HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well Christmas is over but we have the NEW YEAR to look forward to. After going to a bunch of Christmas parties and traveling--I am so ready to have my own party at home with my family and of course the cousins!! We are hosting New Years Eve at our house with Patti, Rick and the girls, Dad and Vicki, and of course Aunt Rose--She gets to wear her party hat just like all of us do!! I will post some pictures of the fun event. Until then HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

I HAVE THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHER FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD

I have the best photographer friend in the whole entire world!! Rebecca has won many awards for her talent. As you can see WHY!!! Here is our Christmas card for this year and it turned out so cute!! The kids always have so much fun with her... she is a natural. Not only is she a incredible photographer.. she is a truly fantastic friend...which I am so blessed to have in my life.. Thanks so much Becca for letting me post your wonderful work of art..MY KIDS!!

The front of the card

The inside of the card

The back of the card

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

What a fun Sunday morning with the cousins and of course SANTA. The kids ate a huge YUMMY meal at Eckerts with Santa and then they decorated a cookie, followed up with getting their faces painted and doing some fun Christmas crafts. The holiday season is a perfect time to see your childrens eyes lights up with all the fun that surrounds them.

Isn't this a special memory!!! Daddy and Mommy have to get in on the fun too!!!

Alyssa getting her face painted All the cousins doing a fun craft
Aunt Patti and Katy girl!!!

The Kids Christmas Programs, Parties and Aunt Lori Visits

Here is a little video of Zac singing Jingle Bells at his Christmas program--ENJOY

Zac and his teacher, Ms. Meridth (he calls her Ms. Mer)

Santa and Alyssa
Alyssa's First Grade Class

Kate and Alyssa wearing similiar CUTE Christmas shirts

Aunt Lori came down to visit all of us and we had so much fun!! We all went to a birthday party, sang lots of Christmas songs together and really enjoyed just hanging out . We are so excited about Aunt Lori and Uncle Wallace moving back to the States. They have lived in Germany for a number of years. It will be so great to have them close enough for many fun visits together.

Limo Ride and Santa Carriage Ride--ALL IN ONE WEEKEND!!!

Well did we have a busy weekend! On Saturday we took a limo ride to see the lights at Our Lady of the Snow Shrine with friends of ours. We also enjoyed a fun dinner together. On Sunday we hosted a Winter Wonderland Carriage Ride party. About 20 kids came to enjoy a visit from Santa and Ms. Claus, cookies and hot chocolate and a fun carriage ride around town to see the Christmas lights. As busy as our weekend was--enjoying these memories we will have with family and friends makes it all worth the fun craziness!!
Daddy, Alyssa and Zac in the Limo

Jeff and Heather in the LIMO!!!

Hanna, Alyssa and Chase all pooped out from a long LIMO ride

Alyssa, Santa and Zac
Alyssa getting ready to ride around town!!!

The CUTEST CHRISTMAS ornaments

These are the cutest Christmas Ornaments and so easy to make.
These ornaments will make every Grandma and Grandpa so thrilled to receive from there little ones. Just click on Christmas Ornaments and it will take you to the site

GLOW STICKS in the BATHTUB

This is a fantastic idea....

At Wal-Mart, they sell three packs of glow stick necklaces for 92 cents. I give each child one to play with in the tub; we always take baths at night. Then I turn off the bathroom light and turn on the hall light. They are obsessed! They can stay in the tub for an hour, until the water is cold and their hands are completely pruney. Then, you put the glowsticks in the freezer, and you can pull them out for next time and use them again! When your kids thank you for the extra fun in the tub, you can silently thank me!!

A quick fix for all those BROKEN crayons

What do you do with all those broken crayons? Well I have a solution!! These are great for all those LITTLE hands out there. This is also a great craft to do with your kiddos..they love to see the end product. So don't throw away all those BROKEN crayons..

Items needed:*

Muffin Pan *

Cooking Spray (or baking cups - especially if you are using a tin you cook in.)*

Broken Crayons

First, preheat oven to 200'.

Separate crayons into color families. (i.e. purple & blue, blue & green, green & yellow, yellow & orange, orange & red)

Just make your own color combinations.

Take off all remaining paper and break crayons into small 1 inch or less pieces.

Spray muffin tin with cooking spray or use baking cups.

Fill tin/cups with crayons.

Bake at 200' for 9 minutes or until crayons are melted.

Remove from oven. Let cool for 1 hour. If you are in a hurry for them, they may be cooled faster in the fridge.

Fun crafting with your kids!!!

Here is a cute craft you can do with your kids. When the weather is cold and the kids are out of school, this cute and easy craft will help past the time on those cold and nothing to do days. Click here to take you directly to the site. Have fun with your kids!! Keep checking back I will have some more fun crafts to follow!!!

SANTA and STEAK 'n SHAKE

Alyssa and here 2 girlfriends had so much fun going to lunch at Steak 'n Shake. There was alot of giggling going on during our outing!! I guess that is what little girls do. Afterwards we all went to see Santa. This has been a fun yearly outing the girls have done together the last few years. I love to see Alyssa and her friends making fun memories together. Especially when you can look back when they are 16 years old and see all the fun they had together growing up.

Hanna, Alyssa and Sami

Heather and Jen (Hanna and Sami's mom's)

Thanksgiving with the cousins!!

Well I think we all ate enough food to get us through all the shopping we will do over the next few days!! Thanks to Aunt Joanne and Uncle Andy, who hosted Thanksgiving this year, we all came together and had the yummiest food EVER!!! Everyone had so much fun, especially since it was 55 degrees outside. And for the end of November, that was a treat.
The kids got to play outside and enjoy swinging on the swings, playing tag, and ring around the ROSIE!!! It is always great to see how much fun the kids have when they get together.
Next weekend will be alot of fun for all the cousins because they are all spending the night at Uncle ANDY and Aunt JOANNE's house. I wish I could spend the night. I heard from a little birdie, that Uncle Andy rented a limo to take the kiddos to McDonalds and then to tour the Christmas lights at the Lady of the Snows Shrine. Boy talk about a FIRST CLASS SLEEP OVER!!!. The kids will definitely get spoiled by all of Aunt Joanne's sweet treats!! This could be an event the kids could really get use to.

WISHING EVERYONE A MOST DELICIOUS, DELECTIBLE AND DELIGHTFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!

Daddy and Daugther Dance

Alyssa and Daddy went to the Daddy and Daughter Dance last night and boy did they BOOGIE the night away.
The sweetest part of the whole night was when Daddy gave Alyssa her wrist corsage, Alyssa said she felt so special and could not wait to get her date night started with her daddy. They dined at Steak n' Shake before the dance, shared a chocolate milkshake and burger and of course french fries.
There was a dance instructor who taught them how to dance the waltz. Everyone dined on brownies, cookies and lots of lemonade.
When they got home, they both were so tired from dancing all night.
This truly was a very special and meaningful night for them both. A night they will never forget.

Housewifes Shopping site!!

This is a great site for all you mommy's out there that may need a little help with shopping for that special someone. I know I found a few items on my list at this site. ENJOY!!! Just click the logo--Happy Shopping!!

Alyssa Lost her First TOOTH

Alyssa lost her first tooth today!! Finally!! This little tooth took forever to come out. Alyssa was sooo brave, she asked me to pull it out for her. So I got a kleenex and pulled it out. She did not even feel it. When I was finished pulling it out she said " Mommy why don't you try again". But it was inside the kleenex.
She was so excited to put the tooth inside her little stuffed animal that has a little pocket for the tooth to set in, GRAMDMA gave it to her.
So tonight it lays under her pillow for the "CUTE" tooth fairy to stop by and take it. Alyssa has 4 other teeth that are soon to follow.

Happy Birthday Brooke!! We all love you
Brooke--- you have watch over our children over the past 5 years and we look at you as a special part of our family. From all of us, we wish you the happiest BIRTHDAY ever!!!!
We love you!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY