New Year's Resolution

I came across a devotional today, and thought that's it... this will be my new year's resolution!

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

I think this pretty much hits the nail on the head. It covers the wanting to play with my kids more, keep my house picked up better, loose weight, stay on top of the laundry, have more meaningful family time, etc, etc.

I hope that everyone reading this will add this to the top of your resolution list and if you don't keep any others, that you will strive to keep this one along with me!

Animal Church

Yesterday afternoon after naps, the kids took most of their stuffed animals and put them on the stairs. They were playing church with their animals.

Winter Beauty

Lately, it has been really foggy. It is a reminder to me that God is in control. He can make it be really foggy and then a little while later, He can change it to be totally clear. One thing I have noticed is that after the fog lifts, the trees have this beautiful white snowy covering all over them. Just another reminder of how powerful our God is.
We went to the "park" by our house to get some pictures.

Happy Birthday Broc!

Broc celebrated his 30th birthday today! We had some friends over on Friday evening to play games and had munchies. We played Battle of the Sexes game and we never really finished the game because it was getting late, but in all honesty, I would say that the guys team was ahead.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Christmas 2007

We celebrated Christmas with Grandpa Rick and Grandma Kay on Saturday evening. We had really good roast, cheesy potatoes, and corn for supper and then after gifts were opened, Dana shared a creme' de cassis cheesecake she made. Grandma let the grandkids frost and decorate their own cookie.









The face says it all.










Allyson loves her talking Dora purse!










Stocking time! So excited about fruit snacks and Sally!













Grandma helping Ally with the frosting.

Playing with some of our gifts the next morning.













On Christmas Eve we went to my grandparent's house. We had soups, homemade pig-in-the-blankets, and munchies. Caden got a Kenworth semi truck and Allyson got a Tupperware play set with plates, glasses and a cake carrier.











Playing Bingo for prizes is always fun.

Christmas morning, we woke up around 8 am and found Santa gifts.









Allyson got a Talking Dora House and Caden got a Geo Trax set. They were both very excited!













The kids got digital cameras. They are so much fun!
They love to take pictures of everything!

Christmas dinner was at Grandma Mary and Grandpa Wayne.
We had turkey chili and cornbread.
Caden got a Cars suitcase and hotwheels cars to play on his cars rug.
Allyson got a Dora suitcase and Dora dress up clothes.
When we got ready to leave, it was snowing outside. What a beautiful white Christmas!












Christmas night, we went to yet another Christmas party. This was with my other grandpa and grandma. We had a potluck supper and lots of munchies. We have a grab bag for the adults and we play a game where you draw numbers and can steal one another's gifts when your number is up. It is always fun to see what everyone gets at the end of the game.
Tessa got some nail polish and painted Allyson and Hannah's toes. We drove home in snow and I would guess we got about 3-4 inches. It was pretty, but not so much fun to drive in. It has been a few years since we had snow on Christmas.

Christmas Cut Out Cookies

Today we made cut out cookies in the shapes of stars, Christmas trees and snowmen.
This picture was stars decorated like Santa - an idea I got from a co-worker. We only made a few of them (lots of work with little helpers).











The rest we just frosted and put sprinkles on. Allyson liked to eat the frosting more than anything else - and only frosted 1 cookie with her bowl of frosting. Caden frosted 3-4 cookies, and then got sick of it. (notice the green frosting on Caden's mouth!)

Some of the finished ones.

Early Christmas with Uncle Chad

Even though the reason we were privileged to have Uncle Chad stay at our house wasn't one we were hoping for, we still enjoyed our time to visit.
He brought Christmas presents for the kids. . They say the presents were from Uncle Chad, Amy, Chandler and Timber.

Opening the gifts.

Caden wanted to be carried by Uncle Chad most of the time. Even when they were going to the babysitter for the funeral on Monday, Caden wanted Uncle Chad to bring him in. When I asked Caden later what he liked about being carried by Uncle Chad, he said "cuz I was way up high" (with a big smile on his face!)

"Tight Hug"

Allyson got a "Dora game" that you play through the tv that helps with number and letter recognition. She loves it.
Caden got a "Thomas puter" that he thinks is the greatest.
His game also helps learn number and letter recognition and other fun games.
Thanks Uncle Chad, Aunt Amy, Chandler and Timber!

In Memory

I wanted to take a few moments to remember Aunt Marlys. She was Broc's great aunt. She passed away on December 14 at 99 years of age. She will be remembered by all for her loving heart and her love for dancing.
One thing that Broc will remember about Aunt Marlys is when he would go to take ASE tests, after they were finished, he would go and visit Marlys. They would sit and talk into the night. I know that he would have loved to stay longer, but he would have to work the next morning.
This picture was taken a couple years back when we celebrated Christmas at our house and Marlys was able to come too.

Sunday School Program

Can you believe I don't have any pictures of this event? I did get it on video though!
Caden and Allyson were so excited to be a part of our annual Christmas Program at church.
They were in the "Tiny Tots" group this year. There are 8 preschool and 3 year olds in their class. They all held up a sparkly, glitter letter and said a line about their letter.
Caden's line was "I is for the Inn, that had no room"
Allyson's line was "S is for Savior, long promised of old"
We practiced so much, that they were getting their parts mixed up.
After they said their parts, they sang Away in a Manger.
Both kids did very well. Caden decided he didn't want to sing with the group, but he just sat down on the stage in the place where he was standing. He stayed there until they were just about done singing, and then he ran down to sit by mom. Allyson did excellent!
I was very proud of both of them! They will be 3 in January and did so well for their age!
We had a large crowd to see us. Uncle Chad, Grandpa Wayne, Grandma Mary, Great Aunt Luella, Grandpa Rick, Grandma Kay, and 1 set of Great Grandparents.

Dinner at Grandma Mary's

Sunday, we went to Grandma Mary and Grandpa Wayne for dinner. Aunt Tammy and Samantha were there, and Uncle Chad was also there. Great Aunt Luella arrived just before it was time to eat. We had turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. There was lots of leftover turkey (great for turkey chili! YEAH!)

Allyson was wearing ALL of the necklaces that she got from her Sunday School teachers for Christmas.

"posing" for a picture with Great Aunt Luella

Caden and Allyson were looking at the pictures from our Virginia Vacation with Samantha.

What a mess?

In my attempt to do laundry and pick up the house, I was in another room and came back to the folded laundry that was in the basket looking like this...

and then the kids watching tv like this...

Say Cheese!

The kids wanted to take some pictures this afternoon.
Caden took a picture of Mom and Allyson and then Allyson took a picture of Mom and Caden. They both did well. A few were deleted (thank goodness for digital) because of fingers in the way or heads completely cut off - but they had fun and were so proud of themselves when they got a good picture!
Caden exclaimed "I did it!!!" when he got a good picture and could see it.
These are the end results. Not bad for not quite 3 yrs!

Imagination

Yesterday, I was sorting an Usborne order that had been delivered earlier in the day. Caden and Allyson found the packing paper and decided it made a great toy. They used it as a "tent" of sorts and got a bunch of their blankets and pillows from their beds and played.

Tempting!!!

Caden and Allyson helped me make pretzel hugs. They did very well. Only a few were eaten before they went to the oven. Definitely a kid friendly project.

Allyson's Zoe

This is Allyson's Zoe.
I found this idea on a friend's blog and thought it would be cute to show each child's finished Zoe.
Make your own Christmas Zoe.

Caden's Zoe

This is Caden's Zoe.
He was a little disappointed that there wasn't a boy one!

Baby Jesus and Christmas decorations

Driving home today, we passed a nativity scene and Caden said, " Hey - Hey - There's Baby Jesus!"
He thought we should stop and see it.
Wow - I am amazed at how much kids notice!
What a neat thought that he can recognize the manger and Baby Jesus. It makes me sad to think that in some areas the freedom to put out decorations that remind us of the Very First Christmas, has been taken away! I am so grateful that I live in an area where this is still allowed. I am also proud that my kids have the privilege of growing up to recognize Baby Jesus in the manger.

Sticking with the thoughts on Christmas and decorations, the last 2 mornings, I had to be at work early (before 7 am) and the kids anticipated seeing the Christmas lights as we drove into town. I smiled when they would say - "there's a Christmas tree" and "there's a Christmas house" (meaning that the tree has lights on it, or the house has lights on it). They said the same thing both days!

Holiday PJ's

Wanted to show off our matching Christmas PJ's!

The kids love our Christmas tree, even though there isn't a lot on it this year except for lights, a couple ornaments and the gingerbread cookies that we made.

Gingerbread Cookies!

We baked Gingerbread cookies this weekend! Caden and Allyson both had a great time helping! Most of the ones that we baked are gone. We shared a couple with G'pa and G'ma and Uncle Kyle, and then hung some on the Christmas tree (which are slowing getting bites taken out while still on the tree. We will be making more soon!
Allyson called the girl cookies the "dancing" ones. Both kids loved licking the beaters and helping stir the batter. Allyson loves to put her fingers in the measuring cups after they have been used. She didn't care for the molasses taste very much!
After the dough is made, it needs to be refrigerated for a couple hours. Before I could get that in the fridge, both kids got into it and had just plain dough. They both thought it was really good - but called it "terd cookies". You can all rest assured that they tasted much better than the above mentioned name!