December happenings.

 

December is going by so fast that I didn't realize how behind I am on the blog.  It's always fun to catch up so here you go!

I wrote out a Christmas letter the other week and I just let me thoughts and hands think and type!  It ended up being four pages long but with some editing and small print I got it down to two pages!!!!  We've got them printed, stuffed and sent out to family and friends!

We've been busy with basketball games!  We love it!!!!!  The season began and we have only missed one game so far because of a banquet.  Even then we were able to check scores online while the game was played!  It's so fun watching these guys play again!

Christmas programs were performed at both schools!  Elementary Campus was first and Austin was so cute on stage with his second grade friends!

The day after the program, school decided to have a virtual learning day because there are so many sniffles flying around the classrooms.  So, thanks to covid back in 2020, school can offer this way of learning at times.  We stayed home and school around the dining room table.

After doing school, Ashlyn asked to make and decorate gingerbread houses.  They both picked out a house online and printed it out as a guideline.  They hot glued graham crackers together to make a house.  They we used icing for the candies and decorations.  They loved it!

And for recess, Ashlyn helped me blow away the last of the leaves!  

And I hopped on the mower one last time for the year.

The next morning, this is how the houses looked.  Now we know that the icing is not a great way to decorate.  This kind was too wet.

More basketball games!

I did a little bit of baking and I just love it that the blue birds found our feeders again!

I got a call from school saying that while they were practicing for the school play, Austin got all white, sweaty and didn't look good.  I was to pick him up.  I thought of stage freight but I picked him but and he was fine.  A few days later, he did have the headache bug and was home for three days.  It didn't knock him down totally but just didn't feel well!  In between lying on the couch, he helped me stamp cards!

Another fresh batch of biscottis!  I sprinkled some candy canes on some!  AND .... we finished the nativity puzzle!  This was a fun one!  We were missed three pieces at the end but after going through the vac dirt, I found two pieces.  With so many of helping to put this together and it being on the main table for weeks, only one piece missing is ok.

The gifts are wrapped and under the tree!  

The weather outside is really feeling like winter!  It feels so good to be inside and lite some candles.

The Upper School gave their program the following week and I loved the bells the best!

So much is happening all around us but we are good health, enjoying the fun events and seeing the children do the things they love to do is the best!!!!

Stay warm!

The Day You Couldn't Have Planned Out!!!!

 Out of all the things we do around the holidays, this is becoming one of our favorites!  This day was SO MUCH fun and we just couldn't have planned it all out like this if we even tried.

It was a rainy Saturday morning.  Mike told his siblings to all wear Ugly Christmas Sweaters for Christmas and I decided to not let that stress me out and have him actually go along to find these shirts.  We headed for Goodwill and Zayla went with us so Lena could get some holiday shopping in alone.  We found some shirts and we were back home.

Our little home town has a holiday open house each Christmas.  They used to have a scavenger hunt and free little gifts for the kids at some of the shops.  This year we decided to walk through Kitchen Kettle Village and go from there.  Hadassah joined us because Jeremiah was at the cabin.

The Village was full of cheerful shoppers and carolers and many fun things to eat, buy and see!  Christmas time at the village is so fun!  We walked through the little shops and bought soft pretzels and strawberry lemonade.  We tried on sunglasses in the leather shop and bought some dill pickle cheese!  We tasted homemade fudge that was made right in the fudge shop!  So good!

Before we left home, I asked Ashlyn to go put Ginger inside and she thought I meant inside the Audi.  Even though we don't live far from town, after I realized Ginger was along, she actually went along.   

We walked the streets and came upon this artist!  I mentioned that our family do this but then when I realized the price for all of us, I decided to not do it.  Hadassah was all into it and Mike said OK!  So, the artist took a photo of each of us and we had Ginger along so she got added to!  Then we asked if he could add Jeremiah!  Perfect!!!!  He's a cartoon artist and he was going to draw all of us while we kept walking around Kitchen Kettle but after watching him a little while, we decided to stay and watch for the entire drawing!  We love it!!!!  It was crazy fun and we laughed so much!!!!

He drew fast!

Mike and the Littles went across the street to warm up while we waited for the artist to finish up.

And here you go!!!  It's a memory we might never forget!

We finished walking through the village and then went to pick out a Christmas tree at Frysville Farms!  They have greenhouses filled with poinsettias!

I've learned over the years that if I want photos of the kids, take the camera along and just click the camera button!  I love these!

And everyone was having such a fun time!  Mike is a goof sometimes!

All in good fun!

The boys loaded up the tree and paid for it while the Littles and I strolled through the greenhouse!  They had an animal hunt the kids did!

And then she spied the succulents.

And I spied more photo spots!

The boys went to Jos A Bank for some dressy clothes they need and we all met back home to decorate the tree!

Hadassah came over again and picked the kids up and they went to go see her bunny Olive's bunnies.  They came back and decorated a few gingerbread men she had bought at the bakery in Kitchen Kettle.  Hadassah and Matthew made icing and they laughed so hard at the the taste.  They said it tasted like paint.  They couldn't wait to offer it to their dad!!!!

Total blast!

Mike tried the cookie after Hadassah told him to try it and Austin pitched in and said he could have the rest of it!  Everyone laughed again.

Ashlyn topped the tree with our ancient star!  Austin straightened it out and it's beautiful with all the red and gold and white ornaments all over it!  It may be our nicest tree yet!!!!

My heart was so full from having such a fun day with the family!  I heard snuggles and giggles downstairs and so of course I had to join them for last event of the day.  Home Alone 2 was being watched with popcorn and hot chocolate.

It was midnight before I crawled into bed.  I was tired.  I was happy.  I was feeling so loved to have such a fun family of a loving husband that cats around with us all day long.  For the kids to really make it fun and laugh and giggle and be funny!  For a warm house to snuggle and place a decorated tree and have peace in our home!

I feel so blessed!

It's really feeling like Christmas!

December.

December came before we knew what happened!  I can't believe that it's the last month of 2022 already!  Time really does seem to fly these days!  We are ready for the evergreens to be cut and brought inside!  We are ready to listen to all our favorite Christmas songs and smell the pines!  We are ready to wrap the gifts and put them under the tree!  We are ready to celebrate Jesus!  He really is the reason for this season!

 

The little pines are stuffed in pots and set for decor!  I love free decor!

When the kids get something in their heads it means business.  They wanted to add some Christmas decor to their rooms and I was all fine with it!  I've been wanting to switch some bedroom furniture around ever since Hadassah got married.  Ashlyn's bedroom dresser matched with Austin's bed, etc..  Mike and Matthew helped move the furniture and then the kids put up the decor!  How cute!

My old dresser is not in Ashlyn's room and it looks nice!

Austin now his a little corner he loves in his room!

I pulled out the juicer again and Matthew takes a cup of fresh carrot and apple juice along to school each morning for his breakfast.  He does like it and I'm proud of him!  This was my juice blend!

The porch pots got filled up last week!

Mike helped me with the Christmas wreaths at church again!  We also added 10 red poinsettias!  

And the Christmas cards got stuffed and addressed!  So much of Christmas took place all last week!  I'm loving the house filled with all the nativity and evergreens!  

December is here and are getting ready for Christmas!

Happy Holidays!!!

All about Christmas!!!!

 Thanksgiving is over and we now are into all things Christmas!  The Christmas music is playing non stop!  The stores are bustling with shoppers!  The coffee shops are all into gingerbread and peppermint!  I love it!!!

Mike and Matthew pulled out some small pines from our property at the cabin and they are adding some winter/Christmas feels in the house!  The Christmas decor is up and there's shopping to do!

After laundry, lunches packed and the kids off to school, I was out the door to spend the day shopping with my mom and sisters!  We had the best day!

We went to our favorite shops and then ate at First Watch!

We took Dad's van and loaded it up with goodies and made a final stop at the Produce Junction!

Days like this go way too fast but it was time to get back home and wrapping gifts will be for another day!

Christmas is here!