Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

This year we took the girls to the Bass Pro Shop to visit Santa.  This was the first year that they actually sat on his lap and told him what they wanted.  Past years they have cried and refused, or sat just long enough for a picture.  This year, Emma ran and jumped into his arms with great excitement.  If he hadn't been sitting in a chair, she would have knocked him over.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Feelings of Gratitude

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I'd take a moment to list some things that I'm thankful for.  I'd hoped that there was some cool colonial font to type in, but nope, this is it.

*I'm thankful for God sending his Son to die for ME!  He also continues to shower me with grace as I struggle daily with the ugliness of my sinful heart.

*I'm thankful for a husband who works SO HARD so that I can stay home with my children.

*I'm thankful for my family,- immediate, extended, and married into.  We all have our issues, but our love for one another is strong.

*I'm thankful for our home.  It is tiny, but filled with joy, laughter, and love.

*I'm thankful for two reliable cars.  Even though one of them is a mini-van.

*I'm thankful for healthy, wonderful little girls - mine in particular.   It's so special that they got to start life with their best friend.

*I'm thankful for good friends to drink coffee with and talk to for hours.

*I'm thankful for chocolate.  Boy, do I like chocolate.

*I'm thankful for traditions.  They are comfortable yet new every time.

*I'm thankful for music.  Man, I'd don't know who I'd be without music.

I hope that you are able to spend time with people who you are thankful for a take a moment to see the blessings in your lives.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Few Random Thoughts

Overheard while the girls were "cooking" in the kitchen. 
Taylor:  "This recipe says you need tomatoes, onion, bikini, and squash."
She meant zuchinni.

Overheard while the girls were playing in the living room.
Taylor:  "Emma!  You did that on purpose!  On purpose means that you need to go to time out!"
Maybe I should teach them that doing something on purpose can be a good thing, too.

We have been making the girls start using correct L's.  They can make the sound, but out of habit, make them all W's.  They both are doing a good job, but Taylor has over-corrected.  All of her W's are now L's.

Will has often commented that I wake up really grumpy in the morning.  I have to admit that maybe I do.  I can't help it - I have to get up one to three times a night with kids, dogs, or husbands.  (I only have one husband, but it didn't sound right without the s.)  I went to bed last night determined that I would wake up happy, with a smile on my face.  I tried it.  It didn't feel right. 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Who Done It?

My home is quiet, the girls are at school.  I'm listening to Bluegrass Hymns.  It is well with my soul.

The girls were sick from last Tuesday, to this past Tuesday.  One full week.  That's a long time.  It wasn't much - cough, fever, laryngitis - but just enough to keep us cooped up in the house.  I hate those times.  The first few days they're just cuddly and tired.  As the time goes on though, they get fussy, irritable, and no fun at all.  I also get fussy, irritable, and no fun at all.

I did get one short break though, thanks to my parents.  I had purchased a Groupon last December for a mystery dinner at a bed and breakfast in Stafford, Kansas.  We scheduled it in September, so there was no getting out of it.  We went with some good friends, and some new friends.  We had a great time.  There wasn't a whole lot of sleeping because of late-night game playing and hunters that were staying in our house.  They got up early, but strangely didn't ever leave for hunting.

Don't worry, it was just root beer and grape juice.
This is our group.  We really did have fun.  I won't tell you who the murderer was, just in case you play the game sometime.  Stafford was such a tiny, quiet town.  It's nice to visit new places.  Don't plan on a getting a late night snack though, the gas station closes at 11:00.

I was a movie star and Will was an old man from Italy.  He looked more like he was from Mexico.

Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for keeping our sick kids!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Star Student of the Week

At the girls' preschool, they have a star student of the week.  This just means that the child makes a poster about themselves and shares it with the class.  It then hangs in the hallway for a week.  A few weeks ago, Emma was chosen.  Yeah!  Making the poster was going to be fun for us both!

Well, Sunday night came and I realized that we hadn't made her poster.  I was that parent.  The parent who was NEVER going to wait until the last minute to finish the project.  And here I was at the last minute, finishing a project.  I asked her the questions that night, I'd pick out the pictures, and she would glue them on the next morning before school.  Well...with these new fangled digital cameras, I'd discovered that I didn't have a single picture of Emma that was printed out.  No problem, I'd just print some off the computer in the morning.  Morning came, I printed, and discovered that our printer was out of ink.  Hmmm, what to do now.

Thankfully, Emma doesn't look that different from a year ago when we had her pictures taken professionally.  And thankfully, the rest of us don't look that different from the family photo we sent with Christmas cards last year, which I had ordered too many of.  We glued them on and it was all perfect.  Below is the finished project.  It was not as much fun as I thought it would be.


 I swore I would get those pictures printed before Taylor was chosen as Star Student.   Unfortunately, they were going in alphabetical order and Taylor was next - still with no pictures or ink.  We made it work though.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Halloween 2011

Our neighborhood doesn't really have much going on in terms of trick-or-treating.  You can walk a couple blocks and find maybe 5 houses with their porch lights on.  Kind of a bummer if you're a kid wanting to show off your costume and bulk up your candy supply.  Last year we went to Hutch and trick-or-treated in my parents neighborhood.  We had a great time, but we can't go to Hutch every year.  This year we teamed up with friends and hit their neighborhood.  We all had fun.



This is Ariel and Belle.  I scored these costumes at garage sales this past summer.  I paid $3.50 total.  Yeah for garage sales!











And, there off!


At their first stop, Taylor asked if the candy had nuts in it because she is allergic to nuts.  We praised her for the awareness, but told her just to take the candy and we would sort through it later.  It would have taken us all night to get past one block!

Three beautiful princesses.

I love this picture.  It captures these girls perfectly.  Princess who love to collect "treasures" and play in the dirt.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Corn Maze 2011

Five or six years ago my family started visiting a corn maze together.  We always go to one in Buhler, KS.  We love it.  It has a large corn maze and extra play things for the kids.  Some family members (who will remain nameless) have complained that its too cold, too muddy, too dusty, too expensive, etc.  I, personally, think its fun no matter what the conditions are like.  Those family members have the option to not go, if they'd like, but I don't really believe that will ever happen.  Here are a few shots from this year's maze activity.  I didn't get the "big" group shot (there were 14 people total), but I did get snapshots of most people.