Of Visits and Christmas Baking...

Last weekend we had a very brief visit from Great Grandma and Grandpa. What a nice time we had. The kids just love them!
What a special Great-Grandma! We are so glad she got to come.
The kids were all ready for bed.
The lens on the camera kept fogging over, but I thought it made for a sweet picture.
And we also got a very short visit from Grandma!! As always, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

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One day last week, we decided to make some candy for our neighbor. He's the nicest older man and spoils our kids rotten.
Peanut clusters....yum!
Misty told me about these, so we tried them. Pretzel, Rolo candy and bake for 4 min.
Then press a pecan onto the Rolo candy......very yum! (Except I can't have pecans)
This little cherub, just giggled from the swing!

We also made Christmas cookies...the kids favorite.


"Uhhhhh, Mom??? Shouldn't you be watching the cookies in the oven?"
"What? I'm not eating anything. My cheeks just stick out like this....it's inherited from Dad's side of the family."
"Uhhh, I think I lost my cookie cutter in the dish of red-hots, so I'm going to look for it. Honest, Mom!!"



Nothing like dipping your cookie in some cold milk!!!
Thanks for stopping by to see us. We have been busy with programs and such and if any of you care to come, Kristyn's school program is this Friday night!

Have a BLESSED day!!!

This girl we call Megan....

We have this beautiful little girl in our family we call Megan. She is "one of a kind" and I wouldn't trade her for the world. She can play alone just fine and likes to have tea parties all by herself. But sometimes she likes to think she can "run with the big dogs."

In her little mind, she should be able to do everything her big sister and brother do...

She is always so proud when she accomplishes a challenging task...

When her older siblings decide they need to make tracks and leave her behind, she does pretty good about staying with them...

Except for the small fact that she is very easily distracted...

When she realizes they are far ahead and turning the bend in the trail, she tries calling out to them..

Being the loving older siblings that they are, sometimes they stop and listen and wait for her.....and sometimes they don't.

So she kicks it into high gear and races after them again...

After much sweat and panting, she finally catches up.

Who wouldn't want a 2 year old helping them throw rocks in the creek?

But soon she gets distracted again and doesn't notice that her "elders" aren't anywhere in sight...

So she beats it back to the barn...



Only to get distracted again along the way...

Soon she decides that there is more to do in life than keeping up with her older brother and sister and tries her balancing act on a tractor rut...

She never let's life keep her down..

She just jumps up and tries something different. Like walking IN the rut...

Yes, much easier...

For this moment in time, she has completely forgotten that she even has an older brother and sister and is enjoying walking to her own little tune...


What would our world be like if we didn't have this girl we call Megan?

You Are Invited......

Our church is performing a "Journey Through Bethlehem" this coming Saturday (Dec. 5) from 5:30 pm-8:00pm. We would LOVE to have you join us! There is going to be stations set up all over the campground where you will encounter beggers at the market place, Mary and Joseph as the angel tells them of Baby Jesus on the way, tax collectors, village gossipers, the high priest and the list goes on.....

There will be a field of THESE:
along with a multitude of THESE:
Singing praises to God....boy, do we ever hope they cooperate!

And then take a trip down to the stable where this glorious, little man will hopefully be peacefully resting in the manger!
Again, we hope he cooperates. :) I wonder if Jesus ever looked like this?
Bring a warm blanket, wear warm clothes and a scarf, or hat to cover your ears, because you will be riding on a wagon behind a tractor. BUT there will be hot chocolate, fresh baked cookies and pies.

You won't want to miss it!!! I hope you come!

My Man, Their Daddy......

He's the Leader of our Pack.....He loves God with all of his heart......
He loves to hold his kids...even if it is in his ball glove.
The bottom one is Kristyn....(someone told me the other day, I was just a Xerox machine.)
He loves to have fun with the kids...
He is our leaning post when times get tough....
He helps me in the kitchen, even though he hates tomatoes....(I can kind of see a "this is disgusting" look on his face)
He's not afraid of hard work.....
even if it's in the house....


well, except for when Arthur's around, then they don't get much done. :)
He loves to play with the kids and the kids love to play with him.....
He loves being out in the woods and looking for deer tracks......(when he's not hunting)

and showing me the big buck prints. (they all look the same to me)

He loves his brother.....and loves to send him crazy e-mails of the buck he shot on Tuesday. (snicker)
He loves to have fun....
and even though he doesn't like to fish, he takes the kids fishing, because they like it.

He loves going to his brothers house....what crazy fun they have!
He loves playing with the kids.....(did I already mention that?)
He is one proud Daddy and loves his children unconditionally.........

even though they make him nervous sometimes. (see previous post)
He's the best Daddy to have around......
He loves his family........
He's my very best friend and I feel honored to be his wife.........
Happy Birthday to the best man in the world. We love you!!!!