldn't be able to be there but she was feeling much better so she could come. The whole family was together and we had a great time.
After the dinner we had a birthday party for Halle, Shaelyn, Mark, Mari and Laura. I forgot the present for Halle from Grandpa that I had at my house so Mark ran back home to get it.
She was very excited with her presents and Laura got a beautiful card with this on it.





I Didn't want to pass up the opportunity to thank her for that beautiful gift that she gave me at the shack.
Today we are putting up the Christmas decorations and lights. The kids are very excited and I will love it when it's completed and I can see everything shining at night. I love Christmas lights!

Thankful

OK- I was looking for a Thanksgiving poem and couldn't find any I liked so I'm doing my own Thankful list:

T- Turkey
H- Halle
A- Arianna
N- Nick
K- Kids
F- Family
U- Umbrellas- (sorry I was desperate!)
L- Love

OK- this was harder than I thought it would be. You take a shot at it- I'm sure yours will be better than mine.
Tomorrow we're off to celebrate Thanksgiving at my dads house. The whole family will be there this year so that will be great.
Truly, I am very thankful for all the love I have in my life. I'm surrounded by great friends and a wonderful family. I love you all!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Are you a good driver?

Go to this site to see if you're a good driver. I got 9/10 right.
Terri- Chelsea should take this and see how she does!!!

Nick's big day

Nick made his public profession of faith on Sunday. What a special day! He wasn't nervous and he did really well. What a great feeling as a parent watching your child make this important step in their lives.
Afterward we had a lunch for our family and friends. It went really well- we had it at church which worked out great since I don't have room for 60 people in my house! I was trying to figure out how much food to have and I think we figured pretty good- we have some leftover bbq which we will have for supper tonight and some leftover cake - which I wasn't too upset about because it was awesome cake! Thanks to everyone who helped me so much- I really appreciate all the willing hands! 

Do you think it's a sign?!?

The other night at supper, Arianna was praying- it went something like this:
Dear God,
Thank you for this day, thank you for this supper. Please be with Nick and me while we go to school tomorrow. Please keep us safe.
Please be with mommy tommorrow also while she stays at home and plays the computer!
Amen



What!!!!!!!! You would think she see's me on the computer or something!!
I'm going to have to have a talk with her about not giving me up in front of her father!

Sunrises

I was getting ready Friday morning and glanced out the window and this was what I saw. I had Mark quick snap some pictures- I just love sunrises like this! What a great way to start your day.
 

Halle and her leaf pile

On Friday while we were out doing our Christmas shopping, Mark took the day off to watch Halle. They ended up raking leaves together. Halle had so much fun playing with her leaf pile. I think Mark had about as much fun watching her!

The Birthday Party

Last night we went to Chuckee Cheese for Halle's birthday. Monday's are great nights to go there- it wasn't busy at all. The kids had a lot of fun and then we came home to open presents and have cake.
She really liked her presents and was very happy with her cake. I thought it turned out really cute too! Now we just have to wait about 5 weeks and there will be more presents**sigh**.
 
 
  

Prayer request

I went to the Dr. today and had the most disturbing experience there. I was early and while I was in the waiting room there was a mother and about a 5 year old girl in the play area by themselves. The mother was just being terrible to the little girl. The little girls wasn't doing anything wrong and the mother kept yelling at her. I heard the mother ask the little girl why she was such a brat, tell her she didn't want to hear 1 more word from her, tell her to just shut up. They got called in then and shortly after I got called in. Much to my dismay I ended up in the room next to them and I could hear her through the walls. She continued telling her to get her butt over here and sit down and so on.
On my way home I just couldn't get her out of my mind. This poor little innocent child. I thought on the way home that I should have done something, but what do you do? I almost went over and offered to read her a book just to get her out of her mothers hair, but I chickened out.
Now maybe this mother was just having a very very very bad day, but I highly doubt it. The words just seemed to roll off her tongue.
I prayed for her on the way home and if you think of it today and in the future please lift up this little girl- her name is Desiree (I think) and I really feel that she has a really rough home life. Please also pray for the mom- God can change her heart and I pray that He touches both of their lives.

Happy Birthday Halle!

Happy Birthday sweetheart- You aren't my little baby anymore. You have suddenly turned into a little girl with a very fun personality and so so much energy!
You are such a blessing in our lives and we love you so very much. You add so much laughter and fun to our lives- not to mention hugs and kisses. I love that you always shower us with hugs and kisses without us asking for them.
You are in school now and I know that before I know it you will be starting college- it is going so fast watching you kids grow up.
I hope you have a very special birthday and we love you very much!
Mom and Dad

pulling at my heartstrings

Right before Arianna went to bed tonight, she came and handed me an envelope. When I opened it I found this sweet letter. What a precious girl!
 
Here's what she wrote in case you can't read it:
I love my mom so much. She helps me with my homework. She is a wonderful mom to me. Love, Arianna 

ham sandwich recipe

I had some friends over yesterday and I served these Hot Ham and Cheese Sanwiches.
The girls all loved them and wanted the recipe so here you go:

1 stick margarine, soft
1 tsp. chopped onion
2 tsp mustard
ham slices
swiss cheese slices

Mix together margarine, onion and mustard. Spread this mixture on both halves of the bun. Top with ham slices and cheese slices. Wrap in foil- 3-4 buns per pack. Bake at 325 for 1/2 hour. Let set 10 minutes before opening foil.
Enjoy!

On a different note- if you think of it please lift Mark up in prayer today. He is having to deal with some difficult situations at work today and could benefit from some prayers today.

Tomorrow I go Christmas shopping with my sisters all day long and then we stay at a hotel at night. We always have a great time and I can't wait!!
Have a great weekend!

Cousins

Shaelyn ended up spending the night after we did applesauce last week. The girls were very excited to come off the bus and find her here. It's so fun to watch them play together.
Yes my ears were tired by the next morning- she obviously has learned the art of talking from her mother!
Here they are all snuggled up together on the couch in the morning. They were awake a little before 7:00! Good thing they're cute!