My Girls!

Salt Dough Ornaments!

We had made plans to go to a Christmas parade but it got rained out. So we decided to make Salt dough ornaments instead. We told the kids that they could put a special tree up in their room to put their new ornaments on. I thought they did a great job!!

These last four are Garran and mine. 

You can tell his. 

He is so stinking talented. I just love it. 

He makes great ornaments when we do this each year!!

Magical Zebra!

So this sleepy little girl came to me in a very sleep voice, and said..

"Look mom.. I am a magical Zebra.. See my stripes!!"

Winter Concert!

Kael had a winter concert that his class put on at Barnes and Nobles. It was very sweet. Each class sang one song. Kael's class sang " I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!" I only got a snip of it because we were face timing with my mom so she could see it LIVE! So grateful for technology!

Whose Happy?!?

Oh that's right...

It's us. 

Know why?

Because it is December and we are dressed like this!!

My Talent!

The other day, Briea and I were delivering cookies to some different people and it was just the two of us. I said to Briea how much I loved spending one on one time with her and doing fun things like delivering cookies! She said "Me to MOM! I think it is my talent. You know....
Making people Happy!".

Oh I loved it. I loved that she felt that way. I hope she always enjoys making others happy! She is such a fun and sweet little girl. 

I am so thankful she is mine!

Ready for Church!

Pop tart. Sunglasses. Glitter Boots.

Ready for church. 

And whatever else!

Happy Thanksgiving

This year now that we are living in NC, we got to spend our Thanksgiving with Garran's sister and her family!

It was a lot of fun! We had great food, great company and lots of fun!

 Post turkey bliss!

And..The long awaited DR WHO episode!! 

Thanks Aunt Jerusha for recording it for Cullan and the rest of us!!

New Traditions!

This time of year is one of my favorites for lots of reasons. I think mainly because it gives me a good reason to try and teach the kids about the idea of "giving is better than receiving". 

We have a few traditions that the kids love, but I wanted to do one that really focused on doing something nice for others. 

So this year, on the night before Thanksgiving.. we are starting a RAK Night. 

(Random Act of Kindness)

This year we made goodie bags. A bag of popcorn, some chocolate candy bars, a few candy canes and some hot chocolate.. I think I may be forgetting some stuff. Anyways, we made them and I let the kids decide where they should go. The kids went back and forth on where they should go, but ultimately they decided to share them with the fireman in our area. 

So that is what we did! 

We visited 3 different fire houses and gave them out. The fireman were really great. They were very friendly and were great to the kids. They even gave the kids fire hats! The kids had a great time and we really felt the spirit of doing something nice for others. I am excited to keep this tradition going!

(Our little RAK for the mail-man!)

Baking like crazy!

So I have a confession. I love to cook and bake.

If I could just do what I wanted with my life and did not have to worry about money or things like that. I would spend my days cooking and baking. I would experiment and try things and then just share the food with everyone. I don't necessarily want it in my house. Because, well for obvious reasons.... I don't want to return to my former size! LOL

Here are some of my most recent things I have worked on.

 Homemade bread..

(finally got a recipe i really like!)

 Deep dish chocolate chip cookies!

Pineapple-Banana cake!

Birthday Dinner!

So for my birthday my awesome Sister and Brother in law took Garran and I out to dinner. 

We had a really great time and the food was amazing!! 

We had a lot of fun together and I was even sung Happy Birthday very loudly....and then instructed to stand up in front of everyone and dance. 

Yes.

IN. FRONT. OF. EVERYONE!

So thank you to Joe, Jerusha, Garran and everyone in the restaurant for tolerating my sweet dance moves!!

Lazy Saturday.

Today was the first Saturday in a long time that we didn't have a list of things to do.

So I thought it would be fun to have a brunch with the kids and do a "Hot Chocolate Bar"

It was a hit!

 Here was my creation!

 Everyone enjoying their HC!

(while singing loudly the song from polar express i might add)

and Ayla... Of course. 

I would like to point out her cup of Hot Chocolate and how it is overflowing. 

Yep she just kept adding to it and adding to it. 

We finally had to cut her off!

Funny thing is she barely drank it! 

Crazy Girl!

I had a birthday...

shout HOORAY!

I still can't believe this is what my kids were wearing on my birthday this year. 

NOVEMBER 18th.

They were in shorts, flip flops. In Heaven we were!

 For part of my birthday, Garran took a half day at work and surprised me by coming home early. 

Then we took the kids to pick out an ornament like we do every year. 

Then we came home.

Put up the Christmas decorations...

(as this is our family tradition) 

When Garran and I were first married we were beyond poor and so without a gift, Garran came up with the one thing for my birthday that he knew would make me happy. 

We put up the Christmas decorations. 

So ever since then, the Christmas stuff goes up on the weekend of my birthday!

Next we had dinner. 

Ribs. 

 Briea was so funny. She actually didn't eat very much of the ribs, but this picture cracked me up!

 Cullan and his obsession with ketchup on his mashed potatos!

And then it was time for cake. 

Well this is what happens when you are a busy mom, it is your birthday and you don't feel like or have time to make your own cake. 

It was either Duck Dynasty or a cake with a very large turkey on it. 

I opted for Duck Dynasty. 

It was a big hit with the kids. 

 Ayla of course loved the cupcakes. 

She is so sassy with her chocolate beard!

 Of course I had to sport a little Duck Dynasty bling from my cake!

All in All it was a pretty good 33rd birthday. 

Here is looking forward to another year and to everything it holds in store. 

Baking...Kick.

Lately I have been on a baking kick. 

These are some of my treats. 

Apple Pie Cookies

 Bacon Cinnamon rolls

(before baking)

 After baking

 Honey Oat Bread

(This was also pre baking. I forgot to snap a picture post)

 Last but not least...

Just some white bread!

I don't know if I have mentioned how much I love to cook and bake, but I do. 

If I could do it everyday, I would love it!

I love trying new recipes and making things for others to enjoy!

The Baby!

What to say about this girl. 

She is the baby of the family and so full of spunk. 

 She can be so pretty and sweet....

 and then she can be wild, sassy, opinionated...

I could go on and on...

But we will keep here. 

We love her just the way she is!

A Scout.

Well, with the age of 8 comes all sorts of fun things. 

Now we have a scout!

And if I do say so myself...Avery cute one. 

 We sure love this boy and are proud of all the things that he does!

So Happy!!

So this girl came to visit her Dad and I got to steal some time with her. 

I could not have been happier. 

We have not seen each other in over 10 years, but it was like nothing had changed at all. 

She had never met any of my kids and I had never met her son. 

It was so crazy and surreal. 

Here we were... All grown up.

Oh I have laughed so many times with this girl and have so many funny memories..

It did my heart good to see her. 

I seriously hope we do not have to wait another 10 years before we get to hang out again!