Christmas 2007

We had a wonderful Christmas. We made some wonderful memories. We got together with Mark's mom on Saturday night and then my family on Christmas day. It was great to all be together on Christmas day. Here are some pictures:

This is Ann- my dad's new wife. She was the proud recipient of one of our great traditions: Santa letters!
Apparently she was quite embarrassed because her secret was out- the reason for their quicky wedding. She got a maternity shirt. She took it in good humor and got quite a chuckle out of it!


This is Laura receiving a special gift from me. You see last year I gave her a stuffed oppossum and she wasn't really grateful for it. I thought I'd try again this year and gave her a stuffed squirrel. She doesn't look very grateful yet does she??


Here's Arianna after she got her guitar. She was so excited!!


Here's Mark getting a very important gift! He's been eyeing my memory foam pillow and wanting to use it every night. I thought I'd better get him one so he'd leave mine alone.


Here's Nick getting a shirt that he liked:


Halle was very excited with her camera:

Here's all the kids waiting to open up the stockings that Santa brought them:


Here I am- I was so happy I got a pannini maker. It works great- it's already been used a couple times!


I hope you all had a blessed Christmas. I'll post once more after New Years and then I'm continuing on my break until the kids go back to school.

Happy New Years Everyone!

The next storm

I know I said I wasn't going to post again until after Christmas- however......

Want to see what 70 mile per hour winds can do??







This wasn't what we expected to see when we left for church this morning! Yes- that is a metal flag pole! We were woken up several times last night from the wind and ended up with 2 little girls in our room this morning.

We saw several mailboxes blown over from the wind as well. We'll see if we get the snow they're talking about now. I would like a white Christmas so I'm not complaining!

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. This will be my last post until after the Holidays.
I hope you all make great memories with your loved ones, enjoy great food and great times but most of all celebrate the most important gift that's ever been given to us-
The birth of our Saviour!

Our Family is Complete Again!

Tonight was a great night- Andy came home!!
It was so good to see him again and he looks so good! There were quite a few family members there to welcome him home. It was really neat to see a couple of strangers come up to him and say thank you. The quote of the night came when we all went out to supper afterwards and Terri and I rode with Halle and Shaelyn in our car.
Halle says "Mom, why are we going so fast?"
Shaelyn answers "Because my mom is driving!"
Truer words have never been spoken!

Here are some pictures from our night- make sure you check out Mari's blog for more details on Andy!


Lots of Anxious Waiting:


Here's my dad greeting Andy:




Nick hugging Andy:


Arianna didn't want him to get too far out of her sight:



Me finally getting my hug:


Bob, Mari and Andy:

This will change your life!

OK-maybe that's a little too strong of a statement but these are seriously delicious!

Every year I make these candies and they never last long. They look complicated but they really aren't- just be prepared- once you try these you will want to make them every year!

Chocolate Caramel Candy:
1 c. milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. butterscotch chips
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
Filling:
1/4 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. evaporated milk
1-1/2 c. marshmallow creme
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Caramel layer:
1 pkg caramels
1/4 c. whipping cream
Icing:
1 c. milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. butterscotch chips
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

Combine the first three ingredients in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Spread onto the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 pan. Refrigerate until set. For filling, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar and milk, bring to a boil. Boil and stir for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the marshmallow creme, peanut butter and vanilla. Spread over first layer. Refrigerate. Combine the caramels and cream in a saucepan, stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Spread over filling. Refrigerate.
In another saucepan, combine chips and peanut butter, stir over low heat until melted. Pour over caramel layer. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour


For the steps where you're melting the chips-and the caramel layer- I use the microwave. The layers don't take long to set- I just go from one layer to the next and by the time I finish 1 step the layer is set enough to be topped. Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

We have a winner!!!

Congratulations to Diane!
She is the winner of my 500 post contest! Diane- I'll put the gift card in your mailbox at church!! Enjoy!

Here's the post that has the pictures in them.

Here are the answers to what the pictures were:

1. Top rim of pop bottle
2. Page of a book
3. Crumpled up brown bag
4. Hose sprayer in sink
5. Inside of a stapler
6. Staples
7. Glasses
8. Fingernail clipper
9. Tea kettle
10. Scissers
11. Santa's beard
12. Shoe tread

Hope you enjoyed the contest- you all did very well figuring out what they were!

Great Wolf Lodge

This past weekend was our trip to Great Wolf Lodge. This was our Christmas Present to the kids. The weather didn't cooperate so we went up a night early.
What a fabulous place. It's a magical place for kids and adults!
We had some excitement when our friends son- Dillon got hurt and needed stitches. He's the little boy in the 2nd picture. I'm so glad we were there to help them out with the other kids!

The quote of the whole trip was on the way up when Halle asked if we were almost there because "my bladder's going to blow soon!"
Where on earth does she come up with these things.

The kids all did great. They had so much fun. I always knew where Halle was because I could hear her squeeling wherever she was. That was the best because it was pure joy and happiness.
Enjoy the pictures!

Halle's Christmas Program

Hope this works this time!

Video of Program

Halle's Christmas Program

Halle had her school Christmas program today. Grandpa and Grandma came to watch and we were pleasantly surprised that Mark made it as well. He usually comes, but didn't know if he'd be able to get out of work today due to a meeting.
Here she is coming into the theater: Doesn't she look beautiful!


She was so cute before the program started- she had the biggest smile and kept waving to us:


The program was about the Polar Express. They did a really good job. The kids all had handmade wooden train necklaces that they got to decorate. Some very nice person volunteered to cut out over 250 trains and donated them to the school for the kids!



I'm posting a video next for your listening pleasure!
Edited: You tube not cooperating- still trying!

Question for you

We have a couple parties coming up and I want to know if any of you have any favorite games to play at a party.
I'm wondering about the newer game- "Scene it"- any of you played it or know anything about it.
Any suggestions would be welcome!

Trying Again

I'm posting the pictures for the contest below- hope you can see these!

500th Post!

This is my 500th post!!!!
To celebrate this occasion, I have a contest and a give away!
The contest is for you to decipher what the following pictures that Nick took are:














Leave me a comment and tell me what the items in the pictures are. If you get 1correct, I will enter you in the contest.

The prize is a $20 Target gift card.
The contest will be available for 1 week. I will pick the winner Next Wednesday.

Good luck!