First part of December

December is always such a busy month for us, so I decided to break it up into two posts....not that I'm putting all the pictures that I took on here. :)  That would be painful - for you and me both. :D

But here are a few for the Grandma's that don't get to see the programs and things like that and a few others, too.

I decided to add the second skate to my window this year - I really like it this way.  See last years here.

 

 My little cherubs giving me some Christmas music.

We have had quite a time with being sick this winter and for a few days we were all home sick.  One of the days when the kids were feeling better, but weren't good enough to go back to school, we made some Christmas candy to lift the spirits. :)  Notice who's eating....?

Little Miss excited about the tree. 

Keith did an outstanding job with the program at school as he always does and it turned out beautifully this year.  These are the city gates (the boys are searchers looking for Jesus)

 They got caught by guards and ordered to leave town. (Scary guards - huh?)

 

Then the city gates open up at the end and it's the stable inside - VERY neat, but I wasn't able to get a picture of it from a distance.  (Don't you love Joseph?? *snicker*)

 Then we had a Kids Club program at church and Kristyn was the angel that came to Mary and Joseph.

 

Megan was in the multitude of angels.

  

 I love this picture. :)

 Jeren was a puppy - and Keith said he acted his part well.  I was sick, so I didn't get to go, but he said Jeren was checking out all the scenes just like a real puppy would do. :D

Owen was one of the shepherds.

 

Some of our Christmas candy that we made for the program.

Our first snow!

Our tree - before we packed up 90% of these to take to KS and OK. :)

 Our blessed little family!

We got the boys cowboy hats - they were very happy!  I don't know why my picture of the girls didn't load. (?)

We hope you had a Merry Christmas!

**Merry Christmas**

We would like to wish all of you a very

Merry Christmas!

I tried to put a picture on here, but it is not working, so it will have to wait until next week when we are home again.

We weren't able to send out Christmas cards this year, which I'm kind of sad about, but that's just how it is. :)  We had an unusual winter so far and sending cards just wasn't part of it, so if you normally get a card from us and are thinking maybe we don't like you anymore because you didn't get a card???  Not to worry, we still love you!!! :D

We are having a WONDERFUL time with our families!! 

Have a BLESSED Christmas and thanks for being the best family and friends in the world!!

See you next week! :) 

A Thanksgiving to be Thankful for!

We were so happy to have some of our family here for Thanksgiving this year.  Kyle and Mandy and their six darlings came and stayed for five days.  We had a grand time!!

The end of the week was supposed to be cold, so on Thanksgiving day, we ate breakfast and went out to Uncle Michael's farm and spent the whole day out in the woods.

We took a trip to the cave and found these tiny bats covered in drops of water - anybody have a clue why this is?  I suppose I could google it....  These drops of water were all over the ceiling and they looked like drops of gold - it was beautiful!

Rachel carving out her name.

Of course, we had to take the BB guns. :)

As soon as we got there, we made a fire and when it had burned down a bit, we roasted "smarshmellows"  This young man found his own roasting stick - isn't it great?

Such a fun time!

Getting splinters out.

The mighty hunters - and Megan who hung out with Daddy most of the day - went galloping through the woods in search of some meat. :)

Aren't these lovely?  I wish I had a whole wreath full of them for my door.

Us girls found the "enchanted woods" (named by the little girls) and spent our time under this tree tunnel.

The girls all brought an apron and bonnets - I'm not sure where the bonnets ended up, but they sure had fun.

They found this bush that was arched, so they decorated it for an "enchanted wedding"

They gathered all kinds of beautiful greenery for their decorating.

Little Elijah, just rested. :)

The men didn't find any meat, but they found a 4 wheeler.

After a full day and picnic out in the woods, we came home and had tacos - I think we all agreed that it was the funnest Thanksgiving day, yet. :)

The rest of the weekend was spend indoors mostly - here at home, or in a store.

The guys decided to decrease the squirrel population, so one would be on the lookout for cars passing and the other would look for an innocent squirrel.  It made for good laughs.

"Oh, there goes a car, ACT NORMAL (get the BB gun down)..... okay shoot"

The kids has so much fun being together!

"Quick, there's another squirrel....Oops - Get down there's a car"  It was quite a hilarious time! And they never did get to shoot one!

You know, most people put out a card table, or something for the kids at big family dinners?  We got smart and let them have the big table and we ate at the small table. :)

One of the things we do every year at Thanksgiving - don't really know why - is make onion rings....so yummy, but makes for a very messy kitchen!!!

The boys enjoyed having more boys to play with. :)

Overall, it was just a wonderful time of eating, laughing, talking, playing and making memories!!!

Thank you, Kyle and Mandy, for coming up and spending the week with us! We thoroughly enjoyed you all being here.

Ashlyn Turns TWO!

This is the fourth time (three different weeks) I've tried to post this....we'll see if the fourth time's the keeper. *smile*

Our youngest darling turned TWO a few weeks ago.  I thought the fifth child was supposed to be the calm, cool and collected one, but she has proven to be the opposite.  In fact, she's an identical specimen of her oldest sister.  We have buckled our seat belts and are enjoying the ride.

She LOVES to climb....on anything. She is not afraid of very many things and is always up for an adventure.  She's starting to talk and it's very sweet to hear her little voice say words.

 

 Mr. Carl wasn't able to get a cake (he was not very happy with the cake shop lady) so he brought chocolate and vanilla cup cakes and cake pops and ice cream cups - whew!

Megan loves to give gifts and is always wrapping things for someone when it's their birthday.  She gave Ashlyn a present on her birthday.....

 

 Jeren said, "Hey, that's my kitty!  I was wooking po dat." (I was looking for that)   Don't you love how little kids think?

Mr. Carl got her a puppy that barks and walks.

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa for her tricycle - she is really enjoying that, too.