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!

Chop Chop Chop

So Briea decided to give her self a hair cut. Bangs and Layers. 

Who knew she went to beauty school at the ripe old age of 4.

So we went to a friend to get it fixed.

This picture makes me feel old because I used to baby sit the girl doing B's hair when she was 3 or 4.

YIKES!

 Ayla was completely out.

She was so tired, she was sleeping with her eyes half open. 

CREEPY!

New Do!

After a few hours of playing. 

Guess I will have to get used to the bangs. 

Oh i hope this doesn't happen again.

Thanks Alex for fixing my girl!

Kael's Awards Day

Even though I get really annoyed with kids awards programs at school these days, I still went to support Kael at his. 

He received three awards.

Terrific Kid

Beary Best Citizen

Academic Star

 We sure love this kid!

Fire Pit LOVE

Recently we got a fire pit.. 

Oh how we love it.

We love sitting outside around the fire and just hanging out or doing other fun things..

Like this night. 

We let the kids cook hotdogs and make smores!

 It was so relaxing. 

It was nice to have everyone together and just be able to enjoy a night as a family!

Our little MOo.

We love all the puppies, but we have fell in love with this one. 

We call her MOO MOO. 

She is snuggly and sweet. 

She loves to sleep and play and be cute. 

 She is so cute, she even fits in a sock!

How i found her.

Passed out.

In Hello Kitty bathing suit bottoms.

Covered in Band-Aids.

Laying on a Laundry Baskets and Clean blankets.

What am I going to do with her?

A terrific kid.

So Kael was picked as a Terrific Kid at school. 

But I already knew he was terrific!

He is such a great kid, but I am proud of him for getting picked!

Trick or Treat-Trunk or Treat....Halloween in General

So this year we did Trunk or Treat at church, Trick or Treat in neighborhoods and then a Cub Scout Halloween Party! It was a busy holiday to say the least!

 Mario

 Mario and a Ninja turtle.

 Me...As a witch. 

 Donut eating contest at the cub scout party.

 My little trick or treaters. 

 Our trunk for trunk or treat. 

Yep, we wond most creative!!

LOVED IT!

 Could they be and cuter?

 Garran and I at trunk or treat. I had a costume planned for us, but it backfired at the last minute. So Garran said to just tell people we were art critics. LOL

 Our family at trunk or treat and the chili cook off!

Last one.. They are just so cute together.