Lights On!

 Having this past week off of work and the kids out of school has been great!  The kids and I got our house all cleaned and organized. Our little family got to visit with a lot of family and friends.  Payton had a friend come over to play.  It feels good to have crossed so many things off of our to do list.  Saturday afternoon, we crossed "putting our outside Christmas lights up" off of our list.  It's been years since we've done this.  I think the last time, was in our first house when Evan and Payton were very little.  If we had known just how happy this made the kids, we would have done it every year.  They were all so excited!  I am so glad that Jason doesn't mind being up on a ladder or on the roof for that matter.  Unlike me, he has no problem with heights.  When he needed extra clips, Evan took them up to him.  He was a little scared, but did great.  Here's Daddy hanging our lights.

 When Evan wasn't helping Daddy (or dribbling his basketball), he helped me put lights on our fence.

 The girls helped arrange our nativity scene.

Minnie Mouse helped out too.

Payton's a hard worker.

Hard working sisters.

Mary with Crazy hair, dirty faced Karsyn

While we were putting our lights up, we were lucky that Nana came to our rescue with a few extra extension cords.  Thank you again Nana!  After Nana left, I took the little ladies inside for a bath.  Daddy, Evan, and Payton worked really hard together on the lights.  My clean, jammie clad little ladies stepped outside when it was time to light up the nativity scene.

 We got it lit and it looks so beautiful!

 Daddy got the lights on our fence and house working!  I think it all looks so pretty!

 It was so much fun to decorate as a family.  We plan to decorate our tree tonight!

Thanksgiving Day {2014}

This Thanksgiving, Jason had to work. He worked so many hours, that we couldn't squeeze in a meal around his schedule. I was determined to make Turkey Day still feel like a holiday for the kiddos.  So on the night before, all 3 little ladies and I made peanut butter balls and chocolate pie.  Jason got home from work that evening after the kiddos got to bed. We made green bean casserole and dressing together while listening to D. C. Talk in the kitchen.  Everyone listens to 90's Christian Hip Hop/Rap when preparing a holiday dinner, right?  We both were in a little disbelief that we got engaged 14 Thanksgivings ago!!  Time sure does fly!  The next morning, the kiddos and I got up and finished the rest of our Thanksgiving Day feast.  Addi and Karsyn were totally cracking me up.  They made our potatoes talk as were were preparing to cook them.  As I started to chop them, Addi and Karsyn grabbed a few of the whole potatoes off of the plate and said, "Run for your life!" They also tried to convince us that we had musical water - they started humming and singing every time we turned on the kitchen faucet.  They were so funny!  Payton and Evan were so helpful.  If I was in the kitchen, Payton was right there with me.  Evan was on trash and dishes duty.  He did a great job of keeping those things up.  We couldn't wait when it was finally time to eat.  This picture of Payton is only good pic I got of our dinner.

Payton with her feast.

When we got finished eating, Nana and Papa picked us up.  Our first stop was Grandma Paula and Grandpa Chuck's house.  Again, I didn't get many good pictures. boo!

We visited at their house for a while.  The girls had fun making bracelets with my cousin Polly.  Evan had fun talking football with Grandpa Chuck and Papa Gene.  We left there and headed to Grandma Shirley and Grandpa James' house.  The kids always rush to the door because they love trying to be the first to ring the door bell.  Don't you love how Papa is wearing shorts and short sleeve shirt? ha!

Grandma Shirley didn't prepare a big Thanksgiving dinner, but she did make a pumpkin pie.  She also had a Marie Calendar's banana cream pie. It was yummy!

Karsyn and Addi waiting for pie.

Pie will bring in the masses.

Of course, it wouldn't be the holidays without a few pictures of everyone.

Grandpa James

Nana

Addi

The best picture I got of Karsyn's face all day.

Payton

Papa and Nana

Evan

Grandma Shirley and Grandpa James

Evan spent a lot of time questioning how our family can be Dallas fans while they got crushed by the Eagles.  Payton snuggled either Nana or me.  Papa had a tea party with the little ladies.

When we left, it was dark outside.  We ceased the opportunity to look at Christmas lights around town.  We were amazed at how all the parking lots in town were filled with Black Friday shoppers.  I think everyone had a good Thanksgiving Day, even though we sure missed Jason.

Kountry Kitchen Thanksgiving {2014}

 This evening, our little family celebrated Thanksgiving with my extended side of the family.  Last year, we started the new tradition of eating at The Kountry Kitchen.  It's a little Amish restaurant that's about an hour away from where we live. Click here to read last year's post.  This year, we didn't think Jason was going to be able to come.  At the last minute, he was able to get off work and we couldn't have been more happy.  Right before we left and even before we knew Jason could go, I took a picture of my little cuties all ready to have a feast.

Evan, Karsyn, Payton, and Addi - November 2014

Taking a group picture is hard these days! But, I do really like this one.  Occasionally, the crop function on my camera comes in extra handy.  I mean, this picture of Karsyn is way too cute!  The rest of the picture was a little crazy. ha!

Daddy got home, we all jumped into his SUV, and we were off to meet up to caravan with the rest of our family.  We made great time and were very early to dinner.  So, we visited Amish Cheese House.  It's a restaurant and store all in one.  Not to surprisingly, we picked up some delicious fudge.

Then, it was time for dinner.  We were so excited to see all of our family!

My little ladies were so excited to see Jessi.

Payton & Jessi

Stephen and Evan

Stephen, Emily, Leon and Natalie (I "borrowed" this collage from Kary.)

We had lots of family there, including Aunt Ashley's two foster sons.  I can't post their pictures, but I can tell you that they were soooooo excited to see Evan.  They think he is the greatest guy in the world.  I can't say that I blame them.  =)  We are really hoping that God will open doors for them to be a part of our family forever.  Please be praying over this situation.  

After we filled our bellies with turkey, ham, dressing, and the works, we had pecan and banana cream pie for dessert.  Karsyn LOVED her pie!

When we were full from our feast, we took a few more pictures.  Natalie wanted a BFF/Cousin picture with Addi.  They are best buds.  I love their bond.  It's so special.

Addi & Nattie

After pictures and good-byes, we headed home.  It was a good night.

Oreo Balls

Oreo Balls are an easy, tasty treat that you just have to try.  Here's what you need:

1 package of Oreos

1 block of soften cream cheese

Melting chocolate or almond bark - this can be whatever flavor that you like.  We like ours best with dark chocolate.

First, crush the Oreos in a food processor. Try to avoid having any large chunks of cookie.  You'll need around 3 cups of cookie crumbs. Next, mix the cookie crumbs with the soften cream cheese.  The easiest way to do this is with your hands. =)  Once the cream cheese and cookie crumbs are mixed, form balls.  I can usually make around 30 or so.  Stick the formed balls into your freezer for at least 10 minutes.  Then, it's time to dip them in chocolate coating.  I prefer to use Choco Maker Brand Vs. Almond Bark.  Here's what the package looks like.

I can get it to melt a little smoother in the microwave and the coating isn't nearly as thick.  I'd love to know what brand you use. =)  (If you use Almond Bark often, please let me know what the trick is to keep it from getting so thick!) After the coating is dry, refrigerate for around an hour before enjoying. 

Fall Parties

Hands down, one of the kids' favorite party at our little preschool is the Fall/Brown Party.  We pop popcorn, make beaded necklaces, paint faces, and play lots of fun games.  Evan, Payton, and Addi loved their Fall/Brown parties when they attended.  Karsyn couldn't wait for ours.  If you can believe it, I left home without my camera.  I was very upset with myself.  A kind friend of mine sent me this adorable picture of our girls with their painted faces.  I just love it!

The next day, we had Round 2 of parties.  I made sure to bring my camera.  I also brought Addi and Payton to school with me in the morning.  (They didn't get to stay.  Grandma Shirley and Grandpa James came by to take them to their school.)  I quickly put Payton to work.  She helped cut out pictures for my students' thankful collages.

Pay and Karsyn

A teacher in the making, maybe?

Addi really wanted to stay, but she had a party of her own to get to.  Her kindergarten class was having a Thanksgiving feast.  Here she is wearing her little turkey outfit.  (Her little lips are super chapped.)

Addi's class worked really hard the day before to prepare a Thanksgiving feast.  Addi's teacher posted a picture of the desserts they made.  Aren't these turkeys way too cute?

I really, really, REALLY wanted to go to Addi's party, but we had a major time conflict.  Two parties at two different schools meant that I wasn't able to attend. I was so glad that Grandma Beverly got to go with Addi.  They were both were super happy about that.  Grandma sent us this cute picture.  Love it!

Our class party got underway and we had a lot of fun.  Much to my surprise, I am horrible at painting faces....alright, it wasn't really a surprise. ha! Karsyn looks adorable despite my lack of skills.  We let the kiddos pick which "native" symbols they wanted.

When I see this picture, I can't help but think that Karsyn has the same mouth as Nana and Aunt Becky. =) 

School parties are always so much fun!  The kiddos and I have next week off.  That means, we only have 3 weeks of school until Christmas Break!!!!!  This year is going by so fast! Now, here's a little thankful collage of my own.  Payton and Karsyn were both in the three year-old program at the time of their pictures.  Evan and Addi were both in the four year-old program.

I am so thankful for these kiddos!

Fun with Fourth Graders

Last week, Payton and I had a fun night out with her friend Jess.  Their school was hosting it's first ever Diversity Night.  This year it was put on by the Indian Education Department, so we learned all about Native American Culture.  Payton said that the school will emphasize a different culture each year.  Payton and Jess were so excited to see their friend Joyce.  Joyce got to read a poem during the program and was helping her mom do demonstrations of making dolls out of corn husks.

 After the girls checked out a few displays, we got to try beans, rice, fry bread, and grape dumplings.  Here are the girls waiting in line.

Then, we met up with the girls' teacher.  We had a lot of fun spending time with her.  I understand why Payton loves her so much!  (I couldn't get Jess to look at the camera.  She loves pictures even more than Uncle Chad. ha!)

We all watched the Pow Wow Princess do a dance and then Payton made a bracelet.  After that, we called it a night.  It was a lot of fun!